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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 Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2021

Porsche Taycan Regenerative Braking Explained by Bill Nye

Science ride from the Science Guy Professor Nye has a hot line to our cerebral cortex. It is there that we recall his lessons from our youth, making sense of electromagnetism. Well Porsche saw fit for him to reprise his role, and their latest upload explains the incredible brakes of the Taycan. The brakes on your car transform speed into heat and dust. Not only does this waste all of your kinetic energy, it also makes your wheels filthy. Almost every electric car has an inverter that is capable of turning the electric motors into generators. This (AC/DC) box normally puts a load of 80 kw on the wheels, but Porsche saw fit to offer 265 kW of stopping power. Tapping the brake pedal puts 355 horsepower back into the motors, charging the batteries in the process. Your car can't do this, and its just one of thousands of details that make the Taycan the only logical choice. Click the button to find out more. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2021

Jay Leno Drives the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3

We think he likes it! Mr. Leno has exacting standards when it comes to Porsche. Because his collection contains Stuttgart's supercars of all generations, what does he think of the new 911 GT3? To discern what sets it apart from lesser models, a Patrick Long was called in to explain the significance of the innovations. For a quick refresher, this new GT3 for sale has its own assembly line. The suspension and chassis changes are so substantial that it doesn't share much with a normal Carrera. Let's allow them to show us, and then click the button to learn more from our dealers! Browse Porsche 911 GT3 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 21, 2021

2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S Wins World Performance Car Award

And it won by a landslide World Car TV is a popular YouTube channel that awards several categories for every model year. For this year's Performance Car Award, the fans picked the latest version of the Porsche 911 Turbo for sale. Second place voting so low we can't mention it here, so let's consider why the new 911 Turbo S needs to be your daily driver. Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Model Line of the Porsche 911 and 718 Cayman said, “We could not be more excited to accept this award, which represents the eighth instance of Porsche winning a World Car Awards title. The 911 Turbo S is the peak of performance and luxury from Porsche, a fact this recognition underscores. With the new generation 992, we continue to push the boundaries.” For a quick refresher, the latest Turbo arrives with the world's most capable AWD system. You will have 640 horsepower at all wheels, it's enough to reach 60 mph in 2.2 seconds. That's only one-tenth slower than the 918 Spyder at a fraction of the price. If you need a daily driver that is capable of 9-second quarter-mile times, click the button below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale Image (C) H Greg Lux

By Andrew Nabors – April 21, 2021

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Driven by Carfection

Check out the trick suspension! Henry had a chance to get behind the wheel of a new 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 for sale, and he has a way of describing the supercar in his latest upload. What we see here is a bold departure from every other Porsche. Engineers in Weissach were given a blank check to make it handle, so the front suspension is not shared with any other 911. This means the GT3 and the other high-performance editions are now technically their own models. The new front end has hundreds of new parts that you won't find on the Carrera or Targa because their bodies aren't up to the task. Inside a new GT3, the roll cage makes the car much stiffer in the corners to make even small steering inputs more rewarding. This is the dawn of a new era for the 911, so click the button to join the ride. Your New Porsche 911 GT3 Awaits

By Andrew Nabors – April 20, 2021

2022 Porsche 911 RSR Wrapped By Porsche Racing Experience

Perfection can't be rushed Time-lapse videos are a great way to condense a long project. Changing your car's color is no easy task, so let's watch a 2022 Porsche 911 RSR being wrapped by the Porsche Racing Experience. A new livery was supplied by their tire sponsor, so they started by using soft solvents to get down to bare carbon fiber. With a heat gun and several long hours, we see the Michelin Man smiling. It was a perfect way to kick off a weekend of racing at the Nurburgring, the historic track has seen its fair share of 911 lap records and victories. This is where the factory-backed team of Matheny-Racing ran 6:40.3 in a 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Our dealers keep the best Porsche race cars ready for you, so click the button to find yours and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 911 RSR For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 20, 2021

Bill Nye The Science Guy Explains the Porsche Taycan

Learn about Porsche's electric powerhouse from the Science Guy himself. Many have learned about the world from Bill Nye The Science Guy whether it be in school, on television or on YouTube videos. Now, you can learn all about the all-new Porsche Taycan from Bill Nye thanks to a new YouTube series from Porsche. In this new series, he goes over some of the most intriguing aspects of the Taycan that people really don't understand. This includes how the Taycan utilizes its energy, how regenerative braking works and even its two-speed transmission. In total, there are five videos in the series, each one being worth the watch. Check them all out by scrolling below. If you're looking to add a Taycan to your collection, be sure to click the button to see what's currently available for sale. See All Taycans For Sale " width="680"> " width="680"> " width="680"> " width="680">

By Edward Jones – April 19, 2021

Porsche is Using Video Game Engines in a Brilliant Way

The engine that runs video games, Unreal Engine 4, is helping Porsche in a multitude of ways. Video game engines are what's responsible for making combat, quests, lighting, sound and more possible. What's more, some of these engines are pre-built and ready for developers to use without them having to create their own proprietary engine. Now, automakers like Porsche are using these video game engines to help them get to the next level of design, performance and technology while also saving a few bucks. Porsche has been using Unreal Engine 4, the same engine used in games like Fortnite, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Street Fighter V and countless other games. By using this engine, Porsche is able to do so much without having to worry about intensive labor or crashing real cars. Take Porsche's development on their Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). In order to perfect these assistance systems, they need to recreate real-world instances for the system to react to. In a virtual world, Porsche can run an infinite amount of different simulations without ever having to worry about crashing a car or harming a person. That not only saves them money but also a lot of time. What's more, Porsche is now moving these simulations to the cloud so that simulations can be run in parallel which saves even more time. Porsche is also able to use this engine to help make modifications to models without having o rebuild or refit certain pieces. There are honestly so many possibilities. Check out the video below which is actually two years old and showcases the 911 Speedster Concept made in Unreal Engine. While video games may be great for relaxing and enjoying some time on another planet, the engines that run them are doing wonders for the automotive world. See All Porsches For Sale " width="680"> Source: Porsche Newsroom

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 19, 2021

Shop The New Porsche Design x PUMA Spring/Summer '21 Coll...

Just as the brand does with its lineup of performance-focused vehicles, Porsche also applies the art of speed into its lifestyle apparel and footwear line. Porsche Design is proud to release the Spring/Summer ’21 Collection in partnership with Puma Motorsport. The apparel collection features head-to-toe styles made from quality materials to ensure comfortable wear for owners and enthusiasts of the brand. Alongside the vast array of activewear, Porsche Design enlisted the help from the motorsport footwear legends at Puma to create new sneaker styles to best perform on or off the track. The Porsche Design x PUMA footwear collection, as well as the rest of the products and accessories part of the Spring/Summer ’21 Collection, are available online and in select retail stores. Shop the newest release from Porsche Design x Puma Motorsport by clicking the link below. Shop Porsche Design x PUMA Image Source: Porsche Design x PUMA For more Gear news, Check out EveryDrive Carry: Quality Quattro

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 13, 2021

Manthey-Racing Celebrates 25th Anniversary With The Herit...

Manthey-Racing is best known as the Denmark-based racing team dedicated to delivering top-of-the-line performance add-ons to iconic Porsche platforms like the 911 GT2 RS. The brand’s loyalty to the German automobile manufacturer since its entrance to Porsche Motorsport has resulted in anniversary-inspired apparel collaboration. Manthey-Racing and Porsche are proud to announce the release of the Heritage Collection, featuring an array of clothing dedicated to capturing the milestone of the performance-packed 25-year partnership. Inside the Manthey-Racing Heritage Collection, a wide selection of polos and graphic t-shirts feature logos and designs of the fastest Manthey-Racing Porsches to ever hit the track. The collection is available in children's sizes as well, ensuring the perfect racing gear for the whole family. Celebrate the Manthey-Racing 25th Anniversary with the all-new Heritage Collection, available through the Manthey-Racing website. For more Gear news, Check out Puma Motorsport Launches Porsche and BMW M RS-Connect Sneakers

By Andrew Nabors – April 07, 2021

Walter Röhrl x Porsche 911 GT3: Twenty Years Later

How the GT3 evolved over two decades Every time Porsche unveils a supercar, it is always compared to a beast from 2001. That meeting of man and machine was a blistering lap record at the 'Ring. Walter Röhrl pushed the new Porsche GT3 around the old North Loop in 7:56. Aside from being one of the few Porsche Drivers to openly be scared of the Carrera GT, he set down to extol the virtues of the new 911 GT3. Yesterday our friend Magnus Walker spent a few minutes explaining why the latest GT3 represents a divergence within the 911 lineup. For the first time, the GT cars have received their own suspension. A dual-wishbone front end and unique tuning for the rear-wheel steering have allowed the latest GT3 to lap the ring in 6:58.927. With over 500 horsepower on tap, it's easy to reach 62 mpg in 3.4 seconds- no turbos required. Shaving almost a second off the lap time is what Porsche is capable of in 20 years, and that's why we enjoy offering you these incredible cars. Click the button to find yours and stay with us for all your 911 news. Shop Porsche 911 GT3 Image (C) Porsche

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