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 Caitlin Duffy – September 24, 2015

Porsche CEO Matthias Müller to Replace Martin Winterkorn ...

Update Sept. 25, 2015: In a press release issued today, Volkswagen Group has confirmed that Matthias Müller has been appointed to the position of CEO."Matthias Müller is a person of great strategic, entrepreneurial and social competence," stated Berthold Huber, interim Chairman of the SUpervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, in the release. "He knows the Group and its brands well and can immediately engage in his new task with full energy. We expressly value his critical and constructive approach."----------With the recently announced discovery of defeat devices altering the emissions levels of certain Volkswagen vehicles, the German auto company has been thrown into some intense turmoil over the past few days.In a statement Sept. 23, Volkswagen's CEO, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the wake of the scandal, and Reuters reports that Matthias Müller, current CEO of Porsche, will likely be taking over the position."As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group," Winterkorn stated. "I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part." Dr. Martin WinterkornAs many as 11 million vehicles have the software installed worldwide, with up to 500,000 being recalled in the United States alone, as the New York Times reported Sept. 22. Volkswagen could be facing fines of up to $18 billion, and the company's stock prices have already plummeted, losing as much as 50 percent of its value.Reuters reported in an article today that sources close to the matter stated that Müller "is backed by a majority on VW's 20-member supervisory board, which will endorse him as new CEO at a meeting on Friday."Müller has worked within Volkswagen for nearly 40 years, and it's believed that his experience and success at Porsche set him up to be able to navigate one of the largest scandals to hit a major manufacturer in recent times. As the environmental impact of the high emissions levels is being assessed, Müller's history of overseeing green projects, such as the Mission-E Concept and 918 Spyder, will undoubtedly serve the company's image well.(See Also: Connected Cars Coming to Tampa with $17 Million Investment from USDOT)Interestingly enough, this is not the first time Müller has eyed the position of CEO at Volkswagen - a March 24 article from Autoblog tells that Müller was named as a possible successor to the position after Winterkorn's retirement. This wasn't planned to occur for at least a few more years - Winterkorn's contract was set to expire at the end of 2016, though it was thought he might have extended that date to 2018.If you've recently purchased a diesel vehicle from Volkswagen or Audi, be sure to check and see if yours is one of the cars impacted by this recall; the EPA lists the following diesel vehicles as having the defeat device software installed:Jetta (MY 2009 – 2015) Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009-2014) Beetle (MY 2012 – 2015) Beetle Convertible (MY 2012-2015) Audi A3 (MY 2010 – 2015) Golf (MY 2010 – 2015) Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015) Passat (MY 2012-2015)Stay with us for more updates from the automotive industry as they emerge.(Source: Porsche, Volkswagen, Reuters, Autoblog, The New York Times, EPA) See More Industry Reports

By Caitlin Duffy – September 24, 2015

Porsche 917 Goes Flat Out, Prepares for Rennsport Reunion V

From Sept. 25 - 27, Porsche race cars, drivers and collectible models will gather in California, on the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, marking the world's largest gathering and reunion of this type: the Rennsport Reunion V.Of course, those who are attending want to be sure that everything is in tip top shape ahead of time. That means a lot of time spent behind the wheel of Porsche's greatest racecars, and /DRIVE was able to capture one of these incredible machines doing just that.The Porsche 917 sporting Gulf livery spent some time preparing for the Rennsport Reunion, with Patrick Long behind the wheel, and /DRIVE shared a video of this preparation to YouTube Sept. 23. Long's victories include class wins at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2013 Baja 100, three championships at the ALMS and wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, is the only North American to be hired by Porsche as a racing driver.Check out what it takes to drive a car of this caliber in the video above, find your own Porsche to drive from our exclusive listings below and stay with us for more updates from the Rennsport Reunion V.Porsches For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 14, 2015

Porsche Mission E Fully Electric Concept Unveiled

They broke ground in the world of hybrid cars when they released the 918, but now Porsche is setting its eyes on crafting a fully electric model with the introduction of their Mission E concept.A press release issued by the German marque today outlines their newest concept design, the Mission E. Set for a full unveiling in Frankfurt at the International Motor Show (IAA), Porsche anticipates that it could create up to 600 hp, have a 500 km, or 310 mile, cruising range and be charged from 0 to 80 percent capacity in less than 15 minutes.0-62 mph acceleration could happen in just 3.5 seconds, an impressive bar to reach for their first foray into the world of creating electric cars. Though it doesn't come too close to the Tesla Model S' Ludicrous Mode 2.8 second time, the Mission E is still just a concept, and Porsche hasn't spent as much time as Tesla perfecting the performance of a battery-operated vehicle.But what's most eye-catching about this concept is the design. From a few angles, it's undeniably Porsche, and from others, it's a completely different take from anything we've seen before. The headlights are sleeker and fiercer, the sloping body is longer and lower and, overall, seems to be a strange hybrid between the 918 Spyder and Panamera.A short video from the marque posted to YouTube today shows us a full 360-degree view of this four-door electric sedan, highlighting its headlights, wheel design and the continuous light strip that replaces tail lights. We even get a glance at the interior from the side when the coach doors are shown opening.(See Also: 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera & Carrera S Unveiled)Check out the video above and the images below, and stay with us for more information as it is released about this new leap forward for the electric vehicle segment. In the meantime, find your own Porsche from our exclusive listings at the button below.Porsches For SaleGallery (Source: Porsche, YouTube) See More Porsche News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 08, 2015

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera & Carrera S Unveiled

Porsche's longest running model is back for 2017, and ahead of its full debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show, the complete details have been released to the public.Both the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S, as well as the Cabriolet versions of each, see some impressive performance upgrades in their new forms. As a Sept. 6 press release from Porsche shared, these improvements resulted into a full 10 second improvement in the Carrera S' Nürburgring lap time on the North Loop, knocking it down to just 7 minutes and 30 seconds.Power is increased to 370 hp and 331 lb-ft for the Carrera and 420 hp and 368 lb-ft for the Carrera S. Each uses a 3.0-liter flat six engine assisted by two turbochargers, and with these new power numbers, performance numbers are improved as well. Top speeds of 183 and 191 mph are reached in the Carrera and Carrera S, respectively, making for an insane day at the track.With launch control, the Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) and the Sport Chrono Package, 0-62 is achieved rather quickly. The 911 Carrera finishes in 4.0 seconds flat, while the Carrera S takes only 3.7 seconds; each is a full .2 second improvement over the previous generation's times.Of course, the performance improvements are just the beginning of the 2017 models' updates. The Porsche Communication Management System (PCM) controlling infotainment offers online navigation and WiFi connectivity. Apple and Google both have a strong presence in the center console as well, with Apple CarPlay connecting iPhones to the vehicle and Google Earth and Google Streetview helping with real time traffic updates and navigation.Those who are interested in making one of the 2017 911 Carrera models a part of their driving routine won't have long to wait. Ordering is set to begin in March 2016, and US pricing is set at $89,400 for the 911 Carrera, $101,700 for the 911 Carrera Cabriolet, $103,400 for the 911 Carrera S and $115,700 for the Carrera S Cabriolet.Check out the photos of these new models in the gallery below and listen to their refined engines in the videos above, added to YouTube by Porsche today and Sept. 7. Be sure to check out some of the 911 Carrera's predecessors from our exclusive listings if you can't quite wait until March to get your hands on one.911 Carreras For SaleGallery (Source: Porsche) See More Porsche News

By Josh Hway – August 28, 2015

Singer Porsche 911, GT3RS and 918 Photoshoot by Josh Hway

It's not every day that you get to see something as rare and expensive as a new Porsche 918. It's even more rare that you'll see both the brand new Porsche GT3RS in Lava Orange and the incredible ‘re-imagined’ Singer Vehicle Design Porsche 911. In my photography-oriented mind, when all three of these cars come together, it has to be two things: one, photographed and two, on a remote airstrip at dusk. Check and check! Let's roll.I am Josh Hway (Dynamic Photowerks) from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I photograph cars. I have the pleasure of working with many Midwest-based companies looking for unique photography, or in this case, working on a personal project with a private client and good friend.Despite the large amount of legwork it took to put together, it undoubtedly became one of my favorite experiences in my career thus far. The location for the shoot was a remote airstrip here in Minnesota. Thankfully, we had the whole place to ourselves, if you don’t count the mosquitoes.Being on location with one of the world’s biggest Singer fans/owners, I focused on this beauty from California as the primary subject for this shoot. Luckily, however, I had the opportunity to capture all three as the sun dipped below the horizon. Each car is uniquely special. The Singer introduced to the industry a perfect blend of modern tech and old school bones. The 918 is special for… well, how isn’t it special? Finally, the GT3RS just may be the most aggressive track car Porsche has ever made. Being with these three rides under the wide open sky as the sun set over an empty runway was magic - pure magic!To some, having one of these cars is a dream. Owning all three classifies you has CARonically insane. One local Minnesotan who also happens to be a serious car-guy and a genuine human being can be classified as such. He has given "Minnesota Nice" a new meaning after having let me drive his Singer at the end of the night.Singer Vehicle Design is a small firm in California, but they are leaving a mark in the industry quickly and indefinitely. This particular Singer 911 is the #27 Minnesota car. It also happens to share a garage space with the Dubai car — the blue and orange one that got all of the press — and I hear a new Targa Singer is in the works. Remember that I mentioned I was with one of Singer’s biggest fans? Yeah.After the dust settled, it was dark, we were tired and it was time to go home. The end of the night didn’t come without few full-throttle rips down the strip, though. Perfect evening. Now, what to do next week?After the dust settled, it was dark, we were tired, and it was time to go home. The end of the night didn’t come without few full-throttle rips down the strip, though. Perfect evening. Now, what to do next week?Follow on Facebook - Follow on Instagram Gallery

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2015

"Acid Green" Porsche 918 Spyder Looking for New Owner

Now that the Porsche 918 Spyder is no longer being produced, it's going to become an even hotter commodity than it was before. This fact also makes examples like this one even more highly sought after.Finished in an electric "Acid Green" paint contrasted against its "Authentic Mocha Brown" interior, this 918 Spyder is a rarity. In fact, it's only 1-of-2 known Weissach Package 918 Spyders in this color and 1-of-1 in the United States. Needless to say, this 918 Spyder has a pedigree that stands out among the rest.The car is currently being offered on duPontREGISTRY.com with only 8.3 factory miles, making it a brand-new example.For those unfamiliar with Porsche's latest hypercar, it's a hybrid powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine and two electric motors. This setup provides the car with 887 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque. These specs are good for a 0-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds and a 9.9 seconds quarter-mile at 146 mph.Porsche For SaleThis is, without a doubt, the most extreme car the German automaker has ever produced. And now, a rare example of it can be yours. Click the button below to see its price and more info.View Price and Info Gallery Photos by: Bart Cepek Post sponsored by the seller See More Hyper and Supercars For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 21, 2015

Man Buys and Immediately Races Porsche 918 Spyder, Carrer...

The word "epic" can be thrown around quite often in the exotic and super car world, but this story is most deserving of the adjective.A man simply known as Sandro in a video uploaded Aug. 14 by Pfaff Automotive Partners recently acquired three very special vehicles: a Porsche 918 Spyder, Carrera GT and a McLaren P1. These are three of just a handful of hyper and supercars that exist in the world, and they were all delivered to him on the same day.But, the location of the delivery is really the best part of this story. These cars were delivered to the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, where Sandro flew in via helicopter to receive them.(Also Read: Steven Spielberg is Selling his $185, 282 ft Million Mega Yacht)While some will buy these cars and only take them out for a stroll every once in a while, Sandro wasted no time and immediately took them out onto the track.Check out the video below to see the delivery of the three supercars for yourself and let us know in the comments below which you'd like to take around the track.(Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – August 11, 2015

1,200 hp Porsche 911 Turbo Takes No Prisoners at the Drag...

The Porsche 911 on its own is a beast. A Porsche 911 Turbo with two 86-mm turbochargers pushing its output to 1,200 hp is insane.But that's exactly what Todd Nall drives.A video added to YouTube Aug. 8 by 1320video takes a look at Nall's Blackhorse Porsche Turbo as it prepared to take on quite a few other turbocharged cars. The Texas Invitaitonal's 175 mph Trap Attack event closed down a drag strip and gave Nall and others a chance to show everything their cars have.Nall is a veteran driver at the Texas Invitational events, and as the video's caption tells us, that fact is made very clear through watching him take on the competition. Check out the video above, and find your own Porsche 911 Turbo from our exclusive listings below. Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

Mercedes-Benz E 400 Hybrid (W212) 2014, US-Version

By Caitlin Duffy – August 10, 2015

Mercedes-Benz Delivers 1 Million Cars in 2015, Porsche, J...

Reports from luxury manufacturers over the past few years have seen record numbers of deliveries and unprecedented rates of growth, and 2015 could turn out to be no different, as press releases from Daimler, Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover report. Jaguar Land Rover issued their first-quarter reports for the 2015-2016 fiscal year Aug. 7, with a bit of a slide in their numbers. Crediting the decline with a slowed economy in China, total revenue decreased by £351 million (approx. $545.5 million USD*) to £5 billion ($7.77 billion USD*). Yet a slow first half of the year doesn't necessarily determine the second half - as the release mentions, Jaguar Land Rover's sales and employment have both doubled in the past five years, with most of the revenue being invested in research and development.(See Also: Saleen S7, S7R & S5S Raptor: All Assets Are For Sale)As models bearing the 2016 manufacture year begin to be released and made available for purchase, the number of deliveries for each marque is sure to increase. Stay with us as the year moves forward and more is released, and until those models are available, browse our exclusive listings at the buttons below.*US prices listed according to conversion rate at time of publicationJaguars For Sale Land Rovers For Sale Porsches For Sale Mercedes-Benzs For Sale (Source: Daimler Media, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover) See More Industry Reports

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By Caitlin Duffy – August 07, 2015

Building a Porsche 918 Spyder: Behind the Scenes in Zuffe...

There's no questioning the fact that each of the 918 examples of the Porsche 918 Spyder created were meticulously crafted from start to finish, with careful attention paid to every detail of its construction.But just how does that construction happen? If you've ever been curious about the full process behind the assembly of the 918 Spyder, a new video from Porsche will answer most all of your questions. From the chassis, to the engine and carbon fiber inserts, it documents the 100 selected employees who hand-crafted each of these cars. Added to YouTube today is a behind-the-scenes look at the factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany, where the 918 Spyders were assembled, and follows each step of one example's creation. Close shots show the women and men behind the production, placing each bolt and measuring each strip of leather by hand. (See Also: Q&A With Graham Rahal: Racing, His New Green 918 Spyder and Car Collection) Check out the video above to see just how much care goes into each Porsche created, and when you're finished, browse our exclusive listings of 918 Spyders to see the final product of their efforts. (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

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