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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 – November 22, 2016

Lamborghini Aventador Shoots Flames Around Monaco

When adding an aftermarket exhaust to a supercar, the goal is to have one of the best sounding cars as possible. However, there are also some awesome side-effects that come from adding certain exhaust systems. For example, this Lamborghini Aventador was turned into a dragon after Capristo exhaust was installed.(Related - The Trump Lamborghini Aventador: Trumpventador)NM2255 caught the dragon in action in Monaco as it was driving through the streets. In the video, you get a chance to see the dragon in action as it spits flames in traffic. Check it out for yourself by clicking the play button below.All Lamborghini For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 17, 2016

Insanely Close Race Between Lamborghini Aventador and Por...

Whenever you have an airstrip and exotic cars, you're going to have a good time, and this race is a perfect example of that. Two slightly modded cars, one a 2015 Lamborghini Aventador and the other a 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S, took to the airstrip to see who could best the other.(Related - Mustang GT500 Takes On Nissan GT-R in Surprising Street Race)Unfortunately, the video or description does not say what was exactly modified in either of these cars, so their power output is unknown. However, the 911 Turbo S comes stock with 580 hp, while the Aventador has 690 hp on tap. If you watch the race, you can get an idea of just how much power was added in each car.Check out the video below and let me know if you thought the result was what you expected!All Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale | All Lamborghini Aventador For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2016

Aston Martin DB11 vs Porsche 911 Turbo S Review

On one hand, you have a rear-wheel drive English automobile, powered by a twin-turbocharged V12 engine. On the other is a four-wheel drive German automobile, powered by a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine. While they look to be completely different, PistonHeads wanted to know how the new Aston Martin DB11 stood up against the tried-and-true Porsche 911 Turbo S.(Related - Gas vs Electric: McLaren 650S Spider vs Tesla Model S P100D)These two cars are both remarkably different, but PistonHeads' Matt wanted to to see what kind of experience you could take away from each of these cars. Can the newborn DB11 get the interest of 911 Turbo S buyers? Find out by clicking play below.All Aston Martin For Sale | All Porsche For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 10, 2016

Bugatti Chiron Undergoes Hot Weather Testing

Every car has to undergo a multitude of tests before it hits official production, even the Bugatti Chiron. These tests can include cold weather testing, crash testing and, of course, hot weather testing. To show how they do their hot weather tests, Bugatti put together a nice video of the Chiron undergoing its hot weather testing regiment.(Related - Bugatti Chiron and Vision GT Sold to this Guy for How Much?)In the video's description, Bugatti notes: "More than 30 test vehicles were or still are in use, including the four vehicles that the Bugatti engineers took to the US this summer to perform endurance tests in the scorching heat of Death Valley and other American deserts." They also say that they spent four and a half weeks testing the car, driving 21,747 miles in 124.7 F° weather.Check out the video below to see the Chiron being tested for yourself.All Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

Not Even Close: Cadillac CTS-V vs Porsche 911 GT3 RS

It's a battle of a German and an American in GTBOARD.com's latest video. In the video, we see a 2016 Cadillac CTS-V take on a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) in a roll race.(Related - Koenigsegg Agera R vs Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Drag Race)These two cars have very different internals, which isn't surprising considering one was born on American roads, while the other on the autobahn. For comparison's sake, here is a breakdown of the two cars.Cadillac CTS-V Engine: Supercharged 6.2-liter V8Horsepower: 640 hpTorque: 630 lb-ft0-60 mph: 3.7 secondsPorsche 911 GT3 RS Engine: 4.0-liter Flat 6Horsepower: 500 hpTorque: 339 lb-ft0-60 mph: 3.1 secondsFrom those specs, you can see that the 0-60 times between the two cars are very different. Is the 911's 0.6 second lead in the 0-60 time enough to rocket it ahead of the CTS-V? Well, just click play below and it will become very apparent.All Cadillac CTS-V For Sale | All Porsche 911 GT3 RS For SalePorsche For Sale Chicago

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2016

11 Paganis and an LED Lamborghini Shut Down Japanese Car ...

The Japanese automotive culture is pretty darn different than the one found in the United States, but at the end of the day, both of our countries have an affinity for supercars.At a recent JDM meet at the Tatsumi Parking Area in Tokyo, Japan, an entourage of Paganis showed up to stun the entire crowd. Our friend effspot happened to be at the event and filmed the entire event.(Exotic Cars For Sale)The event started off as a normal JDM car meet, but everything started to change when the Italian supercars started to show up. And things got even more intense when Morohoshi and his holographic LED Lamborghini Aventador showed up to brighten up the place.Check out the video below to see the happening for yourself and watch out for just a little bit of NSFW language.

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2016

Ferrari-Powered Toyota Donuts Around 458 Italia

The Toyota GT-86 is no powerhouse by any means, with a boxer-four engine that has 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque on tap. Instead, it's a car that can provide you with one of the most connected and sporty drives available for around $30,000. The Ferrari 458 Italia, on the other hand, is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 that pumps out 570 hp and 398 lb-ft and is a dream to drive. (Related - What it's Like Dyno Testing a Tuned Ferrari 488 GTB) So, if you had the 458's F136 F V8 and a GT-86, you'd naturally throw the engine into the Toyota...Right? Well, if that's not what you'd do, it's what Donut Media and Gumout did. Thus, the Gumout GT4586 was born. In a video recently released on YouTube, we get to see the GT4586 in action alongside a 458 Italia. Taking the car out for donuts around the Italian sportscar was Ryan Tuerck, an American professional drifting driver. Click play on the video below to see it in action. Used 458 Ferrari For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2016

Insanely Rare RUF CTR3 Caught on the Street

Released in 2007, the RUF CTR3 became one of the finest "enhanced Porsches" in the world. Using the Cayman's mid-engine layout, unlike the CTR and CTR2, the CTR3 is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six engine equipped with two turbochargers. Altogether, the CTR3 is capable of 691 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. That's a ton of power for a car released back in 2007 and even by today's standards.(Sports Cars For Sale)The CTR3 is rarely seen out in public, but NM2255 happened to catch the car in action. The example he witnessed was a black on black CTR3 in what looks like Europe.While RUF doesn't introduce new models all the time, they really don't need to. The cars they have created over the years have stood the test of time and some, like the " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>, have become historic. Now, all we need is a RUF 918 Spyder...All Porsche For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2016

Exhaust Battle: Ferrari 488 GTB vs Lamborghini Huracan

Ah, yes, the battle between Lamborghini and Ferrari. While the two manufacturers differ in just about every way, people still find a way to lay down the argument as to which one is better. Well, AutoTopNL decided to hop in on a comparison between two of the manufacturers' cars, the 488 GTB and Huracan.(Exotic Cars For Sale)This video compares the aftermarket exhaust of the two vehicles. While we don't know what exact exhaust is being used in either of the car, it's still a good representation as to the sound each is capable of.Which would you guys say sounds better, the Huracan or the 488 GTB? And another question: would you leave your exhaust stock or aftermarket? Let me know in the comments below what you would do.All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale | All Ferrari 488 GTB For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 01, 2016

Couple Drifts New Modified Huracan Around Lamborghini New...

The first drive after buying a new car can be scary. Think about it, you just dropped a good chunk of money on a vehicle that you're driving right next to other vehicles. One false move from you or someone else and your investment becomes damaged. But for Sam and Stina Hübinettes, they celebrated their new Lamborghini Huracan from Lamborghini Newport Beach in style.(Exotic Cars For Sale)After having their car fitted with a custom hydraulic handbrake, an additional set of rear Wilwood Brake calipers, Vorsteiner Novara Edizione Aero Package, 20-inch Platinum Gunmetal Vorsteiner V-FF 103 Flow Forged Wheels and Nitto Tire NT555 G2 tires, they took it for a drive like none other.While this was most likely not their first drive in the car, they still celebrated the new car on the dealership parking lot like no one else. All across the prestigious dealership's parking lot, the Huracan was taken sideways around other Lamborghinis resting in the lot at the hands both Sam and Stina. What's more, they did it in complete style. Click play on the video below to see it for yourself.Lamborghini Newport Beach Inventory

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