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 Tyler Rampersaud – March 31, 2022

Porsche and holoride Bring VR Gaming To Backseat Entertai...

It seems the days of peering into minuscule ceiling-mounted DVD player screens are long gone. Backseat entertainment is one of the most important challenges to overcome when taking a family on a long drive. From figuring out the audio situation to trying to get the best seat in the car so as to not crane your neck trying to squint at a ceiling-mounted screen, satisfying and comfortable backseat entertainment has been a tall order. However, holoride and Porsche are introducing something at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles that may completely change the way things work. MUST READ: What are the best luxury cars you can buy? FIND OUT Using virtual reality, holoride and Porsche plan to blend the motion of the car and the backseat entertainment experience into one. Backseat passengers of a Porsche Cayenne are given VR headsets, which they use to play a new, original game called Cosmic Chase, in which the car turns into a spaceship, and passengers fight off an alien. The seamless integration of the experience comes in the fact that the VR experience matches the movement of the car, which not only makes the experience more engaging but also drastically reduces any risk of motion sickness by synchronizing what is seen with what is being felt. Currently, the experience is available at Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles, but as the technology continues to develop, Porsche and holoride plan to roll this out to other Porsche Experience Centers and eventually worldwide. Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 23, 2022

Experience Porsche in the Virtual Porsche Golf Circle Clu...

Porsche enlists help from one of the best professional golfers in the world. As a sponsor and dedicated fan of golf, Porsche surrounds itself with professional athletes to help blend the two luxury worlds together. Being a brand ambassador and seasoned professional on the PGA Tour, Paul Casey is proud to take on a new golf-inspired collaboration with the supercar specialists at Porsche. The dynamic duo is proud to announce the launch of the Porsche x Paul Casey Digital Event featuring an exclusive livestream from the Porsche Golf Circle Clubhouse. Making his first appearance as an official member of the Porsche Golf Circle, Paul Casey will talk about his life as a professional sportsman and a Porsche lover, give tips for the golf course, and share his thoughts on topics of interest to the community. There is also the chance to win VIP tickets for the Porsche European Open in a Community game. MUST-READ: Why to Buy the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 The main focus at the Porsche Golf Circle Clubhouse is the all-electric Taycan Cross Turismo, the German automotive manufacturer’s intro into the EV market and the perfect choice when deciding which car to take to the golf course. Participants additionally have the chance to get to know the Taycan Cross Turismo exclusively as a part of a Tech Talk with Product Trainer & Instructor Lars Berg. Along with key information on Porsche and the wonderful sport of golf, the event also presents a livestream with TAG Heuer discussing the potential for a new Connected Watch Golf Edition. The all-new Porsche Golf Circle Clubhouse virtual experience with Paul Casey opens on Tuesday, March 29th at 5:30 pm (CET). Registration for the upcoming digital event is currently available through the Porsche Website. View all of the current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming gear releases and supercar news. View All Porsche Taycan For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 14, 2022

Sean Wotherspoon x Porsche Unveil The Taycan 4S Cross Tur...

The fully-electric Porsche gets a new artistic look. The art car has been at the hands of Porsche since its early beginnings, with iconic model designs reimagined by world-renowned artists. Decades later, Porsche continues its rich tradition of hand painting vehicles with a new collaboration project with American designer and artist Sean Wotherspoon. In a new chapter series, Sean Wotherspoon breaks down the SW x Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo and its one-of-a-kind multi-color paint scheme. Each panel of the Porsche Taycan’s exterior presents itself in a vibrant factory color and highlights the extensive color palette offered by the German automotive manufacturer. MUST-READ: Daniel Arsham x Stone Island Announce The Upcoming Porsche Safari Collection Release The artistic project is a dream come true for Sean, working with the creative team at Porsche to select the perfect array of colors that contrast with each other. The colors featured on the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo are Nash Blue, Loretta Purple, Ashley Green, and Sean Peach. The Sean Wotherspoon x Porsche made its official appearance at the 2022 South by Southwest (SXSW). With his first official Porsche collaboration in the books, we are excited to see Sean Wotherspoon’s future influence on the automotive and art worlds. View all of the current Porsche Taycan 4S examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and supercar releases. View All Porsche Taycan 4S For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sean Wotherspoon (@sean_wotherspoon) Source: @sean_wotherspoon

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 14, 2022

Daniel Arsham x Stone Island Announce The Upcoming Porsch...

Celebrate the world of lifted Porsche 911s with the new upcoming apparel collection. With a growing presence in the world of art and fashion, Porsche continues to be the inspiration behind collaboration projects that highlight the heritage and lifestyle of the German automotive manufacturer. One of Porsche’s most influential art partners is Daniel Arsham, who features iconic models through an array of artistic avenues. Daniel Arsham is proud to partner with the fashion specialists at Stone Island on a special collection dedicated to the Porsche Safari builds. The inspiration behind the collaboration embodies Porsche’s versatility as one of the most well-rounded sports cars in history, reimagining the track-focused platform as a lifted off-road excursion chassis. MUST-READ: Sally From “Cars” Is Coming Back As A New 2022 Porsche 911 In a video directed by Jeremy Elkin and uploaded to the official Stone Island Instagram page, the brand announces the collection with a video of a Porsche 911 Safari displaying its agility on dirt with high-speed dirt drifts. Although a product list and media have yet to be released, the upcoming Porsche Safari Collection from Daniel Arsham x Stone Island is sure to be a highly-anticipated release for any car enthusiast. View all of the current Porsche 911 examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming release information on the Daniel Arsham x Stone Island Porsche Safari Collection. View All Porsche 911 For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stone Island (@stoneisland_official) Source: @stoneisland_official

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 25, 2022

Porsche Dedicates A Museum Exhibit Its Most Iconic Lifest...

And rightly so, as the Porsche Design brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The brand has used Porsche’s iconic sporty and luxurious brand identity to create collections of all sorts of items that exude that same identity and possess beautiful, innovative, and timelessly sleek designs. MUST-READ: The Best Porsches You Can Buy Today Some of the items Porsche Design has created include watches, cellphones, fashion, and more. The brand, like Porsche itself, has always been dedicated to showing off the intersection of beauty and technology. Some of the pieces that will be exhibited include the Chronograph 1 watch, the P8478 sunglasses, the P9521 cell phone, and the P`3613 tobacco pipe. Some cars from F.A. Porsche’s private collection will be on display as well, as they were often the muses of the pieces that Porsche Design released. One of the cars on display will be the new Porsche 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design, which will be limited to 750 units and includes many small homages to Porsche Design motifs. The exhibition will be at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until July 10. Shop Porsche Design View this post on Instagram A post shared by Porsche Design (@porschedesign) Source: Porsche Design

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 18, 2022

Porsche Design Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

Celebrate 50-years of Porsche Design with commemorative 911s and timepieces. The Porsche Design division is responsible for incorporating the luxury aspects of the Porsche brand into a series of apparel, footwear, and accessory collections. Beginning the luxury lifestyle division in 1972, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche designed the legendary Chronograph 1 to portray the styling of the historical Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa. Porsche Design is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with two iconic vehicles and a luxury sport-inspired timepiece. Shop Porsche Design The heart and soul of the 50th Anniversary takes shape as a 1972 911 S 2.4 Targa, an original chassis that went through 2-years of restoration at Porsche Classic in preparation for the milestone event. In tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, this one-of-a-kind vehicle features the same colors as the legendary Chronograph I watch that he designed in 1972, with black dominating both the exterior and interior. Porsche For the Porsche fanatics and watch collectors, Porsche Design is also presenting the all-new Chronograph 1 - 1972 Limited Edition with a historical look and feel. The special edition release commemorates the humble beginnings of Porsche Design watches and their ability to push the boundaries of modern-day watch design. Limited Capsule Collections in the fashion, shoes and sportswear, luggage and accessories ranges, as well as special eyewear collections, are also incorporated into the anniversary festivities. The newest addition to the Porsche fleet is the 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design, which features design characteristics that mirror the stylings of F.A. Porsche. The special edition is based on the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS model and is produced in a limited run of 750-cars. The anniversary 911 is set to arrive in the European market in April with a sticker price of 185,606 Euros. Along with the 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design, customers can also purchase a special version of the new legendary Porsche Design Chronograph 1. The celebration of Porsche Design’s 50th Anniversary highlights every aspect of the brand, along with its drive to provide a luxury experience for all to enjoy. Shop all of the current collections from Porsche Design by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more Porsche news luxury gear releases. Shop Porsche Design Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2022

Porsche Interviews L'ART DE L'AUTOMOBILE Founder Arthur Kar

A sit down with Porsche and its biggest fan. With its rich heritage of incorporating automotive inspiration within art and fashion, Porsche surrounds itself with creative individuals that share the same passion for German engineering excellence. One of those prominent individuals part of the Porsche family is Arthur Kar, owner of French streetwear fashion brand and automotive dealership L’Art de L’Automobile. His most recent creative project takes shape as a modern Porsche 968 reimagined as an art car, shocking the car community as the ‘968 L’ART’. Porsche recently sat down with Arthur Kar in an interview to discuss his inspirations, passions, memories, and day-to-day interests. MUST-READ: The New 30th Anniversary Porsche 968 By L’Art de L’Automobile As a man who appreciates all aspects of the Porsche brand, Arthur explains his love for classic manual 911’s and how one of his fondest memories was the first drive in a Porsche 965 Turbo Leichtbau. The exact three words that Arthur describes the Porsche 911 are timeless, beautiful, and fast. When he is not longing to be behind the wheel of his Carrera GT, Arthur Kar is working towards growing his streetwear brand with creative collections that tie into his passion for hip-hop and Air Jordan sneakers. Arthur Kar and L’Art de L’Automobile operate under his best advice of “Believe in your dreams. Never give up.”, which is the reason why his brand holds a strong relationship with Porsche. View all current Porsche 968 models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury streetwear news and releases. View All Porsche 968 For Sale Porsche Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 21, 2021

Porsche Design Release The New PDT60 Wireless Earphones

Take Porsche sound on the go with these new wireless earphones. It’s known throughout the automotive community that Porsche is a master of sound, whether it's coming through the exhaust of a 911 GT3 RS or the speakers of its interior cabin. Porsche Design aims to set the bar for luxury lifestyle apparel and accessories through its motorsport-spired collections. As part of the electronics sector, Porsche Design is proud to offer its new True Wireless Earphones PDT60. The all-new PDT60 Wireless Earphones feature a state-of-the-art design matched with the technology to help provide a pleasurable listening experience for anyone on the go. MUST-READ: The duPont REGISTRY 2021 Holiday Gift Guide The optional active noise canceling (ANC) filters out background and ambient noise for undisturbed listening pleasure, while electronic noise canceling (ENC) ensures crystal-clear call quality. A built-in IR sensor interrupts playback as soon as the earphones are removed from the ears and resumes it when they are replaced. Along with lengthy 5-hours of playtime on a full charge, the Porsche Design PDT60 Wireless Headphones also receives additional charging from its leather cover aluminum case for 15-hours of playtime storage. An easy-to-use Bluetooth pairing process allows for smooth integration onto iOS and Android devices. The all-new Porsche Design Wireless Earphones PDT60 is currently available for $299 by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and releases. Buy From Porsche Design Source: Porsche Design

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 21, 2021

Daniel Arsharm Announces His Limited-Edition Porsche NFT ...

A chance at owning limited-edition Porsche art from Daniel Arsham. Daniel Arsham’s presence within the art and automotive world continues to grow in popularity with his vision of incorporating classic Porsche models into an array of artistic forms. Daniel Arsham is proud to announce that his artwork will now be available as limited-edition NFT Digital sculptures. In collaboration with the tech professionals at Nifty Gateway, Daniel Arsham is set to release three NFTs that display the erosion process of his iconic Porsche examples, which completes over a 9 hour and 13 minute time span. MUST-READ: The Greatest Ever Porsche Art Cars The artwork announced at this time includes the crystal eroded Porsche 930 Turbo Safari and 1955 Porsche 356, with a third example being unveiled soon. The Daniel Arsham NFT Collection is set to release through Nifty Gateway on December 22nd at 7 pm EST, with 150-pieces of the 930 Turbo Safari and 200 Porsche 356 pieces available. Click the link below for more information on the release of the new automotive-inspired NFT Collection by Daniel Arsham x Nifty Gateway. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more luxury gear news and releases. Learn More View this post on Instagram A post shared by ARSHAM STUDIO (@danielarsham) Source: @danielarsham

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 16, 2021

Its All About Porsche And TAG Heuer For Photographer Rich...

A true passion for watches and cars captured behind a camera lens. The art of watches, automobiles, and photography go together like the ingredients to a perfect recipe. Each embodies similar traits and aspects that bring together a community of collectors and enthusiasts. For renowned Automotive and Portrait Photographer Richard Pardon, the passion runs deep for each, and even more specifically Porsche and TAG Heuer. The rich motorsport heritage between Porsche and TAG Heuer stretches back to the beginnings of each brand. MUST-READ: Makes & Movements: Porsche Design GT4 RS Chronograph x Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Porsche celebrates Richard Pardon’s passion with a post to its Instagram page highlighting his classic Porsche 964 911 and TAG Heuer Monza Caliber 17 Chronograph. With watches and automobiles acting as the main inspiration for his work, Richard Pardon defines himself as a timepiece collector and Porsche aficionado. View all current Porsche 964 911 models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury watch news and releases. View All Porsche 964 911 For Sale Source: @Porsche

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