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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 Edward Jones – April 06, 2018

Porsche Exclusive 911 GT3 RS is a Black and Gold Gem

Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur is the company you go to when you want to make your Porsche truly "yours." This customization brand of Porsche started off as a special request program and was officially dubbed Porsche Exclusive back in 1986 and has since added the "Manufaktur" on the end.Porsche 911 Sales Jump in March 2018Their latest creation to be shown off is a dark and brooding example of the 911 GT3 RS. Its body is finished in a black paint, while the wheels shine some light thanks to their Satin Aurum paint. It's safe to say this car would fit perfect in Batman's Batcave next to his Batmobile. Inside the cabin, the dark/light theme continues with a primarily black cabin that's contrasted only by the yellow tones of the seatbelts and stitching. Check it out for yourself in the images below.

By Andrew Nabors – March 28, 2018

Porsche: Top 5 Advantages Of The Boxer Engine

Germans are not known for wasting space. So when Dr. Porsche was asked to design a "people's car" he decided on a flat four-cylinder engine. The original Volkswagen design is what his son based the Porsche 356 on, and Porsche has used the flat (or Boxer) engine layout ever since.The Boxer name probably comes from how the pistons oppose each other, like the fists of fighters. They have so many advantages that Subaru and other manufacturers have embraced it over the years. The driving public probably doesn't know what lies behind the cockpit of their Porsche 911, so they decided to highlight the top 5 benefits of the design. Instead of a corporate lackey, they turned to the man responsible for perfecting the Porsche engine, Dr. Hans Mezger.2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T Exhaust SymphonyMention the Mezger engine to any Porsche owner and they will respond with reverence and respect. As the leader of Porsche's racing engines, he also transformed the LeMans winning six-cylinder into a brutal street machine. The Porsche 911's 997 series (2005 to 2012) is regarded as the pinnacle, with the 911 GT3 RS 4.0. For a modern take, he was joined by Jean Pierre Kraemer, the brains behind JP Performance. These gentlemen know how to extract every ounce of power from a Boxer engine, so tell us your favorite aspect of Porsche's designs below and click the link to find a Porsche 911 for yourself.Porsche 911 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2018

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T Exhaust Symphony

Let's face it: some cars just sound terrible. Porsche engineers know this, so they decided to tune the 911 Carrera T to sing like nothing else on the road. Going back to basics, the Carrera T uses lightweight parts from the GT series cars along with less insulation. The result is a curb weight of 3,142 lbs if you opt for the manual transmission. Porsche Unveils the 911 Carrera T: The Lightest 911 Carrera Engineers in Stuttgart fired up several vintage Porsches to study their exhaust notes. The result is a tuned system that sounds and performs better than anything the aftermarket can offer. A tuned manifold has unequal length tubes coming from each cylinder. This might seem counterintuitive but the length is based on the engine's firing order. each exhaust pulse arrives at the muffler just in time to suck the next one down the pipes. 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T: Fun Is Not Optional This scavenging effect offers loads of torque across the RPM range, and smiles per gallon. Starting at only $102,100, this 370 hp 911 is a throwback to cars like the 964 and the 930. Our friends at AutoTop NL seem to get all the hottest cars before they reach the US, so turn up the volume for this HD footage of Porsche's latest achievement. If you are interested, click the link to find our dealer nearest you and tell us what you think of the audio in the comments below.

By Edward Jones – March 23, 2018

New Porsche 911 GT3 RS Goes Wild in New Video

The new 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was revealed in February 2018 as a new and improved version of the sports car/race car cross-breed. With 520 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque, it outpowers the outgoing generation in both stats. Also, the new GT3 RS is 0.2 quicker when it comes to a 0-60 mph sprint and can accomplish it in 3.2 seconds.Porsche has only just unveiled the new model, so nobody has really had a chance to see it on the road just yet. Thankfully, Porsche has released a new video that shows the new 911 GT3 RS ripping around a track. In the video we can hear the four-liter naturally aspirated engine hit high revs and scream through the exhaust. Click play below to hear it for yourself.Porsche Employees Get Massive Bonus

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2018

2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Color Options

Porsche has officially released the new 2019 GT3 RS, an updated version of the outgoing model that sees better performance, updated visuals and more power. It comes packing 520 horsepower, 346 lb-ft of torque and 0 to 60 mph time of just 3 seconds. Those numbers are great and all, but how good does it look in different colors? Thanks to the dream-granters at Porsche, we already have a configurator that shows off the many options available for the new sports car. Below are all of the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS color options that are currently available. Is there one you like the most? A color you think is missing? Let me know in the comments below! Personally, I'm a fan of Miami Blue. View the Complete 911 GT3 RS Specs & Prices 2019 911 GT3 RS Special Colors Chalk Lava Orange Miami Blue Lizard Green 2019 911 GT3 RS Standard Colors Black White Guards Red Racing Yellow 2019 911 GT3 RS Metallic Colors GT Silver Metallic

By Edward Jones – January 29, 2018

70 Years Ago the First Porsche was Born

It was seventy years ago that the very first Porsche sports car was born. On June 8, 1948, the first Porsche, the 356 "No. 1" Roadster, was registered. This car was a realization of Ferry Porsche's dream."Tradition is a commitment. Without our tradition and without our core values, we would not be where we are today," said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. "We plan to uphold the standard of technical excellence set by Ferry Porsche well into the future. Intelligent dynamic mobility has a great future ahead of it. And we have the solid technological expertise, creative employees, and unique team spirit to be involved. We have what it takes to ensure that the Porsche brand continues to fascinate - even in another 70 years."Top 10 Reasons Why To Buy Porsche 918 SpyderTo celebrate 70 years of iconic sports cars, Porsche will be holding a number of events across the world. In the U.S. there will be an exhibition called "The Porsche Effect" at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los, Angeles. Porsche will open this event on February 3. Across the world, Porsche will be holding a "Sports Car Together Day" on June 9. You can take part in this event at the Porsche Experience Centers in Atlanta and Los Angeles.Congratulations to Porsche for continuing to innovate the sports car without forgetting their origins for seventy years. Take a look at the 911 models. Sure, the style has changed over the years, but not enough to where the car forgets what it is and where it came from. You can line up thousands of cars, and spotting a Porsche out of them would be easy, no matter the year or model. Never forget your roots!

By Andrew Nabors – January 24, 2018

Porsche Engineers Explain 718 Series GTS Cayman & Boxster

If you are looking for the best combination of track day winner and daily driver, the new GTS is the ultimate Boxster or Cayman. The siblings are so potent that Porsche's engineers decided to explain the upgrades in detail.Top 10 Reasons Why To Buy Porsche 918 SpyderFor a quick refresher, the base models are powered by 2.0L turbocharged flat fours that offer 296 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The S models up the ante with 2.5 liters with 345 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. For the new GTS, they revised the intake with a larger turbo, throttle body, and other associated parts.This has allowed the GTS to arrive with 365 horsepower. The real advantage is in torque. In the S models, torque arrived slowly at lower engine speeds. But the GTS has 371 lb-ft available from 1,900 rpm all the way to 5 grand. How they extract V8 levels of power from a four-cylinder is just one of the reasons Porsche stays at the top of their game. The Cayman GTS is capable of reaching 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, this is approaching the level of a base model 911 Carrera...Standard equipment on the GTS includes the iconic blacked out headlights and taillights, along with unique front and rear bumpers. The Sport Chrono system links to your smartphone to record telemetry from your laps, and it even controls the active motor mounts. The best part of the 718 GTS is the availability of a manual transmission and a base price under $80,000. If you demand the very best from your Porsche, tell us which one you would own in the comments below.Cayman S For SaleBoxster S For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&amp=&v=2PckgiN_b98

By Andrew Nabors – December 18, 2017

Why the Porsche Carrera GT Sounds so Good

Most of us can identify a car's brand by the soundtrack from the exhaust pipes. Everyone likes to make power in a different way, and there is no wrong answer when it comes to sound. But the Porsche Carrera GT is an outlier in every way. It sounds like no other street-legal car because the engine was not designed to be civilized.What it’s Like to Drive the Porsche Carrera GTBehind the cockpit is a V10 that sounds like something from Formula1, because it is. Porsche engineers worked with the Footwork F1 team to build an amazing engine, but it was shelved for years in order to focus on the development of the Cayenne. The SUV was (and is) a great profit center for the brand, so they decided to build a car to handle the wild engine. The aluminum block and heads are loaded with titanium rods and composite cylinder liners.The Carrera GT: Own Porsche Supercar HistoryThe forged crank had a 68* firing order instead of 72* (720 degrees between 10 cylinders would be internally balanced). It yielded a rev-happy beast with the scream of an F1 car. Maximum horsepower was 605 at 8,000 rpm. In order for the engine to rev quickly, a composite clutch was used to save weight. It is tricky to drive at first and we guarantee you will stall a few times. It happens to everyone, so if you are looking for a truly unique experience, check out the video from Supercar Advocates below and stay with us for all your Porsche news & reviews. Browse Porsche Carrera GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 13, 2017

Porsche Museum Shows Off Their Oldest 911 for 1st Time

The Porsche Museum is finally showing off their oldest 911 model after three years of restoration. This specific red 911 coupe was built back in October 1964 and was one of the first series-production models.2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911RHow did the Porsche Museum acquire this car? It's actually a pretty wild story. Back in 2014, a TV team came upon two 911s that were from the 1960s. They soon contacted the Porsche Museum who then informed them that one of them (chassis 300.057) was built as a 901, the model designation given before it changed over to 911. The Porsche Museum then purchased both 911s and went on to restore chassis 300.057 and are now unveiling it at the their special exhibition called "911 (901 No. 57) - A legend takes off." This exhibition will run from December 14, 2017 to April 8, 2018.Before After

By Andrew Nabors – December 08, 2017

2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911R

Everyone is raving about the incredible power of the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The notion of a twin turbo 3.8-liter making 700 horsepower is making speculators giddy at the notion of fast profits on the upcoming model. But another 911 was released alongside it at the Frankfurt auto show in September. The New Porsche 911 GT2 RS Has Smashed the Nurburgring Record The latest GT3 is not an RS, so it does away with the wide body and the obscene aerodynamics. Under the hood is the same 500 horsepower engine shared with the RS and another famous model, the 911R. It was the Porsche made famous by combining big power with a manual transmission. Collectors scrambled to get their hands on them, and a quick glance at their resale prices reflects the limited production numbers. Because the press has been crying about the death of the manual transmission, Porsche has introduced the Carrera T to make driving great again. But we wondered what other 911 models offered a stick shift. Hidden in plain sight is a Touring Package for the GT3. It offers classy exterior upgrades, and the interior has the GT seats, navigation, and A/C. That's where we stopped...the shifter is not the familiar PDK, it is manual. The 911 GT3 Touring is only available as a stick shift.... So what we have is essentially the same formula as the 991R for a new generation. That is because the 911R was built on the last examples of the 991.1 chassis. On the outside, you notice small details like headlights and turn signals, but the big differences are in the structure itself. To build a stronger foundation, engineers started with a clean sheet and built a car very close in dimensions to its predecessor. The new car is longer and wider, but you won't notice until they are side-by-side. The purpose of the update was to increase the performance of the chassis and decrease unwanted NVH (noise vibration harshness), which is a bragging point among automakers. Why You Should Buy A Porsche 911R The GT3 Touring is appealing because it is the new kid on the block, but the 911R is something more. It was built to evoke the memories of the Tour de France races from the late 60's. Only 991 examples were produced, and each one had a retro-inspired interior along with comfortable suspension. Porsche will build as many GT3s as the market will bear, each one with a track-ready demeanor. It will also have to fight for attention among all the other GT variants of the 911. So from a collectibility standpoint, the 911R is our choice for an investment. If you are in the market for a manual transmission 911, you have several flavors to choose from, so click the link below to find one that is right for you. As always, stay with us for all your 911 news & reviews. All 911R For Sale All 911 GT3 For Sale

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