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 – December 21, 2020

2021 Toyota Supra Sport Top Is The Perfect Targa

Some cars simply don't look good without a roof. However, the 2021 Toyota Supra Sport Top is the perfect targa. It was meant to be their centerpiece at this year's SEMA show, but COVID had other plans. Therefore, they had ample time to make it ready for production. Plate steel was used to build frame rails along the rocker panels. Once this was done, the roof was removed to mimic the lines we love on the MKIV (Previous Generation) cars. Considering the BMW Z4 is a roadster built on the same chassis, we hope Toyota hears our pleas. Click the button below to find a Supra for you and stay with us for all your SEMA news. Browse Toyota Supra " width="680"> Image (C) Toyota USA

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

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By Andrew Nabors – November 03, 2020

Toyota Supra Concepts Unveiled At SEMA

When you dream of boosted Japanese sports cars there is only one that outshines the others. Despite stringent safety requirements, three new Toyota Supra concepts have been unveiled at SEMA. Alongside two new takes on the Tacoma, they represent the hopes and dreams of enthusiasts around the world. In their latest YouTube upload, we got a glimpse behind the scenes at Toyota's American Headquarters in Plano, Texas. They are hard at work envisioning the future of the brand, and it looks like a return of the Targa top. It will be joined by three siblings that consist of the Ornamental Conifer, GReddy Performance Formula D, and the Papadakis Racing Rockstar Energy Drink GR Supras. The first was hand-painted by British artist Nicolai Sclater to promote Race Service of Los Angeles. GReddy Performance chose driver Ken Gushi to build a Formula D racer that allows efficient pit stops to stay out front. Finally, Rockstar Energy sponsors a 1,033 horsepower monster that is in contention to win the 2020 Fordula Drift Pro Championship. We will have all the details as SEMA continues, so in the meantime check out the new Supras we have to offer by clicking on the button below! Browse Toyota Supra For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2020

Toyota 2000GT Restoration Parts Finally Available

Our late friend Jim Moran saw an opportunity to introduce a gorgeous Japanese roadster to Americans. Toyota was clamoring to open a dealership in the U.S., but he was hesitant at first. To test the build quality and engineering, he shifted into reverse at 55 mph, and the 2000GT shrugged it off. Realizing the potential of such a well-made car, he founded Southeastern Toyota Distributors. Still a dominant force in the industry, JM Family Enterprises is responsible for a majority of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold each year. It was all based on one car, and now Toyota Gazoo Racing is going back to their prototype. Although only 337 cars were built between 1967 and 1970, each surviving example is worth a small fortune. Finding parts has been impossible for the past 50 years, so a press release today includes transmission and differential rebuild parts that will be available to order August 1st. If you need another reason to love this car, watch Sean Connery push it to the limit as agent 007 in "You Only Live Twice". As the ancestor of the Supra and the Lexus LF-A, click the link below to find one for yourself and stay with us for all your Toyota/Lexus news. Browse Toyota For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 13, 2020

2021 Toyota Supra Unveiled in Daytona

As NASCAR teams prepare for tonight's Twin 150 races, the 2021 Toyota Supra was unveiled in Daytona. Learning from the 2020 models, engineers have revised the chassis tuning and given the 3.0L engine more power. The 6" screen has been discontinued, as all new Toyota Supra for sale will feature the larger 8.8" touchscreen. The first 1,000 cars for the new model year will be A91 editions. Paint choices are limited to Nocturnal or Refraction, it will be home to several new carbon fiber parts. Engineers revised the intake and exhaust manifolds to offer 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, they dropped the compression ratio from 11 to 10.2. 1998 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review Acceleration is up by all measures, with 0-60 arriving in 3.9 instead of 4.1 seconds. New strut-tower braces keep hold the front end geometry in hard corners, and the electric power steering now has more feedback. 2020 Toyota Supra Price, Specs, Photos & Review The most unprecedented news is a new turbo-four cylinder base model. The Supra 2.0 offers 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It uses smaller brakes, an open differential, manual seats, and non-adjustable suspension. With a curb weight of 3,181 lbs, it will be a fun and affordable alternative. Click the button below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Supra news. Browse All Toyota Supra For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 11, 2020

2021 Toyota GR Supra to be Unveiled in Daytona

Speedweeks is here, and we are two days away from the NASCAR Twin 150-mile races that will set the starting order for the 62nd Daytona 500. This pair of nail-biting races start at 7 p.m., but they will be preceded by something new & fierce. That's because the new 2021 Toyota GR Supra will be unveiled in Daytona at 3 p.m. A live stream from Toyota will begin shortly before 3 p.m. on the 13th. In case work gets in the way, we will upload it ASAP. Stay with us for all your Supra news and click the button below to find yours. Browse All Toyota Supra For Sale " width="680">

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">

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