Videos

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 – August 22, 2018

Is the Ford GT Racing for a Nurburgring Record?

Breaking the Nurburgring Nordschleife record is something all automakers with fast cars look to do. Now, it looks like Ford and their GT supercar may be the latest company aiming to break the famed lap time record.As of recent, the 'Ring record torch was passed from the Lamborghini Huracan Performante to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and, most recently, the Aventador SVJ with a time of 6:44.97. Could the GT break the new Lamborghini supercar's time? The Ford GT specs are definitely impressive. Powering the American supercar is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that pushes out an impressive 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. That kind of power is enough to launch the GT from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.John Cena Settles Ford GT LawsuitSo, why do we think the car may be searching for a new record? YouTube channel cvdzijden recently filmed the GT taking laps around the famous circuit. Now, what I see in the video is a helmeted driver taking the corners very quickly and accelerating out of them like a madman. I'm not sure who exactly the driver is, but they seem like they're driving with a very specific purpose. Check it out for yourself by clicking play below.

By Edward Jones – August 14, 2018

Japan's Lamborghini Scene is Nuts

The Bōsōzoku scene in Japan is downright bonkers. It's been around for decades and it all started with gangs customizing their motorcycles so they better fit their personal style. Since then, it's expanded to cars, but not just any cars. We're talking about Lamborghinis.When Shmee150 arrived in Tokyo, Japan with the 2018 Gumball 3000 crew, they were joined by a crazy group of bōsōzoku Lamborghinis. The meet-up was lead by Morohoshi of Fighting Star, and it was arranged by none other than Team Salamone. Cars in this extreme group included the new Aventador SV and Huracan performante. There were also older models, like the Diablo and Murcielago. The guys in this group absolutely love their supercars and love making them their own. Many who are not accustomed to this scene will be taken aback by their eccentricity, but you have to appreciate the lengths they're willing to go to make their Lamborghini truly theirs.Be sure to follow Shmee150's channel for more videos of the 2018 Gumball 3000 rally.Mad Mike Explores Japan's Wild Supercar Culture

By Andrew Nabors – August 10, 2018

When a Lamborghini Test Drive Goes Bad

If you have ever worked at a dealer in an urban setting, test drives are part of any deal. A decade ago I worked at a Lexus dealer, and everyone wanted to drive the IS300 (Altezza to you JDM fans). This was also the era of the 1JZ-powered SC300 and GS300, so everyone wanted to experience the mythical straight six. But almost a dozen "potential customers" simply wanted to beat on a new car.Lamborghini Gallardo Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewOur friend Ed Bolian was a sales manager at Lamborghini Atlanta, and he desperately needed to sell a Gallardo Performante that had been sitting for months. The regular LP550 Gallardo was always a strong seller, as it was priced as the entry-level Lamborghini. But many buyers couldn't justify nearly $300,000 in 2012 dollars for the Performante Spyder. You won't believe what happens to him when a customer asks to drive.Top 10 Fastest Quarter Mile Cars & Times (Production Cars)It was essentially a drop-top Gallardo Superleggera, being capable of 0-60 in 3.8 and 0-124 mph in 12 seconds flat. They are 3,200 lbs soaking wet, so the massive power, lightweight, and AWD is not a combination for novice drivers. If you are looking for a true collectible, find a six-speed manual Gallardo and keep the mileage low, it will be worth $$$ as manual transmissions keep disappearing. If you need something even more capable, click the link below to find your Huracan Performante and have a great weekend.Lamborghini Huracan Performante For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 09, 2018

The Story of Two Wild Bugatti EB110 Race Cars

We'll save the wild story of the Bugatti EB110 for another day. But here is what you need to know: An Italian Businessman raised some money and bought the rights to Bugatti. Romano Artioli purchased Lotus and Bugatti with notions of injecting them with modern power and styling. He was the first Suzuki Dealer in Italy, and it allowed him to buy an extensive collection of vintage Bugattis.Everything You Need To Know About the Iconic Bugatti EB110 SSEncouraged by his friend Ferruccio Lamborghini, he bought the rights and entrusted the body to Marcello Gandini, the man responsible for the Miura, Countach, and the Diablo. With Bugatti having such a deep motorsports history, Mr. Artioli decided to go for broke and aim for LeMans. Two cars were built with endurance racing in mind, and they are the EB110LM and the EB110 SC GTS-1.Davide Cironi was considering a film on the EB110 itself when he was contacted by the owner of both race cars. He decided to gather all the people behind the builds together, and it resulted in a story every Bugatti fan will love to see. Of course, this is in Italian, so unless you are fluent, the English closed captioning is on-point. If you have been bitten by the Bugatti bug, click the link below to find yours and stay with us for all your Bugatti updates.Find Your Bugatti Here

By Andrew Nabors – August 06, 2018

Lamborghini Aventador Attacks the Autobahn

There is no excuse to be late to work in Germany. The Autobahn was envisioned before WWII as a national highway grid, devoid of speed limits. German cars have always been fast and safe, but a raging Italian bull can run with the best of them. The Lamborghini Aventador has several special edition models, but our friends in the Netherlands chose the most popular version.Lamborghini Aventador Specs, Price, & PhotosThe LP700-4 has been in production since 2012, and represent all that is right in the world of supercars. Without any compromises to comfort or safety, they built the 5,000th example in 2016, and production is still going strong. The one-piece carbon fiber cockpit is only 385 lbs. Once the chassis is added it is a whopping 506 lbs. So before fluids and the body panels, the Aventador is 75 lbs lighter than a cast iron small-block Chevy v8. So if you think you can tame a beast of this nature, click the link below and stay with us for more top speed Autobahn action!Your Aventador Awaits

By Edward Jones – August 02, 2018

Hear and See the McLaren Senna Prove its Worth

If you're on the edge about your feelings toward the McLaren Senna supercar, I have the perfect video for you. You see, many were taken aback by the aggressive design of the Senna. For me? I absolutely love it because I know that each curve, vent and edge was implemented by McLaren's design team for a reason. That reason being best performance possible. 19Bozzy92 recently uploaded a video of all of the Senna's that showed up for one of the greatest shows in the world: Goodwood Hillclimb. In the video, which you can find right above, you get to see all the Senna's do their things. Their things including burnouts, loud downshifts, revs, burnouts and just straight up fly-bys. It's a sight and sound to behold. Check it out for yourself, but be prepared to be taken aback by the car's overwhelming presence. 2018 McLaren Senna Performance Specs 0-62 mph: 2.8 seconds 0-124 mph: 6.8 seconds 1/4-mile: 9.9 seconds Top speed: 211 mph

By Edward Jones – August 01, 2018

Philippine President Crushes $5.5 Million in Cars

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is sincerely not a fan of cars that are smuggled into his country. So much, in fact, that he's decided to crush about $5.5 million worth of cars during a recent showing of destruction. The illegal cars were grouped up in Sta Ana, Cagayan, in northern Philippines while Duterte watched on with a hard-hat on. Cars involved in the crushing included Lamborghinis, Porsches, BMWs, motorcycles and many more. There were a total of 800 cars and motorcycles that were seized by port authorities in Cagayan and these were just a small selection of them. The cars were run over by a bulldozer, monster truck rally-style, resulting in the utter destruction of each vehicle. Duterte states during a speech before the crushing that he would not be able to end the smuggling of these cars and corruption, but by crushing these cars he's sending a message to those who look to break the laws of his country.NHTSA Recalls Just Two Bugatti Chirons in US

By Andrew Nabors – July 31, 2018

Hurley Haywood's 1973 Porsche at Goodwood

As one of my hometown heroes, Hurley Haywood is one of the more famous residents of Amelia Island, Florida. One of Porsche's best drivers, he is humble and never shy to sign an autograph or to encourage kids to get into motorsports. As the winner of Daytona in 1973, he had lost track of the winning car until it reappeared at Sebring last year. The owner has completely restored this classic 911 2.7 RS to 1973 specs and allowed Mr. Haywood to get behind the wheel again at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & ReviewAt this year's Porsche Werks Reunion on Amelia Island, he signed a few copies of his latest book "If My Voice Is Strong Enough To Help One Kid." It tells the story of how a high school student interviewed him for a term paper. Hurley could tell the student was gay, and it prompted him to publicly come out. A call from the boy's mother said Hurley had saved her son's life, accepting who he really was.Everyone in endurance racing knew Hurley was gay, but it didn't matter. Hurley Haywood is (in my humble opinion) the greatest endurance racer of all time. Winning LeMans in 1977, 1983, and 1994 along with serving in Vietnam have made him a veteran in every sense. If you have been looking for a classic 911 Carrera or a top-notch Targa, we have plenty to choose from. Click the link below and stay with us for all your Porsche updates.Find Your Porsche 911 Here

By Edward Jones – July 31, 2018

See the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ's Record Nurburgring Lap

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ has lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in record time before its worldwide debut. This means that the SVJ has lapped the famous circuit quicker than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, the previous record holder, and the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. Lamborghini put Marco Mapelli behind the wheel of the Aventador SVJ for the record lap. Mapelli is currently a Lamborghini Factory Driver and has been racing for more than a decade. Now, he's the king of the 'Ring. To record the lap, Lamborghini used GPS certification that utilizes VBOX-Racelogic instrumentation and Remak personnel were on hand to manage it all. The entire event was under heavy scrutiny, meaning no one can argue their lap time. You can see the entire record lap from the cockpit for yourself by clicking play below. After watching, it's easy to see how Mapelli managed the to break the record.

By Andrew Nabors – July 30, 2018

Bugatti Divo: Built For Corners

Going fast in a straight line is fun, and holding your speed through a corner is even more satisfying. That is why Bugatti is taking a page from the past with the new Chiron Divo. Factory driver Albert Divo won the Targa Florio twice in Bugatti Type 35, so the next Chiron will bear his name. The road race was a brutal test of drivers and cars. It took place in the mountains of Sicily above the city of Palermo. What began in 1906, it was one of the world's greatest races, until General Patton's 7th Army surrounded the city on July 22, 1943.Bugatti Divo Confirmed, Costs Over $5 MillionEven though the Chiron is not an old design, serious advances in aerodynamics have been made by Bugatti's Italian cousins at Lamborghini. With the impending launch of the Aventador SVJ, we have been teased again by an upload to Bugatti's Facebook page. To help control the turbulence caused by the massive tires, the Divo will have carbon fiber aero blades behind the fenders. The French flag is a nice touch, so we hope it is standard equipment. If you want a more subdued example, click the link below and stay with us for all your Bugatti updates.Browse Bugattis For Sale

Videos

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe