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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 – February 26, 2019

Porsche Carrera GT Blasts Across the Desert

Somewhere out west, our friend AllanLambo's Garage decided to film a rare part of his collection. After mounting a GoPro to the rear spoiler, he recorded a Porsche Carrera GT blasting across the desert of the Southwest. While many people deride this model as dangerous, it is quite controllable with modern tires. Many of the precious Porsches are still riding on original rubber thanks to low mileage. Put on a set of new Michelins and you will have proper feedback at the limit. While it was the first car in history to scare Walter Rohrl, it is also the last naturally aspirated Porsche supercar. Essentially a street legal F1 car, it demands respect and that's why you should add one to your collection. Thanks go to Allan for the great footage! Shop Carrera GT For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 25, 2019

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake Shows Off in ...

Unlikely collaborations often produce remarkable results. That is why Aston Martin have worked with the Italian stylists at Zagato for over 50 years. Their latest work is a series of cars based on the latest Vanquish. Only 99 examples are planned, which makes it rare to see one on the street. That's why we jumped when TheTFJJ uploaded an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake in London. The shooting brake body style continues the roof line of the coupe, ending abruptly in a hatchback. It is an acquired taste for many, and it will be outsold by the Zagato coupe and convertible versions. Tell us your favorite Zagato Vanquish in the comments below, then click the link to find one near you. Shop Aston Martin Zagato For Sale Related Aston Martin Begins Production of Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake New Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake Colors

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 – February 18, 2019

McLaren 600LT Spider Hot Laps with Kenny Bräck

Watching an artist at work is the purest form of catharsis. Kenny Bräck is McLaren's Chief Test Driver and a veteran of open-wheel racing. In order to prove a car is more than just a sum of its parts, Carfection latest upload is the McLaren 600LT Spider in Hot Laps with Kenny Bräck behind the wheel. For a quick refresher, the 600LT Spider is their latest long tail. It offers 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque along with flamethrower exhaust from the 600LT Coupe. Bräck formerly raced for Lazante, the same firm that transforms McLaren's race cars into street-legal beasts. With Henry Catchpole riding shotgun, multiple cameras were used to record a session at Arizona Motorsports Park. Tell us what you think of the latest McLaren in the comments below and click the link to find our dealer near you. Shop McLaren For Sale Related: Hennessey Performance McLaren 600LT Upgrade McLaren 600LT Spider Unveiled

By Edward Jones – February 13, 2019

See the 1,750 hp SSC Tuatara in Action

All the way back in 2011, the SSC Tuatara was unveiled to the public at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This new hypercar was promised to push out insane amounts of power, thanks to a twin-turbo V8 engine. Since then, the car has change din multiple ways. Most importantly, the engine has gone from a 7.0-liter V8 to a 5.9-liter V8, but SSC is still adamant about its high power output. In fact, their website reads that it will pack 1,750 horsepower when filled with E85 and 1,350 horsepower on 91 octane. All of this power, combined with a light weight and incredibly low coefficient of drag, is all in the name of SSC's quest for 300+ mph. SSC Tuatara: Start, Revs & Walkaround at Miller Motorcars As you can see, the Tuatara is an extreme machine that the world is on the edge of its seat waiting for. Unfortunately, it's rare to see it in action and that's why the new official video from SSC North America is so special. In the video above, you get to see what the groundbreaking hypercar looks like in motion. In the end of the video, they throw in the hashtag "#yearofthetuatara". Hopefully, this means we'll be seeing more of this car. Let's hope!

By Edward Jones – February 05, 2019

Seven Years Worth of Pagani Huayra Start-Ups, Revs and Ac...

It may be hard to believe, but the Pagani Huayra made its unveiling all the way back in 2011. Pagani started production on the car just a year later in 2012 and since then, we've been graced with the Huayra's presence ever since. To celebrate the beauty that is the Pagani Huayra, YouTube Channel NM2255 put together a very special video. In the video, he compiled seven years worth (2012-2018) of Huayra sounds. That includes start ups, hard revs, accelerations, fly-bys and more. There are plenty of different Huayra variants in the video as well, like the Roadster, BC, Tempesta and more. Check it out above!

By Andrew Nabors – January 31, 2019

Porsche 356 "No. 1" Roadster Tours The World

Something special was needed for Porsche's 70th anniversary. To celebrate their success, they planned events around the world. Not only would the Porsche family participate, they decided to bring along an old friend. The Porsche 356 Roadster World Tour was a celebration of the first roadster ever built. Germany was in ruins after the war, and Ferry Porsche was in a bad situation. His father was behind bars in France, because the French government wanted cash to rebuild. To pay his father's ransom, Ferry rented a sawmill in Gmünd, Austria. He and his team built 48 cars by hand, and their sales allowed the old man to come home. Although it has been customized over the years, Porsche tracked down the owner of Roadster #1. The company paid an undisclosed sum to buy it back, and it looks great as the centerpiece of the Porsche Museum. Not content to leave it under glass, they decided to take it around the world. You might recognize the celebrity driver, as Dr. Wolfgang drove his father's car. The Porsche 356 is everything you need, and once you drive one you will understand. Click the link below to find one for yourself and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse All Porsche 356 For Sale Related: Porsche 919 Tribute Tour Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911R

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2019

How to Customize the Aston Martin Valkyrie

Customers who order the Aston Martin Valkyrie are in for a treat when they go in to customize their car. The English automaker has put together an incredibly in-depth Valkyrie customization process that will allow every example of the hypercar to be different. In fact, Aston Martin believes none of the 150 Valkyries that are slated to be created will be identical. To show us just how customizable the Valkyrie is, Top Gear went through the entire process and put together a YouTube video of their experience. During the process, customers will have an associate walk them through the steps and guide them towards their dream car. For the Top Gear video, Libby Meigh, Interior Design Manager at Aston Martin, helps Jack Rix of Top Gear through the process. During the process, one step that really caught my eye was how customizable the paint options were. They even had a weight-saving paint option! Check it all out in the video above and be sure to shop for your own Aston Martin by clicking the button below. shop aston martins for sale Also Check Out: Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Track Performance Pack and Option List Aston Martin Valkyrie is Surprisingly Customizable Aston Martin DBS Superleggera TAG Heuer Edition Revealed

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2019

Apollo IE and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Race Around Dubai Aut...

It was a meeting of the automotive minds at the Dubai Autodrome recently, as two phenomenal cars were at the track: the Apollo Intensa Emozione and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. This meeting of titans was made possible thanks to Apollo Automobil themselves and HWA AG. Whitesse JR was on hand at this happening to capture the cars in action. In his video, seen above, you can hear the V12 engines of both cars as they take off for laps around the track. It's definitely interesting to see such an iconic supercar like the CLK GTR right next to Apollo's next-generation supercar, the IE. Not to mention, both of these cars are beautiful in their own way. I could gush over both of them for hours, but I'll stop here. view exotic cars for sale Also Check Out: Apollo IE Attacks an Alpine Airstrip Apollo Joins Forces With HWA White Apollo IE Unleashed in Hong Kong

By Andrew Nabors – January 15, 2019

Porsche Top 5: 919 Hybrid Evo Features

Historians will look back at the Porsche 919 as truly revolutionary. Built to dominate the LeMans Prototype Class, it uses a V4 engine with a massive turbo that initially offered 500PS, or 493 horsepower. Lessons learned on and off the track eventually took the engine to 710 horsepower. By adding a 440 horsepower electric motor on the front end, total output was 1,160 horsepower! Another wild innovation was the hydraulic system. In addition to supporting the suspension, the high pressure actuators allowed the 919 to lean into each corner. It also offered precise control of the front and rear spoilers. Because the car corners with immense grip, they also used the same circuit to feed a beefy power steering system. The attributes of this car were taken from the development of the Porsche 918 Spyder, and it will probable influence whatever is coming next. Tell us your favorite feature of the 919 and stay with us for all your Porsche news. View All Porsche 918 Spyders For Sale Related: Porsche 919 EVO vs 911 GT2 RS on the Ring Porsche 919 EVO Attacks NYC

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