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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

By Edward Jones – October 15, 2018

Loud Nissan GT-R Gets Banned from Nurburgring

The Nurburgring is a special place on Earth where cars of all size, shapes and power can come together to unleash their inner beasts. Two such cars that were recently taking on "Green Hell" included a Porsche 911 GT2 RS and a heavily-modified Nissan GT-R that can throw down 760 horsepower. I should mention that the 911 GT2 RS is the second fastest car around Nurburgring, being bested recently by the new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ's lap time.A video (found below) shows the aforementioned 911 GT2 RS chasing the modified GT-R around the lengthy track. The two weave by cars and fly around corners in almost unison, but the Porsche never makes it in front of the Nissan. It's a really great video to watch, especially if you need to relax for a few minutes.However, it wasn't too relaxing for the driver of the GT-R after a couple of laps. According to the YouTube channel that uploaded the video, the GT-R was banned from Nurburgring on account of being too loud (134 dB). View 911 GT2 RS For Sale 911 GT2 RS Specs

By Edward Jones – September 04, 2018

BMW M5 vs Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Modded Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R will always a be a star in the aftermarket scene. It's been modified over and over again by many different companies, all of them looking to make the quickest car possible. The results of this can be seen at just about any drag event, especially when you head to the GT-R World Cup on February 1-2, 2019.Autocar wanted to test the GT-R creation from Litchfield. They modified the car both mechanically, cosmetically and electronically, and the result is a freshly styled GT-R that packs 631 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Racing against this GT-R was a BMW M5 and the insanely quick Porsche 911 Turbo S. If you're familiar with the Turbo S, then you know that it's one of the fastest production cars off of the line.Each of the cars faces stiff competition in this drag race, especially the M5. But how do they all stack up? Click play below to see which one wins. Is it the modded GT-R? 911 Turbo S? Or the M5 as an underdog.How to do Launch Control in a New Ford GT

By Andrew Nabors – July 31, 2018

Hurley Haywood's 1973 Porsche at Goodwood

As one of my hometown heroes, Hurley Haywood is one of the more famous residents of Amelia Island, Florida. One of Porsche's best drivers, he is humble and never shy to sign an autograph or to encourage kids to get into motorsports. As the winner of Daytona in 1973, he had lost track of the winning car until it reappeared at Sebring last year. The owner has completely restored this classic 911 2.7 RS to 1973 specs and allowed Mr. Haywood to get behind the wheel again at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & ReviewAt this year's Porsche Werks Reunion on Amelia Island, he signed a few copies of his latest book "If My Voice Is Strong Enough To Help One Kid." It tells the story of how a high school student interviewed him for a term paper. Hurley could tell the student was gay, and it prompted him to publicly come out. A call from the boy's mother said Hurley had saved her son's life, accepting who he really was.Everyone in endurance racing knew Hurley was gay, but it didn't matter. Hurley Haywood is (in my humble opinion) the greatest endurance racer of all time. Winning LeMans in 1977, 1983, and 1994 along with serving in Vietnam have made him a veteran in every sense. If you have been looking for a classic 911 Carrera or a top-notch Targa, we have plenty to choose from. Click the link below and stay with us for all your Porsche updates.Find Your Porsche 911 Here

By Andrew Nabors – July 20, 2018

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Sets Record at The Bend Motorsport Park

An hour outside of Adelaide is the small Australian town of Tailem Bend. This hamlet on the River Murray has seen over $100million AUD invested in a new race track. Bend Motorsports Park is a new 4.7-mile track that needed a benchmark for lap times. Starting at the top of the list of Nurburgring record holders, Porsche accepted their invitation with a 911 GT2 RS.2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & ReviewIt's winter in the southern hemisphere, with high temperatures in the low 60's, perfect for a twin turbo supercar. The press release says Australian racing veteran Warren Luff was chosen to drive the latest 'Widow Maker'. We've never seen Porsche use this nickname officially, but it is nice to see they embrace the popular automotive culture. The reason for the nickname is because it sends 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.Much like the 930 series, only the best drivers can push it to the limit safely. But drivers can sleep easy knowing that rear steering and traction control keep the GT2 RS under control. Our dealers are starting to get them on the lot, so click the link below if you think you can handle it.Porsche 911 GT2 RS For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=1gYsttWHFjM

By Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2018

Porsche 919 EVO vs 911 GT2 RS Nurburgring Comparison

Do you prefer to have fun in a street legal supercar? If so, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS is for you. It uses a 3.8L flat-six with two healthy turbos to offer 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. They dispense with entertainment or insulation along with the AWD system. Our dealers are beginning to receive them if you need a new centerpiece for your collection.Porsche 919 Hybrid Parades Around NYCOthers like to live dangerously. This is why the Porsche 919 Hybrid exists. It uses a turbocharged 2.0L V4 to power a hybrid battery drive. With 17 first-place wins and 43 podium finishes, the 919 program proved the veracity of small gas engines combined with the latest in battery technology. But Porsche is retiring this model to make way for their Formula E program. The #919tribute tour has been from Spa to Manhattan and of course, the Nurburgring. If you are curious how the LeMans winner compares with the street legal 911, GommeBlog.it synchronized their laps of the famous track. The difference in lap times is less than it takes to read this post, so tell us which car you would choose in the comments below.Browse Porsche 911 GT2 RS For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&amp=&v=MvE_UtNp1QE

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2018

2011 Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 Destroyed In Transport

If you have ever shipped a car, you know how many variables can go wrong. For every reputable carrier, there are a dozen sleazy haulers who can't even figure out a manual transmission. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 was and is Porsche's premier naturally aspirated track car. Back in 2011, the 3.8 liter made 450 horsepower, which is impressive even by today's standards. 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 for Sale But engineers decided it wasn't enough, and they bored & stroked the flat-six to 4.0 liters. The result was 493 horsepower. This was stretching the limits of technology at the time, so only 600 examples of the GT3 RS 4.0 were built. Since then, collectors have fought over them. Accidents happen, so what you are about to see might make you cry. In the latest upload from VINwiki, an owner tells us what happened to his car in on the way to its new owner. Tell us your car transport stories in the comments below and have a great weekend! Browse Porsche 911 GT3 RS For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 16, 2018

Which Porsche 911 Is Right For You: RWD vs AWD

YouTube sensation Nick Murray offers advice on a wide range of topics, but his automotive insights are the most popular. In an attempt to answer one of the most perplexing questions of 2018, he created a video with the differences of the latest Porsche 911. Over 20 flavors of 911 are currently being produced, but each one can be distilled down to All Wheel Drive, or Rear Wheel Drive. Nick chose the former for his Porsche daily driver, but his friend has a nearly identical 911 Carrera in RWD.The differences appear small to the casual driver, but they make a world of difference in the long run. For full disclosure, we are located in Florida so winter weather is not normally a consideration. If you intend on driving your 911 in all weather conditions, your choices are learning to drift or languish in the safety of AWD. But there are more aspects to consider than simply the driveline. Carrera 4 owners are given the widebody treatment which includes rocker panel ground effects, a full-width rear brake light, one additional gallon of gas, and 110 lbs of additional curb weight. Powering all four wheels incurs one less mile per gallon and a slightly smaller trunk along with lopping 5 mph from the top speed. The price difference between Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 models is around $7,000 in this situation, but our dealers have great incentives on each as we head into summer. Tell us which layout works for you, and stay with us for all your Porsche 911 news.

By Andrew Nabors – April 12, 2018

Porsche 911: PDK vs Manual Transmission

No matter how much praise you give Porsche's PDK transmission, at the end of the day it's still an automatic. The acronym stands for Porsche Doppelkupplung, or dual-clutch. Essentially two manual transmissions sharing the same space, even and odd-numbered gears have separate input shafts for quick shifting. By having the next gear already engaged, the only action needed to shift is to change which shaft is receiving the engine's power. It can be done almost instantly, which is a far cry from the single clutch automatics that were used from the 90's until now. The main disadvantage to having such a high-performance gearbox is weight and cost of repair. Having two manual transmissions along with hydraulics and computers is seen as overly complex by some enthusiasts.Also Check Out: Why To Buy An EnzoThose are the traditionalists who prefer a manual transmission. Nick Murray decided to compare both options in his latest YouTube upload, and his conclusions might surprise you. He compared PDK to a seven-speed manual in the latest Porsche 911 (991.2 series), with ample seat time in both. His previous upload compared the AWD to RWD capabilities of the 911, and we recommend it before you buy. His notions of better fuel economy and being better suited to turbochargers can be made by someone who can't or won't bang shift when needed. No-lift shifting is a lost art, but the rewards are glorious. PDK has a coast mode that disengages both clutches, manuals also have this located under your left foot. The notion of being simply faster is also incorrect, as a properly modified automatic will shift faster than any PDK. Each one has its advantages, so tell us which you would drive in the comments below. Stay with us for more Porsche 911 videos.

By Andrew Nabors – March 24, 2018

Porsche Celebrates 30 Years of All Wheel Drive

Your average car shopper will look at 4WD or AWD as a benefit. Sending power to all wheels is great for safety and it is fun in the corners. Porsche shocked the world when the 911 arrived with AWD, but they did it out of necessity. Porsche 911 Ice Ballet: GT2 RS vs 2.5 S/T The engine in the 911 is actually behind the rear wheels. So when turbos arrived in the 70's, it gave the car a brutal reputation as the "Widowmaker". Porsche engineers chose the biggest turbos on the market. This was before computer control, so it took a few seconds for them to spool up. But when they did, it doubled or tripled the engine's power instantly. This was the cause of wrecks for many drivers who couldn't tame it. Porsche had to go AWD to tame the wild power of the 911. To celebrate this achievement, they celebrated on ice in their latest YouTube upload. The cars speak for themselves, so take a break from your weekend chores and enjoy Porsches in action. If you want to have AWD fun, every 911 turbo since the 964 has had AWD, so click the link below to find your next car. Browse Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 16, 2018

Porsche 911 Ice Ballet: GT2 RS vs 2.5 S/T

Do you like snow skiing? Do you like fast cars? These two hobbies seem far apart, but Porsche has combined them in an epic YouTube video. In the summer, the picturesque Swiss Lake Moritz is home to European aristocracy. Polo matches and lounging beside the lakeshore are fun, but winter freezes it solid and it turns into a perfect venue for cold weather sports.Check Out These Great Deals On The Porsche 918 SpyderSo Porsche decided to dig into their archives to allow a vintage 2.5 S/T to tear up the ice. Only 24 examples of this racing 911 S were built, and the 2.5-liter engine made 270 horsepower, more than almost every other car in the 70's. To see how it compares to a modern rear wheel drive 911, they chose a modern interpretation of the widow-maker: the 2019 GT2 RS. Drifting a classic 911 is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, so what makes the new car any different? The latest in computer controlled stability systems is combined with rear wheel steering to make the latest GT2 RS controllable in any situation. Either way, skiing behind a 911 is the opportunity of a lifetime, so tell us which car you would choose in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche videos.Browse Porsche 911 For Sale

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