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 – October 25, 2022

Shop Porsche Designs New 60s & 70s-Inspired Essentials Co...

Travel back to the sixties and seventies with Porsche. Porsche’s DNA embodies the desire to carry itself as a pioneer and leader in the market of luxury sports cars, continuing to push boundaries to create a truly unique driving experience for its community of passionate enthusiasts. With a brand that operates more like a luxury lifestyle, Porsche celebrates past, present, and future models through its collection of Porsche Design products. Porsche Design is proud to commemorate classic Porsche models with a collection inspired by the 60s and 70s. As part of the extensive Essentials Collection, the new releases feature vintage Porsche logos against an elegant Bordeaux tone. MUST-READ: The Top 10 Automotive-Inspired Sneakers By Puma Motorsport Available Now The product line includes a sweatshirt, two t-shirts, and a unisex beanie that take inspiration from icons like the 1965 Porsche 911 Targa. The highlighted piece in the collection is the connecting rod hoodie, which visually showcases the revolutionary decade of Porsche. Shop all of the products and accessories from Porsche Design by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury gear releases and Porsche news. Shop Porsche Design Source: Porsche Design

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 24, 2022

Porsche Design Sets A New Standard For Gaming With The AO...

The bold, streamlined design takes its inspiration from the world of Porsche sports cars. Leading the way in automotive performance and technology, Porsche continues to elevate its driving experience with innovative features that better connect the driver to the car. These technological milestones include an all-new aero system on the 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS, capturing its powerful DRS feature from Formula One race cars. Establishing itself as a luxury lifestyle powerhouse, Porsche is excited to take its state-of-the-art technology into the home with a line of Porsche Design electronics. Alongside its extensive collection of communication, computing, and sound products, Porsche Design is proud to release its new AOC Agon Pro PD32M designer monitor. MUST-READ: Shop Porsche’s Newly Updated 2022 eBike Collection, Inspired By The Electric Taycan Porsche Design and AOC gaming have come together to set a new standard for the market of gaming monitors. The 32-inch mini-LED monitor rests on an aluminum stand inspired by the classic style of Porsche steering wheels. Gamers can focus on details like the interior stitching on a Porsche Taycan Turbo S with an ultra-clear 4K resolution display. While Porsche traditionally fits its lineup with high-horsepower engines and electric motors for a faster 0-60mph time, the AOC Agon Pro PD32M achieves is 144 Hz refresh speed from the performance of AOC gaming’s Agon technology. The all-new Porsche Design AOC Ago Pro PD32M is currently available for $1,799 by clicking on the link below. SHOP NOW Source: Porsche Design

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 21, 2022

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS's New Tribute to Carrera RS Packag...

Porsche looks back on its Renn Sport heritage. “RS” has become quite an important pair of letters to Porsche because they symbolize an unfettered dedication to racing performance. Decade after decade, Porsche cars with the RS name have continued to stay at the bleeding edge of performance and race-focused engineering, and the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS is the most potent example of that yet, with its otherworldly performance and Nurburgring time of 6:49.328. MUST READ: Porsche 992 911 Turbo/Turbo S/Cabriolet Price, Specs, Photos & Review 50 years ago, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 was the top-of-the-line 911, and its iconic Viper Green graphics and wheels return to the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the new Tribute to Carrera RS package, this time in Python Green. The package is based on the Weissach package-equipped 911 GT3 RS and features Python Green magnesium wheels, black brake calipers, as well as Python Green mirror caps and GT3 RS side graphics. As the package is exclusively made for the US market, the wing end plates feature a special RS logo with the American flag. Along with the package come other accessories like a Porsche Design watch with a winding rotor that looks like the wheel of the car in the same Python Green, as well as a strap with matching stitching and a white bezel. A pair of 1:43 scale model cars, one being the 1973 Carrera RS and the other being the new car, also come with the car. However, one of the most interesting additions to the package is an NFT program that gives customers digital badges for attending race tracks and Porsche events. The NFT also includes physical graphics along with the digital element. The total price of a new Porsche 911 GT3 RS with the Tribute to Carrera RS package is $312,550, plus $1,450 for processing, handling, and delivery, and the package is available to all customers with an existing 911 GT3 RS allocation. View All Porsche 911 GT3 RSs For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2022

Bugatti And Other Manufacturers Are Added To Porsche's De...

This app realizes your car customization dreams. On DesignCar, Porsche Digital invites you to create custom cars that you can enter in fan-voted competitions in order to win in-game currency to do it all over again. With the game, you’ll be able to put together a dream garage of custom and personalized cars from Porsche, and now, as Porsche has announced, other brands will be in on the fun, as well. MUST READ: Why The New 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T Is One Of The Best New Drivers’ Cars Joining the game will be Audi, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun, and most excitingly for the exotic car lover, Bugatti is being added to the DesignCar game’s roster. Other partnerships are part of the game, as well, like competitions branded by peer-to-peer car rental service Turo and fractional collectibles platform Rally. Currently, the game is available in the United States and Canada, and you can find it on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It’s free to download and offers a rich car-collecting and car-enthusiasm experience for those who have insatiable dreams in the automotive world. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2022

Why The New 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T Is One Of The Best...

The Porsche 911 continues to prove its supremacy among drivers’ cars. Today, it remains one of the world’s favorite sports cars, and that’s because the Porsche 911 came into the world as a car that was built purely for performance driving pleasure. The powerful, rear-engined formula of the car has remained today at the top of the performance car world, and with the new Porsche 911 Carrera T, we are reminded of why. The new Carrera T uses the letter to stand for “touring,” and with a lightweight setup, optimized sound, and improved suspension, touring is what it’s perfect for. MUST READ: Porsche Opens Its ‘Driven by Dreams’ Brand Store In The Heart Of Stuttgart What’s special about the new 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T? The car comes standard with a Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport suspension, lowering the ride height by 10 millimeters compared to the regular suspension. It also comes with two available gearboxes: an 8-speed PDK and a 7-speed manual. In addition, the rear seats are removed for lighter weight, and reduced insulation lowers the weight and improves the engine note. Where does the new 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T fit in the 911 lineup? Where the new Carrera T stands is in between the 911 Carrera and the 911 Carrera S. It comes with the Carrera’s 379-horsepower twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, and has the ability to get from 0-60 in under 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 mph. Much of the sports-focused equipment offered for the Carrera T marks the first time that said equipment is offered with the Carrera’s engine. It also can be ordered with rear-axle steering, which was previously only available for Carrera S, and models above that. In addition, the Carrera T is lighter than the base Carrera 911 and offers the manual transmission discontinued for the Carrera. What’s the history of the “Touring” Porsche? The concept of the “touring” model has been a part of Porsche’s and the 911’s history for quite some time. The first Porsche 911 T was introduced in 1968 and sold until 1973, and was reintroduced in 2017 as the 911 Carrera T in the 991 generation. The concept of a lighter, sportier, driver-focused Porsche carried on to the 718 Cayman T and 718 Boxster T, as well as the Macan T, and even the ludicrously-powerful Porsche 911 GT3 is offered with a Touring package. When can I get the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T? Orders are open now for the car, and dealers in the US will start to see the new Porsche 911 Carrera T on their lots in Spring 2023. How much does the Porsche 911 Carrera T cost? The new Porsche 911 Carrera T comes with an MSRP of $116,600, plus a $1,450 fee for delivery, processing, and handling. View All Porsche 911s For Sale Source: Porsche

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 17, 2022

Porsche Opens Its 'Driven by Dreams' Brand Store In The H...

The opening also underscores the commitment of Porsche to its home city. As a passion project that continues to evolve into a lifestyle, Porsche Design showcases a line of luxury products that take on the same high-quality construction as the brand’s fleet of performance cars. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Porsche Design is excited to promote the opening of its all-new brand store in the heart of Stuttgart, Germany. The location proves to be the perfect location as the German automotive manufacturer produces and ships its extensive line of vehicles from the home city. The storefront titled “Porsche Driven by Dreams’ offers visitors the ability to not only connect with the brand but also understand where it came from and where it’s headed. MUST-READ: Makes And Movements: Porsche Design GT3 RS Chronograph x Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS Along with a showroom that presents all of Porsche Design’s current apparel and accessories collection, the store will also include products from partnering companies that align with Porsche’s values. Guests will have the option to configure and order Porsche vehicles from the Porsche Driven by Dreams store, presenting a chat function to contact the dealership for reservations, in-stock availability, and previously owned cars. The Brand Store will regularly host daytime and evening events, using its modernly minimal design to capture the attention of owners and future clientele. Shop all of the luxury products and accessories from Porsche Design by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more luxury lifestyle releases and Porsche news. SHOP PORSCHE DESIGN

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 17, 2022

How To Trace The Origins Of Your Classic Porsche With A N...

A new service takes the guesswork out of classic Porsche ownership. With a car that’s lived a long and storied life, it can be tough to keep track of everywhere it’s been and have all of that information on hand, but now Porsche has launched a new Porsche Vehicle Documentation site where you can access documentation on different classic Porsches using their VIN. MUST READ: Porsche Delivers 221,512 Cars Worldwide In The First 9 Months Of 2022 Why is this important? The value and cost of ownership for classic cars depend heavily on the way they were used by their previous owner or owners. When you’re buying a classic car, and especially a performance car like a Porsche, it’s important to know that the car was maintained properly, driven with care, and serviced by certified technicians with genuine parts. Having all the information at your fingertips makes sure that if you own or want to own a classic Porsche, you can buy and own that classic Porsche in a much smarter and easier way than ever before. How can you trace the origins of a classic Porsche? With the new Porsche Vehicle Documentation site, you’ll be able to use Porsche VINs to request Porsche Production Specification (PPS). Porsche Classic Technical Certificate (CTC) documents are available through Porsche and the dealer network of Porsche dealers and Porsche Classic Partners. What can I find in PPS and CTC documentation? In PPS documents, you’ll find original production card specifications, like options, original paint and upholstery colors, engine and transmission specs, completion date, and the original MSRP. CTC documents will show you inspections done by Porsche dealers’ own experts. If parts have been replaced, this document will indicate it, as well as if the engine and transmission numbers and types are the same as the originals. CTC documents will contain inspection results throughout the car, which are of high detail and quality. Which cars can I request documentation on? Porsche’s PPS documentation can be provided with any Porsche VIN. CTC documents, however, are only available for: the 356, 914, 959, 911 (through the 996 generation), the 986-generation Boxster, the first-generation Cayenne, and all the 4 and 8-cylinder cars like the 924, 928, 944, and 968, as well as the Carrera GT. How much do these documents cost? PPS documents are available through the new Porsche Vehicle Documentation site at $125, while the CTC documents are $500 plus local sales tax to order. Whether you’re researching your classic Porsche for maintenance or value reasons, or just finding out more about your iconic car’s storied history, the new Porsche Vehicle Documentation site is sure to help. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 14, 2022

Porsche Delivers 221,512 Cars Worldwide In The First 9 Mo...

Porsche’s brand is stronger than the economic difficulties it faces. In the first 9 months of this year, Porsche managed to deliver 221,512 vehicles worldwide, representing an increase of two percent over the same period of last year. This good news comes despite quite a few challenges that plagued the entire automotive industry this year. 2021 was an incredibly strong year for Porsche, and 2022’s challenges made keeping up difficult. However, a successful third quarter has helped shrink the gap, and Porsche hopes to finish strong for the year. MUST READ: The New 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Is 10.6 Seconds Faster At The Nürburgring Than The 992 GT3 Both with the model’s famous popularity within the brand’s lineup and the trends of the automotive industry, the Cayenne continues to serve the role as Porsche’s most popular seller, with the smaller Macan trailing closely behind at 66,769 and 59,604 worldwide deliveries respectively so far in 2022. With a 9-percent increase over last year’s period, the 911 sold 30,611 examples in the first nine months of the year, with the Panamera coming in at 25,452, and the Taycan declining by 12 percent at 25,073 due to supply chain issues. The 718 range had 14,003 examples delivered in the first nine months of this year, and Porsche has an optimistic outlook on the remaining 3 months. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 13, 2022

The New 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Is 10.6 Seconds Faster At ...

The new 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS passed the ultimate performance test with flying colors. When Porsche revealed the 992 generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, fans and enthusiasts couldn’t help but wonder how Porsche could possibly improve on the 992 911 GT3, which is already one of the greatest performance cars Porsche has ever made. Despite the GT3’s excellence, Porsche still had more tricks up its sleeve when it came to the GT3 RS, which has more power and an even more extreme racing focus. MUST READ: 2020 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Price and Specs Driven by Jörg Bergmeister, the new 992 911 GT3 RS simply begs to take on the Nürburgring with its racing capability, and once it took on the Nordschleife course of the track, that racing capability was definitely realized. A Nürburgring lap time under 7 minutes is an indicator of quite the formidable performance car, and while the 992 911 GT3 was able to achieve that, the GT3 RS not only improved on that time, but did so by an incredible amount of 10.6 seconds, coming it at 6:49.328. Porsche spared no effort or expense when it comes to making the 911 GT3 RS an incredible performance 911, and this jaw-dropping lap time is the result. View All Porsche 911s For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 12, 2022

The 8th Luftgekühlt Porsche Event In LA Was A Success

The passion for the air-cooled 911 only grows stronger. Decades have passed since Porsche made the then-controversial switch, transitioning the Porsche 911 from using an air-cooled engine to a water-cooled one instead. However, as the years have gone by, rather than move on from the air-cooled Porsche 911, fans have only let their love for it grow stronger, which is why the Luftgekühlt event, literally translating to “air-cooled” from German, retains such strong attendance. The event celebrated its eighth iteration this past weekend. Founded in Los Angeles by Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, Jeff Zwart, and Howie Idelson, Luftgekühlt 8 was a homecoming for the event, set among 1940s-built warehouses in its hometown. MUST READ: Makes And Movements: Porsche Design GT3 RS Chronograph x Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS Southern California Porsche fans showed strength in numbers, despite a canceled 2020 event and a downsized 2021 event, and some of the most incredible vintage air-cooled Porsches were on display, like a 1956 550A Spyder, a 934/5 by Canepa, and several 70s Carrera RS examples. Fittingly, Porsche Classic made an appearance, with a bare Porsche 356 chassis as part of its display. Owners who want to restore their vintage Porsches were able to see the parts and service offerings Porsche Classic had in its portfolio, as well. With Porsche being one of the most iconic and loved brands in the automotive world, it’s quite unsurprising that the brand’s most iconic creations get so much love. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

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