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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 20, 2018

Taking the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV Up a Mountain

The SUV hype has been building up for years and it's culminated into the release of off-road vehicles from brands we never would have expected. One of the most unexpected SUVs has to be the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. When you think of a Rolls-Royce, you think of something along the lines of a Ghost or Phantom. Basically, you think of a super-luxury car that's perfect for being chauffeured in. Now that the Cullinan is out, things have changed, but has the overall DNA of the Rolls-Royce vehicle changed in the SUV? To answer that, Peter Valdes-Dapena of CNN Business took the Cullinan up a mountain to see how it performed. Fastest SUV's in the World It's an odd sight seeing a Rolls-Royce get down and dirty on a dirt road but the automaker's engineers did a great job of making it a capable SUV. The Cullinan is stocked with loads of features that make it competent when the road gets tough. Check it out for yourself in the video above. Also Check Out: Rolls-Royce & Fabergé Unveil the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ Egg Rolls-Royce EW Phantom Gets “Privacy Suite” Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan Compared

By Edward Jones – November 16, 2018

These Guys Mounted a Fighter Jet Cannon on a Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a wonderful sedan that has paved the way for hybrid automobiles. However, many mocked the car in the early 2000's for a myriad of reasons and it even made an appearance in an episode of "South Park." So when a company like Black Rifle Coffee mounts a M61 Vulcan Cannon on a Prius, how are you to feel about it? I'm not sure how you feel about it, but I'm 100% on board with their decision. And I'm not being facetious either, because they literally mounted a cannon used on an F-16 fighter jet onto a Prius. Why did they pick the Prius? "Because Raptors are expensive." Fair enough. View the World's Coolest Cars For Sale In the video posted up above, you can learn everything about this stunt. They even go into detail regarding how much it costs to fire the cannon. For each round of 20mm ammo fired, the cost is $27. Because of the 6,000 round-per-minute firing rate, it costs around $2970 per second of sustained fire. Woah.

By Edward Jones – November 15, 2018

Audi S4 Races Bugatti Chiron, Surprises Everyone

The Bugatti Chiron is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful production cars in existence. It packs a whopping 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, and the CEO of Bugatti recently said that the Chiron could easily hit 280 mph. That's more than impressive. The Audi S4 (B5, 1997-2002), on the other hand, is just a good car. In fact, one of my coworkers had a 2000 S4 and says it was a "fantastic car" and that they "rip." But can it match the prowess of a hypercar like the Chiron? Not all of them can match a Bugatti, but one at the SCC500 Rolling50 1000 did. In fact, it did more than match the Chiron. Of course, this specific S4 was packing more than a stock engine. Tuned by Hannover Hardcore, this Audi can push out 1,300 hp and 992 lb-ft of torque. That's simply insane. You can watch this Audi take on a Bugatti Chiron in the video below by YouTube Channel cvdzijden. Trust me, you want to watch it. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 08, 2018

Dodge Hellcat Gets Bested By Decade-Old Shelby GT500 in D...

You can't deny the abilities of Dodge's SRT division. They have stuffed their supercharged 6.2-liter into everything from the Charger to the Jeep Trackhawk, and possibly a Ram truck next year. But everyone loves the Challenger Hellcat. It was built with drag racing in mind, and it can run consistent 11's all day long. Check Out The Lamborghini Huracan Performante Specs! What you see in the far lane is obviously a Shelby Mustang GT500, but it has something special under the hood. The GT500 returned in 2007, powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V8. It was very similar to the engine used in the Ford GT, making 500 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. Being the king of Ford's "Modular" V8 family, the aftermarket has embraced it with heads, cams, and stroker kits. It was only available with a six-speed manual, unlike the Hellcat which is offered in stick or automatic. One big difference between them is the Hellcat is almost 700 lbs heavier than the Mustang. We don't know why Ford only builds wild Mustangs in limited runs, but we have several to choose from in the links below. Related: View All Shelby GT500 Mustangs For Sale Max Root Racing Applies for Ford GT Ford Series 1 Mustang RTR

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2018

Watch the Koenigsegg Agera FE Thor Race Up Goodwood Hillc...

The final Koenigsegg Agera models (known as the Agera FE) were given some awesome names thanks to their owners: Thor and Väder. These two models were based on the Agera RS hypercar but both came with all options available at no added cost. The owner of Thor wanted to show off his new hypercar by taking it to the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed and ripping it up the hill climb course. What Is The NIO EP9? In the video below, you'll see Agera FE Thor racing up the Goodwood Hillclimb at ludicrous speeds. Driving the car was actually not the owner, but Koenigsegg factory driver Niklas Lilja. The owner did, however, take a seat in the passenger side. Lilja managed to record a Hillclimb time of 51.5 seconds, although he think he could improve it to a possible sub-50 second time. How? According to Koenigsegg, he lost time on the last two corners of the hillclimb. You can see the run for yourself by clicking play on the video above!

By Andrew Nabors – November 01, 2018

Porsche Explains the 911 Lineup in 5 Minutes

What began in 1963 as the Porsche 911 has evolved from one model to 24 different versions. In order to appeal to every Porsche enthusiast, Stuttgart has transformed the 911 into a Swiss Army Knife. Walking into a Porsche Dealer might be overwhelming, so they uploaded a video to YouTube to clarify the models. The 993 series of the 1990s was the first truly diverse lineup, so click this link to see each one in detail.Porsche 993 Specs, Photos, Prices & ReviewHere is an example the dilemma: I like the subtle looks of the Carrera S, but I don't need all the bells & whistles, the answer is the Carrera T. Or if you like an open top but not a full convertible, the Targa has a hardtop that drops behind the seats. Your choices of rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive are also major variables. The true purpose of this video is to drive sales of the remaining 2019 models because 2020 will see an all-new 911. The "992 series" is in final development, so stay with us for all your Porsche news. Click the link below to find our dealer near you. Find Your Porsche 911 Herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=cmOW_ZSGB-k

By Andrew Nabors – October 31, 2018

Jay Leno Drives 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

We were sad to learn the Dodge Demon would be limited to 3,000 cars. It was a statement to the world that Fiat-Chrysler is committed to keeping the Muscle Car wars alive. It was only offered in 2018, so if you missed the opportunity, Dodge has something for you. The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye makes use of many of the Demon's parts. Unlike its predecessor, it arrives with sound insulation, carpet, and a full interior. View the Complete List of Jay Leno's Car Collection What it doesn't have is the trans-brake and the race fuel system. The Redeye offers 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque, which is good for consistent 10-second times if you have the right rubber. If you don't need that much power, the "normal" Hellcat has 717 hp, and the RT Scat Pack has 485 hp for under 40,000. Steve Beahm is a 32 year Dodge Veteran, and he allowed Jay Leno to experience the brutal Redeye in person. Tell us what you think of the latest from Dodge and stay with us for all your Mopar updates. Dodge SRT Challenger Hellcat Price, Specs & Photos

By Andrew Nabors – October 30, 2018

Lamborghini Huracan Spyder vs Ford GT Heritage Edition

It is always fun to cheer for the underdog...unless you don't know the true potential of either contestant. At first glance, it might seem ludicrous for a Ford GT to line up against a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder. They are both 2-door supercars, but that is where the similarities end. When a member of the Ecurie Supercar Club stopped in at Hennessey Performance, they decided to see how a raging bull compares to a LeMans-winning Ford.Lamborghini Huracan Spyders For SaleJohn Hennessey's 2018 Ford GT Heritage Edition wears the same livery as the 1968 Ford GT40 that dominated the Mulsanne Straight. It has a 3.5-liter V6 with twin turbos making 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. The Huracan Spyder has a 5.2-liter V10 pumping out 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Ford uses a carbon fiber chassis for a curb weight of 3,035 lbs, while the Huracan's aluminum space frame is over 400 lbs heavier. Tell us what you think of this race in the comments below, and which one you would own. Stay with us for all your Hennessey updates here on Aufofluence. View Ford GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 26, 2018

Bugatti Chiron Destroys McLaren 720S in Rolling Race

If a hypercar like the Bugatti Chiron goes up against a supercar like the McLaren 720S, the result is expected. Here in the car world, the word "hyper" reigns supreme over the word "super," so naturally any hypercar would be any supercar. Well, sometimes that's not the case. Motor1 pointed out that " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> actually lined up really well against a Chiron. It seems now that a Chiron, being driven by someone else, has taken revenge on the 720S model during a rolling race at SCC500 Rolling50 1000. The race was filmed by cvdzijden, who attended the event and managed to capture both the races and the results on the monitor. We appreciate the hustle! Check out the races right down below.

By Andrew Nabors – October 23, 2018

World's Fastest McLaren 720S Scorches the Quarter-Mile

One of the best perks of working with supercars is calling out the manufacturers. Since the introduction of the McLaren 720S, they have only said the engine size was increased from 3.8 to 4.0-liters. This might seem insignificant until you are behind the wheel. Last week at the Nashville Auto Show we had a gorgeous 675LT Spider from Velocity Motorcars next to a new 720S from McLaren Philadelphia. After driving and comparing both, the 4.0-liter V8 seems to share very little with its predecessor.Sell Your Exotic Car with duPont REGISTRYThe McLaren 720S feels and sounds like a flat-plane V8. Something straight out of Italy, or the Mustang GT350 if you need an American example. This allows for a higher redline than a traditional cross-plane design. Anytime you can raise the engine's RPM, it creates more exhaust to spin the turbos. More boost means more power, but this innovation needed to be dialed back to leave room for future models. That is how Kanoo Performance and Dyno Spectrum pushed a customer's 720S into uncharted territory. Filmed at Bahrain's Grand Prix track and 1/4 mile front stretch, it crosses the top end at 146 mph. Is an 8-second McLaren in the near future? Tell us in the comments below and click the link to find a new 720S from our dealers. View McLaren 720S For Sale

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