Rolls-Royce 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 Andrew Nabors – September 27, 2016

30 Bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms With Gold and Diamonds Ar...

When hotel magnate Stephen Hung demanded the very best, Rolls-Royce delivered. The largest order of customized cars in the company's history, Mr. Hung has taken delivery of 30 elegant Phantoms. The 13 hotel in Macau is rapidly approaching a Grand Opening, and guests will have the extended wheelbase cars at their disposal. Two examples are finished in gold with diamond accents and will be reserved for exclusive guests. The "Stephen Red" paint is infused with gold flakes for an expensive reflection.(Related - Rolls-Royce Introduces Bespoke Wraith in One-of-a-Kind Golden Yellow)The first car was delivered at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year, and the factory spent countless hours ensuring the quality of each build. No detail was too small, as the 21" wheels are specific to this fleet, and the rear seats are checkered to replicate the hotel's marble entrance. For a finishing touch, the clocks were designed by master jewelers at Graff. Shipping 29 cars to the other side of the world without incident must be a world record unto itself, but we will probably surpass that in this year's upcoming car show season. Rolls-Royce is ready to build a fleet of Phantoms to your liking, so contact our dealers for more information.Rolls-Royce Phantom For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2016

Rolls-Royce Creates Bespoke Picnic Hamper for Phantom Zen...

Rolls-Royce announced in May that they would be creating the Phantom Zenith Collection. This collection commemorates the Phantom Drophead Coupe and Phantom Coupe though a bespoke collection that is the ultimate in luxury. To accompany this collection, Rolls-Royce has unveiled something special: a bespoke-commissioned picnic hamper.Yes, that's right, the Zenith Collection will now come with one of the finest picnic hampers created by Rolls-Royce themselves.Each hamper will be numbered to match each owner's Phantom Zenith Collection model. Each hamper is created from American Walnut and natural grain leather. They come finished in three color combinations, matching the interior of the cars (Ardent Red leather and black leather piping from the 1929 Phantom II, Navy Blue and Arctic White leather piping from the 1925 Phantom II and black Anthracite leather and Seashell piping from the 1911 Silver Ghost). In the box is lead crystal wine glasses, handmade stainless steel cutlery, Rolls-Royce embroidered napkins, American Walnut chopping board and unique crockery.This all is definitely enough for one of the finest picnics ever.View All Rolls-Royce For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 24, 2016

Say Goodbye to the Current Rolls-Royce Phantom

For seven generations, we've come to know the Phantom as the staple luxury car from Rolls-Royce. Referenced in many well-known songs and regarded as one of the ultimate status symbols, the Phantom has colored one generation after the next. And now, we say goodbye to the seventh generation Phantom, which began production 13 years ago. So what's to come in it's place?First, it's important to note that production of the seventh generation Phantom will not cease until Novemeber 2016. Also, according to a press release provided by Rolls Royce, "Collectors around the world will be excited to learn that a spectacular collection of 50 unique Coupé’s and Drophead Coupés, called Phantom Zenith, will be built to celebrate the end of production of these truly exceptional cars."In its place, collectors and car enthusiasts can expect the Phantom VIII-- and technologically advanced, innovative, symbol of luxury that will explore the car maker's interest in "all-aluminum architecture."In essence, there's no need to worry, because the Phantom is here to stay, and a new generation marks an important milestone for the luxury brand. Check out the graphic below of the Phantom's history. What do you think? Ready for a new Phantom? Let us know in the comments below.Phantom's For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 04, 2016

Revealed: Rolls-Royce Presents Ghost 'Eternal Love' in China

At the Minsheng Art Museum in Beijing, China, Rolls-Royce debuted the new Ghost 'Eternal Love' collection, which is available exclusively in the China market. The new collection was inspired by the beauty and grace of the white swan. The swan is a well-known and cherished symbol of love in both eastern and western culture. In Chinese culture specifically, the swan is the resident 'love bird', due to "their genuine commitment to everlasting love," as described in a press release from Rolls-Royce.The Eternal Love collection embodies the pristine lines and soft embrace that might come to mind when one thinks of the swan. As stated in the press release,An image of two swans forming a perfect heart is depicted on the Eternal Love’s signature coachline and leather seatbacks. It is worth mentioning that the delicate swans in the interior are elaborately adorned with a hand-embroidered embellishment. The impeccable luxury and first-class engineering of the car interior elevate the artistry to a new height. With the swan in mind, Rolls-Royce decided on a two-tone exterior-- English White complimented by Silver Satin. The interior features leather in a creamy Seashell color while the stitching and embroidery are Hotspur Red. The engine boasts the "beloved" 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12.Rolls-Royce Ghosts For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – November 09, 2015

First Rolls-Royce Dawn in US to be Auctioned Off in Florida

If you hope to be the first American to own a Rolls-Royce Dawn, you'll need to make your way to Naples, Florida, at the end of January.From Jan. 29-31, 2016, at the 2016 Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), a number of items will cross an auction block, and among them will be ownership of a bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn. As a Nov. 4 release from Rolls-Royce tells us, it has been specially crafted for this event, and is guaranteed to be the first Dawn delivered to the United States upon its completion.The exterior features Arctic White paint while the interior contrasts sharply in Consort Red. A bespoke treadplate will confirm both its status as the first Dawn in the country and the winning bid from the NWWF. With all of the options accounted for, this example is valued at just over $400,000, a $65,000 increase over the Dawn's starting value.First introduced in early September, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is named for the limited run Silver Dawn. The example won at the NWWF auction will begin construction in February of 2016, and is expected to be delivered in April. It features a 2+2 seating arrangement, and has been repeatedly referred to as "the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever built."Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös repeated that sentiment in the release announcing this auction opportunity, saying "Dawn is the sexiest and most social Rolls-Royce we've ever designed and the NWWF epitomizes the social life of our owners. We are proud to make the introduction at this event and help benefit children in need."Tickets to the NWWF are limited to just 580, with available packages ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 per couple. Proceeds from the event benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation, the organization behind the event. Since its founding in 2001, the NWWF has helped raise more than $135 million for the foundation.Learn how to get your tickets for the event so you can bid on this new Dawn at www.NaplesWineFest.com. If you can't quite wait that long for your Rolls-Royce, find one from our exclusive listings at the button below.Rolls-Royces For Sale Gallery (via Rolls-Royce, Naples Winter Wine Festival) See More Rolls-Royce News

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