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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

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By Andrew Nabors – December 28, 2020

Porsche Announces Return To Le Mans With LMDh Prototype

When the FIA laid out the rules for a new endurance class, many smaller teams were left scratching their heads. The engineers in Stuttgart enjoy a challenge, so Porsche has announced a return to Le Mans with an LMDh Prototype. Aiming for the 2023 season, this class is based on LMP2 with the addition of a 50 horsepower hybrid system from Bosch. With every car using the same electric motors and gearbox, the team will be forced to focus on efficiency in the driveline and eliminating parasitic drag from all systems. " width="680"> CEO Oliver Blume said: "The new LMDh category allows us to fight for overall victories with a hybrid system at the Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring classics – without breaking the bank. The project is extremely attractive for Porsche. Endurance racing is part of our brand’s DNA.” Expect to see a racing weight of 2,200 lbs with 680 combined horsepower. This team was responsible for the 919 Hybrid winning Le Mans three years in a row, with technology shared with the 918 Spyder. Click the button below to find yours and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale Images (C) Porsche AG

By Andrew Nabors – December 23, 2020

Porsche 718 Cayman Is The Perfect Comic Book Hero

Michel Vaillant is the protagonist of an action-packed publication. Because he demands the best from his car, the Porsche 718 Cayman is the perfect comic book hero. In the latest issue of Porsche 9:11 magazine, we get a glimpse into the history of the franchise. Porsche Boxster / Cayman Price Specs Photos & Review Benjamin Bénéteau is the illustrator who chooses the Cayman because of its gorgeous lines and incredible performance. The 2021 Cayman S offers 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque in a mid-mounted package. With a curb weight of 3,086 lbs it is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, so click the button below to find one near you. Browse Porsche 718 Cayman For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 22, 2020

Porsche Top 5: 959 Paris-Dakar Highlights

What happens when you build the world's fastest production car? You send it into an inhospitable territory to prove the Porsche Top 5 959 Paris-Dakar highlights. For the 1986 running of the world's hardest rally, the supercar from Stuttgart was fitted with their first sequential turbochargers. Bruce Canepa Explains The Porsche 959 Boost was limited to 400 horsepower because 86 octane was all teams could use across the desert. Therefore, the drivers were blessed to have four driving modes to control the All-Wheel Drive system. The crankshaft had 7 main bearings and titanium rods, features that can be seen on the latest Porsche 911 Turbo for sale. After 8,700 miles the Porsche 959 teams finished first and second, immortalizing the car and its innovations. Click the button for an experience unlike any other and stay with us for all your Porsche uploads. Browse Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale " width="680"> Image (C) Porsche North America

By Andrew Nabors – December 15, 2020

Porsche 911 Magazine: Unseen Design Studies

We never had any idea that one book would lead to a year of amazing videos. Porsche Unseen is a perfect-bound hardcover by Stefan Bogner that looks at 15 years of stunning concepts. As their head of design, Michael Mauer throws back the covers on these stunning cars, and its easy to see how they inspired every new Porsche for sale. The book makes a perfect gift for any Porsche enthusiast, so click the button below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Shop Now " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 14, 2020

Porsche Taycan Sets New EV Record At Road Atlanta

Last week, fans from around the south gathered to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Porsche Experience Center. While the festivities lasted through the weekend, the Porsche Taycan was setting a new EV Record at Road Atlanta. Leh Keen is a professional racer who builds 911s on the side. After loading a stock Taycan Turbo S with instrumentation he was able to cross the finish line in 1:33.88. This scorching lap was good enough for 7th place, and as a reference, 1st and 2nd spots are held by 911 GT cars. An electric sedan is only a few ticks slower than a Corvette ZR1, and that's why our dealers have one for you. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 07, 2020

2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S vs Tesla Model S Performance ...

Racing when fully charged seems like a no-brainer. Because drag strips don't have high-voltage capabilities, here is a 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S vs Tesla Model S Performance by DragTimes. Our friend Brooks wanted to put an end to speculation. His Porsche has posted impressive times in nearly every condition, but we have yet to see it launch when topped off. So thanks to his sponsors, Palm Beach International Raceway was closed to general admission for a shocking series of heads-up races. Both cars were charged to 100% and equipped with Draggy telemetry. The Porsche is rated at 750 horsepower with 774 lb-ft of torque while the Model S likely 690 hp and 824 lb-ft of torque. Click the button to learn more about the Porsche and stay with us for more DragTimes footage. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680">

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By Andrew Nabors – December 04, 2020

Ruf RCT Evo Is The Ultimate 964

Buy it, drive it, race it, and show it...Just don't call it a Porsche. The new Ruf RCT Evo is the ultimate 964, and that is how it shall be known. Alois Ruf and his family have built incredible interpretations of Stuttgart's supercars since 1975. RUF: Love at the Redline To show the world a gorgeous combination of the latest technology with classic lines, they took a page from the past. The first RCT was and is a very collectible 964. Referring to the 911 body from 1989 to '94, they were made popular in the U.S. by the world's greatest car magazine. " width="680"> Buyers can choose from narrow or wide bodies, in steel or fully carbon fiber. Their enhancements to the 3.6-liter Mezger flat-six have become a standard for the industry, so its onboard for an encore performance. The latest in suspension, brakes, and safety have been combined with connectivity and even wireless phone charging. Everything inside (even the roll cage) is covered in hand-stitched hides in whatever color your heart desires. Available in left or right-hand drive, you will have 425 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 199 mph. We knew the RCT was decades ahead of its time when it made our pages in 1993. Alois might have a few more grey hairs, but his wife Estonia and their family are still building the cars we want to drive. Click the button below to find yours and stay with us for all your RUF news. Browse RUF For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 02, 2020

Porsche Unseen Series Reveals 15 Incredible Concepts

Nearly a month ago they teased us with a gorgeous book of unreleased masterpieces. Now the Porsche Unseen series reveals 15 incredible concepts along with the inspirations behind them. As the culmination of this unprecedented campaign, Porsche has uploaded a 47-minute dive into stunning works from 2005 to the present-day. How To Buy Porsche Unseen: The Showcars By Stefan Bogner Like all great Porsche design studies, many of these are close to being production-ready. Having such a healthy design staff is how Porsche can offer styling that is unmatched, so we hope to see a few of these in person once Covid subsides. Tell us your favorite car in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 25, 2020

2021 Porsche 911 GT3 Review By Carfection

Engineers use extensive camouflage to hide upcoming cars. But it becomes impossible when journalists are camped out around every testing facility. That is why workers in Weissach have thrown in the towel to allow the first videos of their latest achievement, and we are able to see the 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 review by Carfection. 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Specs, Photos, Price & Review Henry Catchpole and team uploaded this earlier today. Although it was filmed days before, Porsche decided to move up the launch because pesky photographers have caught most of it without disguise. The new GT3 is longer and wider, without adding any weight. Not only is the body all-new, the suspension was designed from the ground up (literally) around spherical bearings. The 4.0-liter flat six has a few updates and it sends power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. Until we have all the details our dealers have a few tidbits for you. Click the button below to find one near you and have a great Thanksgiving. Browse Porsche 911 GT3 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 24, 2020

Top Gear Sets New EV Drifting Record

Keeping your tires spinning is a difficult task in any situation. At first glance, electric cars would seem to be at a disadvantage, but Top Gear has set a new EV drifting record. Chris Harris didn't need the complications of All Wheel Drive, so Porsche supplied a new Taycan Turbo S without the front axles. The real treat is how efficient electric motors are once the wheels are spinning. Unlike gas, electricity adapts to load. Using incredible torque to light them up, the Taycan throttles back to just enough power to keep them moving. By only drawing a few amps on the battery, electric drifting is the future of spectator motorsports. The Taycan has even more tricks up it's sleeve, so click the button to find yours. Browse Porsche Taycan For Sale " width="680">

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