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

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By Caitlin Duffy – July 07, 2015

Rolls-Royce Red St. James Wraith Shared for Independence Day

It's the most powerful model created by a marque with the ability to create some of the world's finest bespoke vehicles, and in a tantalizing red shade, it appeared on Rolls-Royce's Facebook page to celebrate the Fourth of July."Happy Independence Day," reads the July 4 caption to a gallery of four images. "Celebrate the Rolls-Royce way, with this bespoke Red St James Wraith."Coach doors open, it sits in front of a stunning manor with an open wrought iron gate beckoning you in. It's another stunning creation from the marque's bespoke program, which released the Rolls-Royce Porto Cervo Wraith June 25. Each is a beautiful representation of the power under the hood and the spectacular nature of the lifestyle that accompanies ownership.With 632 hp created by a 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine, 4.4 seconds is all it takes to reach 60 mph from a standstill - an impressive feat for a vehicle weighing 5,380 pounds at the curb.See the St. James Wraith in the pictures below, and when you're finished, find your own perfect Wraith from our exclusive Rolls-Royce listings.Wraiths For Sale Gallery (Source: Facebook, Rolls-Royce) See More Rolls-Royce News

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By Caitlin Duffy – June 25, 2015

Rolls-Royce Porto Cervo Wraith from Rolls-Royce Bespoke

It's an extremely limited run of one of Rolls-Royce's most prominent models, and you'll only have a chance to see it if you're fortunate enough to visit its namesake.The Rolls-Royce Porto Cervo Wraith is a stunning design limited to three examples, embodying the essence and air of Porto Cervo in every detail. A series of photos shared to the marque's Facebook page June 23 share a close look at the fine wood detailing, creamy Arctic White leather seats and stunningly blue exterior the same shade as the resort town's waters. Navy Blue accents and a personalized headrest complete this stunning creation from Rolls-Royce Bespoke.(See Also: Bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith in Orange Metallic)From June through September of this year, Rolls-Royce has returned to Porto Cervo on Italy's Costa Smeralda for the second year with the Rolls-Royce Summer Studio. The Porto Cervo Wraith serves as the studio's centerpiece display, as well as the latest Ghost and Phantom models."Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the cars through static displays whilst enjoying our bespoke Fendi Casa lounge, or to experience a dynamic drive on the winding roads of the Costa Smeralda," describes Rolls-Royce's website. The studio is open seven days week, from 10 am to 1 pm CET, and from 5:30 pm to 11 pm, with hours extending to 1 am during peak weeks.To learn more about the studio and how you can test drive this stunning limited edition Wraith, be sure to visit Rolls-Royce's website. If you can't find the time to visit Porto Cervo, though we highly recommend going, browse our exclusive listings of Rolls-Royces and find your perfect Wraith at the button below.Wraiths For Sale Gallery (Source: Rolls-Royce, Facebook) See More Rolls-Royce News

By Edward Jones – June 18, 2015

Bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith in Orange Metallic

Uploaded to Rolls-Royce's official Facebook page today is a bespoke example of their two-door luxury sports car known as the Wraith. Finished in an orange metallic paint with a white and black interior, this is a striking British automobile.The car was created at Rolls-Royce's Summer Studio in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. This is the second consecutive year that Rolls-Royce has located their Summer Studio at the waterfront Promenade du Port location. They will be at this location from now until September of this year and will presumably be back next year.(Related: New Rolls-Royce Dawn Model Announced)What's next from this studio? The website for the Summer Studio states that there will be an exclusive showcase of the Porto Cervo Wraith edition - one of three - so stay with us for more.Wraiths For Sale (Source: Facebook) More Rolls-Royce News

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By Caitlin Duffy – May 13, 2015

New Rolls-Royce Dawn Model Announced

Though it is a storied brand with 109 years of history, Rolls-Royce has been able to remain timeless through constant reinvention, and their newest release is a testament to that fact.In reinventing their history, the marque is calling back to one of their rarest creations, the 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn. As a press release issued May 12 introducing the vehicle describes, the name "Dawn" was used between 1949 and 1954 on only 28 examples. The original Silver Dawn was the first car from the marque to be offered with a factory-built body, and each of the 28 was built to order for individual customers.Though no new images have been released of the new Rolls-Royce Dawn, its name carries much promise for a new chapter in the company's design."It is languid and beautiful, fresh and fragrant and awakens the passion of your life," describes the release. "New life, new possibilities, fresh horizons - a tingling, anticipatory ambience in the air - all signified by a new Dawn."It is described as sensuous and exciting, visceral and beguiling, the type of drophead ready for a day in the sun. We hope that much of the original Silver Dawn's design is present in this new model; the styling of a rare and classic Rolls-Royce is very difficult to improve upon, but if anyone can bring a design from the 1950s in to the 21st century, Rolls-Royce can.(See Also: Rolls-Royce "Wraith - Inspired by Fashion" Unveiled)This is the second new model the British luxury manufacturer has announced they are creating in 2015; the first has been dubbed "Project Cullinan" and was announced Feb. 18, when white gloved chauffeurs delivered envelopes to many of the world's largest newsrooms.Be sure to stay with us for more updates about this new model ahead of its anticipated release in the first quarter of 2016, and take a moment to browse our exclusive Rolls-Royce listings to find the perfect classic for your collection.View Rolls-Royce Listings(Source: Rolls-Royce) See More Rolls-Royce News

By Edward Jones – May 08, 2015

Rolls-Royce "Wraith - Inspired by Fashion" Unveiled

The automotive and fashion worlds fused together today as the new Rolls-Royce "Wraith - Inspired by Fashion" was unveiled in a press release. This new model builds upon the automaker's ability to create bespoke vehicles that express the customer's taste and lifestyle.“This iteration of Wraith provides a canvas for materials and finishes most commonly associated with the world of fashion," said Giles Taylor, Director of Design for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in the press release. "Inspiration was sourced from international catwalks and Bespoke Tailors, resulting in an aesthetically stunning and sartorially on-point motor car.”Its two-tone exterior finish consists of Andalucian White and Arctic White, which is a perfect setting for their accent colors of either Jasmine, Tailored Purple or Mugello Red. An Arctic White and Black interior color scheme is found in the cabin, with embroidered headrests and accented seat stitching and piping. Adding to the already luxurious interior, Rolls-Royce's Bespoke design team also appointed the car's front and rear door pockets with fine silks.(Related: Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Unveiled on Instagram)The amount of times it takes to build this incredibly special luxury automobile takes nine days.Rolls-Royce will be giving the "Wraith - Inspired by Fashion" its global debut later on today. For further Rolls-Royce news, be sure to check back with Autofluence.Rolls-Royce Wraiths For SaleGallery (Source: Rolls-Royce)

By Edward Jones – August 01, 2014

Rare Rolls-Royce Wraith in Carrara White for Sale

Down the road from the duPont REGISTRY headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida, is Dimmitt Automotive Group, home to Rolls-Royce Tampa Bay. They currently have an inventory filled with incredible cars, including a very unique Rolls-Royce Wraith for sale.This Wraith is finished in Carrara White Pearlescent, a commissioned paint color that was applied through Rolls-Royce's bespoke program. This is a rare color, with less than 10 examples in the U.S. The reason for the color's rare nature is that it adds an additional three months to the production of the car, a time period not many customers are willing to endure.The reason for the prolonged production is due to the nature of the Carrara White Pearlescent finish itself. This finish has metallic flakes that are much larger than average, making additional clear coats necessary.(Must Read: Lamborghini Huracán POV Test Drive by Lamborghini Dallas)Making this car even more special is the fact that, when all options are considered, there is no other Wraith like it in the entire U.S. That means for $367,675, you could, today, have a unique ultra-luxury performance car in a special finish that most have to wait an extra three months for.For those interested in this Carrara White Wraith, be sure to contact Mark Powell at Rolls-Royce Tampa Bay at (727)489-1485.Gallery Sponsored by: See More Exotic Cars for Sale

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