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 Andrew Nabors – January 15, 2021

Toyota Gazoo Racing Unveils GR010 Hybrid

Usually, street-legal cars spawn racing models after the public can buy them at dealers. However, Toyota Gazoo Racing has unveiled the GR010 Hybrid that will yield a new hypercar for us to enjoy. " width="680"> In the latest press release from their World Endurance Championship team, we have learned they are starting with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that offers 680 horsepower. All teams must use the same 272 horsepower hybrid unit that maintains an even balance of performance. Until its little brother arrives, click the button below to find a Supra near you. Browse Toyota Supra For Sale Images (C) Toyota Gazoo Racing

By Andrew Nabors – December 10, 2020

2021 Toyota Supra Sport Top Is Taking Shape

This year's SEMA show was convoluted because of the pandemic. While many manufacturers chose not to attend, it has allowed us to announce that the 2021 Toyota Supra Sport Top is taking shape. What initially was going to be a static display has caught the eye of Supra fans around the world. Thankfully, the engineers saw this as an opportunity to build a production-quality car. As such, they started by reinforcing the chassis. Plate steel was formed into subframe connectors and welded the entire length of the body. Toyota Supra Concepts Unveiled At SEMA Once in place, it allowed them to fabricate new exhaust pipes and a functional rear diffuser. Many of us were surprised at the thickness of the roof panels, but this is how the Supra offers such crisp handling along with world-class safety. Because it shares the same chassis as the BMW Z4, targa-top versions of both seem closer to reality. Stay with us as this project evolves, and click the button below to find a Supra for yourself. Browse Toyota Supra For Sale " width="680"> Image (C) Toyota

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 Edward Jones – June 17, 2019

See the Toyota GR Super Sport Hypercar Being Tested

The 2020-2021 FIA World Endurance Championship season is getting a new hypercar class. Just saying "hypercar class" is enough to get me excited. After seeing Toyota's entrant into the series, I'm even more excited. Coming into the world soon is the Toyota GR Super Sport, a hypercar that will be competing in the new hypercar racing class. While developing the race car, Toyota is also said to be making a road-going version of the GR Super Sport. It's expected to be powered by the same turbocharged 2.4-liter V6 engine as the TS050 LMP1 race car. However, it will also have a hybrid system backing up the V6, putting its power output to around 1,000 horsepower. The best part about this car is that it's not a pipe-dream. In fact, Toyota's CEO, Akio Toyota, took the car out for a couple of laps at the Fuji Speedway. You can see the car in action in the video up above. There are also great shots of the GR Super Sport's cabin that show off it's race-ready design. A release date or price of the street-legal Toyota GR Super Sport hasn't been announced as of yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to get that info before the year's end. See Supercars and Hypercars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 16, 2019

ICON Unveils Joe Rogan's 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser

At the intersection of rugged and practical is the Toyota FJ. When war erupted in Korea, the US Army asked Toyota to build Jeeps since it would be easier than shipping them from the U.S. After improving the design, the Land Cruiser would evolve into a prolific 4WD. It is still in production, but it has evolved in a giant luxury SUV. That is why "CruiserHeads" prefer to restore classic examples like the FJ80 (1990-2008). To realize its full potential, ICON has unveiled Joe Rogan's 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser. See Joe Rogans Car Collection The straight six engine struggled to accelerate because of full-time 4WD. Mr. Rogan chose the Chevrolet LSA V8, the beating heart of the Camaro ZL1 and Cadillac CTS-V. It was treated to a few upgrades to make 560 horsepower and 580 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a 4L85 transmission, the only 4-speed automatic capable of handling such power. The stock transfer case sends power to the stock axles because Toyota really built them to last. After adding ARB lockers front and rear, the entire body and chassis was taken down to bare metal. Every bolt was polished or replaced with stainless, and fabricated bumpers add to the aggressive looks. Jonathan Ward and his team have raised the bar for all classic Toyotas, so click the link below to find your Land Cruiser! Find Your Land Cruiser Here!

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

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2018

Toyota Unveils 2019 Century Worth Almost $200k

If you want to experience the best Japan has to offer, your vacation must include being chauffeured in a Toyota Century. You won't find this massive sedan in many other spots around the world. That is because Toyota has built it for Japan's ruling class since 1967.Lexus & Marvel Unveil Two “Black Panther” Inspired CarsBecause they devote so much time an effort into each example, a new version was not needed for the past 21 years. The first Toyota Century was built in 1967 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda, who named his company Toyota to appeal to a world market. And just like that car, the 3rd generation Century spares no expense.Pricing (without options) starts at 19,600,000 yen, or just over $ 178,750. You will receive a hand-built sedan powered by a 5.0L Hybrid V8. It has combined horsepower of 425 and maximum torque of 596 lb-ft. Only 50 examples will be built each month, mostly because many of the details are finished by hand.It does not share any parts with Lexus or other Toyota models, and we are not allowed to own it. This is the car that scares the Yakuza and makes German luxury hard to sell in Japan. The closest we will ever get is the Lexus LS, so click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your Toyota news.Browse Lexus LS For Sale

Toyota

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe