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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 – January 12, 2018

How To Build A Hennessey Exorcist Camaro

If you have Dodge Demons roaming your neighborhood, the only logical solution is to bring in an Exorcist. Clergy and laypeople alike will jump for joy because your Camaro has been blessed by the best. John Hennessey and his team enjoy pushing the limits of automotive engineering.How to Order the Hennessey Exorcist CamaroStaring at the solid foundation of the Camaro ZL1, your car will arrive in Sealy, Texas with 650 horsepower and torque. From there, the team begins disassembly. After protecting all painted surfaces, the technicians remove the cooling system, intake, supercharger, intercoolers, and the exhaust. The heads are removed and ported by hand to make use of more boost, and a top-secret camshaft is installed. Larger intake valves take orders from upgraded lifters and hardened pushrods.To see what all is involved, HPE uploaded a time-lapse transformation video to Facebook last night. As you can see, the new supercharger requires more cooling capacity. Full-length stainless headers make sure the exhaust doesn't choke the system, and finally, the computer is calibrated to deliver 1,000 reliable horsepower. Like all Hennessey builds, it is backed by a 2-year warranty. Only 100 examples will be produced, and each one has serialized badges along with a dyno sheet attesting to its power. If you are interested, click on the link below and stay with us for all your HPE updates.Learn More

By Edward Jones – January 10, 2018

Honda NSX vs Honda CBR1000RR Superbike Drag Race

Something about a supercar racing a superbike is just so exciting. One is a four-wheeled machine that protects the driver from the elements in a typically luxurious cabin; the other is a two-wheeled machine that runs on raw power and puts the driver right out in the open. One of the latest examples of these fantastic races comes from carwow who filmed a new NSX taking on a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in two races, one from a dig and one from a roll. Typically, you'll see bikes absolutely destroy cars in drag races, but this races was definitely different from others.It should go without saying that the power, weight and price difference between the two is massive. The NSX comes in at a starting price of around $156,000 with 573 hp on tap and a weight of 3,800. For the CBR1000RR, £15 769 ($21,300) is the price and it only weighs 432 lbs and comes packing 189 hp. Between the two there are many differences, but it's all about that power-to-weight ratio. Click play on the video below to see the two in action.Bugatti Veyron Races Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike

By Andrew Nabors – January 10, 2018

Porsche 911 Heart Transplant Under 12 Minutes

If your engine has ever left you stranded, we suggest you keep a spare ready to go. That is the reasoning behind a blistering engine and transmission swap at the East African Safari Classic. Running in the lead was the English team of Tuthill Porsche, who specializes in racing classic Porsche 911s.2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911RThe relentless heat and sustained redline speeds are a death sentence to any engine, so their support team was ready for the inevitable. Dr. Porsche designed the Volkswagen and his Porsche progeny to be incredibly easy to service, and the entire powertrain is designed to be dropped as one unit. A process that normally takes a few hours on a lift might seem impossible in the desert, but Team Tuthill was ready. In a well-orchestrated symphony, they worked to swap in the new drivetrain in less than 12 minutes.The air-cooled Porsche engine has no scalding coolant or complex hoses. Drain the oil, take the wheels off and crimp the fuel line. Aside from the throttle, clutch, and shifter linkages, all it takes is elbow grease. No matter what credentials or experience you have, these guys deserve your respect. PRO TIP: always use jack stands when under your car, and don't try this at home. The brilliant engineering found in the Porsche 911 is why it has been dominating for over 50 years. Click the link below to find one for yourself and stay with us for all your 911 updates. Browse Porsche 911 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 08, 2018

Monday Motivation: 780 HP Ferrari 488 GTB vs 802 HP Audi R8

We pride ourselves on bringing you the most unlikely comparisons in exotic cars for sale. Top speed runs are all the rage these days, but outside of a race track, they are only legal on the Autobahn. So our friends at AutoTopNL found two of the fastest cars in Europe for a proper showdown.In a YouTube video uploaded on Saturday, we see a 780 horsepower Ferrari 488 GTB take on an Audi R8 tuned to 802 horsepower. In a proper use of the scientific method, the cars were tested together and also separately to showcase their abilities. Fighting for Deutschland, the home field advantage would seem to go to the R8. It packs a 5.2 liter V10 coupled to the quattro AWD system. The Italian Stallion is the latest from Maranello, with a 3.9 liter V8 coupled to twin turbos behind the cockpit.Browse Ferrari 458 Italia For SaleBoth cars are modified, but the extent of the upgrades are unknown. What is clearly evident is the aerodynamic abilities at top speed. Audi and Ferrari have a very different view on differential gearing, which can make or break your acceleration on the highway. The dash cams tell a story of boost vs displacement, so tell us which car you would own and stay with us for more fast-paced footage here on Autofluence.

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2018

Dodge Demon Destroys Competition at Drag Strip

Dodge is creating a coffee shop with the Challenger, offering it in an increasing range of strengths. Looking for a little pick-me-up? Opt for the Challenger SRT 392. Had a long night and need to shook to life? Order yourself an SRT Hellcat. If you're someone immune to everything listed before, get your veins pumping with the absurd SRT Demon Specs-- the automotive equivalent to a red-eye. YouTube Channel Sinister Life recently witnessed the Demon's abilities to wake up the world at a drag strip and filmed it racing three competitors: Jeep Trackhawk, Hellcat (6-speed manual) and a Supercharged Camaro SS. If you were expecting the Demon to be a devil on the drag strip, you're absolutely right. The whine of the supercharger, the aggressive appearance, and brutal launches make this car a must-see whenever it heads to a drag strip. This is a completely stock car we're talking about here with 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft! Boy how times have changed.

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2018

Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6 Meets its Match: The Snow

With six wheels, you'd expect the Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6 to be able to conquer just about anything. But Mother Nature knows how to create boundaries that can't be traversed by even the most capable vehicles. A green G63 6x6 found out just how far out its limits are during a romp around the snow in Italy.In videos posted by gregb.23, we see the AMG G63 6x6 effortlessly flying through snow mounds, leaving deep tracks along the way.https://www.instagram.com/p/BdQHVZTFOdM/Everything was going great until one snow mound was just too much for the outgoing German SUV, forcing the owner to have the car towed out of its predicament.https://www.instagram.com/p/BdaoIXhlxLO/Just like this G63 6x6, we all have our limits and need a little help now and then. For this Mercedes, that help came in the form of a tow truck!

By Edward Jones – December 20, 2017

Two Lamborghinis Spin Out at 200 mph During Race

During the Texas International event, two Lamborghinis spun out during their runs at incredibly high speeds. A vast majority of the world wasn't on hand to witness the spinouts, but 1320video was on hand to capture the insane action. The first spinout was done by a Gallardo and that one starts in the video below at " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>. The second spinout involved a Huracan racing against a Nissan GT-R. Positioned in the left lane, the Huracan thankfully did not spin out into its opponent. This spinout starts at " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>. After each crash, emergency personnel was called upon, but thankfully nobody was injured. Check out the entire event below.

By Andrew Nabors – December 12, 2017

Unlikely Comparison: Camaro ZL1 vs Model S P100D

I know for a fact that Camaro owners will race anyone. From station wagons to spacecraft, Camaros make their owners feel invincible. But the same can also be said for owners of Tesla's highest performing sedan. The P100D version of the Model S has AWD thanks to motors at the front and rear. It channels 100 kWh to make a combined 503 horsepower and 792 lb-ft of torque.Our friend Brooks from DragTimes has uploaded several vids of this car in action to their YouTube page. The car performs well, but how does it fare against a late-model Camaro ZL1? Al Oppenheiser and his team at Chevrolet Performance decided to borrow the supercharged 6.2 liter V8 from the Corvette Z06, and it also happens to be found under the hood of the Cadillac CTS-V. It is rated at 640 horsepower and torque, which is sent rearward by a six-speed manual gearbox.Ford GT vs Camaro ZL1 At Mid OhioOf course, these cars are built for different purposes. Most people think Tesla's electric motors drive the wheels directly, but it does have a set of gears that work like a differential. Tesla's gear ratio is optimized for city driving, which conserves battery power by making it easier to accelerate from a stop. Chevrolet builds the manual transmission ZL1 with a 3.73 ratio differential. So it really comes into its own above 100 mph, with a top speed of 198 mph. Given the car's power level, upgrading to a 4.10 or 4.56 would make it much more fun on the street. This is the ultimate showdown between AWD lanches and top speed dominance. Tell us which you would choose in the comments below and stay with us for all your DragTimes updates.

By Edward Jones – December 05, 2017

Mad Mike Explores Japan's Wild Supercar Culture

Japan has one of the most diverse and wild car cultures in the world. From Lamborghinis covered in LED lights to Bosozoku cars with massive pipes and protruding front lips, the cars you'll find at meets are anything but normal. Mad Mike recently visited Japan to take a look at the culture and a few specific subcultures within the country. His first stop was to meet Kato-San, the founder of Liberty Walk. Then he visited a shop known for their lowriders, called Cholo's Customs. Mad Mike says that this shop is a perfect example of "American styling done correct in Japan." Next up was a meet with the famous customizer of K-trucks, Kazuo Oda. These vehicles are widely used because of their low registration fee that comes with their minimal power output. After this, was a trip to meet up with the famous LED-covered supercars of Japan. The best part of this bit was Shinichi Morohoshi of Fighting Star saying: "The reason why I started putting LED's on Lamborghini's is because driving an unmodified Lamborghini is boring." Epic. Sightseeing at a Dekotora truck meet was Mad Mike's next stop, where you can see semi-trucks decked out with bizarre styling and a plethora of lights. To me, this is one of the most interesting automotive subcultures in Japan. Of course, they don't hold a candle to the Bosozoku cars, which are really the outlaws of the roads in Japan. Click play below to see them all for yourself.

By Andrew Nabors – November 30, 2017

Hypercar Races: Bugatti Veyron vs Koenigsegg Agera R

Place your bets here. It's time for a fight between two of the world's most powerful cars. Hailing from Sweden, the Koenigsegg Agera R was limited to 18 examples, built from 2011 to 2014. It is powered by a 5.0 liter V8 with dual turbos. It is capable of running on anything between 95 octane gas and E100 ethanol, and anything in between. Topped off on moonshine, it yields 1,140 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey Venom F5: 300mph Rival to the Bugatti Chiron Fighting for France, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is a sixteen-cylinder statement of dominance. It is rated at 1,200 horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque. Both cars reach 60 mph in around 2.6 seconds, so GTboard.com decided to give them a rolling start. Vitesse is French for "speed", and this Veyron is similar to the one used to redefine the top speed of a production car. The opponent was engineered by a genius who is intent on changing the automotive industry. Tell us what would happen from a standing start, and which one you would own in the comments below. Stay with us for more high-speed comparisons.

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