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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 Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2017

This Alpha 16 Nissan GT-R Has A Secret

Dodge's Street and Racing Technology branch (SRT) stunned the world with the first factory trans-brake in the Demon. A feature inside the transmission allows the engine to rev in order to leave the starting line at full power. To trigger the tree and start the countdown, both cars need to enter the beams of the starting line. But once the countdown is started there is little time to spool up the turbos. However, 1320video picked up on something unique over the weekend that would solve this issue: they noticed a GT-R brake-boosting while also bumping forward to start the clock. The Alpha Nissan GT-R is AWD with a dual-clutch transmission so you might think it wouldn't be capable of multitasking. In the first race, watch as this mean machine take on a Lamborghini Gallardo at TX2K17. AMS Performance builds their Alpha models to retain AWD, which is hard to do at these power levels. The GT-R's drivetrain has two driveshafts, one connecting the engine to the rear-mounted transmission and the other runs from the trans to the front differential. Digging deep into the tuning of the transfer case, the main clutch packs are left open to build boost, but the car is still able to move forward. Related - What Makes the Nissan GT-R Perfect for Aftermarket Tuning Reading the video comments is often entertaining, and sure enough, there are many theories as to how this "bump mod" works. The results speak for themselves as the car launches at full boost. If you have any info on how they are doing this, please let us know in the comments below. Stay with us for all your GT-R updates.

By Andrew Nabors – May 02, 2017

McLaren P1 LM Caught At The 'Ring

Every time we see a McLaren on the street, we beg for launch control so we can hear the thunder. Only at a race track will you hear the roar of a twin-turbo V8, and it is a soundtrack unlike other exotics. The Industry Pool is a top secret committee with members from all major European manufacturers. An Automotive Engineer doesn't consider a theme park to be much of a vacation, so what better way to keep them entertained? Apparently, this event is off limits for the press, but a lucky YouTube member was camped out last Thursday in hopes of catching the action. Turn up your volume to hear 986 horsepower of McLaren P1 echo through the forest.Thanks to CarspotterJeroen, you can see a rare P1 LM, which is essentially a street-legal P1 GTR built by Lazante Motorsport. Running hard against the clock, a shower of sparks can be seen at 0:26, so here's to losing weight thanks to asphalt interference! McLaren's V8 is based on a Nissan design that never saw production. The exhaust sounds familiar because the firing order is popular in many American performance cars. The Oldsmobile "Rocket" V8 was a dominant force in racing with a firing order of 18736542. Many other V8 enthusiasts have adopted it for smooth running at high rpm. The Olds Rocket was also the world's first turbocharged production V8, but we'll cover that another day. So if you are in the market for a carbon fiber supercar with an old-school rumble, McLaren dealers have several to choose from. Stay with us for more McLaren footage and updates from Nurburgring.

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2017

This Nissan Silvia is So Loud it Sparked Outrage in Monaco

While we all love a good loud car, we've all encountered an instance where exhaust noise has become a disturbance. This could be when you're talking to a friend in the car and a loud motorcycle pulls up, or you're trying to sleep and a neighbor blasts down the road in a de-catted muscle car. For one resident in Monaco, it was a Nissan Silvia that was causing a disturbance, but this hot car is unlike any other of its kind.Related - What Makes the Nissan GT-R Perfect for Aftermarket TuningFilmed by AdamC3046, this Silvia has a 720 hp LS3 V8 engine underneath its hood, along with NASCAR parts and internals. If you've ever been to a NASCAR race, you know just how loud those race cars can get, and it's pretty similar to what you'll hear in the video below. After some late-night revs from the heavily modified Nissan sports car, a local resident showed up and was visibly upset with the antics.Was the resident right to be upset at the revving or was he just overreacting? Let us know in the comments below.

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2017

How it's Made: Bugatti Chiron

The sight of a Bugatti Chiron is enough to draw some sort of awe out of just anyone. Its curves, elegance and gorgeous styling all culminate in bringing forth an exterior that is pretty much unmatched in the automotive world. What's even more beautiful than the look of the car itself is the amount of work, precision, and due diligence that goes into the creation of each of these French hypercars.Related - Chris Harris Explains the Abilities of the Bugatti ChironOn National Geographic's "How it's Made" series, they delved into what it takes to create each of these French rockets. From the engine to the design, and even its torsional rigidity, the video below goes deeper into the car than ever before. If you're a fan of Bugatti, the Chiron or just the fastest supercars in general, it's a must-watch.

By Andrew Nabors – May 01, 2017

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Tows Jumbo Jet

If you have ever found yourself in the middle seat as your connecting flight is boarding, you might be wondering what it takes to move an airliner after the jets are shut down. Airport tractors are powerful beasts of burden that use ballast and gear reduction to move aircraft around the tarmac. Most modern airports have enough room between gates to allow planes to arrive under their own power. But in situations where the ground crew is forced to work near the jet engines, using a tractor is safer and more fuel efficient than running the jets.The largest passenger airplane is the A380 from Airbus. It uses a quartet of Rolls-Royce engines rated at 81,000 lb-ft of torque each. It has a dry weight of 285 metric tons. For comparison, a Boeing B52 Stratofortress weighs in at only 181, respectively. Since the Airbus moves more air at idle than most conventional aircraft, it needs to be far away from ground personnel when running. "Horsepower sells cars but torque wins races."Also Check Out: Ferrari 360 vs Lamborghini GallardoMr. Shelby was alluding to the fact that without torque, nothing is achieved. Porsche knows this very well, which is why their Turbo models have mostly had equal if not more torque than horsepower. You might not consider towing your toys with a luxury SUV, so they teamed up with Airbus at Charles de Gaulle for a display of force. The latest Cayenne Turbo S makes 560 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all wheels for ultimate traction. A custom hitch was fabricated to couple the plane's drawbar to the chassis in an even manner. Certified by Guinness World Records, the results speak for themselves. Airport tug builders are now on notice: Porsche can do your job and make it look classy. We hope this motivates your Monday, so stay with us for all your Porsche updates!

By Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2017

2017 McLaren 720S Hot Laps in Italy

At a private event outside of Rome, one lucky YouTube member captured McLaren's new 720S in action. The event was most likely a ride & drive for prospective buyers, so we're glad marcopiz96 had his camera handy. Blistering acceleration at the Vallelunga raceway is provided by a new 4.0 liter V8. Based on the 3.8 liter that has powered every late model McLaren, the bump in displacement will help to curb turbo lag thanks to increased air flow. The crankshaft has gained 3.6 mm of stroke, which turbo engines love. Stroker engines hold the pistons at top-dead-center (or TDC) for a longer duration. This allows the explosion to spread across the piston more evenly, and do more work. Small V8 engines with twin turbos are all the rage, which is why it will be fun to see the 720S battle against the latest Ferrari 488 GTB.Also Check Out – Ferrari 488 GTB vs F12 BerlinettaHot rodders have known the advantages of stroker cranks for decades, but the real benefits come when they are combined with the latest in turbochargers. The 650S was no slouch, offering 500 lb-ft of torque, but the 720S has 568 lb-ft to play with. The dual-scroll turbines have low inertia blades to spin up faster, but their efficiency kills most the engine's sound. At full power, all of the exhaust is forced through the turbo which translates the loud pulses into a balanced flow. As someone who has hearing damage from a decade of open headers, the notion of a quiet 710 horsepower car is perplexing. It is inevitable that someone will ditch the mufflers once they take delivery, so stay with us to see the true potential of McLaren's latest supercar.

By Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2017

This Guy Daily Drives his Classic Ferrari 308 GTB

Any true automotive enthusiast will have stories of the car that got them addicted. The first car that piqued your curiosity and became a goal in life. In my case, my formative years were spent with Corvettes, and being born in 1983 the C4 is burned into my mind. The irony is that Corvette took a year off in '83, the only hiatus in 65 years. Much like the rest of us, Chayanin Debhakam's fell in love with the Ferrari 308 as a child. An Italian exotic is a rarity on the streets of Bangkok, especially one restored to new condition. In the latest YouTube upload by Petrolicious, the owner explains his passion for the car along with highlights of the restoration. If you are not fluent in Thai, the closed caption button offers a handy translation.Also Check Out – Ferrari 308 Electric PrototypeHe set out with a specific model in mind. The Gran Turismo Berlinetta was Ferrari's first mid-mounted V8, and one of the last carbureted models to be produced. The later GTS versions had primitive fuel injection which is a nightmare of disco-era electronics. Carbureted cars have personalities, and a tuneup only requires a screwdriver. It was the first fiberglass body from Maranello, so each panel was fit by hand. He wrestled with the idea of tightening the panel gaps, but it would diminish the legacy of the assembly line workers. Thanks to the meticulous records Ferrari keeps on each model, he discovered the original color combination was yellow with black interior. So with the help of a few buddies, the car was completely disassembled for restoration. Contrary to what we see on TV, it takes more than a weekend to remove a few decades of wear, so we wish other owners would use this film as inspiration. We have several Ferrari 308 GTB for sale, and they are poised to skyrocket in value just like their Dino predecessors. Stay with us for more inspirational footage and don't blame us for your restoration billsFerrari For Sale Naples, FL

By Andrew Nabors – April 26, 2017

2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE Laps The 'Ring, Sounds Menacing

You can't deny a Camaro's ability to accelerate in a straight line, but cornering at high speeds can be like tap dancing in a minefield. That's why Chevrolet Performance dug deep into GM's engineering resources to build the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE. Taking aero lessons learned on the previous Z/28, extensive use of carbon fiber keeps the car planted at speed. The 6th generation car rides on the lighter and stronger Alpha chassis and ditches the comfy magnetic shocks for brutally efficient DSSV units. The 6.2 liter LT4 is borrowed from the Z06 at full power, delivering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft to Goodyear's first cup tire.The Eagle F1 Supercar 3R is entering an elite arena going up against Pirelli and Michelin, so Chevy gave them an advantage. Measuring 305mm, they are among the widest FRONT tires in the world. The rears are 325, a full 10mm wider than the tires on the Ferrari 812 Superfast. It is also the first production car to offer a ten-speed automatic, which was co-developed with Ford for the new Raptor. Purists like Rick Hendrick will undoubtedly order the six-speed manual for the ultimate driver experience. What does all this add up to? The 'normal' ZL1 was clocked at 7:29.6, so the lucky test drivers have been hard at work pushing the 1LE to its limits. A YouTube member named statesidesupercars happened to be at the right spot to catch the 1LE in action. If superchargers irritate you, our dealers have a nice selection of Super Sport and Z/28 cars to choose from. Stay with us for the official time and hopefully a dash cam view of from Chevrolet

By Edward Jones – April 26, 2017

Over $83 Million in Aston Martin Unleashed at a Factory

When you buy a new house or building, you always need to properly break it in. Typically, most people have housewarming parties, but Aston Martin does something completely different.To celebrate the luxury automaker's second manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom, more specifically their new St Athan Plant, Aston Martin decided to get £65 million in cars (roughly $83 million USD) together for a film. In the film, seen below, Aston Martin Racing’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) drivers, Darren Turner and Nicki Thiim, and their Chief Engineer Matt Becker got behind the wheel of some of these cars and drove shed some their tires' rubber onto the factory floor.Cars in the video include some of their most iconic vehicles, like the One-77, Vulcan, multiple generations of Vantages, and the upcoming DBX SUV and Valkyrie supercar. Click play on the video below to see these cars driven like never before.Aston Martins For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 25, 2017

Brutal 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Autobahn Top Speed Action

If you find yourself late for work on a daily basis, maybe you need something new. Everyone got mad when Mercedes and AMG decided to keep the 63 designation, even though the engines were no longer 6.3 liters., but I don't hear anyone complaining these days. In the name of fuel economy, the 5.5-liter engines are being euthanized and being replaced by a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8. Found in everything from the AMG GT S to the 4x4 Squared, this versatile creation can suit any need. Reverse flow heads shoot their exhaust to a pair of turbos mounted in the engine's valley. They respond instantly to changes in throttle, which is how the new E63 S offers 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.Related - Mercedes-AMG Unveils New E63 S WagonIf you are looking for the fastest cars in Europe, our friends at AutoTopNL specializes in pushing every car to its limits on the Autobahn. Using launch control to get on the highway is just silly, and nobody at duPont REGISTRY would ever do so....But if we did it would be wide open throttle until the speedometer is pegged. Listen to the audio as the driver hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. As the 9-speed automatic approaches top speed it sounds like the engineers placed the top speed gear right at peak engine power. The last shift bumps the speedometer to a ludicrous number and lowers RPM to a happy spot. AMG has attention to detail that remains unmatched in the gear ratio department. Turn up your audio and stay with us for more wild Autobahn footage.

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