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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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 22, 2016

Range Rover Helps Unveil New Spaceship

Last Friday, Land Rover proved they want more than to just take you on the vacation of a lifetime. The company is thinking something a little more "out of this world." Thanks to a longstanding partnership, a Range Rover Autobiography--the same model that's ready to take you across multiple countries-- helped Virgin Group's founder, Sir Richard Branson, unveil the brand new SpaceShipTwo at the Mojave Air And Space Port in California.Sir Richard Branson hung out the sunroof as the Range Rover Autobiography towed in SpaceShipTwo at the official unveiling and naming ceremony. SpaceShipTwo has been officially named VSS Unity and was unveiled to a select group of guests, media, and Virgin Galactic's "Future Astronauts."Land Rover and Virgin Galactic have had a long, successful partnership based on their collective goal to "push the boundaries of technical innovation", according to a press release. Both companies also take pride in running community STEM programs in an effort to entice the next generation to push the limits and keep creating. Currently, Land Rover has dedicated an entire fleet of vehicles to aid in Virgin Galactic's technological endeavors and the unveiling of VSS Unity is just the beginning.Range Rovers For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2016

Nissan GTR Tows Snowboarder Around Snow-Covered Spa-Franc...

While the cold air of winter is nice for cars, racing enthusiasts that live in snowy areas see this time of the year as the off-season, especially since their tracks are covered in snow. Not all racers call it quits during winter. In fact, if you're a rally racer, racing in the snow is just another day on the job. But those in need of tarmac usually stay away from the snowy circuit-- except for the driver of this Nissan GTR.RSR, who frequents Nurburgring and Spa-Francorchamps, decided to take advantage of an empty and snowy Spa. With a GTR, their entire car fleet and snowboard at hand, they wanted to have some fun. After tieing a rope to the GTR, they took off around the circuit with a snowboarder in tow, hitting over 75 mph. It looks like the GTR's AWD came in handy on the slick track.Check out the video below and let us know what you'd do on an empty, snow-covered race track in the comments below!Nissan GTRs For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 19, 2016

McLaren Track Day: The P1 Takes Over, Race Mode, Engine S...

What would you do if you headed to the race track to discover three McLaren P1's and an F1? Probably geek like Nue Vue's host did in the video below. (We'll admit it... we did too). Check out the supercars on the track as Nue Vue chases one around for a while. Catch an inside peak as well, as you climb into the passenger seat and hit the track.Want to see how the McLaren P1 operates in RACE mode? How about hear the engine sounds? You can do all of that and more thanks to the video below. Nue Vue climbs in the passenger seat for a full ride around the track in RACE mode. Check out the video below.McLaren P1s For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 18, 2016

1,500 hp TT Lamborghini Gallardo Doing Snow Donuts Sounds...

When winter rolls around, you'd expect supercars to stay inside. But lately I've been seeing high-powered sports cars doing donuts in the snow left and right. For instance, we covered a Diablo VT and Ferrari 355 showing off their stuff in some fresh powder just yesterday.For today, we have yet another Lamborghini in the snow, but this one packs some serious punch.In a video uploaded by ChiMotorTrend, we get the chance to see a twin-turbo 1,500 hp Gallardo spinning both its tires and body in snow. The car was modified by EuroCharged. The specifics on what's under the hood of this car are unclear, but you can definitely hear the turbos whistling in the video. And boy does it sound lovely.Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 17, 2016

Insanely Fast Bugatti Veyron Vitesse WRC Donuts

When you have to pay around $30,000 to replace the tires for your Bugatti Veyron, you're going to want to get every ounce of rubber out of them. At least the owner of this Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse WRC Edition wanted to use up his tires before they were replaced.In a video uploaded by Gumbal, the Veyron owner decided to shred his tires before his new ones were fitted. How did he do it? By performing some incredibly fast donuts and burning all of that precious rubber.To give you an idea of what's taking place, this special edition Veyron was created in celebration of the record-breaking Vitesse that hits 254.04 mph. It's an incredibly rare car that is capable of pushing 1,200 hp through all four of its wheels. These might just be the most expensive donuts you'll ever see.Bugatti Veyrons For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 16, 2016

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Rips Up Qatar Highway

Every so often Lamborghini releases a special edition model that breaks away from the norms of their current lineup. Back in 2010, they introduced the Sesto Elemento. Its name was inspired by the massive amount of carbon fiber used throughout the car. "Sesto" is Italian for sixth, and "elemento" is Italian for...element. And, if you look at carbon on the periodic table, you'll see that it's the sixth element.Only a proposed 20 examples of the Sesto Elemento were made, which makes this video that much more special.On the streets of Qatar, a Sesto Elemento put its 5.2-liter V10 engine to work, blasting down the road at some serious speeds. Even though you most likely don't own one of these rare Lamborghinis, it's my responsibility to tell my readers to not attempt to hit speeds like this on a public road and to always follow your local traffic laws. Now that that's out of the way, click play on the button below to see one of the world's rarest and most exotic cars show flex its automotive muscles.Lamborghinis For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 15, 2016

Jay Leno Admits He Was Wrong About the Jaguar XJ220

Back in 1988, Jaguar showed off a concept known as the the XJ220, a V12-powered supercar that would be produced in a limited number. After a positive reception, the car was put into production, and the production version was revealed in 1991. Unfortunately, to the dismay of many, the V12 powerhouse was dropped for a twin-turbo V6 setup.Jaguar was disappointed by the sales of their new supercar, which was produced only 275 times, despite it being one of the fastest cars of its time. Along with the automaker themselves being disappointed, so was Jay Leno.In his latest video from Jay Leno's Garage, he had the chance to drive the XJ220 for the first time. In the beginning of the video he talks about how he and others were not buying into Jaguar's supercar. However, by the end of the video he's giving the XJ220 only positive praise saying he was wrong about the car. Check out the video below to see what makes him change his mind.Jaguars For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 15, 2016

Tesla Model S vs Model X Ludicrous Mode Drag Race

Ever wondered which Tesla vehicle would win in a drag race? Drag Times driver, Brooks, did as well and decided to put the two models to the test. They took a 2016 Tesla Model X P90D Ludicrous in Deep Blue Metallic and a 2015 Tesla Model S P90D Ludicrous out to the track to see how the cars would perform against each other. To make the race more interesting, Brooks had his wife behind the wheel of the Model X, and she's never drag raced before.What they discovered through a series of runs though, was pretty amazing. First and foremost, the races showed that the Model X might have set the record for the fastest electric SUV quarter mile, which would place the Model X in the top of its class. The races were incredibly close-- the Model S won by just .19 of a second in the race where both vehicles had an equal start-- but weight difference (the Model X comes in around 600 lbs heavier than the Model S) shows that the Model X pushes more power than the Model S even though both vehicles are equipped with the same powertrain with dual motors.Check out the series of races below and see how the Model X performed against the Model S.Teslas For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 12, 2016

History of the Porsche 911 in 90 Seconds

In 1963 Porsche brought the 911 to life. Over 50 years later, the 911 is still one of the most iconic cars to hit the track and the streets. Over those years, the iconic roadster morphed and changed not just to keep up with the times, but to set the standard. Though its body transformed, the 911 maintained it's ever recognizable shape and grandeur.In the video below, watch the years pass and the 911's ultimate transformation into the power car it is today. From colors to spoilers to shape shifting, the video highlights all of the major and minor changes made to the 911 over time while engine sounds and clips from radio and television narration characterize the background. Check it out below.Porsches For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 11, 2016

Astro Van Races Lamborghini Gallardo, Shocks The Crowd

You won't find a Chevrolet Astro van among the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and exotic cars we have for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com. But, a Gallardo did find one lined up against it during a drag race.Now, I have no idea what's underneath the Gallardo or the van, but I can tell you that there is some witchcraft under the latter's hood. For comparison's sake, the Gallardo is powered by a V10 engine, while the Astro has a V6 providing power. It goes without saying that the Italian sports car comes with much more of a punch than the van.But, whatever the owner of this van did, whether it be an engine swap or the aforementioned witchcraft, it worked. Check out the video below to see the incredible drag race and resulting times of each car.Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

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