Porsche News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 11, 2022

The Porsche 911 Turbo S Won The Production Car Class At P...

At Pikes Peak, the Porsche 911 Turbo S braved the storm and came out as an incredible car. The Pikes Peak hill climb is a famous rite of passage for drivers, cars, and automotive brands. It’s a place to prove performance, dynamics, and driving skill in one of the most challenging environments a road has to offer, and the Porsche 911 Turbo S was ready to take it on. Leading up to the race, it was predicted by many that the new Porsche 911 Turbo S, while given minimal modifications for the race, was going to shatter the existing Production Car class record in the stunning clear weather that led up to the race. Once the moment of truth arrived, however, the weather quickly turned. MUST READ: Porsche Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The 911 Carrera RS 2.7 At Le Mans Classic With torrential rain seemingly coming out of nowhere, the driver, GT3 Cup racer David Donner, braved the course anyway with his extensive Pikes Peak and 911 experience, and while he wasn’t the very fastest on the course, he was second only to a prototype racer that weighed about half as much, with twice the power and extensive modifications, with a time of 10:34.03. While the class record wasn’t broken, the car achieved a class win and the second-best time overall and achieved all this while being able to drive back from the race as a road-legal car that throughout the entire process required no repairs or maintenance. The Porsche 911 Turbo S is an incredible feat of engineering when it comes to performance, looks, drivability, and everything else you’d want in a car. View All Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 08, 2022

Porsche Takes A Deep Dive Into Its Luxury Lifestyle Desig...

From kitchen appliances to luxury watches, Porsche Design does it all. Even after its 91-year progression as a leading luxury automotive manufacturer, Porsche showcases its innovation and eye for design through an extensive product line that only best describes itself as timeless. With a community of passionate owners and enthusiasts, Porsche’s successful recipe for creating performance vehicles and luxury lifestyle collections begins as a simple idea behind the doors of its design center. Design Director at Studio F.A. Porsche Christian Schwamkrug continues to follow the original process of Ferdinand Porsche, stating that “Our designs should break new creative ground, rethink an existing principle, be exceptionally functional, and of course technologically feasible without difficulty.” Porsche is proud to take a step back to commemorate some of its most famous designs, along with the painstaking journey it took to make an idea become part of reality. The first example of Porsche Design’s initiative was the original Chronograph l, checking off each of the requirements that would separate it from all other competitors on the market. MUST-READ: Porsche Design Releases The New P’8937 Sunglasses, Available Now The idea behind Porsche Design is to incorporate performance, technology, and design aspects of Porsche sports cars into luxury lifestyle products, sticking to the same high level of quality. Partnering with other industry leaders like PUMA Motorsport and Seimens, Porsche Design has been able to diversify its product portfolio with exclusive pieces like apparel, footwear, electronics, appliances, timepieces, eyewear, and many more. Although the brand seems to create almost anything and everything, each design comes as a project that Porsche believes will benefit the everyday lives of its clientele. Throughout his long-standing career as a designer with Porsche, some of Christian’s favorite projects include the Chronograph 1, P’8478 Sunglasses, LaserFlex Ballpoint Pen, and a Dentist Chair. Shop all of the current Porsche Design products by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and Porsche news. Shop Porsche Design Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 07, 2022

Porsche Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The 911 Carrer...

Le Mans Classic makes its triumphant return after a COVID-induced hiatus. The Le Mans Classic is usually a bi-annual event, but due to the pandemic, it’s returned after four years away. Porsche was at the forefront of the event, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911 Carrera RS 2.7, which served as the reason for the brand to send five generations of RS models from the Porsche Museum out to show what they’re made of. One of the stars of the show was the new 911 Sport Classic, the second project created by Porsche’s Heritage Design program, with 542 horsepower and a 7-speed manual transmission. With styling and a ducktail spoiler as an homage to the Carrera RS 2.7, it’s the most powerful manual 911 currently available. MUST READ: The Best Porsche 911s You Can Buy Today After making its debut appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Porsche 963 endurance racer made an appearance as well, wit its hybrid drive system that is paired with Porsche’s twin-turbocharged V8 engine, ready to compete in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship, meaning that the car will be back at Le Mans with hopes to win the 24-hour race in less than a year. The Porsche Parade and Porsche Classic Race continued to be important fixtures at the 10th Le Mans Classic, and it celebrated the history of Le Mans, the history of Porsche, and the legacy that Porsche cemented on the track. View All Porsche For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 05, 2022

Porsche Classic Invites Former F1 Driver Nick Heidfeld An...

The already low-mileage 959 S receives some T-L-C from the team at Porsche Classic. The Porsche name carries an immense amount of significance within the automotive and motorsport industries, blending the two to create an extensive fleet of performance cars that incorporate inspiration from historic models. One of the most notorious examples is the Porsche 959, the late 80s supercar only best described as ahead of its time. The Porsche 959 first made its debut as a Group B series rally car that later found its own production life, designed to satisfy FIA homologation regulations with 337 chassis hand-built at the factory in Stuttgart, Germany. While the 959 proves to stand at the pinnacle of early supercar development with industry-leading design and performance, the highly-exclusive 959 S model pushes the limits with more weight-saving technology and engine power. With only 29-examples in existence, former German Formula One racing driver Nick Heidfeld is proud to be one of the lucky owners. Porsche Classic is pleased to invite Nick and his Porsche 959 S to its facilities where other milestone models are kept up-to-date and on the road. MUST-READ: Porsche’s Q2 2022 U.S. Sales See A 3% Improvement Over Q2 2021 The team at Porsche Classic opened their welcoming doors to Nick’s 4,183-kilometer 959 S in the summer of 2017, after discussing and planning an extensive technological overhaul. The diagnosis showed that the engine management system had been modified. To resolve the issue under Nick’s authority, Porsche Classic staff restored the Motronic unit to its original condition. The uniqueness behind the Porsche 959 requires the appropriate attention and maintenance it deserves, which is why almost every 959 has seen the specialists at Porsche Classic at least one time in their life. Once back in his possession, Nick Heidfeld expresses his love for the Porsche 959 S by saying “I’ve had the privilege of driving many high-performance cars, but driving this high-tech legend is something special for me. I was a teenage car fan in the late 1980s, and to me this Porsche was always extraordinary. At the time, the 959 was the fastest production car in the world and by far the most advanced. So even today, it doesn’t drive like a 30-year-old car, but like a much more modern vehicle.” Currently, Heidfield’s garage includes a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, an old Volkswagen Beetle convertible, and a Porsche Carrera GT. View all of the current Porsche 959 examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and supercar news. VIEW ALL PORSCHE 959 FOR SALE Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 01, 2022

Porsche's Q2 2022 U.S. Sales See A 3% Improvement Over Q2...

Despite supply issues continuing to plague the industry, Porsche remains successful. The automotive industry is in a difficult place as supply issues continue to make it difficult for manufacturers to get cars off the assembly line. However, in the United States, Porsche still manages to remain successful with 19,487 deliveries this quarter, which is an increase of nearly 3 percent over the same period last year and brings total deliveries for the first half of the year to 32,539. While that is still not quite as high as last year’s figures, those figures were for the strongest sales year in PCNA’s history. MUST READ: Porsche Design Releases The New P’8937 Sunglasses, Available Now Continuing with what has been typical for Porsche sales numbers, the Macan and Cayenne continue to be the two favorite models for U.S. customers. Below them, the Taycan and 911 achieved similar figures, with the 911 coming out on top this time, and the Panamera, along with the 718 models slotted below them. Along with that, Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned sales in the United States improved over last year’s figures, totaling 15,449 and increasing the figure by 6 percent. While there are still challenges surrounding the automotive industry, Porsche is overcoming them and is ready to succeed when they subside. View All Porsche 911 GT3s For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 01, 2022

Porsche Announces A New Partnership With HEAD And Its 202...

Porsche takes its design, performance, and technology to the snowy slopes. Showcasing its ability to adapt to various sporting environments , Porsche continues to diversify its portfolio by expanding its partnerships with other industry leaders through creative collaborations. The German automotive manufacturer is proud to announce its newest venture with the winter international sporting goods experts at Head, specializing in developing high-tech ski equipment that performs at the highest level of competition. The upcoming Porsche x Head Collection starts with two new models of skis, inspired by race skis to offer an unparalleled experience on the snow. Each ski features a traditional solid-wood core that incorporates layers of carbon fiber and Titanal, creating a lightweight structure with the strength to take on any mountain. The high-performance Porsche 7 Series is inspired by the giant slalom and designed for use on groomed slopes, while the Porsche 8 Series is a hand-made high-performance ski for all-mountain terrain. MUST-READ: The Best Porsches You Can Buy Today Porsche x Head also includes a full line of high-quality apparel, ski poles, a visor helmet, and a bag within the collection, designed with help from Porsche Brand Ambassador and two-time Olympic gold medallist Aksel Lund Svindal. The collaboration release invites adventurous Porsche owners to pack up the Taycan 4S or Cayenne Turbo and venture to the mountainous ski slopes. Although a complete product list and pricing have yet to be released, the all-new Porsche x Head Collection is sure to be an exciting new direction for both brands. View all of the current Porsche models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle gear releases and Porsche news. VIEW ALL PORSCHE FOR SALE Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 29, 2022

Porsche Design Releases The New P'8937 Sunglasses, Availa...

The Porsche Design shades that won the German Design Award for 2022. Using its luxury lifestyle branch to bring sportscar design and performance to the fashion runway, Porsche Design creates sport and fashion collections that present head-to-toe styles to complement any 911 Turbo S Cabriolet spec. The designers at Porsche Design pride themselves on incorporating the same premium materials that go into production vehicles like the all-electric Taycan platform. Porsche Design is excited to release the newest addition to its line of luxury eyewear, the P’8937 Sunglasses. The P’8937 style comes as a reinterpretation of the unique Porsche Design Iconic Hexagon pair from 2020, blending classic and modern aspects to create the ultimate summer shades. MUST-READ: The Limited-Edition REC 901 RWB Rotana, Made Using Actual Materials From RWB Builds The new Porsche Design P’8937 feature a square aviator frame crafted from milled titanium, giving the sunglasses a striking stealth-like look. Assembled individually by hand, each pair includes VISION DRIVE polarized lenses that keep away bothersome reflections during any on or off-track driving. The P’8937 Collection comes available in an array of unique frame and lens color combinations, including black/brown, titanium/black/green, gold/black/grey, and dark grey/black/dark blue. The all-new Porsche Design P’8937 Sunglass Collection is currently available starting at $610 by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury gear releases and supercar news. SHOP THE PORSCHE DESIGN P'8937 COLLECTION Source: Porsche Design

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 29, 2022

Porsche 911 Art By Korean Neurosurgeon And Artist Ya Hoon

Porsche art inspired by the mind and how its views the 911. The beauty behind art is the endless possibilities for creative inspiration, whether it be the lines of a classic automobile or the colorful graphs of a neurological scan. For Porsche, its involvement in art showcases its diversity as an influential brand that specializes in manufacturing performance cars for the road and track. Porsche is excited to highlight the incredible artwork of Korean neurosurgeon and artist Ha Yoon, who describes himself as a proud Porsche owner with an appreciation for motorsports. MUST-READ: The Best Porsche Carrera GTs You Can Buy Today The main inspiration behind Yoon’s work combines the depths of our conscious minds, while also incorporating aspects from Porsche models and iconic race circuits to create vibrant ‘Mind Maps’. Most of Ha Yoon’s creative automotive-inspired pieces feature his silver Porsche 911 Carrera S of the 997 generation. He expresses his love for the Porsche 911 by saying “Endurance and speed, power and tradition are what symbolize the 911. Values that also feature in my art.” The art is now being transformed into NFTs that includes a digital signature for authenticity. Ya Hoon’s dedication to the world of art and Porsche showcases the results of boldly blending different artistic avenues. View all of the current Porsche 911 Carrera examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and supercar news. VIEW ALL PORSCHE 911 CARRERA FOR SALE Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 27, 2022

The New Porsche GT4 ePerformance Shows Off Electric Racin...

Porsche’s latest display of electric racing prowess makes its public debut. The Mission R is Porsche’s vision of a future where electric mobility dominates the track. And with its incredible race-ready battery technology, the Porsche GT4 ePerformance, derived from a Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport, brings that vision to life. With the ability to sustain its racing power output of over 600 horsepower for 30 minutes, the length of a Carrera Cup race, and assume a “qualification mode” that delivers over 1000 horsepower, as well as the ability to use 900-volt technology to charge from 5 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes, the GT4 ePerformance shows what racing’s exciting future will look like, and it showed that to the visitors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. MUST READ: Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Created A Custom 911 GT3 To Celebrate 30 Years Of The Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup Spectators at Goodwood got to catch a glimpse of the GT4 ePerformance taking on the famed Goodwood hill climb, putting down a time of 45.50 seconds and placing second in the overall rankings. Since its Goodwood public premiere, the car is going to tour various locations to show off the performance potential of electric mobility, with its next stop being in Porsche’s factory in Leipzig, Germany, celebrating the factory’s 20th anniversary on August 20, 2022. With a 2.3-mile circuit at the facility, the car will be able to show its strength there, as well. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

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By Tyler Rampersaud – June 23, 2022

Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Created A Custom 911 GT3 To ...

Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur celebrated an important anniversary for the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup. The one-make Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup series is now in its 30th season, and for such an anniversary, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur stepped in to make sure that it was celebrated properly. To do this, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur created a custom Porsche 911 GT3 with a design dedicated to celebrating the anniversary of the iconic racing series. The hand-painted design was created to bring the design of the 911 GT3 Cup to the roadgoing version of the car. MUST READ: Porsche Recounts The Challenges Of Turning Project “Colorado” Into The Cayenne SUV The precision of the design involved creating a painted grid pattern in which one color didn’t bleed into the other, as well as customized seats and stitching throughout the interior done in a black and gold color scheme matching the exterior. This custom Porsche 911 GT3 is not just a celebration of the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup racing series but of the legendary importance of Porsche and the 911 in the automotive world as a whole. View All Porsche 911 GT3s For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Porsche (@porsche)

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