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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 – May 08, 2020

Porsche Taycan: Electric Driving 101

A majority of the public has no idea what the Porsche Taycan is capable of. So, in an attempt to appeal to a younger demographic, Porsche has partnered with VICE for an educational clip. Electric Driving 101 is presented by VICE Asia Host Hanli Hoefer, who received an exciting indoctrination to the Taycan's incredible torque. Click the button below to experience a Taycan near you and have a great weekend. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680"> Porsche Taycan Specs, Price & Horsepower

By Andrew Nabors – May 07, 2020

Porsche Shows What Dreams Are Made Of

When Europe went on lockdown, Porsche used their significant Social Media challenges to ask what's in your garage. Some answered with their actual collections, while others shared what they hope to own one day. There are no wrong answers, as we are all one big family of car folks. Therefore, Here is what fans submitted, and we challenge you to post yours below. Find Your Porsche Here " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – May 07, 2020

PCCM is new Connectivity for Classic Porsches

Do you have a disco dad? One that still has bell-bottom jeans in the closet and who forced you to watch Soul Train as a kid? Well, I do, and he even had a classic Porsche to match. If you know of an older Porsche that needs the latest in infotainment, Porsche Classic Communications Management has unveiled two new radios with classic looks. Both the Single-DIN and Double-DIN are available from your local dealer, so click the button to browse the latest 911s for sale. Browse Porsche 911 For Sale Even the boxes are 70's

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2020

Inside the Porsche Museum at Night

When the lights go out and the doors are locked, its time for an air-cooled party. That was the inspiration behind photographer Max Leitner's latest photoshoot. Using the massive LED screen, smoke machine, and a few different lenses, he was able to capture Porsche's greatest cars in a unique setting. Hopefully, this is just a preview of a full-length film, because if you have seen one Porsche, you want to see them all. Click the button below for a great offer on a new 911 and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 911 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2020

Porsche Track Precision App Will Keep You Out Front

There is always one or two guys at each track day. They show up in a million-dollar racing trailer to unveil a car they have no business driving. They never hit the same points in the corners nor do they allow faster cars to pass. Now it is your turn to show them your tailpipes because the Porsche Track PRecision App will keep you out front. Top 50 Best Sports Cars For Sale Of course, it records your lap times, and it also tracks brake pressure, throttle input, steering angle, and G-forces. The HD camera in the front bumper allows you to watch and share your success, or work on tricky corners. The Porsche Track Precision App is available for all Boxster, Cayman, and 911 models, and their GT models that have had CW45/16 firmware upgrade. Our dealers have all the information so click the button below and get ready to race. Browse Porsche For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 23, 2020

Porsche Classic Unveils Communication Management

If your 911 could use some modern technology, Porsche Classic Communication Management is the only sensible choice. Aftermarket head units look out of place, and none of them can offer what Porsche has developed. Available in single or double-DIN, treat your car to Apple CarPlay, text messages, HD FM, Sirius XM, USB, SD Card, Bluetooth, Aux cord, and the latest in navigation. Top 50 Best Sports Cars Of All Time It has RCA jacks for amplifier integration and the display can easily change between 2D and 3D. Due to fighting companies in the U.S., you won't find another head unit with so many formats. So not only is this perfect for your Porsche, it would make a great gift to anyone who demands the best from their audio system. Click the button below for more info and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Learn More " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 22, 2020

Porsche Taycan Interior Takes Sustainability to a new Level

Leather tanning has been a dirty business for the last 1,000 years. Not only is it wasteful, but the byproducts are also poisonous to say the least. We were thankful when microfiber arrived as it lessens the environmental impact of the auto industry. Just when we thought we knew everything about this revolutionary sedan, the Porsche Taycan interior takes sustainability to a new level. Top 50 Best Sports Cars Of All Time Traditional hides have a limited lifespan because they are continually assaulted by the sun, the atmosphere, and even the oils from our skin. That is why OLEA will allow the Taycan's interior to last the life of the car. It is plant-based and dyed using olive leaves, just another way Porsche is ahead of everyone else. If you haven't experienced a Taycan in person, click the button below and leave all preconceived notions of perfection behind. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680">

2019-Porsche-911-Speedster--Heritage-Design--_8

By Andrew Nabors – April 21, 2020

Final 991 Series Porsche 911 Auction Is Open For Bidding

It is hard to believe the 7th generation of the Porsche 911 has been with us since 2011. In that time it earned our love and respect by expanding the lineup and saving the manual transmission. But all good things must come to an end, so RM Sotheby's and Porsche have announced that the final 991 series Porsche 911 auction is open for bidding. This gorgeous Heritage Edition Speedster is a fitting conclusion to the series, and it reminds us that Porsche stays true to their history. All proceeds are going to the United Way, and the auction will end tomorrow at 1 PM Eastern Time. Click the button below to place your bid and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Click Here To Bid " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 17, 2020

Porsche Taycan 4S Arrives in the U.S.

To make a grand entrance into the world of electric cars, Porsche started from the top. The Taycan Turbo S represents their flagship sedan, with the Taycan Turbo only slightly less powerful. To offer something for every customer, their latest press release expands the lineup. So we're happy to announce that the Porsche Taycan 4S has arrived in the U.S. Porsche's 4S suffix has always stood for AWD performance, and the latest Taycan arrives with dual motors. Powered by a 93.4 kWh battery, the pair offers a combined output of 562 horsepower. This offers a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155 mph. The EPA lists its range at 203 miles, and your local dealer will deliver it to your home. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 14, 2020

Porsche Taycan Brings Elegance to Charging

We are often asked about our favorite electric or hybrid car. Trying to extol the virtues of a LaFerrari versus a P1 GTR is nearly impossible to vocalize. But the question that has divided our virtual office is: "What is the most beautiful charger?" No, not the Dodge Sedan with Hellcat power. We are talking about the apparatus used to charge the HV batteries on electrified rides. While most are ugly boxes with blinking lights, the Porsche Taycan brings elegance to charging. We see a dark obelisk in their latest YouTube video. Easily wired into your home's electrical panel, the Wall Box is in constant communication with you. It is more than an appliance, it is a companion capable of optimizing your Taycan for your daily commute. It is the passion for even the smallest detail that keeps Porsche fans loyal. If you can find a better-looking charger, post it in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Shop Taycans

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