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 – May 16, 2019

Seven New Custom Porsche 935 Liveries to Drool Over

The new Porsche 935 race car was unveiled not too long ago, causing a worldwide jaw-dropping epidemic. When Porsche first pulled back the sheets on the new 935, it was graced with a Martini racing livery. Now, we're getting the opportunity to see what the new 935 will look like when covered in five different iconic racing liveries. Be still my beating heart. Gulf Interscope John Player Special (JPS) Momo Sachs Salzburg Vaillant

By Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2019

Porsche 718 T Brings Bauhaus to America

Before the rise of the Third Reich, Germany was the birthplace of the Bauhaus. It was an art movement that combined skilled crafts and modern designs to shake up conventional themes. It produced many amazing works of architecture before the Nazis outlawed them for going against the status quo. In their latest upload, we see how the Porsche 718 T is bringing Bauhaus to America. An interview with Professor Fahim Mohammadi was filmed along with a new 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman T. It is easy to see how the 718 T models focus on driving more than entertainment. Both the Cayman T and Boxster T have optional infotainment and air conditioning. Standard equipment includes a 300 horsepower turbocharged flat-four, bolted to a six-speed manual. A 7-speed PDK is optional, but they are inefficient on engines this small. Porsche is offering a pure driving experience with 0-60 times under 5 seconds. Click the link below to find a Cayman near you and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Porsche 718 Cayman For Sale Related: New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Porsche 718 T Series Boxster & Cayman Revealed

By Andrew Nabors – May 07, 2019

2020 Porsche 911 Speedster in Action

Do you like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS? Apparently most of the world does because our dealers can't keep them on the lot. We have mentioned that Porsche is slowly moving the 911 models onto the new 992 chassis. They are starting at the bottom and working their way up, so the final 991 series will essentially be a GT3 RS convertible. The press release included a starting price of $274,500, and our dealers are ready for your order. It incorporates the six-speed manual from the GT3 Touring along with rear steering and all the performance systems. The engine has individual throttle bodies for instant response, sending 510 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. In keeping with the 70th anniversary of the first Speedster, only 1,948 examples will be built. If you want the same car as a coupe, the GT3 Touring is a six-speed and the GT3 RS is a street legal race car. Click the link below to find yours, and stay with us for all your Porsche 911 news. Browse Porsche 911 GT3 For Sale Related: Byers Porsche Races to Victory Lane with the duPont REGISTRY Porsche 911 GT2 RS vs Lamborghini Huracan Performante on the 'Ring

By Andrew Nabors – May 06, 2019

Porsche 911 GT2 RS vs Lamborghini Huracan Performante on ...

If you saw a sign reading "Touristenfarthen" you might be anticipating acid reflux. But some German words simply don't translate well. What it means is a chance to battle your friends and several slow cars on the Nurburgring. In a video uploaded by "Sebastian Vittel" we see a Porsche 911 GT2 RS vs a Lamborghini Huracan Performante on the 'Ring. Fighting for Italy, the Lamborghini Huracan Performante sends 630 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. The camera car is a Porsche 911 GT2 RS with an empty water injection tank. This probably limited horsepower to 580 as a protection method by the computer. Since they are corporate cousins, both have the same rear-steering system along with similar dual-clutch transmissions. Tell us which car you prefer in the comments below and stay with us for all your track action. Find Your Porsche 911 GT2 RS Here!

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2019

New Pics of the Stunning Porsche 917 Concept Released

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 917 race car, Porsche has been blasting out historical facts and photos of the car. They've also introduced a new 917 concept car that is truly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, when Porsche revealed the car, we only had one photo to go off of. Porsche also noted that the concept car would remain a concept and that there would be no plans of it heading towards production. We may not have word of the 917 concept being produced, but we do now have a few more photos of it. In the photos, we get to see just about all angles of the car, including the rear, which looks fantastic. I genuinely hope that Porsche considers putting this car into production because it is truly astounding. It blends the iconic styling of the classic 917 with modern design cues of modern Porsches in a beautiful manner. see all porsches up for sale Also Check Out: Mercedes-Benz EQC 1886 Unveiled in New York Jeep & Mopar Unveil Six Concepts for Easter Safari 2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Vision Concept Revealed

By Andrew Nabors – April 30, 2019

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Smashes Lap Record at Road America

Two months ago, Porsche decided to attack Road Atlanta. Not only is Atlanta the home of Porsche North America, it is a challenging track. After setting a new lap time for production cars, they decided on an encore performance. Heading North, the car and crew were happy to find perfect conditions. With daytime highs barely reaching 50 degrees, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Smashed the Lap Record at Road America. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is home to a 4-mile track that has not changed since opening in 1956. Road America hosts several IMSA WeatherTech events along with driver training and World Superbike events. Since the average daily temperature is still in the 40's, the massive turbos of the GT2 RS can compress much more oxygen. They needed a driver who really knows the course, so David Donohue volunteered. McLaren 600LT vs Porsche 911 GT2 RS Drag Race He is the son of Porsche legend Mark Donohue and an accomplished winner in his own right. After only 1 warm up lap, he set a new time to beat: 2:15.17. Congrats to Porsche for another new record. If you think you can tame the beast, click the link below and find a GT2 RS for you. Porsche 911 GT2 RS FOr Sale Related: Porsche 911 GT3 RS Scorches Road Atlanta

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2019

2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo on the Autobahn

Ever since Porsche teased us with the Sport Turismo, we knew it was going to be a hit. It combines the comfort and luxury of the sedan with a longer roof & more cargo room. The flagship is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, what a mouthful. But if you don't need 671 horsepower, check out this 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo on the Autobahn. Our friends at AutoTopNL decided to take on the 453 horsepower twin turbo 4.0L V8. While it doesn't have the fancy hybrid drive, it does offer 457 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. This is plenty for a daily driver, and the soundtrack of a Porsche V8 can't be beat. Since maximum torque is offered between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm, you better hang on! Tell us what you think of the GTS and click the link below to find one near you. Find Your Porsche Panamera GTS HEre Related: New Porsche Panamera GTS & GTS Sport Turismo Revealed Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Overview

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2019

New Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Convertible top in Action

A few weeks ago Porsche release all the specs on the new 911 convertible. As it is the first of the 992 generation to lose its roof, the press release was accompanied by every engineering detail. Still photos are fine for state's evidence, but nothing beats a film when it comes to selling cars. Our wait is finally over, because their latest upload is the new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet convertible top in action. Not only is it the lowest top in 911 history, it is also the lightest. Using a magnesium frame, it has a simple folding action that happens in 12 seconds. It can be raised or lowered up to 30 mph, and its hydraulic cylinders have a combined ton of force at your command. It would be nice to have a manual folding top, but I could live with this one as a daily driver. Click the link below to find one near you. Find Your new Porsche 911 Here Porsche 911 GT3 RS Scorches Road Atlanta Porsche 911 Driving Without Pedals

By Edward Jones – April 29, 2019

You Can Now Buy Reprints of Original Porsche Manuals

Driver's manuals are important to many different kinds of people. There are collectors and owners who rely on these for very specific information. Many collectors who just love the cars buy these manuals as keepsakes, even if they don't own the car the manuals reference. Porsche knows just how important these manuals can be and have gone to great lengths to preserve manuals that date all the way back to 1952. Porsche Classic first started digitizing all of their original documents years ago. These documents included warranty and maintenance booklets, driver's manuals and a lot more. Now, Porsche Classic is offering around reprints of driver's manuals and automotive literature for sale online. Classic documents for the 911, 356, and more are being reprinted. They even have driver's manual for the 959 for sale, even though it is in German. Check them all out by clicking the button below. shop the documents now

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2019

HEMI Powered Porsche 997 will be a Monster

Remember the Lamborghini Espada Rat Rod? The insane build that dominated the custom car scene was built by Alexandre Danton, and his team at Danton Arts Kustoms. He pushes his team to think outside the box, and their next creation will be just as wild. While Porsche has been rumored to be resurrecting the 928, there is a much easier way to have a front-engine car with 2 doors. The Hemi powered Porsche 997 will be a monster when finished. Three teaser pics were uploaded to Instagram over the weekend, and they are truly impressive. After reinforcing the body, the team cut the roof away and replaced it with a roll cage. The flat-six engine and its cradle have been cut away, leaving almost nothing behind the rear suspension. Up front the fuel tank was removed and the firewall was recessed to fit a Dodge HEMI V8. While a naturally aspirated engine is being used for mock up, their rendering shows a massive supercharger that is taller than the windshield. It would be a great candidate for Pro-Street or Outlaw 10.5 classes, so we will be watching this build very closely. Tell us what you think of this build and click the link below to find a 911 near you. Find Your Porsche 911 Here

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