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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 Tyler Rampersaud – June 03, 2024

How The New Electric Porsche Macan Evolves EV Practicality

Porsche reveals the secret to the Macan’s EV innovation. The new Porsche Macan shines as the second all-electric model in Porsche’s growing and evolving lineup. Alongside the Taycan, the Macan offers cutting-edge EV technology with powerful performance, luxurious appointments, and beautiful design. However, Porsche developed the Macan specifically with everyday driving in mind. As a result, it features remarkably efficient charging ability, thanks to the technology that the new electric Porsche Macan is pioneering and will be integral to future Porsche electric vehicles. The permanent synchronous electric motors and 800-volt technology seen in the Taycan and Macan optimize performance and charging time. However, the Macan is the first Porsche based on the new Premium Platform Electric, a new platform co-developed between Porsche and Audi. The platform has a charging capacity of up to 270 kW, meaning that charging from 10 to 80 percent can take as little as 21 minutes. In addition, charging software can adapt to the technology of different charging stations around the world, splitting the 800-volt battery into two 400-volt batteries with built-in voltage separators that can be charged at the same time. With longevity in mind, the Macan features a Battery Care Mode, which aims to ensure that charging is always done in a way that preserves the battery’s integrity as best as possible. One of the most simple yet convenient charging features of the new Porsche Macan is the fact that there are charging ports on both sides. A DC fast charging port is located on the left, with AC charging ports on both sides of the Macan, which eliminates the need to think about how to park the car for it to be charged. With all of these innovations geared towards the everyday practicality of the new electric Porsche Macan, the newest all-electric Porsche makes owning and driving electric vehicles significantly easier. View All Porsches For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 22, 2024

Porsche Preps For The Debut Of The New All-Electric Macan...

The newest Porsche Macan is set to make its grand debut later this week. While Porsche is historically renowned for crafting some of the most beautiful, powerful, and valuable sports cars, the brand's ongoing evolution helped to shape a new perspective for the luxury SUV. The Cayenne paved the way for the modern SUV, offering German performance and luxury that would attract an entirely new customer base. Fast forward a few years, and the Porsche Macan made its debut as the newest and smaller sibling to the Cayenne. Today, Porsche is pleased to announce that it will be presenting the new all-electric Macan as part of a grand unveiling happening in Singapore. The world premiere of the newest Porsche Macan will take place on Thursday, January 25th, and will be broadcast live in the Porsche Newsroom. Before the new Porsche Macan hits the spotlight, Michael Mauer, the Vice President of Style at Porsche, gets real about the challenge of giving this beloved SUV a fresh look. “This Macan is a big deal for us – it's our first time electrifying a car that's already a hit,” he says. Mauer believes each new sports car must scream 'Porsche' and scream 'new' at the same time. For him, it’s all about keeping that classic Porsche vibe while pushing the envelope. He admits it’s not always easy to strike that perfect balance between iconic and innovative, but that’s the thrill of the job. Tune into duPont REGISTRY this week to catch a first look at the all-new electrified Porsche Macan SUV. View all current Porsche Macan models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Porsche Macans For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 27, 2023

Porsche Reveals The New Electric Macan Will Have 603 HP

Porsche is about to blaze a new trail in an all-electric SUV.

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 25, 2022

Porsche x Billboard x Royyal Dog Mural in LA Nods To The ...

Porsche and Billboard have teamed up with Royyal Dog to paint the town. Graffiti artist Royyal Dog has teamed up with Billboard and Porsche to create an exclusive custom mural that spans an enormous wall. It’s inspired both by his own life, and his time driving the Porsche Macan SUV. While showing the process of the mural creation, Royyal Dog explains why he loves graffiti and how his life brought him to become a graffiti artist. He talks about the fact that graffiti is a form of beauty and art that comes into your everyday life, rather than being something that asks you to seek it out or build a momentous occasion around it. In that sense, the Porsche Macan is much like graffiti as a car. It’s beautiful, dynamic, powerful, and artful, but perfectly capable of being a staple of daily life, and not relegated to a weekend or a special occasion. MUST READ: Porsche Celebrates The Artistic Vision of Hanna Schönwald And Her 911 Art Car Born in South Korea to a religious family of pastors, Royyal Dog had a tough time fitting in as a child. He wasn’t into sports or studying as a child, and mainly had a passion for drawing and hip hop culture. On a path toward becoming a pastor like his father, he realized that he could be proud of his love for hip hop culture and have a meaningful life and career as an artist, so he pursued that instead, and his journey towards artistry, as well as his experience driving the Porsche Macan both served as inspiration for the mural, which is currently in Los Angeles. View All Porsche Macans For Sale Source: YouTube/Billboard

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 17, 2022

Porsche Debuts The All-New Macan T

The new Porsche SUV with a story to tell. The Porsche SUV fleet focuses on incorporating track-like performance into a luxury daily drivable four-door. The Macan model first debuted in 2018 as the younger sibling to the already popular Cayenne and continues its legacy as a leader in the lineup today. Porsche is proud to announce the new Macan T, the four-door sports car that captures the true spirit of the classic 911 T from 1968. The new Porsche Macan T features an updated body design that boasts a lightweight and aerodynamic feel. The aggressive exterior styling is complemented with its own special Agate Grey Metallic paint option, with 13 other plain, metallic, and special finishes available. At a lower ride height achieved from an active suspension management system, the Porsche Macan T sits on a set of 20-inch sport wheels that come exclusively in a dark titanium finish. MUST-READ: Watch Porsche Celebrate 45-Years Of V8 Power On Valentine’s Day The Macan T interior layout is designed to present its own ambiance as a driver-oriented cabin with room to fit the whole family. Standard configuration options for the new model include eight-way electrically adjustable heated sport seats, a multifunctional GT heated sports wheel, Sport Chrono stopwatch, and a 10.9-inch touch screen with online navigation. The powertrain delivering over 261-horsepower to the new Macan platform is Porsche’s 2.9-Liter Twin-Turbocharged 4-Cylinder, which provides plenty of pickup power while operating more efficiently. The all-new Porsche Macan T blends the historic beginnings of the iconic `911 T with a modern sports SUV design. View all current Porsche Macan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury lifestyle news and Porsche releases. View All Porsche Macan For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 04, 2021

The Porsche Macan Is Perfect For Pro-Skateboarder Curren ...

The American skater is featured on the Porsche Instagram with his stealthy Macan. The Porsche brand prides itself on supplying the perfect performance-focused fleet of vehicles for any automotive enthusiast, no matter the occupation or lifestyle. When it comes to skateboarding, the SUV lineup helps for storing extra equipment and getting friends to the skatepark. The Porsche Macan is the perfect set-up of professional skateboarder Curren Caples, featured in Porsche’s newest Instagram post as part of its #PorscheMoment campaign. MUST-READ: Porsche Re-Creates An Iconic Ski Jump With The All-Electric Taycan The Ohio native turned pro in 2013 at the age of 17 and continues to share his passion for skateboarding and luxury sports cars with the world. It further proves that car enthusiasts come in all shapes and forms with new ways of incorporating the luxury driving experience of Porsche into their daily lives. Whether it's hitting the perfect apex on the race track or cruising on the highway to your favorite skate spot, Porsche has the best performance option for you. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more #PorscheMoment releases. View all Porsche Macaan examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Porsche Macan For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Porsche (@porsche)

By Edward Jones – July 20, 2021

New 2022 Porsche Macan Unveiled With More Power

Porsche's second-best-selling model gets solid upgrades for 2022. The new 2022 Porsche Macan has now had its secrets revealed and they include a number of worthy upgrades. Its exterior now features a front end with a new look that includes integrated air intake, while the rear diffuser has been stretched a bit upwards. Porsche will also be making seven new wheel designs available for customers to choose from. For power, all 2022 Macans will have standard 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmissions, all-wheel drive, and engines with more power than before. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will now produce 261 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque (+13 hp and +22 lb-ft). For the Macan S, its twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 produces 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. As for the range-topping 2022 Macan GTS, its twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 now pushes out 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Other upgrades include a refined interior, optional Sport Package for the Macan GTS, stiffer suspension for the Macan GTs and standard Lane Departure Warning and front/rear Park Assist. Starting prices for the 2022 Porsche Macan models are as follows, excluding $1,350 for delivery: 2022 Porsche Macan - $54,900 2022 Porsche Macan S - $65,4002022 Porsche Macan GTS - $79,900 Porsche is expecting the 2022 Macan models to arrive in early 2022. Source: Porsche Cars North America

By Andrew Nabors – May 10, 2021

Porsche Begins Testing The 2023 Macan EV

It's coming sooner than your think! With the unprecedented successes of the Porsche Taycan lineup, engineers in Stuttgart have embarked on a 1.8 million-mile adventure. Prototypes of the 2023 Macan EV have been hiding in plain sight, wearing V6 badges until now. No less than 20 virtual examples have been simulated day and night. This allows them to express their confidence in the upcoming Crossover. Aimed squarely at Tesla, testing will take place in the Arctic and in the tropics. With the same integrated heating and cooling systems as the Taycan, their goal is to keep the batteries and motors between 70 and 160 degrees (F). The inevitable top dog will be a dual-motor model with AWD. And since battery technology is ever-increasing, the Macan EV will keep Porsche far ahead of everyone else. Tell us what you would like to see obnaoard when it arrives, and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche Macan For Sale Images (C) Porsche

By Andrew Nabors – December 17, 2019

2020 Porsche Macan GTS is Compact & Capable

Santa told me you like sporty crossovers. Well, even if you don't, every automaker is embroiled in the war for family haulers. Engineers in Stuttgart don't take threats lightly, and that is why the new 2020 Porsche Macan GTS is compact & capable. As the latest Macan, the GTS model completes the lineup of this generation. Under the hood is their latest 2.9-liter V6. It offers 375 horsepower and a whopping 383 lb-ft of torque between 1,750 to 5,000 rpm. With such a broad torque curve, it reaches 60 mph in 4.5 seconds if you order the Sport Chrono package. It rides a bit lower than normal Macans, rolling on 20" RS Spyder wheels. Equally capable are the brakes, with 14" front and 13" rotors on the rear. Browse All Porsche Macan For Sale Pricing in the U.S. starts at $71,300, and deliveries are expected to begin this summer. Click the button above to find our dealer near you, and stay with us for all your Porsche news. " width="680"> Related: Porsche 918 Spyder Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – August 29, 2019

Porsche Unveils 2021 Macan Turbo

This war is really heating up. Yesterday Mercedes-AMG unveiled the 2021 GLE 53. Stuttgart does not take threats lightly, and this morning we see their response. Porsche has unveiled the 2021 Macan Turbo as a direct competitor. Not only are they similar in size, both use 3-liter six-cylinder engines with turbos. The 1st generation Macan Turbo was no slouch, Mr. duPont had one for a few years. It changed my mind on what Porsche's V6 is capable of. Because their engineers rarely sleep, the new 2.9L V6 moves the turbos into the V, like most other German models. Although it is 20% smaller in displacement, this little guy makes 10% more power than the previous Macan Turbo. Taking a cue from GM's latest 3.6, the exhaust manifold is now cast into the cylinder head. This allows a cool & dense flow directly into the turbos. What does this all mean? You will have 440 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. The latter is available at only 1,800 rpm, and goes all the way to 5,600! It will be a very quick family hauler, so Porsche raised the bar for brakes. All four rotors are coated in several layers of tungsten carbide. So the rotors will probably last the life of the car. Porsche says the best benefit is 90% less brake dust-who gets to measure brake dust percentages? Of course, the carbon-ceramic PCCB rotors are optional, as is Air Suspension. Other goodies include a 14-speaker BOSE system, 18-way seats, and a WiFi hotspot. I have never considered a Porsche SUV, but this one really piques my interest. If you feel the same way, click the link below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche Macan For Sale " width="680">

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