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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 – January 30, 2018

World's First Italdesign ZeroUno Delivered: $3 Million Su...

We first heard about the Italdesign ZeroUno in February 2017. It's been almost a year since we caught first glimpses of the ultra-exclusive supercar but now we finally get to talk about the first road-going example being delivered. YouTube channel Pog was recently on-hand for the delivery of the very first ZeroUno in Belgium. This specific supercar, ZeroUno #0001, is finished in what looks like an identical color scheme to the one that was originally unveiled last year. While the appearance of the car may not be surprising, although it's devilishly handsome, the sound is where it gets you. After turning on the active exhaust, the ZeroUno comes to life for some high-speed runs through some scenic Belgian roads. What you're hearing when it takes off is the same 5.2-liter V10 engine found in the Audi R8. This engine can rocket the ZeroUno from 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and to a top speed of 205 mph. Only five examples of the car will be made, making it just about exclusive as you can get. And, according to Pog, the price tag sits at around $3 million. Luxury Cars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 25, 2018

Ford GT Sets New Lap Record at VIR

Many legends exist about Virginia International Raceway. No, it wasn't plotted by Washington or Jefferson. It is not a Native American burial ground. It is simply one of the best tracks in the world. With long straights and demanding off-camber turns, you really need to bring a world-class supercar (like the new Ford GT) if you want to get the most from your visit.Our friends at Car & Driver asked Ford to test the car back in may, but it wasn't quite ready. But once it was, they recorded a blistering time of 2:43.0. This lap beats the Porsche 918 by only a tenth of a second, but it was 4 mph faster at the entry of the climbing esses.https://www.instagram.com/p/BeT9_6ihYXK/In race mode, the advanced suspension relies on torsion bars for incredible grip. Even with the latest in technology, good old-fashioned understeer arrived at 3:42. Check out the wild footage below, and tell us where you would drive your Ford GT in the comments below.Browse Ford GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2018

Surprising Race Between Lamborghini Aventador and Ariel Atom

The Lamborghini Aventador and Ariel Atom are two incredibly different cars. One is an Italian supercar filled with luxury, while the other is a track-machine that puts the driver out in the elements. The differences between the two can go on for days and result in two cars that are just completely different. But, in the world of racing, it doesn't matter how much each car costs or how much leather is covering the seats. All that matters is speed.2017 Lamborghini Huracans for SaleRego Apps recently pit his Aventador up against an Ariel Atom that had been tuned up to 600 horsepower. He called it a race between "one of Lamborghini's fastest versus one of Ariel Atom's fastest." The race took place during a recent WannaGoFast event at the Jumbolair airport where the cars had a runway all to themselves.The result of the race was surprising to say that least, considering how close it really was. Check it out below by clicking play and leave a comment of which you'd rather race in the comments below.Supercars for Sale

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2018

Rimac Teases Next-Generation Hypercar

Rimac is on to something huge right now. Their Concept_One was released as a supercar with 1,224 horsepower at the ready and a 0-62 mph time of 2.5 seconds. It was almost too good to believe, considering this was Rimac's first production car and most of what the world had seen was an electric M3 test mule. Did it deliver on its promises? You bet. In fact, The Grand Tour took it out for a spin, resulting in " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>. Two things came out of that event: Hammond is bulletproof and Rimac made one hell of a safe automobile.Exotic Cars for SaleNow, after Rimac has made their statement with the Concept_One, they are planning on release what they're calling the "next generation hypercar." In a video uploaded to YouTube (found below), slight glimpses of this mysterious hypercar can be seen.If you have been following Rimac, it's almost plain as day that the company was ramping up towards something big. Back on September 18, 2017, the company announced a 30 million Euro investment from Camel Group, Asia's largest battery manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, Rimac opened up 100 new jobs within their company on September 26, 2017.Foreign Cars That Are Illegal in USAThe odds are likely that Rimac is planning ramping up production on the Concept_One and putting a serious amount of force behind the mystery hypercar. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until March 6th for its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show.

By Andrew Nabors – January 22, 2018

A Dozen BMW M4 GTS' Attack The 'Ring

It is nice to see manufacturers giving back to their customers. The M4 GTS has to be the most capable coupe in recent history. It has track-ready rubber and suspension, with limits that far surpass anything on public roads.Great Deals on 2017 Lamborghini Aventadors!That's why the M Division hired professional drivers to train twelve lucky owners at the Nordschleife, the old north section of the Nurburgring. First stop was BMW's M Test Center, located adjacent to the track in the city of Nürburg. Upon arrival, the center's M Mechanics transformed each car into Track Mode. This involves dialing in the most aggressive settings on the front and rear spoilers.To warm up laps were used to bring the oil and tires up to temperature. Once unleashed, drivers were shown the optimal lines for each section, giving them confidence in the abilities of their machines. BMW Driving Dynamics Engineer Jörg Weidinger won the day with a smashing 7.28.88. Faster than most race cars of only a few years ago, it is a testament to The Ultimate Driving Machines. The press release says these "Faszination Nordschleife” events will become an annual mecca for M owners, so if you want to join in on the fun click the button below and buy yourself an M4!Browse M4 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 22, 2018

1,200 Horsepower Aventador vs E55 & CLS63 AMG

If you have a case of the "Mondays", we try to start each work week with the best in half-mile grad racing. DragTimes always seem to find the fastest cars in the eastern hemisphere to battle it out at their track near Moscow.Sports Cars For SaleSince I am from Jacksonville, I know what it's like to be an underdog. So when we saw an older E55 lining up against a late-model Lamborghini Aventador, it made us wonder if the German had a chance against the raging bull. Gad Motors has an obsession with boost, so they transformed the Aventador from 740 horsepower to only 1,200.The first opponent was a 750 horsepower E55 AMG. They have tremendous aftermarket support, but the W211 chassis is as aerodynamic as a box truck. Next up is a CLS63 AMG with a reported 700 horsepower. It doesn't take much to get the already potent CLS to this level, so it probably didn't have many modifications. The times at the 330' will surprise you, so tell us which car you would prefer, and stay with us for more great heads-up action from DragTimes.Aventador S For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 19, 2018

What Does "Porsche GTS" Mean?

As an automotive enthusiast, I absolutely love learning little tidbits about cars, especially when it deals with a company with as much heritage as Porsche. In a new series from the German automaker, we get a chance to learn the answer to our most popular questions. This week, they've answered the question: "What does Porsche GTS mean?"Top 10 Unique Items For Sale by Porsche ClassicMany Porsches have been blessed with the GTS badge over the years, but it's more than a model designation. It all started with the Grand Tours of the mid-1900's. These races starred sports car with just two seats. Now, we see the designation on cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and many others. Click play below to learn more about the Porsche GTS heritage.

By Andrew Nabors – January 18, 2018

Porsche Panamera Perfect For Winter Surfing

Surfing is part of life here in Florida. But when the thermometer goes negative we find other ways to stay active. Mark Boyd is a professional surfer who doesn't let the weather bother him. He chooses to surf in on the most unforgiving waters of the North Sea. Being a Scotsman, he knows a thing or two about harsh weather so Porsche decided to let him test the abilities of the new Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo.Top 10 Fastest Cars In the 1/4 MileIn a press release this morning, Porsche tells a story of surfing and of perseverance. The Turbo Sport Turismo is lighter than the Turbo S E-Hybrid, which allows it to reach 60 mph in only 3.6 seconds. The hatchback design is perfect for hauling your surfboard along with everything you need for a perfect beach day. The twin turbo 4.0 liter V8 sends 550 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque to all wheels through a dual-clutch transmission.Even with massive 315/35 rear tires, it is able to offer 25 mpg. With the second row folded you will have 49 cubic feet of cargo space, which more than many crossovers have to offer. As far as the gorgeous styling, it looks eerily similar to the Audi RS7, but that's probably just a coincidence...We can't wait to get our hands on the Turbo S E-Hybrid wagon, so stay with us for all your Porsche news & reviews.Peruse Porsche Panamera For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 18, 2018

Forgotten Exotic: Lamborghini Jalpa Goes Flat Out

Since Lamborghini's founding back in 1963, they have created many different models that have been the subject of dreams and ambitions. Many can name the Aventador, Countach, Diablo, Huracan, LM002, Miura and Murcielago quickly, but there are a few models that are a bit more unknown than others. Top 5 Lamborghini Concept Cars Take the Jalpa, for example. This sports car was produced from 1981 to 1988, with a total of 410 examples being created. As appearances go, it looks like a smaller take on the Countach with a hint of a De Tomaso Pantera. Hagerty recently took a 1985 Jalpa out for a spin. Well, it was actually former racing driver and Audi Club of North America president Mike Fisher that took the car out for some laps. The sound of the V8 engine as Fisher slams through the gears is that of a naturally-aspirated dream. Hear it for yourself by clicking play below.

By Andrew Nabors – January 17, 2018

BRABUS 850 CLS63 AMG vs Lamborghini Huracan

If you ever line up against a Mercedes-AMG on the street, always check for the BRABUS badge. They have a tendency to multiply the car's horsepower to build the ultimate Benz. One lucky owner of a CLS63 had theirs sent in for modification, and it returned with 1,200 horsepower and the designation of being a BRABUS 850.Black on Black BRABUS G800 for Sale in U.S.To show the world just how capable it is, DragTimes paired it against a stock Huracan LP610-4 Spyder. Their half-mile drag strip near Moscow is perfect for top speed runs, and it has ample room for a shutdown on the top end. The Italian has a nice weight advantage and AWD, so the 60' times are almost identical. Tell us which one you would like to own in the comments below, and stay with us for more beastly Brabus builds.

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