Toyota

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 Edward Jones – November 06, 2019

See the Nine Wild 2020 GR Supras Heading to SEMA 2019

The 2020 Toyota Supra is heading to the 2019 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in more way than one. Don't believe us? Check out the nine different GR Supras that you can expect to see on the floor of SEMA. These range from the extreme GR Supra HyperBoost Edition to the new NASCAR Xfinity Series Supra. Check them all out below and keep an eye out for them when roaming around SEMA this year. SEE ALL SUPRAS FOR SALE GR Supra HyperBoost Edition "NASCAR analyst Rutledge Wood' Dream GR Supra Project Conceals 750-Plus Horsepower Under its Custom Wide-body Kit" GR Supra Heritage Edition "Toyota’s Ed Laukes and MTC Blend Elements of the Iconic MKIV Supra into his 2020 GR Supra Build Off Project" "Wasabi Concept" "The Accessory Team Adds Heat to its Factory-Tuned GR Supra Wasabi Concept" GR Supra Performance Line Concept "Toyota Customizing & Development Injects Racing Technology and Aerodynamics Into the GR Supra" GR Supra 3000GT Concept "Toyota Customizing & Development Draws Inspiration from Its Iconic 1994 TRD3000GT Kit" GR Supra GT4 "Toyota’s GR Supra GT4 Racecar Ups the Ante in the Popular Racing Class" GR Supra Racing Concept "The GAZOO Racing-Built Machine Returns to Support the Release of the All-New 2020 GR Supra" NASCAR Xfinity Series Supra "Toyota Showcases the Supra Competing in This Year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series" 2020 GR Supra Pace Car "The GR Supra Pace Car Zooms Through SEMA On Its Way to Arizona"

By Andrew Nabors – November 05, 2019

The ONLY 2020 Stick Shift Supra by European Auto Group

A few years ago there was a heated discussion. Engineers from Toyota and BMW met to finalize the details of the 2020 Toyota Supra. Sadly, those in favor of a manual transmission lost the battle. Thankfully, the only 2020 stick shift Supra has been transformed by European Auto Group. You might remember earlier this year when they let us drive the only manual Ferrari F430 Scuderia. While Ferrari still sells manual transmission parts for earlier cars, the new Supra was designed around its automatic gearbox. Browse All Toyota Supra For Sale Going from automatic to stick is one of the hardest tasks in the automotive world, and our hats are off to the team of talented Texans at EAG. Stay with us for all your Supra news! Related: The ONLY Six-Speed Ferrari F430 Scuderia is For Sale! 2020 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2019

2021 Toyota Supra GT4 Will Arrive Ready to Race

This is the one you've been waiting for. Before he took control of the family business, Akio Toyoda and his team raced the Supra around the world. Although it was two decades ago, the wait has been worth it. That is because the 2021 Toyota Supra GT4 will arrive ready to race. In a press release by Toyota Gazoo Racing, we've learned that it will meet all FIA regulations while offering 430 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This is made possible by Magneti Marelli engine controllers, Akrapovic exhaust, and some Toyota secret sauce. Browse Toyota Supra For Sale A planned price of $194,323 includes a full roll cage, telemetry, and KW adjustable suspension. With a race weight just under 3,000 lbs it will be a victorious return of the Supra to racing around the world. Tell us if this price appeals to you, or if you would build your own from a production car. Click the button above to find your Toyota Supra for sale and stay with us for all your Supra news. Related: 2020 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review 1998 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – September 23, 2019

Why To Buy a Toyota Supra

Many enthusiasts regard the Toyota Supra as a life goal. The 4th generation models were sold in the U.S. between '93 and '98, and they were immortalized in video games and movies. Akio Toyoda runs his great-grandfather's company with precision. Before he became the CEO, he was the boss at Lexus. Growing up racing Supras around the world led him to push Lexus into the supercar world. The LFA showed everyone what he and his dedicated employees can do, even patenting new ways to weave carbon fiber along the way. The billion-dollar project was aimed at taking on the world, it set the tone for future projects. Browse Toyota Supra For Sale Fast forward to today. The 2020 Toyota Supra is more than their flagship model. It represents cooperation with East and West. Toyota cars have extremely tight tolerances, which makes their engines and bodies last for decades. He wanted more. So instead of building a new assembly line, he turned to Magna-Steyr in Austria. This independent coachbuilder is famous for solving problems, and they have handled the assembly of complex cars & trucks since 1904. They have been the only factory for the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen since it was introduced in '79. A few other hits include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Aston Martin Rapide, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar E-pace & I-Pace. Toyota is very protective of their brand, but they wanted the Supra to be a world-class car. Therefore, it is built in Austria with sharing the chassis & assembly line with the BMW Z4. This meeting of minds has yielded a car that is 110 lbs lighter than the 1998 Supra, and that is a great place to start. Staying true to its identity, a turbocharged straight-six is under the hood. It makes 335 horsepower almost 370 lb-ft of torque at only 1,600 rpm. That much power at a low engine speed allows for blistering launches to 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds. The quarter-mile is over in 12.3, with a trap speed of 113 mph. This makes us think the engine makes more power than they are telling us. It also among the most efficient 12-second cars, as it offers 31 mpg on the highway. Premium models will greet you with heated leather seats, an 8.8" touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and a dozen JBL speakers. We were host to a Launch Edition Supra. They are premium models offered in Zero White, Nocturnal Black, and Renaissance Red. This white example sported a dash plaque with Mr. Toyoda's signature. The quality of materials and the minute details were overwhelming and well worth the MSRP of $53,990. Other than limited cargo space and only 2 seats, we have no reason to not consider a Toyota Supra for sale. Click the link above to browse our dealers' inventory, and stay with us for all your Supra news. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 16, 2019

2020 Toyota GR Supra Track Day

There was a time when Toyota had a complete lineup of fun & sporty cars. In the mid 90's you could choose from two versions of the Lexus SC, Toyota's "Epic" Wakeboat, the mid-engine MR2, and a supercharged AWD mid-engine Previa minivan. But by far, the most iconic Toyota of the 90s was the Supra. The fun was over by 1998, and we have been waiting 22 years for it to return. Thanks to the efforts of Akio Toyoda, we can watch the new 2020 Toyota GR Supra Track Day. Set to a timeless soundtrack by Rodgers & Hammerstein, the first official Toyota Supra advertisement was uploaded to YouTube. While it makes all the right moves and lays waste to the rear tires, we still have two issues with the car. First is the lack of a manual transmission. The car was co-developed by BMW, and they build amazing manual gearboxes. Toyota Supra #1 Delivered to John Staluppi The other issue is 335 horsepower. Sure it has a healthy 365 lb-ft of torque, but the 1998 Supra was underrated at 320 hp. Not everyone is in the market for a supercar, so the power will be enough for most. Of course, the aftermarket is hard at work reverse-engineering the engine, so stay with us for all the latest Toyota Supra news. Find Your Toyota Supra Here Related: 1998 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review 2020 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2019

2020 Toyota Supra #1 Delivered to John Staluppi

As one of the most prominent car dealers in the Nation, our friend John Staluppi has an amazing inventory. After getting his start at a Chevrolet dealer, he had the foresight to begin importing Japanese cars. His empire now consists of the 3rd largest privately-owned dealer group in the U.S. That is how he was able to place the winning bid on the first production Supra. And in a press release earlier today, we learned that the 2020 Toyota Supra #1 was delivered to John Staluppi. Earlier this year, we watched him outbid everyone else at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. The hammer fell at $2.1 Million, with proceeds going to charity. It is probably en-route to his Cars of Dreams Museum in North Palm Beach, Florida. It will arrive wearing a VIN ending in 20201 to signify the first production car. Also included is a racing suit, valve cover, and photo signed by Akio Toyoda. Congratulations John, from all of us at the duPont REGISTRY. Browse ToyoTa Supra For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – March 19, 2019

New 2020 Toyota Supra Colors Show Up Online

When revealed, the 2020 Toyota Supra came out in a special Launch Edition paint scheme. In this scheme was an Absolute Zero White body with reed accents on the calipers and mirror caps. Now, we get our chance to see what the new Supra will look like in a variety of other colors, thanks to Toyota's website. Paint colors like Nitro Yellow and Downshift Blue are a stark difference from the Launch Edition colors that we've seen thus far. Check out all of the colors by clicking here. The page also includes the pricing for the Launch Edition, 3.0 Premium and 3.0 trims.

By Andrew Nabors – February 15, 2019

Is Jay Leno the 1st Non-Toyota Employee to Drive the 2020...

You read that right! The Instagram page for Jay Leno's Garage uploaded a very suspicious photo earlier today. We can see Mr. Leno behind a new 2020 Toyota Supra that is wearing Texas plates. So he could potentially be the first person outside of Toyota to drive their latest model. It would make sense for Toyota to sponsor his show, as their rivals at Acura have placed the NSX in several episodes of Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. It has been 2 decades since the last Supra was sold in the US, and the 5th generation model has been co-developed with BMW as their Z4. We are trying to wait patiently to get our hands on one, so stay with us for all your Supra news. Shop Toyota Supra For Sale Related: Check Out Jay Leno's Car Collection First Production Supra Just Sold For Big Money

2020_Supra_LaunchEdition_01_DA98A3EF24330A1E359D4DA496D4CF667DC03BAE

By Andrew Nabors – January 15, 2019

2020 Toyota Supra Launch Edition & Pricing

Yesterday we were glad to see the return of the Toyota Supra. Since it left the US in 1998, even bad examples have skyrocketed in value. If you need a new Japanese halo car, their latest press release outlines the 2020 Toyota Supra Launch Edition along with pricing. Initially the car will arrive in 2 trim levels: 3.0 and 3.0 Premium. The first has a retail price $49,990. The 3.0 will offer the same 335 horsepower straight six BMW engine that offers 365 lb-ft of torque. Also shared is the adaptive suspension, electronic rear differential and launch control. Where it differs is in the infotainment department. A 6.5" display is controlled by a wheel on the center console. The Alcantara seats will hold you in place as you attack the corners. If you need premium audio, a 12-speaker JBL system will be an additional $2,460. If you need all the gadgets, the 3.0 Premium comes standard with the aforementioned JBL audio along with an 8.8" touch screen to control all systems. Other goodies include heated leather seats, full-color Heads Up Display, wireless phone charging, and a navigation system. The first 1,500 cars built for the US market will be Launch Editions. Based on the 3.0 Premium package, they are available to order in Absolute Zero White, Nocturnal Black, or Renaissance Red 2.0. A carbon fiber dash plaque display's the car's number on the dash with a signature from Akio Toyoda. The 2-tone leather interiors and matte black wheels of the Launch Edition are also exclusive, and it all adds up to only $55,250. Sadly, a manual transmission is one option that we deeply miss. But the new paddle-shift 8-speed automatic was tested on tracks around the world. Our dealers can lead you through the process of ordering a new Supra, but they also have a few well-preserved MKIV cars you might like. So click the link below for more information. View All Toyota Supra For Sale " width="680"> Related: Say Hello to the 2020 Toyota Supra Watch the Toyota Supra at Goodwood

By Edward Jones – January 11, 2019

2020 Toyota Supra Official Video Leaked

The new 2020 Toyota Supra is supposed to be unveiled on January 14, 2019, but the Japanese manufacturer's Mexico branch didn't seem to get the memo. The @ToyotaMex Twitter account tweeted out an official video of the new sports car last night, giving us the full look we've been waiting for. The tweet, when translated, reads: "Our new #Supra in Japan, and this is the story that #AkioToyoda tells us about its return." We have all of this information because of the quick acting of Jalopnik's David Tracy who spotted the tweet. Since their story, the video has been ripped, screencapped and shared all across the internet. Below is the leaked video from AUTO.RIA.com's YouTube channel. Check it out to see the new Supra! " width="680"> Also Check Out: Nissan GT-R Price, Specs, Photos, Review First 2020 Toyota Supra Will Be Auctioned for Charity These Guys Mounted a Fighter Jet Cannon on a Toyota Prius

Toyota

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe