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 – December 05, 2022

Porsche x Dominik Gührs Adventure Through Iceland In The ...

As a professional wakeboarder, he has won all the major titles. He travels the world, taking his boards with him. Breaking the mold of traditional electric vehicles, Porsche continues to engineer its Taycan lineup to withstand the uncanny forces of nature. While stats and figures prove its capabilities, the German automotive manufacturer prides itself on testing its versatility in the hands of its brand ambassadors. Porsche is excited to take its next adventure with extreme athlete and professional wakeboarder Dominik Gührs, who travels the world in search of new challenges. Set out on his road trip to Iceland, Dominik grabs the keys to a Cherry Metallic Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo with the intention of pushing its boundaries to the limits. MUST-READ: Travis Barker Puts The Porsche Taycan Sound System To The Test As a thrill seeker that holds a tow rope behind a wakeboard boat traveling at 25mph, Gührs expresses his love for the instant torque created by the Taycan Cross Turismo’s electric engine platform. The Porsche is the ideal companion for him on his quest to find the best spots, with his board safely stowed in the luggage compartment. The range seems to be no issue as the 311-mile capacity easily navigates the extreme adventurist throughout Iceland, with the next charging station no more than 49 miles away. From urban canals to remote waterfalls with ice-cold temperatures, “The Taycan is super versatile and makes for an outstanding ride even under these difficult conditions,” says Gührs. View all current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Porsche Taycan For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 14, 2022

Watch Porsche Driver Leh Keen Race A Monster Jam Truck In...

Monster Jam driver Linsey Read invites experienced, and apparently fearless, Porsche racer Leh Keen to take her on at the NRG Stadium in Texas. The idea behind every Porsche model begins with the inspiration to conquer any road, track, or off-road surface in its way. The Porsche Taycan lineup heightens that forward-thinking by adding an all-electric powertrain to the equation, introducing a new area of performance for the EV market. Putting the new Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo to the ultimate test, Monster Jam monster truck driver Linsey Read challenges Porsche driver Leh Keen to some friendly competition on her home turf. MUST-READ: 344-Mile 2022 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo Listed for Sale Home turf quickly translates to a massive dirt course under the lights of NRG Stadium in Texas, where Monster Jam puts on an incredible show for all 72,000 spectators to see. At first glance, Linsey’s methanol-fueled V8 monster truck shares little similarities with Leh’s comfortable Porsche equipped with dual electric motors. And yet the two are remarkably similar, at least when the road turns to dirt. Boasting similar power-to-weight ratios, the two deliver similar performance off the line while sending power to all four wheels through feature four-wheel steering. Excluding the 60-foot dirt jumps, watch Linsey and Leh battle it out by clicking the video link above. View all current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Porsche Taycan For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 08, 2022

Porsche Has Produced Its 100,000th Fully-Electric Taycan

Lightning has struck in the same place 100,000 times. Such is the case for Porsche, anyway, as its debut fully-electric model, the Taycan, has seen its 100,000th example roll off the assembly line. Since September 2019, the car has shown off Porsche’s ability to translate its iconic design, character, luxury, and performance into a futuristic electric vehicle, and the Neptune Blue Taycan Turbo S, destined for a UK customer, continues to be an amazing example of that, just like its 99,999 predecessors. The performance of the car is especially a highlight since the Taycan Turbo S holds the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for production electric cars at 7 minutes and 33 seconds. MUST READ: The Only 2022 Porsche 911 Stinger GTR Carbon Edition In The U.S. Is For Sale 100,000 is a number present for the Taycan in more ways than just the production number, as many Taycan owners have already driven theirs over 100,000 kilometers (roughly 62,000 miles). In their experiences, the Taycan has proved to be a luxurious, fun, and powerful vehicle to drive, but many see room for improvement when it comes to the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in general. As electric vehicles start to become the standard in various segments of the automotive industry, the Porsche Taycan proves that performance luxury brands with decades of legacy and a passionate fanbase like Porsche are more than welcome to electrifying change View All Porsche Taycans For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 10, 2022

The Porsche Taycan Sets A New Nürburgring Record For Seri...

A green car takes on the Green Hell. At this point, it’s no surprise that electric vehicles can pack some serious punch, and while this realization may have taken some getting used to, car manufacturers and enthusiasts are excited to explore the performance potential of electric vehicles. One of the automotive performance world's most important names, Porsche, has its own electric performance car, the Taycan, and it’s already proved its mettle with speed, dynamism, and luxury. However, there’s one place where brands, cars, and drivers all over the world put themselves to the ultimate test: the Nürburgring. It’s one of the most famed, long, and difficult race tracks in the world, and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and Porsche’s development driver, Lars Kern, set the fastest time yet for a series-production electric car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. MUST READ: The Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Is The Favorite Car Of The Earl of Pembroke At 7 minutes and 33 seconds, the Taycan Turbo S was able to achieve the time thanks to the new performance kit and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control but was otherwise a stock vehicle besides the required roll cage and racing seats. With the performance kit, the Taycan comes with 21-inch RS-Spyder-design wheels and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, that are road approved but similar to racing tires. Currently, this performance kit offered through Porsche Tequipment is only available in Germany for the 2023 Taycan Turbo S sedan, and because the tires are designed for the track, Porsche makes it easy to switch between the sports tires and more road-friendly tires without having to restore the original chassis software. With massive power and performance, but no sound or emissions, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S is silently dominating the performance world. View All Porsche Taycans For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 21, 2022

Discover The Creative Possibilities Of Porsche's Exclusiv...

With Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, the car is your own personal canvas. Porsche separates itself from other sports car brands by incorporating a creative hands-on configuration experience for its passionate clientele, presenting its fleet of vehicles as blank canvases awaiting a creative vision. Aside from its factory color palette of finishes and interior styles, Porsche is proud to present a whole new level of customization through its Exclusive Manufaktur division. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur highlights its extensive offerings and craftsmanship with a stunning Taycan Sport Turismo build uploaded to the Porsche Instagram page. MUST-READ: Porsche Centre Perth Hosts The World’s Largest Taycan Owners Meet In Australia The one-of-a-kind Taycan Sport Turismo features a custom Paint-to-Sample Alexgrey exterior that accentuates the elongated body style of the four-door sedan, unlike any other color. Gold highlights add an elegant touch to the Porsche decals that run down each side of the EV. With endless color opportunities available at the touch of a button, wheel configurations are becoming even more personalized by adding a matching gold finish to its set of carbon aero disk wheels. The same level of customization and quality makes its way into the interior, decorating the cabin in a rich Meranti Brown leather with contrast stitching. The driver-oriented layout pulls inspiration from the exterior by adding brushed gold trim accents to the sport steering wheel, center console, and door entry panels. If you are looking to take your next Porsche build to the next level with enhanced personalization, contact the professionals at Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur division for a luxury experience. View all of the current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and Porsche news. VIEW ALL PORSCHE TAYCAN FOR SALE Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 21, 2022

Porsche Centre Perth Hosts The World's Largest Taycan Own...

Porsche puts on the largest and quietest Taycan car meet. While most car meets celebrate the high-horsepower engines and loud exhausts, Porsche Cars Australia decides to flip the script by hosting an efficient all-electric event. At the root of the gathering is the Porsche Taycan, originally released in 2019 as the first full-electric platform from the German automotive manufacturer. The Taycan lineup now expands to an array of configurations that present more opportunities within the EV world, blending comfort, performance, and technological aspects that improve the quality of driving. As a celebration for Porsche Taycan owners of Australia, Porsche Centre Perth recently held an exclusive event at a waterfront location in Fremantle, Western Australia. MUST-READ: Porsche Celebrates Collector Harry Metcalfe And His Beloved 1998 Porsche 930 Turbo S Being the largest single gathering of Taycan sports cars since its launch, the event showcased 38 unique examples that highlight the diversity and popularity of the brand’s electric initiative. Following a group drive that took the sea of Porsche Taycans along the seaside roads of Australia, the day concluded with an aerial photo of the group in a lightning bolt formation. As the market for efficient EVs with performance grows, we are sure that the group numbers for next years meet will increase dramatically. View the current inventory of Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and Porsche event news. VIEW ALL PORSCHE TAYCAN FOR SALE Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 01, 2022

Porsche x Sean Wotherspoon Unveil The Colorful Interior o...

A vibrant interior to match Porsche x Sean Wotherspoon's multi-color exterior. After recently announcing its art car collaboration with sneaker designer and Round Two store owner Sean Wotherspoon, Porsche continues to highlight the vivid color palette of the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. While the automotive and streetwear worlds fell in love with the vibrant multi-color exterior finish, the interior seemed to be a hidden feature that Porsche and Sean were waiting to unveil as its own showcase. Porsche x Sean Wotherspoon are finally ready to present the colorful interior design of the new Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo art car. MUST-READ: Sean Wotherspoon x Porsche Unveil The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo Art Car With an exterior that presents a striking block style, the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo by Sean Wotherspoon incorporates the same artistic qualities into the spacious interior of the crossover. The combinations of colors include Nash Blue, Sean Peach, Loretta Purple, and Ashley Green, with Cork on the dashboard, steering wheel, and center console that creates visual contrast. The roof lining, seat center inlays, and sun visors are upholstered with this material in Atacama Beige. The inspiration behind the project came directly from Sean’s deep dive into Porsche’s history of art cars, which he found in famous examples like Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche 356 and Richard Phillip’s 911 RSR from 2019. The Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo by Sean Wotherspoon further defines the brand as an artistic vision aside from being a leader in sports car development. View all of the current Porsche Taycan models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle news and Porsche releases. View All Porsche Taycan For Sale Source: Porsche Newsroom

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 20, 2022

The New Porsche Taycan GTS Hockenheimring Edition Honors ...

90 years into its existence, the Hockenheimring is honored with an all-electric sports sedan. The Hockenheimring is one of Germany’s most storied and important race tracks, and the Porsche Experience Centre at the track is a place where Porsche clients and fans get the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being able to push a Porsche to its limits. To honor these things on the 90th anniversary of the Hockenheimring, which had its first event, a motorcycle race, on May 29, 1932, Porsche has introduced a new special edition, the Porsche Taycan GTS Hockenheimring Edition. MUST READ: Daniel Arsham Releases His New Porsche 930 Turbo Reveal Sculpture This special edition Taycan GTS features Stone Grey paintwork from the custom color program, along with bronze-colored accents throughout, making it a unique, elegant and beautiful car to look at. This continues on the inside with black leather that features Island Green stitching for the first time in a Taycan, as well as open-pore Paldao wood throughout the interior. A Hockenheimring 90th Anniversary logo is also featured throughout, in places like the puddle lights, and the custom key that features the same color as the car, and grants owners of this special edition access to the Hockenheimring Porsche Experience Centre with two years of free charging, as well as preferential parking at the PEC’s Frühschicht events. The car will be available in Germany and other European markets soon. View All Porsche Taycans For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 11, 2022

The Porsche Taycan Formula E Safety Car Takes To The Stre...

Formula E’s safety car gets to roam beyond the track. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S has the responsibility of being the safety car for Formula E, but being a road car, it also has the privilege of being able to take to the streets, and in the effort of promoting Formula E and the electric revolution in racing, that’s exactly what it did in Berlin. The car sports the colors of all 11 teams that are in Formula E, and being an electric car itself, the Taycan Turbo S shows what electric cars are capable of with a 0-60 time of fewer than 3 seconds and over 750 horsepower on tap. MUST READ: Porsche Delivers Nearly 70,000 Cars Globally In Q1 2022 Berlin is currently the only city in the world where Formula E has been a regular destination on the calendar every season, and Formula E thanks Berlin for its hospitality by using the upcoming Berlin race as an opportunity for 200 electromobility students from all over Germany to see electric innovation first-hand. Along with this, 3,500 tickets to the race were given for free to residents of Berlin, and the organizers of Formula E are giving 150 surprise gifts to patients at the Charité Campus Virchow clinic. Formula E is a microcosm of the change that electric vehicles are spurring for the entire automotive world, in motorsport and beyond. View All Porsche Taycans For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 03, 2022

You Can Sleep On The Roof Of A Porsche In The Black Fores...

Unlike most of the brand’s vehicles, this Porsche doesn’t mind a bit of mud on its tires. While many know Porsche for its luxury sports cars and supercars, the brand goes further than just the asphalt and certainly further than the track. With cars like the Cayenne, Macan, and Taycan Cross Turismo, Porsche shows a more rugged and adventure-ready side of its brand but even sports cars like the Porsche 911 and the Porsche 718 are capable of being great companions even off the beaten path, and that’s what influencer couple Marisa Hampe and Frederic Siebold got to see with the Porsche Roof Tent Experience, where they camped out on top of Porsches traveling the Black Forest and Rhine-Hesse regions of Germany. MUST READ: Race of Champions Stunt Driver Terry Grant And The Porsche Taycan Set An Electrifying Record In Sweden The Roof Tent Experience is a whole new way of getting to know a Porsche as a different kind of car than you’ve ever known it before. The roof tent shows the ability of models throughout the Porsche lineup to be practical, comfortable, and highly capable when drivers want to connect with the great outdoors. With tours of German wine country, zip-lining, and more, this three-day road trip spend behind the wheel of a Porsche was a truly special experience. The experience is available to book with a Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo in Germany for €2,490 per person, with trips going from May 17-19, and September 6-8. View All Porsche Taycans For Sale Source: Porsche

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