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 – July 22, 2015

1986 Porsche 930 Turbo D-Zug Projekt Mjølner For Sale

Update 7/22/15: The price of the car has been reduced to $109,000.There is little denying the power and prowess of the 1986 Porsche 930, or its importance in the continuation of Porsche's success around the world, and particularly in the American and Japanese markets. But that's not to say it can't be improved upon.Available for purchase from D-Zug now is their Projekt Mjølner, an unmistakable one-off powerhouse built from the ground up and named for Norse god Thor's hammer. Based on the 930's chassis, this 2 door coupe with just 29,000 on the odometer is in perfect show condition, and ready to take on any track or road you throw at it.Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, D-Zug is the product of the passion for Porsche racing exhibited by two people. Justin Broughton and Pete Koch are the masterminds behind D-Zug, with the mission of taking the best of Porsche's racing heritage and combining it to create immensely powerful cars reminiscent of, in their opinion, Porsche's golden days. They've combined pieces from different Porsches in Projekt Mjølner and their other creations, and they take an incredibly large amount of pride on ensuring the quality of their builds, no matter what.Of course, with a Porsche as unique as Projekt Mjølner, there's no way around a lot of time at rallies and car shows. The body is impressive; in addition to the 930 chassis, it features Porsche motorsport 3.0 RSR front fenders, early 935/76 quarter panels and a Porsche 2.1 turbo RSR front bumper. But, most noticeable is the Porsche 935/76 rear wing that almost outsizes the rest of the vehicle.(See Also: Ultimate Car Enthusiast's Estate For Sale in Pennsylvania) But a rear wing that size is absolutely necessary for keeping this beast on the ground once its engine opens up. The original 3.3-liter flat six engine has been increased to 3.5-liters and completely refitted with a score of new parts, including Garrett gt-30 turbochargers. All of this is mated to a rebuilt Porsche 930 four-speed gearbox with a D-Zug 935 shifter, making it capable of creating 607 rwhp and 544 lb-ft.Check out the gallery below to get a good look at this stunning one-off, and then visit the listing to learn more about the full details and price.View Listing Price Gallery See More Porsche News

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2015

Porsche Finishes Production on the 918 Spyder

It seems as though it's over just as quickly as it all began: after 21 months of production time, Porsche has rolled the last 918 Spyder off of the line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.This news comes to us in a press release issued today by Porsche. It's sad to see the 887 hp hybrid hypercar go, but we know that Porsche will be using the groundbreaking technology at the center of the car in future models.In the press release, Porsche talks heavily about how the 918 Spyder is the foundation for what's to come from the automaker. They state that the car "can convert far more kinetic energy into electrical energy than other hybrid vehicles because of its intelligent control of generator functionality and conventional brakes." This means we could see the kinetic energy recovery system in future models, which none of us would mind at all.We would like to take this time to congratulate Porsche on producing one of the most fascinating and incredible cars ever crafted. It will certainly leave a large mark in automotive history and will be talked about for years to come, just like the 959 and Carrera GT supercars.To reflect on the hypercar that is the 918 Spyder, here are some of the car's highlights: Lapped the Nurburgring North Loop in a record-breaking 6:57 Accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds 0-124 mph in 7.3 seconds 0-186 mph 20.9 seconds Beat the LaFerrari in a Dragrace Showdown Beat the McLaren P1 Around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca That being said, this doesn't mean you still can't buy a 918 Spyder. Actually, now is a better time than ever. Check out the examples we currently have for sale by clicking the button below.918s For Sale (Source: Porsche)See More Porsche News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 11, 2015

The Carrera GT: Own Porsche Supercar History

Porsche has long been renowned for its impressive abilities in crafting powerful and sleek cars for the road and the track, but a few of their production models stand out far beyond the rest for their ability to conquer both.From 1986-89, the 959 reigned supreme in the world of luxury performance cars. Its twin-turbocharged flat six engine was capable of reaching 195 mph, making it the fastest car of its time. But it wasn't until nearly 20 years later that another supercar came from the marque: the Carrera GT.(See Also: Only LaFerrari For Sale in the U.S. at Naples Motorsports)From 2004 to 2007, the two door stunner utilized a 5.7-liter V10 originally crafted for a Le Mans prototype. 1,300 of the planned 1,500 made it to production and sale, with an original MSRP of $448,000 USD. Of course, today they are worth much, much more.Check out our listings of Carrera GTs below, and find the perfect one of these Porsche powerhouses for your collection.Woodland Hills, California | Call for Price Buy Now Lake Park, Florida | Call for Price Buy Now Las Vegas, Nevada | $795,000 Buy Now Bakersfield, California | $819,000 Buy Now Shenandoah, Texas: $847,750 Buy Now Salem, New Hampshire | $895,000 Buy Now North Miami Beach, Florida | $949,950 Buy Now Springfield, Illinois | $1,099,900 Buy Now

By Caitlin Duffy – June 03, 2015

Porsche Design Chrontimer Series 1 Timepieces Introduced

With a call back to their history and a strong gaze on the future, Porsche Design has unveiled their latest timepieces for men: the Chrontimer Series 1.Though based on the first Porsche timepiece ever created, a design from Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, these timepieces have been developed entirely independently by the marque's design house. His principals of design were optimal readability, technical perfection, highest quality materials and puristic design with a focus on function, and each of those has been fully imbued in this new line.Another historic influence comes from the 1980 Titanium Chronograph from Porsche, which was the first timepiece crafted entirely from titanium. This influence is found in the titanium case of each Chrontimer Series 1. And yet a vast array of options are available for bezel, dials and strap materials and finishes, allowing each timepiece to truly reflect its owners tastes.(See Also: Hublot, Kobe Bryant Introduce New Timepiece in Napa Valley)The bezel can be either black, titanium or 18-carat rose gold, while the strap can be high-quality leather, high-tech fabric, titanium or rubber. Dials in black, carbon or deep blue will tie each design aspect together flawlessly.A mechanical ETA Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement powers this piece, with a 48-hour reserve. This timepiece will be available for order in July, so take a moment to look through the options below and pick the design that best suits you. When you're finished, take a minute to browse our exclusive listings of Porsches for sale, and complete your Porsche Design lifestyle with the perfect car to match.Porsches For Sale Gallery (Source: Porsche Design via HypeBeast) See More Watch News

Porsche News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe