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 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 – March 11, 2022

Sally From "Cars" Is Coming Back As A New 2022 Porsche 911

Remember Sally? After 20 years, Porsche and Pixar have brought her back. If you remember Pixar’s animated film Cars, you’ll remember Sally Carerra, a blue 2002 Porsche 911 who was dedicated to making the town she chose to settle down in, Radiator Springs, a better place for everyone living there. Decades passed since her original creation, and to commemorate her 20th anniversary, Porsche and Pixar have come together to recreate Sally in a new 2022 Porsche 911, which will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on a date and at a location to be announced, with all the proceeds going towards Girls Inc. to support US-based girls’ education programs, and USA for the UNHCR, an organization dedicated to supporting refugees and refugee families. MUST READ: Lowest Mileage Porsche Carrera GT For Sale The 911 being built will be inspired by Sally, updating her look and transforming her into a driveable 2022 911 with a windshield that its owner will actually be able to see out of. More information on the auction sale of the Sally-inspired 911 will come as the project progresses. And even while all we have currently is concept art, we know that the new 911 will be just like Sally: bright, eager, and with a heart of gold. Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 07, 2022

Check The Spec: 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 In PTS Carbon Steel ...

A chance to own a new Porsche GT3 with a new color. Making a positive mark on the automotive industry since its anticipated release, the new 992 Porsche 911 GT3 is the next generation to take the reigns of the performance category. The supercar specialists at Ferrari Maserati of Central Florida are excited to feature this 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 as part of its inventory of exclusive supercars. The exterior of this 911 GT3 features a special paint-to-sample Carbon Steel Grey finish, which includes a metallic flake that glistens in the sun upon direct contact. The stealth-like theme is further accentuated with red highlights that are incorporated into the 20/21-inch sport wheels and ‘GT3’ badging. MUST-READ: Check The Spec: Lamborghini Huracán STO Finished In Nero Noctis And Viola Pasifae While the exterior subtly highlights the styling of the 992 body style, the interior configuration continues its dark theme with a black leather and Alcantara design with red contrast stitching. The driver-oriented feel is achieved with a set of carbon sport bucket seats, Sports Chrono Package, Alcantara sport steering wheel, and carbon fiber trim. The Porsche 992 911 GT3 delivers over 503-horsepower from a 4.0-Liter Naturally-Aspirated Flat-Six engine, which is managed through a classic 6-speed manual transmission. The updated performance of the new generation 911 GT3 launches it from 0-60mph in just 2.7-seconds, with a new top speed of 198mph. This 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 from Ferrari Maserati of Central Florida is currently available through duPont REGISTRY with 100-miles for $349,895. Click on the button below to view the vehicle listing for more information. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming Check The Spec specials. View Listing

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 – February 24, 2022

Porsche Opens Its Doors To The Make-A-Wish Foundation

Porsche x Make-A-Wish make dreams become reality. The Porsche brand continues to gain the love of automotive enthusiasts around the world, with people of all ages dreaming of the day when they can get behind the wheel for themselves. Porsche is a proud partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, aiming to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for children, teenagers, and young adults worldwide with critical illnesses. At the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach, Porsche AG has recorded more than 30 heart-warming moments of happiness from Make-A-Wish participants, thanks to a donation of 200,000 euros from the German automotive manufacturer. MUST-READ: Porsche and Hugo Boss Bring Future to Show Off New Spring/Summer Collection The donation was announced as part of the Porsche Virtual Run initiative, where more than 2,300 Porsche employees worldwide laced up their running shoes for a cause. With each visit customized to the interest of each young person, Porsche unlocks its doors with open arms to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. View all current Porsche models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear releases and automotive news. View All Porsche For Sale Source: Porsche Newsroom

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 23, 2022

2022 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge Gives Classics...

Giving a classic Porsche some TLC is always a great opportunity, but when it’s a competition, it gets so much better. Porsche Classic’s Restoration Challenge started just a year ago, but it’s already back for its second year, which means that more classic Porsches will be brought to their original glory. In the challenge, Porsche dealerships across the United States are asked to find a Porsche that requires restoration and bring it back to life mechanically and cosmetically. This competition fosters love for classic Porsche cars and cultivates the passion for restoring classic cars and keeping the history of Porsche alive. MUST READ: VW Group In Talks About Porsche Going Public With IPO Models that are eligible to enter in the Porsche Classic Restoration challenge include the 356, the 914, earlier 911 models, and modern classics like the first generations of the Boxster and Cayenne. The entries are divided into three regions, East, South-Central, and West. Each of the regions has an event where one finalist is decided, which moves on to the national competition, for which the winner will be announced in September. Porsche Classic expects a 50% increase in participation with a total of 60 dealers participating in this year’s competition. Some of this year’s entries include 911s, 914s, Boxsters, and Cayennes. Image Source: Porsche Last year, a 1989 911 Targa G-Model restored by Porsche Ontario took home the grand prize. It went up against a 1990 Carrera 4, and a 1990 911 Carrera 4 Targa. The Porsche Ontario submission got a 3.2 Carrera engine, an upgrade from the original, and was given a black and red livery with a red “Carrera” badge on the side to honor its new engine. With the competition underway this year, and more dealers participating, the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge is bound to be even more of a show. See All Porsches For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 21, 2022

Porsche Reveals The History Behind Its Three-Digit Numbers

They might look like area codes, but Porsche’s numbering system has more meaning than that. Porsche is known for its iconic sports cars, all designated with three-digit numbers. From the 911 to the 918, to the 914, to the 944, to the 718, to the 356, and so many more, it can start to get confusing which Porsche is which, let alone what the numbers might mean. This guide will help you understand the origin and system of Porsche’s nomenclature, and in doing so, Porsche's history and heritage will be unlocked and explored. MUST READ: The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Test Drive With Professional Kitesurfer Liam Whaley It starts with the Porsche that started the brand: the 356. In his design house, Ferdinand Porsche had been giving consecutive numbers to each order he fulfilled, starting with 7 in 1931. In 1948, that number had come up to 356, and the car with that number was the first Porsche to be given the Porsche brand name. The iconic, mid-engined Porsche 550 came soon after in 1953. By the time Porsche had gotten to 900, the numbers 901 and 902 were designated for the six-cylinder and four-cylinder versions of a new sports car respectively. But Porsche ran into a problem: Peugeot had a naming system that also used three-digit numbers and already used the numbers Porsche wanted to, so Porsche had to come up with a quick solution. With the typeface for the “1” in 901 already created, they simply printed the letter twice on the brochure and other printed material. And thus the name of the new Porsche came about in 1964: 911. After that came the 914, the 924, 928, and then the 944. Eventually, numbers starting with 9 became a major staple for Porsche. With there being only a limited number of three-digit numbers that start with 9, Porsche started to take a different approach, which is what we see in the brand today. While the 911 will still get an internal code, which was the system that caused the 911 name to be made in the first place, it will still be called a 911 in the market, hence the 964, 993, 996, and 997 generations of the 911, for example. The Carrera GT became the 980, the Boxster became the 986, and even the Cayenne, with a 955 internal code, received an internal code. So next time you wonder where the three-digit numbers on your Porsche come from, know that the name on your 911 has 91 years of history behind it. Porsche For Sale

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By Jordan Aquistapace – February 21, 2022

The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Test Drive With Professi...

Liam Whaley hops out of the water to test two Porsche Taycans on the sand. With a community of dedicated enthusiasts and brand ambassadors, Porsche establishes its presence in a multitude of industries through its fleet of vehicles that add a performance feel no matter the surface type. Presented by Porsche South Africa and Porsche Centre Cape Town, Former Kitesurf World Champion Liam Whaley sets out to the sand dunes to test the new Porsche Taycan 4 and 4S Cross Turismo in a video posted to the Porsche Instagram page. As an action-packed professional, Liam pushes the all-electric platforms to their boundaries using Porsche’s state-of-the-art EV performance and sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. MUST-READ: The Best Porsche 911s You Can Buy Today Although there isn’t much dialogue between Liam and his passenger during the drive, the smiles and laughter are a telltale sign that Porsche continues to master the ultimate driving experience. The capabilities of the new Porsche Taycan 4 and 4S Cross Turismo redefine the meaning of traditional electric vehicles, with various configurations that help complement any lifestyle. View all current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear releases and Porsche news. View All Porsche Taycan For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Porsche (@porsche) Source: @porsche

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

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