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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 – September 12, 2018

What? Mercedes CLK GTR Goes Rallying Through a Forest

I stand by the fact that the Goodwood Festival of Speed is one event that I need to attend in my lifetime. Why? Well, stuff like this happens.TheTFJJ captured an insanely rare Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster doing something you've probably never seen it do before. After a startup on the grass and a quick trip down the road, the CLK GTR found itself on a dirt road, traveling through a forest at a high rate of speed.Yes, you read that correctly. The CLK GTR Roadster, created only six times and worth over $2 million, was drifting on a drift road in between trees. If you don't believe me, click play on the video below to see the 612 bhp, V12-powered supercar in action

By Andrew Nabors – September 12, 2018

Hennessey Performance 1,200 HP Dodge Demon Shakedown

If 840 horsepower just doesn't cut it, Hennessey Performance has something for you. After building a forged bottom end, they port the heads and drop on a giant supercharger. Your 2018 Dodge Demon will have 1,200 horsepower and an unmistakable sound.2018 Dodge Demon Price & SpecsThe screams of the supercharger can be heard for miles. For an entry level contender, their first option is 1,000 horsepower. Now that several HPE 1200 examples have left their shop, John and his team are confident that 1,500 horsepower is the next goal. Options for the Demon include an NHRA-legal roll cage, parachutes, dyno sheet and an all-new stainless exhaust.Parts of the upgrade that are not optional are 200 miles of road and track testing, wideband fuel tuning, and a throttle response unlike anything you have driven before. Make sure to confess your sins before taking delivery, because you are in for a wild ride. The Demon was a one-year only special model, but the same methods can be applied to your Charger or Challenger Hellcat. Click the link below to find out more and stay with us for all your Hennessey updates.Learn Morehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=qb1-4XUQskA

By Andrew Nabors – September 10, 2018

Mid-Engine Chevrolet (Corvette?) Caught at Nurburgring

Everyone seems to be certain that the C8 Corvette will be revolutionary. They have been spotted everywhere wearing heavy camouflage, but EMS Nordschleife TV was able to spot it without the leather. It was very quiet, either because of turbos or because Chevy was fined for the ZR1 being too loud during its development.2019 Corvette ZR1 Specs, Price, Photos & Review Chevrolet recently dumped almost a half-billion dollars into the Corvette plant. It now has two assembly lines in addition to the performance engine assembly center that was formerly in Michigan. Coinciding with the trademark of "Zora" around the world, this car could be a Ford GT fighter while the C8 launches as a more traditional front engine layout. Tell us what you think it is and how much power we're looking at in the comments below.Browse Corvettes For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&amp=&v=PZdYpdmPk54

By Edward Jones – September 07, 2018

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera vs Mercedes-AMG GT R Drag Race

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera was recently announced by the English automaker as the pinnacle of their model range. It packs a whopping 715 bhp and 663 lb-ft of torque, and a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.4 seconds. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that this car is both powerful and undeniably stylish. Top Gear put together a drag race to see how this new Aston Martin would stack up against the Mercedes-AMG GT R. It's an interesting pairing when you learn that the AMG GT R has less power (577 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque) and slower acceleration (0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds). However, the AMG GT R comes in around 138 lbs lighter. Which one of these sports car takes the checkered flag? Click play below.2018 Dodge Demon For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 04, 2018

She Built a Secret Porsche Collection, Traded Horses for ...

Lisa Taylor built her very first car, which was an Aztec kit car, with her dad. He owned multiple exotic cars, including the very first Ferrari Testarossa. However, he never owned a Porsche. When Lisa drove her first Porsche years later in 1981, she was hooked and has owned one ever since then.In a video documenting her collection, by Car Throttle, we learn Lisa swapped her horses for cars with plenty of horsepower. In her collection are a lot of Porsches in exciting colors, like her Ruby Star 911 GT3 RS and 1973 911 Carrera RS in Oslo Blue. The Oslo Blue is one of her favorites out the collection and she says she had taken in on rallies. She did manage to sneak a few modern pleasantries into this classic 911, like a radio and air conditioning.Porsche 911 GT3 RS Specs, Prices, Photos & ReviewLisa also mentions how many think her cars belong to her boyfriend. She says they think that "women don't collect cars." "Being a female in car collecting is very rare," Lisa notes. Thankfully we have people out there like Lisa that prove that the automotive culture is for everyone, regardless of gender. Check out the video below to see her amazing collection and learn about her trip to Monterey Car Week with other colorful Porsches.

By Edward Jones – September 04, 2018

BMW M5 vs Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Modded Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R will always a be a star in the aftermarket scene. It's been modified over and over again by many different companies, all of them looking to make the quickest car possible. The results of this can be seen at just about any drag event, especially when you head to the GT-R World Cup on February 1-2, 2019.Autocar wanted to test the GT-R creation from Litchfield. They modified the car both mechanically, cosmetically and electronically, and the result is a freshly styled GT-R that packs 631 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Racing against this GT-R was a BMW M5 and the insanely quick Porsche 911 Turbo S. If you're familiar with the Turbo S, then you know that it's one of the fastest production cars off of the line.Each of the cars faces stiff competition in this drag race, especially the M5. But how do they all stack up? Click play below to see which one wins. Is it the modded GT-R? 911 Turbo S? Or the M5 as an underdog.How to do Launch Control in a New Ford GT

By Edward Jones – September 04, 2018

Five Most Luxurious Mercedes-Benz Cars Ever Made

Have you ever found yourself in a fight about which Mercedes-Benz car is the most luxurious? For those out there who do find themselves in such a peculiar argument, Mercedes has released a video just for you. Called "Best of Benz - Top 5 Luxury Cars," this new video shows off what Mercedes says is their five most luxurious cars, ever.At number 5 is the Mercedes-Benz 540 K, a car built from 1935-1940 that was available as a two-seater cabriolet, four-seater coupe or a seven-seater limo. Throughout its reign on the road, it was considered one of the largest cars being driven.Finally, we're here at number 1 with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut-Coupe." Preserved in Mercedes' corporate museum in Sindelfingen is one of the two examples of the Uhlenhaut-Coupe that were ever created. Rudolf Uhlenhaut was the Uhlenhaut-Coupe's namesake, its designer, and the motorsport chief during the time of its production, and he used the SLR race car as a personal car. At the time of its production (mid-1950's), the Uhlenhaut-Coupe was considered the fastest car with a top speed of around 180 mph. The video notes that if the car was for sale not, which it will probably never be, it would more than likely be the most expensive car on the road today.All Mercedes-Benz Cars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 31, 2018

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Hits 190 MPH on the Autobahn

As I write this, it's Friday on Labor Day weekend, and the clock is ticking. No matter what your plans are, you can still leave work in a spirited manner. Since it almost noon for our friends in The Netherlands, they decided to send us the first top speed run in a 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo.2018 Dodge Demon Price & SpecsThe Turbo model of their popular SUV has returned with a vengeance. It uses a revised 4.0-liter V8 and twin turbos to offer 550 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque. It is not limited to 155 mph like most Germans, so the Autobahn is the perfect proving ground. This is a formal introduction to Cayenne's 3rd generation, and it sets a new precedent for luxury and performance SUVs.Body roll is controlled by Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control servos on the front and rear sway bars. The brake rotors are covered in a layer of tungsten carbide for the ultimate in stopping power. Rear wheel steering is borrowed from the 911, and the air suspension has triple chambers at each corner. Click the link below for great offers on the new models.Browse Porsche Cayenne For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 30, 2018

Corvette ZR1 vs Ford GT in All-American Drag Race

This one was inevitable, and we figured it would be our friends at Dragtimes would make it happen. In their latest upload, Brooks in his yellow Ford GT challenge a new Corvette ZR1. Palm Beach International Raceway usually gets an afternoon shower this time of year, but last weekend was calm and clear.2018 Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewChevrolet's latest Corvette prevails, at least on paper. It offers 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. The opponent wearing the Blue Oval has 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. The weight difference is marginal, with Ford beating Chevy by 200 lbs. Since both cars were designed to run above 200 mph, a series of roll races will show you who wins the aerodynamic battle. In V-Max mode, the GT drops 2" and retracts the spoilers. The Corvette ZR1 has the "high wing", which is great for road courses. But at high speeds, it acts like a parachute, not ideal for drag racing. Tell us which one would win from a dig, and which one you would drive in the comments below.Browse Chevy Corvette ZR1 For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 23, 2018

Swiss Ferrari Collection May be the Greatest Ever

In an undisclosed place in the mountains of Switzerland is quite possibly one of the greatest Ferrari collections in existence that TheStradman had a chance to visit. The owner is unknown, but we do know that whoever it is, has impeccable taste in automobiles.Included in this collection are some of the finest vehicles that Ferrari has ever created. This includes the Dino 246 GTS, 308 GTB, F40, F50, Enzo, LaFerrari, F12tdf and so many more.What makes this collection even better is the aesthetics of it. The entire garage is clean and uncluttered, allowing visitors' eyes to be drawn directly to the cars. It's also easy to see the finer details of these cars, thanks to the incredible lighting throughout the collection. It's pure eye candy.All Ferrari For Sale

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