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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 – February 12, 2019

Tesla Opens Merchandise Store on Amazon

Elon Musk and his team have created one of the strongest brands in automotive history. Owners and fans enjoy any opportunity to show their support, so that is why Tesla has opened a merchandise store on Amazon. In addition to 1:18 Diecast cars, they also offer hoodies, hats, phone cases, and coffee mugs. Musk's other promotional items have included a trio of carbon fiber surfboards, and a flamethrower for his tunneling start up "The Boring Company". Tesla cars are a practical investment as they don't depreciate like a gas guzzler. Click the link to find your Tesla merchandise and stay with us for all your Tesla news. Shop Tesla Merchandise Here Related: Tesla Drops Prices On All 2019 Models Icon 1919 Mercury Derelict Has Tesla Power

By Edward Jones – January 10, 2019

Elon Musk is Serious About a Tesla Hover Car

The legend of Elon Musk continues with the notion of a Tesla hover car that can fly. Nobody really asked him to consider making one, but with the way his brain works, he was probably planning to make a flying Tesla years ago. This whole thing started after @Richie_Hill_ tweeted an animated gif of a hovering DeLorean. Musk replied with: "The new Roadster will actually do something like this". Wait... what? Tesla Drops Prices on All Models for 2019 If you were expecting him to retract this statement or say it was a joke, you don't know Musk. He actually replied by saying it wasn't a joke and how it would work: "Will use SpaceX cold gas thruster system with ultra high pressure air in a composite over-wrapped pressure vessel in place of the 2 rear seats." What an absolute mad lad he is. Tesla Model S Avoids Accident by Going Really Fast How fast could a vehicle like this be? Musk says it would be able to "accelerate at the limit of human endurance". Well, I guess that puts an end to the acceleration debate in the automotive world. He even said a quarter-mile in less than eight seconds would be no problem... either vertically or horizontally. You can read the whole thread here. see all teslas for sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 02, 2019

Tesla Drops Prices on All Models for 2019

When it is not shut down, our federal government usually helps to spur innovation in the automotive world. That is why every new electric car has been sold with a $7,500 credit to your W2. This incentive has allowed Tesla to change the industry. In a press release earlier today, Tesla announced a drop in retail price that was also thanks to 245,250 vehicle deliveries in 2018. The fine print from Capitol Hill limited the credits to a finite number of cars, which Tesla has met thanks to the success of their Model S. As reported by our friends at Electrek.co, new Tesla buyers will still have $3,750 in IRS dollars back on their returns. Since the rebate is cut in half, each Tesla model has dropped by $2,000. Top Crashes of 2018 If you enjoyed the cheap gas over the Holidays you are not alone. The drop in crude oil prices has led to big SUVs finally killing the crossovers. Responding to their drop in revenue CNBC announced that OPEC has announced an agreement with their allies to throttle back production to raise the price of oil. If you need a daily driver that is unchained to this fragile market, Tesla's lower prices are more appealing than next year's tax returns. Click the link below to find a Tesla near you and stay with us for all your high-voltage news. View All Tesla Models For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – October 18, 2018

TeslaCam Records Crash, Proves Driver Wrong

One of the greatest things to buy for your car nowadays is a dashcam, as it can come in handy if you ever get into an accident. A perfect example of this is a recent crash that involved a Tesla Model 3. Luckily for Tesla owners, they don't need to buy a dashcam because they come packing TeslaCam. This built-in dashcam actually came from a software update that allowed owners to capture video through the car's front-facing camera. Pretty nifty.As for the crash, it happened Brad King, the owner of a Model 3. He set up his TeslaCam and had footage being saved onto a USB drive. This came in handy because one night he was driving when a Honda Accord with no lights on pulled out in front of him. Unfortunately, King couldn't brake in time and ended up hitting the car. Luckily, there were no injuries.Jay Leno Tests the 2020 Tesla RoadsterThe driver of the Accord had no insurance and a suspended license. As if that wasn't the worst of it, the driver of the Accord told authorities a different story of what happened, according to Teslarati. This is where the TeslaCam comes in handy. As you can see in the video below, King clearly told the truth. Without this footage, things might have become very messy. Now imagine if you owned something like a Lamborghini Aventador. You'd definitely want the backup from a dashcam if you got into an accident.Shop Dashcams Source: Teslarati

By Andrew Nabors – August 29, 2018

Jay Leno Tests the 2020 Tesla Roadster

The first production car by Tesla was their Roadster which was unveiled a decade ago. It was based on a Lotus but featured a 53 kWh battery and a 3-phase AC motor. Twelve years and several thousand cars later, the 2020 Roadster is poised to shake up the industry. Using battery improvements pioneered on the Model S P100 and the Model X, the 2020 Tesla Roadster will arrive with a 200 kWh battery.Check Out Jay Leno's Car CollectionWith four times the power of its predecessor, Jay Leno decided to take control of their latest creation. While it would have been nice to drive the 1st example, it is on its way to the outer solar system, thanks to a Space X test flight. It arrives with three motors, one for the front and two for the rear. The allows it to have 7,400 lb-ft of torque at any speed. If you drive politely, you will have 620 miles between charges. Tell us what you think in the comments below, and click the link to find a Tesla for yourself.Browse Tesla For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 26, 2018

Tesla Model S Avoids Accident by Going Really Fast

I never thought I'd compare a car to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, but here I am doing exactly that. If you're unfamiliar with the SR-71, which I don't know why you would be, it was a reconnaissance aircraft that could operate at insane altitudes and speeds. In fact, the Blackbird holds the record for the "fastest air-breathing manned aircraft," being able to reach speed around 2,200 mph. Because of this insane speed, the SR-71 had a very special tactic when it came to avoiding incoming missiles: outrunning them. Seriously, in the off chance a missile could actually lock-on to the Blackbird, the pilot was alerted, giving him time reach speeds and altitudes the missile could not match.(Related - Gas vs Electric: McLaren 650S Spider vs Tesla Model S P100D)Now, what in the world does this plane have to do with a Tesla? In a video published yesterday, Jason Hugh recorded his drive in his Tesla Model S P85D. During his drive he noticed a Toyota Prius driver coming up on his rear quite quickly. Because he knew just how fast the car could accelerate, he decided to stomp on the pedal from a dead stop in order to get away from the distracted Prius driver. Thanks to his quick thinking, he outran the incoming Prius just like the SR-71 outrunning a missile. Check it out below, it's pretty amazing.All Tesla Model S For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 27, 2018

Elon Musk Teases Tesla Truck Features

Tesla is still chugging forward with the development of their upcoming truck model. The truck was originally unveiled during the Tesla "BAMF" Semi's reveal in November 2017. It's based on the semi truck, but it's built for the average consumer. This new truck is set to rival the likes of the ever-popular Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.Elon Musk and Tesla have been quite mum in regards to the truck's details, but that seems to have changed. Elon Musk recently sent out a series of tweets that go into possible features and details of the truck. These tweets all point to a truck that will be exactly what we expected: a high-power electric pickup truck that will be full of bells and whistles.One possible feature that another Twitter user propositioned and Mush harked on was the addition of a heavy-duty air compressor to run tools on. Musk says that the truck will have a Tesla pneumatic system that would just need a utility port to make it happen.https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1011678031801249793https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1011724688706318337

By Edward Jones – May 21, 2018

Pricing/Specs for Tesla Model 3 Performance Model Announced

The Tesla Model 3 is about to get new performance and all-wheel-drive models and Elon Musk announced some of its details on Twitter.Tesla Motors released the Model 3 just over two years ago and we're just now learning about new variants for the car. Elon Musk says a new dual-motor setup will be used for the upcoming all-wheel drive and performance Model 3's. For the performance Model 3, Elon Musk says it will have a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, 155 mph top speed and a 310-mile range.Teslas for SaleAlong with the quick specs, he noted just how much one of these models will cost when all option boxes are checked off, including wheels, paint, etc. The cost, he says, would be $78,000, not including Autopilot. Elon Musk then went on to say that this cost is around the same as a BMW M3 but the new Model 3 will be 15% quicker and will have better handling.For those who just want the dual motor AWD option, the option costs just $5,000. This option will come with a range of 310 miles, 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 140 mph. This dual-motor setup will have one motor in the front and one in the rear. He also noted that if one motor breaks, the other will drive the car.https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/997943053317849088https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/998084314200862720https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/998085655958769665https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/998085901069598720https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/998087743530913792https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/998088849636016128

By Andrew Nabors – May 15, 2018

Tesla Model X Tows Boeing 787 For Guinness World Record

Have you noticed gas prices lately? Tesla has, so they decided to remind us of what their Model X is capable of. The world forgot about electric cars around a century ago due to cheap fuel. Just like how Space X reminded the aerospace industry that kerosene rockets are incredibly cheaper than hydrogen. Elon Musk thinks outside the box, and that is how they were able to tow a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.As the Flag Carrier for Australia, Qantas is the largest airline in the world. Being the biggest means staying ahead of the curve, and what they have done is sending shivers through the aircraft tug industry. Those tiny workhorses that push and pull planes to their gate are not required to meet emissions laws, so battery power seems like a no-brainer.Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Tows Jumbo JetThe Model X P100D is rated at 518 horsepower and 713 lb-ft of torque. Torque is multiplied in the differential before it reaches the wheels. Your car probably has a 2.73 or maybe even a 3.73 gear ratio. The Model X has 9.34 gears. This means it has the potential to send 6,659 lb-ft to the tarmac. Officially rated to tow 5,000 lbs, it seems to have no problems moving the 244,000 lb Dreamliner, which set the Guinness World Record for the "heaviest tow by an electric production passenger vehicle."Please don't try this at home, Boeing will void your warranty. If you want to see some wild airport action, join us this Saturday at Peter O Knight field in Tampa for Cars & Coffee. If you can't make it, stay tuned to our Facebook page and here for complete coverage.Browse Tesla For Sale

By Edward Jones – May 10, 2018

Tesla Teases Secret Model in New Video

Tesla has been facing troubles as of recently, mostly in the form of investor concerns and lackluster Model 3 production. But at the end of the day, Tesla is still looking forward and aiming for the stars... Well, SpaceX is the one truly aiming for the stars.In a recent video by Tesla, the company shows off what they're currently up to and what is in store for their future. Throughout the video, you'll see a number of expected items like the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Semi and their massive factory. But at the beginning of the video, there is a mysterious vehicle that's under literal wraps. What's could this car be? Many are noting that it could be the upcoming Model Y, a crossover vehicle that's based on the Model 3 in both underpinnings and price range. Of course, this is all just speculation and no official word about what the secret car is. Be sure to check in with us to learn more about what's to come from Tesla.Slo-Mo Tesla Model S Launch is Hypnotic

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