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 Andrew Nabors – January 26, 2021

2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Review By Supercars In Seconds

Chalk is a color that might bring up memories of education, so prepared to be schooled by a 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S review from Supercars in Seconds. Matthew Jones is the Sales Manager at Dimmitt Luxury Cars, so he is well regarded when it comes to exotic cars for sale. The latest All-Wheel Drive Porsche 911 Carrera offers 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft from a twin-turbo 3-liter flat-six. Starting at only $122,400 it is a perfect opportunity to find your new Porsche 911. Yours is waiting in the button below. Browse Inventory At Dimmitt Automotive Did you see their Mercedes S63 to S550 comparison?

By Andrew Nabors – January 06, 2021

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S PTS On Display At Manhattan Moto...

When considering the future provenance of your car, color is among the most important attributes. That is why we are glad to show you this stunning 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Paint-To-Sample on display at Manhattan Motorcars. Manhattan Motorcars Virtual Dealership Tour The most prominent Porsche dealer in the Northeast has a hotline to Zuffenhausen. A few weeks ago, the order was received for a 911 unlike any other. Nogaro Blue is a historic color that deserves to be seen on their flagship. Offset by Exclusive Series wheels and Sport Exhaust, this car is very worthy to have 640 horsepower at all wheels. The 2-tone interior and other "Special Wishes" are just a few reasons why Manhattan Motorcars should be your first choice when considering a Porsche. Click the button below to see why. Browse Inventory " width="680">

By Edward Jones – October 01, 2020

Custom Hero Porsche Honors Fallen Sheriff Killed in the L...

It was on November 7, 2018 that tragedy struck at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California when a gunman entered the popular bar and opened fire. In total, 12 innocent people were killed, including Sergeant Ron Helus. Sgt. Helus was one of the first officers responding to the "shots fired" call. Risking his life, Helus entered the smoke-filled building where the gunman was. It was in this building that he was fatally wounded. Sgt. Helus died protecting the community he served. He was, and will forever be, a hero. To honor Sgt. Helus and the 12 victims that lost their lives, Rusnak/Westlake Porsche commissioned a tribute vinyl wrap for a 2020 Porsche 911 from Ghost Shield Film located in Thousand Oaks. This Hero911 wrap honors Sgt. Helus and his heroic acts with a design that mirrors his Ventura County Sheriff patrol car, complete with his name on the driver's side. Rusnak/Westlake Porsche has successfully teamed up with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation to display the Hero911 at community events and draw awareness on the fundraising efforts for the Helus Training Facility. The facility will provide the Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies with a state of the art training center to meet modern-day threats, allowing them to become familiar with the stresses of maneuvering, coordinating, and securing a location under live fire conditions. The community's outpouring of support has been historic. So far, the Sheriff’s Foundation has raised $400,000 of the $800,000 needed to make this vision a reality. If you happen to spot this very special Hero911 Porsche, be sure to use the hashtags #hero911, #borderline12 and #ronhelus when sharing images of it on social media. If you’d like to be more direct in your support of the Helus Training Facility, you can donate at: VCSheriffsFoundation.org. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 30, 2020

Porsche Extends New Car Warranties

We have all been affected by the virus. With many manufacturers offering immense discounts on new cars, why is nobody thinking of new car owners? That's why our friends at Porsche stepped up to extend new car warranties. Any warranty set to expire between March or May will have 3 months added with no questions asked. It is a well-known secret that Porsche stands behind their cars, unlike any other brand. If a small batch of engines develops a tick, you get a new one for free. When my dad bought a new 944 Turbo, it developed an oil leak. The dealer sent out technicians in white lab coats to ascertain the problem. Yes, they cost more than a daily driver, but you get what you pay for. Your local dealer has all the details on your warranty, so click the button below to learn more. Find Your Porsche Dealer " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 13, 2020

Porsche Exchange COVID-19 Update

Although essential businesses like us will remain open, our friends at the Porsche Exchange have made some changes in operations to keep customers and employees safe. Starting with the bad news, the wash rack is closed. Complimentary car washes are suspended until further notice. The service department will remain open, but please call ahead if possible. The hours of operation Monday-Friday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Parts Department and Accessory Sales are closed. However, you can still order by phone and pick up at the dealership. Also closed is the showroom. You may speak to a sales associate after scheduling a meeting, they are available 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday-Friday, and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5 PM. Test drives will be limited to one per day, and all purchase or lease documents can be completed online. Once everything is processed, your new Porsche will be delivered to your driveway and your trade will be exchanged. We applaud our dealers for taking such proactive measures. That's why you should click the button below to find your Porsche and enjoy a hassle-free transaction. Browse Inventory Contact The Porsche Exchange Website: https://www.4porsche.com/Phone: 888-607-7998Address: 2300 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035

By Andrew Nabors – April 01, 2020

Canepa Rebuilds 1,500 Horsepower 917 Engine

Endurance racing in the late ’60s was a show of force by the big automakers. When Porsche wanted to win at all costs, they turned to their brightest engineer: Hans Mezger. While a V8 or V10 would have been easier, he chose to combine two flat-6 engines into one of the world’s most complex race engines. Aside from Mr. Mezger, only a handful of Porsche technicians are capable of working on such a beast. Some of them happen to work at the same shop, so let’s watch the team at Canepa rebuild a 1,500 horsepower twin-turbocharged 917/30 engine. The Porsche 917/30 was found in storage and was then purchased by owner Rob Kauffman and had Canepa undertake a complete restoration which was completed in 2017. We saw it win Best of Show Concours de Sport the Amelia Island Concours this year, so take a trip back to when Canepa was restoring one of the most powerful race engines of all time. Browse All Inventory at Canepa https://vimeo.com/403007377 P.S. Don't try this at home

By Andrew Nabors – March 19, 2020

In-Depth Taycan Review by Porsche of the Main Line

As the foundation of RDS Auto Group, Porsche of the Main Line is a must-see in Philadephia. Just when I thought I knew everything about the new electric car, this film highlights features not advertised by Stuttgart. Learn about Porsche's brake requirements, battery density, hairpin stators in the dual electric motors, and 2-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle. Charge your car from 5% to 80% in 22 minutes and get back to enjoying this impressive sedan. With ample cargo space front and rear, check the inventory of Porsche of the Main Line in the button below. " width="680"> Visit Porsche of the Main Line/McLaren Philadelphia

By Andrew Nabors – January 29, 2019

Find Your 911 GT at Porsche West Palm Beach

Do you like your Porsche 911 to stand out from the crowd? You might think the top-level models are only found at the race track, but think again. If you have a need for speed, you can find your Porsche 911 GT at Porsche of West Palm Beach. As the flagship of the Braman Motors group, it is an obligatory stop for any Porsche Aficionado. Located just off of Interstate 95, their inventory will take your breath away. While they are happy to show you the advancements of the new 992 Series, their real treat are several examples of the 911 GT2 RS, along with GT3 RS and non-RS models. Don't believe us? Check out these beauties: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 View Price & Listing 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 View Price & Listing 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS View Price & Listing 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS View Price & Listing 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS View Price & Listing 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS View Price & Listing Tell us which one you would pick in the comments below, and stay with us for all your Porsche 911 news.

By Andrew Nabors – December 08, 2015

Porsche 918 Spyder: One-of-a-kind Twin to the World Recor...

During the morning of September 4, 2013, Marc Lieb piloted a Porsche 918 Spyder around Nurburgring and recorded the circuit's new record lap time of 6'57". The car he drove had exposed carbon fiber instead of a paint finish, with a wrap applied on top, which offered weight savings and a spectacular exterior.Today, CNC Motors of Ontario, California, has the twin to that record-breaking car up for sale.At first glance we were taken aback by the matte black wrap. Then we learned this car was ordered sans pigment, like the record car, and a wrap was applied at the factory to protect the bare carbon fiber. The result is weight savings of 14 lbs when compared to a painted Spyder. To shed pounds even further, the car was ordered with nomex-covered racing seats and the Weissach Package.The focus of the Weissach package was weight reduction, and it makes use of titanium and ceramics to replace traditional alloys to create a curb weight just over 3,600 lbs.This car was also tested by none other than Hurley Haywood, American's most famous automotive endurance racer. Mr. Haywood can attest that this car is the real deal, and it needs a new home.For more info, including price, click the button below.View Listing and Price Gallery

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2015

6 Porsche GT3 RS' at The Auto Gallery Porsche

To entertain track day enthusiasts, Porsche created the 911 GT3 RS. Since 1999, these GT cars have been providing countless laps of hardcore performance on the circuits.That said, these Porsches are uncommon and a sight that needs to be seen by any enthusiast, especially the latest 991 GT3 RS model. This is what makes the gathering of six of these race cars at Porsche Auto Gallery in Woodland Hills, California so special - double the amount of GT3 RS' they had in September.The six Porsches consisted of two model years, five from 2016 and one from 2011. The color of finishes are a bright array of hues, including Lava Orange, Ultra Violet and White.Also joining in are three 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4s, in Black and Carmine Red, and a car-show-winning 1964 356C in Irish Green.In an email from the dealership, they noted that they had "well over 2 million worth of inventory all in one showroom." Now that is one serious selection of Porsches.To view Porsche Auto Gallery's inventory, be sure to click the button below.Dealer Inventory (via Porsche Auto Gallery) More Exotic Car Dealer News

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