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 Edward Jones – July 02, 2020

Porsche US Delivery Report for Second Quarter Released

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many automotive retailers and manufacturing plants had to shut down. This caused an expected downturn in the delivery of automobiles across the board and Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) Second Quarter U.S. Retail Delivery report proves that. Their report included retail deliveries by 192 independently owned and operated U.S. dealers, all of whom tallied up 12,192 deliveries from April to June. From 2019 to 2020, that's a 19.9% drop even with the additional deliveries of the new Taycan. Interestingly enough, Porsche's Approved Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales saw an increase in sales by 8.1% year-over-year. Though they saw their Q2 in the negatives, it showed signs of a solid rebound. See All Porsches for Sale “May and June witnessed a rebound of customer demand from April, and record Certified Pre-Owned sales in June are another indicator of sustained passion for Porsche,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. “Our dealer partners have gone above and beyond and displayed a high level of agility to ensure customers’ safety and mobility at a very challenging time.” Model 2020 2019 Difference ALL 911 2,245 1,726 30.1% ALL 718 472 1,490 68.3% ALL TAYCAN 818 n/a n/a ALL PANAMERA 871 2,042 -57.4% ALL CAYENNE 3,822 4,472 -14.5% ALL MACAN 3,964 5,503 -27.9% TOTAL 12,192 15,233 -19.9% April-June 2020 (Q2) Source: Porsche Cars North America (PCNA)

By Edward Jones – April 08, 2020

Porsche Employees Get Big Bonus for Successful 2019

Porsche has just announced a big bonus for their employees as a "thank you" for a very successful 2019. The bonus consists of two separate components, a 9000 euro bonus (around $9,800 USD) and 700 euro (around $761 USD) contribution to the Porsche VarioRente or individual pension plan. Porsche is also encouraging employees to make voluntary donations to charitable organizations. The Executive Board at Porsche is also donating half a million euros privately as well. On top of this charitable donation, Porsche AG has also increased their donation volume by five million euros and their doubling their food donation money to local food banks to 200,000 euros. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG said: "Solidarity in our society is more important than ever. Industry, politics and society: we will overcome the Corona crisis together. Porsche is taking on social responsibility. This is our fundamental philosophy and our understanding of sustainable action". See All Porsches for Sale

By Edward Jones – March 18, 2020

Porsche Suspends Production Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Porsche has announced today, March 18, 2020, that they will be suspending production for a period of two weeks due to concerns regarding the coronavirus epidemic. The German automaker is hoping that this will help in the global reponse to halt the spread of Covid-19. Porsche has also placed a ban on business travel and many employees are working from home. “With these measures, our company contributes to protect the workforce and reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The actual consequences are not yet predictable. It is therefore too early for forecasts. What is clear is that 2020 will be a very challenging year,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “We can only overcome the pandemic together and by taking rigorous measures.” In the meantime, we have hundreds of Porsches for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com. You can view them all by clicking the button below. And also be sure to visit our Automotive Resources: Shipping page if you find a Porsche you want to add to your collection. View All Porsches For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 04, 2019

Porsche November 2019 U.S. Sales Figures

Porsche is poised to make 2019 their tenth consecutive year of growth in deliveries to U.S. customers. On top of that, it will also be their eighth successive record year. Yes, Porsche is on a roll and shows no signs of slowing down. In November 2019, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) saw sales rise by 11.5 percent year-over-year to a total of 6,326 cars. PCNA notes that November 2019 was actually their strongest month ever. The new Cayenne was a huge part of PCNA's November success, which saw a 52.4 increase compared to last year. SEE ALL PORSCHES FOR SALE Model November Sales Year-to-Date 2019 2018 2019 2018 ALL 911 979 1,056 8,602 8,858 ALL 718 247 422 3,689 5,039 ALL PANAMERA 657 800 6,033 7,710 ALL CAYENNE 1,972 1,294 17,519 9,350 ALL MACAN 2,471 2,101 20,992 22,159 GRAND TOTALS 6,326 5,673 56,835 53,116 Source: PCNA

By Edward Jones – November 04, 2019

Porsche October 2019 Sales See Increase Compared to 2018

Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) have announced their sales figures for the month of October 2019. PCNA noted that their October retail sales increased by 13.1 percent (4,817 to 5,447) when compared to October 2018. Year-to-date sales also increased by 6.5 percent when compared to 2018 (47,443 to 50,509). The biggest gainers for PCNA in October 2019 were the 911 (65 percent increase) and Macan (19.2 percent) models. Year-to-date, however, the Cayenne has been a hot seller this year, which has seen a 193 percent increase in sales. You can view the numbers right down below and be sure to click the button to see all Porsches we currently have for sale. see all porsches for sale Model October Sales Year-to-Date 2019 2018 2019 2018 ALL 911 1,302 789 7,623 7,802 ALL 718 239 317 3,442 4,617 ALL PANAMERA 360 541 5,376 6,910 ALL CAYENNE 1,216 1,215 15,547 8,056 ALL MACAN 2,330 1,955 18,521 20,058 GRAND TOTALS 5,447 4,817 50,509 47,443

By Edward Jones – October 24, 2019

Porsche Becomes World's #1 Luxury Brand

Porsche has been announced as the world's #1 luxury and premium brand by Brand Finance. The German automaker's brand value is set at an astonished $29.3 billion. Directory of Brand Finance had this to say regarding Porsche's number 1 spot: "Connotations of luxury extend far beyond fashion brands with this becoming ever more apparent since Porsche yet again tops the Brand Finance Luxury & Premium 50 2019 ranking of the world’s most valuable luxury and premium brands. The combination of Porsche’s trusted and long-standing heritage, a commitment to diversification, innovation and after sales-services is what really sets the auto titan apart from its competitors." Brand Finance also announced a few other notes regarding their top luxury and premium brands of 2019. Cartier took the #2 spot away from Louis Vuitton, thanks to their 39% increase in brand value. Ferrari was also announced as the world's strongest luxury and premium brand with a 94.8 out of 100 on the Brand Strength Index (BSI) score. see all porsches for sale Source: BrandFinance.com

By Edward Jones – January 15, 2019

Porsche Lays Out 2018 Sales Figures in Infographic

Porsche had a record-breaking year in 2018 thanks to their stellar sales. Within their sales report, there was a lot to ingest, so the German automaker was kind enough to break it down in an neat infographic. You can check it all out below! If you want the nitty-gritty details, check out our Porsche 2018 Sales article.

By Andrew Nabors – January 08, 2019

Porsche 2018 Sales: Record Year in U.S.

It is time for a celebration in Atlanta. But instead of 400 cases of Coors, we suppose Porsche North America is having Hefeweizen und Strudel. That's because Porsche's 2018 sales figures point to another record-year for the automaker. Their latest press release shows model-year 2018 saw a 3.2% sales increase. A total of 57,202 deliveries marks nine years of growth. As the 7th consecutive year of improvement, they offer up sales of each model. Leading the way is the Macan. This compact SUV is smaller than the Panamera, and if offers tremendous abilities at an affordable price. 23,500 examples make for 9.7% growth. In the second year of its new body style, 8,042 Panamera deliveries accounted for double-digit percentage growth. As the last year of the 991.2 chassis, the 911 family saw a 7.6% increase to 9,647. This was thanks to unprecedented sales of the GT2 and GT3 performance models. The Porsche Macan was their best-selling model in 2018. Full-size SUVs are the hottest industry segment, so December was dominated by the Cayenne. Introduction of the Cayenne S and Turbo. Buyers demanded 1,383 examples of Cayenne, a stark contrast to 940 from December 2017. Last but not least, Porsche Certified Pre-Owned sales saw a 20.7% jump to 23,046 deliveries. Our dealers need to make room for 2020 models, so click the link below for great incentives and stay with us for all your Porsche news. View All Porsche For Sale Model December Sales Year-To Date 2018 2017 2018 2017 ALL 911 789 773 9,647 8,970 ALL 718 237 301 5,276 5,087 ALL PANAMERA 332 455 8,042 6,731 ALL CAYENNE 1,383 940 10,733 13,203 ALL MACAN 1,345 1,444 23,504 21,429 GRAND TOTALS 4,086 3,913 57,202 55,420

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2018

Porsche Hires Big to Make the Taycan Happen

Coming soon from Germany is the Porsche Taycan, an all-new electric model that's set to make waves in the luxury automotive market. To make the car happen, Porsche has had to make some big moves. For instance, the introduction of the new model has created 1,200 in Zuffenhausen at the main plant. “The Taycan is one of biggest creators of jobs in the history of Porsche,” emphasizes Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for HR and Social Affairs. Porsche does say, however, that all of these new employees will not be producing the Taycan. they note that their goal is to "create a team with a healthy mix of experienced sports car manufacturers and new staff." On top of the added workforce, the Porsche has stated that by 2022 they will invest over €6 billion in e-mobility. It looks like Porsche is going full steam ahead with electric cars and the Taycan is just the start.Classic Porsche 930's For Sale Related Video: View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche AG

By Caitlin Duffy – September 24, 2015

Porsche CEO Matthias Müller to Replace Martin Winterkorn ...

Update Sept. 25, 2015: In a press release issued today, Volkswagen Group has confirmed that Matthias Müller has been appointed to the position of CEO."Matthias Müller is a person of great strategic, entrepreneurial and social competence," stated Berthold Huber, interim Chairman of the SUpervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, in the release. "He knows the Group and its brands well and can immediately engage in his new task with full energy. We expressly value his critical and constructive approach."----------With the recently announced discovery of defeat devices altering the emissions levels of certain Volkswagen vehicles, the German auto company has been thrown into some intense turmoil over the past few days.In a statement Sept. 23, Volkswagen's CEO, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the wake of the scandal, and Reuters reports that Matthias Müller, current CEO of Porsche, will likely be taking over the position."As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group," Winterkorn stated. "I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part." Dr. Martin WinterkornAs many as 11 million vehicles have the software installed worldwide, with up to 500,000 being recalled in the United States alone, as the New York Times reported Sept. 22. Volkswagen could be facing fines of up to $18 billion, and the company's stock prices have already plummeted, losing as much as 50 percent of its value.Reuters reported in an article today that sources close to the matter stated that Müller "is backed by a majority on VW's 20-member supervisory board, which will endorse him as new CEO at a meeting on Friday."Müller has worked within Volkswagen for nearly 40 years, and it's believed that his experience and success at Porsche set him up to be able to navigate one of the largest scandals to hit a major manufacturer in recent times. As the environmental impact of the high emissions levels is being assessed, Müller's history of overseeing green projects, such as the Mission-E Concept and 918 Spyder, will undoubtedly serve the company's image well.(See Also: Connected Cars Coming to Tampa with $17 Million Investment from USDOT)Interestingly enough, this is not the first time Müller has eyed the position of CEO at Volkswagen - a March 24 article from Autoblog tells that Müller was named as a possible successor to the position after Winterkorn's retirement. This wasn't planned to occur for at least a few more years - Winterkorn's contract was set to expire at the end of 2016, though it was thought he might have extended that date to 2018.If you've recently purchased a diesel vehicle from Volkswagen or Audi, be sure to check and see if yours is one of the cars impacted by this recall; the EPA lists the following diesel vehicles as having the defeat device software installed:Jetta (MY 2009 – 2015) Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009-2014) Beetle (MY 2012 – 2015) Beetle Convertible (MY 2012-2015) Audi A3 (MY 2010 – 2015) Golf (MY 2010 – 2015) Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015) Passat (MY 2012-2015)Stay with us for more updates from the automotive industry as they emerge.(Source: Porsche, Volkswagen, Reuters, Autoblog, The New York Times, EPA) See More Industry Reports

Porsche News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe