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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 Gabriel Vega – January 25, 2023

Porsche Unveils Vision 357 Concept As A Tribute To The 35...

To celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of its first road car, Porsche's design team unveiled the Vision 357 concept. Its primary source of inspiration is a Porsche 356 Roadster, which received its general operating permit on June 8th, 1948, making it the first road car to wear the brand's crest officially. Thus, the Vision 357 pays tribute to the car that kicked off the brand and looks to the future and how its design might evolve over the following decades. The base for this concept is fittingly a 718 Cayman GT4 RS. While the Vision 357's sleek, curvy lines and lack of immediately visible air intakes may allude to a set of batteries powering it, it counts on the aforementioned GT4 RS' 493 hp flat-six. However, the concept theorizes that e-fuels could power such an engine in the future, a nod to the carbon-neutral synthetic fuel Porsche has been working on in collaboration with the Chilean electro-fuel developer HIF Global. Aside from theorizing a carbon-neutral sports car, the Vision 357 also showcases the kind of car Porsche could build if it didn't need to abide by current regulations. Thus we get a curvaceous coupe free of traditional headlights, taillights, and side-view mirrors. Quick-release latches fasten its front compartment, which is one enormous piece that blends its hood and fenders. It cuts off sharply behind the front wheels to allow air to flow uninterrupted. Drawing inspiration from the Mission R concept, the Vision 357 features natural fiber-reinforced plastic side sills. In keeping with the carbon-neutral theme set forth by its fuel, these aero elements feature sustainable materials, which according to Porsche, are made up of flax fibers from the agricultural sector. A sizable side air intake sits above them and feeds the theorized internal combustion powertrain. Its rear fenders also feature the cut-off styling behind the wheels, continuing airflow improvements. The Vision 357's rear is perhaps the most 356-inspired section of this concept's styling, as it features the now-iconic sloping roofline, which meets massively flared arches. To tie it all together, Porsche added a grille pattern just above the rear diffuser and twin exhaust pipes as a nod to the brand's first model. Large graphics on the doors and rear arches draw attention to the 356's upcoming 75th anniversary while contrasting nicely against the concepts Ice Grey Metallic and Grivola Grey Metallic paintwork. According to Porsche, these were popular colors during the 1950s. The Vision 357 rides on 20-in magnesium wheels with carbon fiber hubcaps. While these pay homage to the 356 A and 356 B wheels, their aerodynamic disk also shrinks them visually, tying their look closer to the original. As a package, it's a stunning concept with styling motifs we can only hope will trickle down to the brand's production cars. The German carmaker plans to formally unveil the concept this week during Volkswagen Group's "Drive" forum in Berlin as part of the "75 Years of Porsche sports cars" exhibition. It'll be open to the public from January 27th, 2023. View All Porsches For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 06, 2021

Porsche Vision Gran Turismo Unveiled as Electric Race Car...

Wouldn't mind this heading to production. Ahead of the release of Gran Turismo 7 on March 4, 2022, the new Porsche Vision Gran Turismo has been unveiled as a virtual electric racing car made specifically for the video game. The new Vision Gran Turismo has a very purposefully built design that offers up a glimpse as to what a Porsche race car of the future could look like. There are multiple design elements that link the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo to the Taycan, the automaker's incredibly popular electric sports car. These elements include the integrated air intakes of the front fascia and the narrow light strip in the rear. While these similarities exist, everything else is unlike anything you've seen in a road-going Porsche. The most exciting feature has to be the holographic instrument cluster that gives the driver a perfect view of the road ahead and the car's vital stats without compromising visibility. And while it is technically a virtual car, Porsche did note a few technical specs. They note that the Vision Gran Turismo will be able to run 0 to 62 mph in 2.1 seconds, hit a top speed of 217 mph, has a range of 311 miles, and has a power output of 1,100 horsepower (1,274 hp with overboost and launch control). View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche Newsroom

By Andrew Nabors – December 02, 2020

Porsche Unseen Series Reveals 15 Incredible Concepts

Nearly a month ago they teased us with a gorgeous book of unreleased masterpieces. Now the Porsche Unseen series reveals 15 incredible concepts along with the inspirations behind them. As the culmination of this unprecedented campaign, Porsche has uploaded a 47-minute dive into stunning works from 2005 to the present-day. How To Buy Porsche Unseen: The Showcars By Stefan Bogner Like all great Porsche design studies, many of these are close to being production-ready. Having such a healthy design staff is how Porsche can offer styling that is unmatched, so we hope to see a few of these in person once Covid subsides. Tell us your favorite car in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 12, 2020

Porsche Unseen Highlights 15 Concepts That Should Have Be...

Driven by the optimism of a new millennium, many wild designs of the early aughts were given the green light. One brand decided to focus on customer satisfaction and reliability before all else, so Porsche Unseen highlights 15 concepts that should have been produced. Riding high on the successes of the Boxster and the Cayenne, the Porsche family tried to reclaim control of Volkswagen in a bitter family feud. Stylists won a big victory with the launch of the Carrera GT in 2004, and it gave them a blank check to build concepts for auto shows around the world. Along with the stories behind them, these 15 cars have been compiled into a new book by the Delius Klasing publishing house. To give us a preview of what's inside, Porsche uploaded hi-res imagery of the 919 Street, Vision Spyder, and the Vision “Renndienst”. The first was a street-legal version of the 919 Hybrid that dominate LMP1 racing. The Vision Spyder is a modern 550 RS from last year, and the Renndienst is probably the only electric minivan aimed at family life. Click the button below to purchase the book and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Shop Here

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By Andrew Nabors – November 11, 2020

#PorscheUnseen Hints At Something Big

Perhaps one of the greatest discoveries is the power of restraint. Realizing the world is not ready for what you have discovered, the most difficult action is to hide the knowledge until such time that society can comprehend it. As the man once said, "There is nothing done in the dark that will not be seen in the light", and that is why #PorscheUnseen hints at something big. While we have seen teasers of two cars so far, Porsche has mentioned that all will be explained tomorrow. Considering they have had a decade of development since the 918 Spyder, we could be on the verge of something just as unprecedented. Stay with us for all your Porsche news as this story evolves. Browse Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 13, 2019

New Star Wars Starship Designed by Porsche and Lucasfilm

Porsche AG and Lucasfilm Ltd. have finally unveiled the product of their collaboration. Introducing the Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter, a new starship for the Star Wars universe. The two companies worked in their studios located in San Francisco and Weissach to develop the new starship and came together to finish the design. The Tri-Wing looks like it would fit in very naturally in the Star Wars universe, but it also has a few Porsche touches. In the front are air inlets similar to what you'd find on a Porsche automobile. At the back are taillights that were inspired by the current 911 generation. “The design of the spaceship is harmoniously integrated into the Star Wars film world while at the same time demonstrating clear analogies with the characteristic Porsche styling and proportions,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche at Porsche AG. “The basic shape of the cabin, which tapers towards the rear, and a highly distinctive topography from the cockpit flyline to the turbines establish visual parallels with the iconic design of the 911 and the Taycan. The very compact layout conveys dynamism and agility, lending emphasis to the Porsche design features mentioned.” SEE ALL PORSCHES FOR SALE

By Andrew Nabors – July 29, 2019

Porsche Mission E Stars in PLAYMOBIL: The Movie

As the predecessor to the upcoming Taycan, the Porsche Mission E was both a prototype and design study. It captures the attention of young people and adults, as Stuttgart's first entry into all-electric sedans. If you want a preview of its abilities, the Porsche Mission E Stars in PLAYMOBIL: The Movie which opens August 30th. In their latest press release, Porsche celebrates their collaboration with the German Toymaker. Kjell Gruner, Chief of Porsche Marketing says: “Porsche was Playmobil's first licensed product. Since then we have brought out a carefully designed new set every year, each of which has been enthusiastically received by children, teenagers, and their parents”. Although the hero Rex Dasher will be driving a smaller version, the full-size Mission E is a glimpse of the future in the real-world. After wowing spectators at Formula E races, the Taycan will arrive in 2020 with three years of free charging from Electrify America. It can also be juiced by the 800-volt stations at every Porsche Dealer. This will get your battery to 80% in 15 minutes, a claim no other manufacturer comes close to. Expect a range between 280 and 300 miles, and a price starting in the mid-'80s. See it on the Big Screen August 30th and stay with us for all your Porsche news. In the meantime, check out these great deals on the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid from our dealers below. Browse Porsche Panamera For Sale Related: Porsche Taycan Trio Attacks the Hoover Dam Porsche Taycan Driven by Mark Webber at Goodwood

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2019

Gemballa Teases New Supercar

https://www.instagram.com/p/BymwY56itnP/ If a Porsche Carrera GT is too tame for your daily drive, our friends at Gemballa will build you a Mirage GT. Because they have been building customized Porsches since 1981, they know how to make cars gorgeous and fast. That's why we're glad Gemballa has teased a new supercar. Their first round of fundraising is now in full swing, and we hope the new project becomes fully funded. A rising tide raises all ships, so it will force the competition back to the drawing board. Check out what they did to a limited run of Panameras in the video below, and stay with us for all your Gemballa news. " width="680"> Related: Gemballa Unveils Beastly GTR 8XX EVO-R BITURBO Ben Chen and his Gemballa Mirage GT

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2019

New Pics of the Stunning Porsche 917 Concept Released

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 917 race car, Porsche has been blasting out historical facts and photos of the car. They've also introduced a new 917 concept car that is truly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, when Porsche revealed the car, we only had one photo to go off of. Porsche also noted that the concept car would remain a concept and that there would be no plans of it heading towards production. We may not have word of the 917 concept being produced, but we do now have a few more photos of it. In the photos, we get to see just about all angles of the car, including the rear, which looks fantastic. I genuinely hope that Porsche considers putting this car into production because it is truly astounding. It blends the iconic styling of the classic 917 with modern design cues of modern Porsches in a beautiful manner. see all porsches up for sale Also Check Out: Mercedes-Benz EQC 1886 Unveiled in New York Jeep & Mopar Unveil Six Concepts for Easter Safari 2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Vision Concept Revealed

By Edward Jones – March 11, 2019

Porsche 917 Concept Revealed: A Work of Art This World Needs

Porsche is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary race car known as the 917. For the celebration, the German automaker is putting a special exhibition in the Porsche Museum called "Colours of Speed - 50 Years of the 917." It's here that 14 different exhibits will be on display, including a very special 917 concept study. This new concept was created by a small team of both designers and engineers. Unfortunately, the 917 concept study is going to remain as a concept with no plans for a production model. That being said, this is truly a beautiful design that blends the classic style of the race car with the modern aesthetics of what looks like the 918 Spyder. It's truly a beautiful design that I hope gets translated into a production model in the future. see all porsche for sale

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