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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 – March 31, 2017

Lamborghinis New and Old Take Off in California

If you need another reason to move to Northern California, they take a civilized approach to enjoying their cars. At a recent meet of the NorCal Lambo club (@NorCaLambo), YouTube sensation Brian Zuk was invited to film the gathering. A host of raging bulls makes for amazing footage, and you will laugh out loud at the one car that is not like the others. That's right, a Ferrari F12berlinetta was either invited to join or being the ultimate troll. Some of the more notable members included the new Aventador SV Roaster & Coupe, Huracan Performante, and several Gallardos, Murcielagos, Diablos and a Miura S.At most automotive events there is always that "one guy" who ruins the show, but it seems that Lamborghini Club knows how to create the perfect gathering. By far the best part of Lamborghini meets is the soundtrack as they leave. A rarified chorus of 10 and 12-cylinder power set amongst the winding roads will be left on repeat for inspiration while we prepare for this weekend's Festivals of Speed (April 2, 2017). If you are a fan of exotics, join us at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg for a Sunday of Supercars. Stay with us for more Lamborghini footage here on Autofluence.Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 31, 2017

What it's Like to Work at Porsche

Everyone has their own morning routine when they go into work. From picking up coffee at your local joint to taking that detour to avoid the traffic, we all have our morning rituals. For Porsche's latest video, they took a look at one employee's morning routine and his trip through the company.Honestly, this is one of the best videos I've seen from an automaker in some time. This isn't about a car revving its engine or touting a new model, it's a pretty personal video that celebrates some of their employees. What's awesome is that the Porsche employees featured range from their Ilona Eberle, a catering employee, to Dr. Lutz Krauss, Head of Human Machine Interaction. However, it's the end that really got me when I realized what this video was really all about. Watch the video for yourself below.Porsche For Sale - duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2017

2019 Porsche 911 Caught Winter Testing

In order to make sure the upcoming 2019 Porsche 911 is ready for colder climates, autoevolution spotted a test mule somewhere in Northern Europe. It is always exciting to see pre-production cars without camouflage, but often times the engineers behind the wheel get very upset for being made. VW Group's hot weather lab is two blocks from our headquarters, so we've had a chance to see the new RS5 convertible, A3 e-tron and a few Lamborghini Huracans with passengers holding laptops and recording data. Last week we shared a preview of updates for 2018, but these could be a proper send off for the 991 series.Computer simulations do a fine job of predicting real-world situations, but the human variable is needed when the rubber meets the road. The next 911 appears to have influences from the Panamera in the large rear spoiler and LED taillights. The audio can't deny the PDK's shifting abilities, but we're curious if this car is RWD or AWD. Porsche fans chime in here at 1:55 you see the nose rise when the turbos awake, so tell us if you think the front tires are powered. Telltale signs are mismatched wheels front and rear, and we doubt a base model Carrera will arrive with such a large rear spoiler. The 911 has not had a clean-sheet redesign since the 991 launched in 2011, so this might be an all new car wearing familiar body panels. You know we will have more information as it becomes available, so stay with us for all your Porsche news.Porsche 911 For Sale - duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2017

Chris Harris Explains the Abilities of the Bugatti Chiron

If you prefer your automotive programming to have thick British accents, Top Gear's Chris Harris has some juicy details of the Bugatti Chiron. As the successor to the Veyron, it has large shoes to fill. In a YouTube clip uploaded last night, he touches on the finer points of the car. The aerodynamic features do a great job of keeping the car planted at speed but don't try it on cold tires. The whole tire situation is a bit silly. Some publications have listed a set of replacement rubber for the Veyron at $30,000, which could be an insignificant invoice if you own such a car. Chris mentions that tire pressure is displayed to two decimal places, but why?Anyone who drives triple digits on street legal tires is putting themselves and others in danger. Race rubber would put an end to ridiculous tire costs and the annoyance of monitoring pressures while you should be focused on the road ahead. Sensational journalism has its place, and as such Chris mentions the possibility of a future model possibly breaking the 300 mph barrier. We're not saying it's impossible, but given the amount of boost required to push a Ford GT to 293 mph, it seems improbable. We appreciate the engineering and attention to detail that is clearly seen in the Chiron, but more than anything we applaud Bugatti for the encore performance. If you need a quad-turbo sixteen cylinder daily driver, be sure to check our Bugatti Veyrons for sale from our dealers and stay with us for all your Bugatti news.

By Andrew Nabors – March 29, 2017

Ford GT Sets New Top Speed Record at Texas Mile at 293.6 MPH

Top Speed racing pushes production cars faster than anyone intended, and they are gaining popularity around the world. One of the biggest gatherings takes place in Victoria, Texas and its known as the Texas Mile. Victoria Regional Airport was originally Foster AFB and it has a 1.7-mile runway that was used for pilot training. Last week a Heritage Edition Ford GT arrived with serious horsepower. Built by M2K Motorsports, it had previously reached 280 mph but they wanted more. Mike Kojima of MotoIQ was allowed unprecedented access to the car, and its details will take your breath away. via FacebookThe 5.4-liter engine retains the stock displacement, but that's about it. Starting at the top, Wilson fabricated a massive intake manifold with built in heat exchangers. Each cylinder is topped by twin 220-pound injectors....My injectors are 28.6 pounds so I had to pause for a minute. Giant injectors are needed because the car is running straight Methanol for fuel. One of the most dangerous liquids in racing, even a small amount can cause permanent blindness and neuro damage. It also burns with an invisible flame, so spilling it is not advised. Twin 85mm turbos feed 45 psi of boost to an engine with 13:1 compression.Ferraris For Sale Near Dallas via FacebookThis might seem like a recipe for destruction, but Methanol gets very cold when injected, so you can run as much compression as your crank will handle. To make sure the intake air is cold, the heat exchanger is fed by 40 gallons of ice water from a tank where the passenger seat once was. The factory dry sump oiling system was retained, but it now has 18 quarts to keep the bearings happy. Twin 66 mm wastegates are controlled by pressurized C02 from an onboard tank. What does this all add up to? As far as horsepower and torque, an accurate reading can't be made because no chassis dyno can handle it. The only aspect not disclosed is the differential ratio. Listen closely to the anti-lag system at launch. The car makes so much power that the twin 75 mm throttles can not be opened fully in first gear.First Gen Ford GT Horsepower & Complete SpecsWe congratulate M2K on this historic run, and in pushing the limits of street-legal cars. If you would like to attempt this in your Ford GT we have several to choose from. It will probably be a few years until someone does this to the new GT, so stay with us for more top speed news.

By Edward Jones – March 29, 2017

Lamborghini Huracan Performante Revving, Blows Our Minds

The new Lamborghini Huracan Performante was only introduced into the world in the beginning of March, but it's already made waves in the automotive industry. One of its greatest feats so far has to be its record-breaking Nurburgring lap time that has many scratching their heads as to how it was possible. However, Lamborghini has come out and stated that they did not cheat during the lap tap and have all the data available.Something else that the Huracan Performante will be known for is its fantastic sound. The Italian supercar's 5.2-liter V10 pumps the sound of its power out of an all-new exhaust system, making for a raw automotive performance. This new exhaust has tuned runners that exit higher up than the base model, allowing for maximum torque at just 1,000 rpm. You can hear it for yourself by clicking the play button below.All Lamborghini For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 28, 2017

Ferrari 812 Superfast Arrives in Monaco

Everyone has been waiting to see the new Ferrari 812 Superfast in person, because the new 6.5-liter V12 is the state of the art in naturally aspirated power. As the successor to the wild F12berlinetta, the new car has large shoes to fill. So Ferrari endowed it with 800 metric horsepower which equals around 790 hp on the more commonly used SAE rating. Torque was increased to 530 lb-ft thanks to the bump in displacement, and from not having to spin a power steering pump. Ferrari was hesitant to adopt electric power steering because the first cars to feature it had almost no feedback, so we're anxious to feel how it responds in the corners. The redline has also been raised to 8,500 rpm, an incredible feat for a twelve-cylinder engine. Used Ferrari 812 For Sale A few lucky enthusiasts who happened to be in Monaco were witness to a delivery of the new car, so we put together the hottest clips from YouTube. Precisely timed, or in a grand coincidence Ferrari has also released the 812 Superfast Configurator which offers more details on the interior and exterior options. Everyone loves LED headlights, but some of us lament the loss of the air-bridge from behind the front fenders. Now incorporated into a vented hood, the intakes inboard of the headlights make use of high-pressure turbulence from the front bumper. The only thing we can say about the final video is that revving a cold supercar is a dance with the devil. It makes us cringe to hear such abuse, especially to an engine that has not been broken in. With an astronomical compression ratio of 13.6:1, this car loves to rev. The intake and exhaust ports are all new along with a variable length intake manifold. In the old days, variable intakes were either short or long, but Ferrari's new system resembles an analog control, constantly changing with torque demands. This allows 80% of maximum torque to be available at 3,500 rpm, which is a giant increase from the F12. If any 2018 model year car deserved a manual transmission it would be this one. Sure the dual clutch is capable, but imagine the weight savings and fun factor of a gated six-speed. Stay with us for more updates and footage of the 812 Superfast here on Autofluence. All Ferrari For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 28, 2017

Porsche Driver Surprises and Scares Car Sharers in Paris

At this point, most of us have all tried ride sharing at some point. It's a simple utility that allows you to get a car ride from an app on your phone, making it an easy way to get around.Porsche decided to take their hand at car sharing with Romain Dumas behind the wheel of a Porsche Panamera Turbo. Who is Romain Dumas? Oh, you know, just a Porsche Words Driver and FIA WEC champion.When the ride sharers were waiting to be picked up, they were surprised to see that the car they had requested was incorrect and it was a Panamera Turbo that would be driving them. They were even more surprised when Dumas took them onto a race track and scared the pants off of them. Check it out in the video below. Sure, it may be staged, but it was still hilarious.What's next, a surprise ride around Nurburgring in a new 911? I'll volunteer as tribute.

By Edward Jones – March 28, 2017

World's First Monster Truck Front Flip

I write about supercars and luxury cars all day long, so I figured it's about time I give some love to the monsters of vehicles: monster trucks. It's fitting that I cover monster trucks considering how expensive they are and how much power they throw down through their massive wheels. Heck, it was enough power for Lee O'Donnell to complete the world's first front flip in his monster truck called Mad Scientist.Yes, that's right, a massive monster truck has completed an actual front flip. This act of automotive acrobatics was performed at the 2017 Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. After O'Donnell went back and forth during the freestyle competition, he managed to keep his front end up and took off of a dirt ramp. As his back tires hit the ramp, the truck flipped forward and completed a somersault. The best part? After he completed this front flip, he proceeded to launch the truck into the air and land on the hood as a form of celebration.This may just be one of the most insane stunts a four-wheel vehicle has completed.

By Edward Jones – March 27, 2017

How to do a Manual Transmission Burnout

Burning out is honestly an incredibly fun act to do, but it can easily go wrong. There are a myriad of bad things that can happen when burning out, whether it be a tire popping, shredded clutch or accidental acceleration. While it's never really suggested that anyone burn out, Engineering Explained has put together a great video on what it takes to burn out in a manual transmission.In this video, the host also goes into why people burn out, aside from the fact that it looks and sounds cool. If you've ever noticed a car burning out at a drag race before they take off, that's not just for show. By spinning the tires and heating them up, they're giving themselves the chance at more traction when it comes to launching. Also, that burn out will get rid of any unwanted crud that's set on those tires.Check out the video below to learn for yourself and always remember to be safe if you plan to burn out!Sports Cars for SaleBonus Video:

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