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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 – February 19, 2019

Turbine Flies Out of 3000 HP Nissan GT-R, Almost Hits Cam...

The GT-R World Cup recently went down at the Bradenton Motorsports Park, bringing Nissan GT-Rs with unheard-of amount of power all to one location. One of the most incredible cars to show up was the GT-R driven by Gidi Chamdi, who has been a mainstay in the GT-R world record scene. His car is now packing an insane 3,000 horsepower and he let it loose at the GT-R World Cup. In the video above, you'll see him run an incredible quarter-mile time of 7.034 @ 204.77 mph. However, his next run was notable for reasons other than a quick time. As Gidi was flying down the strip, a strange noise came from the front of his car and a small item flew out of the exhaust. This UFO just so happened to be the turbine from the turbo. YouTube channel 1320video was on hand to capture the event, but it seems they were almost too close to the turbine's trajectory. Thankfully, the car was repaired and good to go the next day. Check it out in the video above! view all nissan gt-r's for sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 01, 2018

3500 Horsepower Nissan GT-R: World's Most Powerful

Why has the Nissan GT-R been in production for 11 years? Because the aftermarket keeps pushing them into uncharted territory. Extreme Turbo Systems is based in Vancouver, Washington and they have unleashed a 3,500 horsepower GT-R on the world. While we don't know the specific details of the build, their video speaks for itself. Nissan GT-R50 Will Be $1 Million Most GT-R tuners delete the AWD system to save weight, but at these power levels it doesn't matter. Pushing enough boost to blow the intake pipe off, the dyno shows over 3,000 horsepower to all wheels. This allowed the car to pull a wheelie almost to the 60' mark. The 1/8th mile disappeared in 4.5 seconds at 172 mph. But he stayed on the throttle for a 6.88 @ 222.9 mph. (Article Originally Published on Aug 1, 2018) What we have here is a six-cylinder street-legal Nissan that is capable of outrunning many NHRA Pro-Stock record holders. The problem is in downforce, as you see the car get loose on shutdown. Going faster than a NASCAR restrictor-plate car, the driver is lucky it didn't go airborne. Congrats to the team, and click the link below to find your GT-R. Browse Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 19, 2018

Nissan GT-R Nismo and Porsche 911 GT3 RS Compared in Race

We've seen some unlikely comparisons, but this one is among the best. The BBC program 5th gear delights in pushing the latest supercars to their limits, but this race will surprise you. Germany and Japan went head-to-head on a wet Welsh track. The first is the lastest naturally-aspirated Porsche. The 911 GT3 RS has 520 horsepower sent to the rear wheels for $187,500. Nissan's latest GT-R Nismo is 600 horsepower beast with a sticker price of $175,490. It has a potent AWD system which makes it 485 lbs heavier than the Porsche.Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo is Heading to ProductionWith less than $10,000 difference, every other attribute is the opposite. From a twin turbo 3.8-liter mounted up front, the Porsche has a 4.0-liter flat six that is naturally aspirated and mounted behind the rear wheels. Porsche's transaxle is mounted directly to the engine, while Nissan uses a torque tube to the rear-mounted transmission a driveshaft to power the front wheels. What does this mean on a drizzly day? Watch the video below to find out. View Porsche GT3 RS For Sale

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 – October 11, 2017

Remote-Controlled Nissan GT-R Hits 130 MPH

Remotes can be used for many things: changing the TV channel, playing video games, and controlling an RC car. But what if that RC car is a real Nissan GT-R? Would you be willing to take the controller and race a real supercar? For GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough, it was a no-brainer.To celebrate the release of Gran Turismo Sport on the PlayStation 4, Nissan heavily modified a GT-R that could be driven entirely by a DualShock®4 controller. The "GT-R /C" was driven by Mardenborough around Silverstone's National Circuit, where the car hit a top speed of 131 mph and averaged a speed of 76 mph. He controlled the car from a helicopter that followed the racecar around the track."This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff," said Mardenborough. "The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of motorsport – in a way I never thought possible. The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well. Steering, acceleration and braking were all intelligently configured, allowing for controlled application so I could really get a feel through the corners and hold it steady down the fast straights."

By Edward Jones – July 10, 2017

Lamborghini vs Nissan GT-R Drift Battle Will Leave You Br...

Hey, here's a video of a Lamborghini Murcielago being drifted by Daigo Saito going up against a Nissan GT-R being drifted by Steve "Baggsy" Biagioni.This post could just have that one sentence and it should be enough to draw anybody to click play on the video below, because... come on, this is incredible.On one hand, you have Daigo's Murcielago, which has been heavily modified. Powering the Lamborghini drift car is the same 6.5-liter V12 engine it was produced with, but it has had its interior gutted and steering heavily modified for getting sideways. When Daigo is behind the wheel, going full throttle, it really is like watching an artist create their masterpiece. Click play below to see it for yourself.Also, keep an eye out for the special visitor that joins the pair!

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 – March 20, 2017

AMS Performance Sets New World Record at TX2K with Six-Se...

For most drag racers, traction can be the hardest part of the sport. It seems like All Wheel Drive would be a no-brainer for quarter-mile competition, but weight and complexity of sending massive power to all wheels have been a challenge until now. AMS Performance has been at the leading edge of pushing the AMS Nissan's GT-R into uncharted territory. A decade of innovation has outgrown the original engine, so they engineered a new block, heads, and internals using the latest in CNC tooling. Last year in Detroit resulted in a 7.14 @ 212 mph. Knocking at the door of a six-second pass is nothing short of amazing. And doing so reliably in a full frame street legal car requires many late nights and usually a fire extinguisher. Such was the case last weekend at the beginning of TX2K17. A small fire on the first shakedown pass evolved into an all-nighter, as they rebuilt the engine for another attempt. Usually, the first pass on a new engine is simply to get the drive line warmed up and verify a proper break-in. But since they are very confident in their own hardware, a full boost pass resulted in the quickest quarter-mile ever by an AWD car. At first, the timing lights signaled a speed of 196 mph which is slower than before, but then it flashed an elapsed time of 6.93 seconds.... This is not a tube frame dragster with a fiberglass body. It may have sticky tires and a roll cage but it is a real Nissan GT-R. Only a handful of street legal cars are capable of going this fast, so our hats are off to the crew of AMS Performance for raising the bar. Stay with us for more updates from the race, and a preview of FL2K17 later this summer. Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 20, 2016

2017 Acura NSX vs 2017 Nissan GT-R: Which is Japan's Best...

For years, the Nissan GT-R has been called "Godzilla," thanks to its ability to rocket off of the line and handle corners like a boss. Since the GT-R was released, we've been waiting for another Japanese sports car to come in and take down Godzilla. Who will be our King Ghidorah/Mothra/Mechagodzilla? Is it the new 2017 Acura NSX? Motor Trend aimed to find out.(Related - Graham Rahal Gets His New 2017 Acura NSX)In the latest episode of Head 2 Head, Jason Cammisa and Jonny Lieberman took the two cars out to decide if the new 2017 NSX could take down the legendary GT-R. The new 2017 GT-R is powered by a twin-turbo 2.8-liter V6 that's mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As for the NSX, it has a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that works with two electric motors in the front and one in between the engine and nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. So, the major difference between the two are the electric motors in the NSX. But is this jolt of electricity enough? Find out by clicking play below.New Acura NSX For Sale | Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2016

Mustang GT500 Takes On Nissan GT-R in Surprising Street Race

If you've ever been to a drag racing event, odds are there was a Nissan GT-R there. Since it was released, people have been modifying the GT-R to become gods of the strip through various modifications. As for the Mustang GT500, it's not held in the same regard but it can still haul booty, especially when modifications are introduced.(Related - Who Wins the World's Greatest Drag Race?)This is why the drag race seen below is very interesting. In the video we see a GT500 take on a GT-R on a public road. Before I go any further I'll say that we don't condone these actions and street racing is an illegal action. Always follow your local safety laws and drive safe. Now that that's been said, let's get into it.The GT500 is noted as having 730 whp on tap thanks to a new upper, throttle body, exhaust, but it's running on pump gas. As for the GT-R, it only has unspecified bolt-on mods and is also running on pump gas-- its horsepower is unspecified as well.So who will win the race? Click play to find out.

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