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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 – October 20, 2017

Porsche 918 Spyder & 911 R Having Fun At Thermal Club

If you are looking to have some fun in the desert, The Thermal Club is a private world-class motorsports resort in Coachella, California. Several manufacturers use if for testing, so you might run into upcoming models with unique camouflage. HRE Wheels likes to push their latest designs to their limits in the real world. Computer modeling only goes so far in wheel design. To make sure their products are the best in the world, they partner with customers to prove them on the track.Nineteen Porsche 918s Attack The AlpsIt could have been mere coincidence, but their film crew came across a matching pair of Porsches. The 918 Spyder and a 911 R were doing their best to get kicked out. Blasting by the hotel in the morning looks like a scene from Vanishing Point. As the weather has finally changed here in Florida, we look forward to playing with our cars this weekend. So take delight in the video below and join us at Cars & Coffee tomorrow morning at our headquarters. Have a great weekend!.

By Andrew Nabors – October 19, 2017

How Fast Is The Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series?

Res Ipsa Loquitur is a Latin phrase that means "the thing speaks for itself". It is used in the legal system when a situation is obvious, and the case is closed. What we stumbled upon this morning shouldn't be possible, and yet the instrumentation is probably correct. German magazine Sport Auto got their hands on a new Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series.If you haven't heard about this project, Porsche has uploaded a series of videos to YouTube in which they take us behind the scenes of building a 911. Everything from the seats to the gold badges are shown being crafted by master automakers. Only 500 examples are being built, and each one has the attention to detail that has made Porsche a dominant player on the world stage.Each car is fitted with the Exclusive Powerkit which bumps the 3.8 liter twin turbo to 607 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. All the advertisements and factory information have the top speed listed at 205 mph. In test footage of laps at the Hockenheim Ring, the speedometer appears to briefly tough 343 km/h, or only 213 mph. How is this possible? Porsche never mentions the car has a speed limiter, so perhaps their test driver chickened out. Also, notice the dash badge shows this car to be # 000. It is the prototype that has its own webcam inside the lobby of Porsche headquarters. It is possible they built a ringer with more power than advertised, but nevertheless, we can't wait to get our hands on one. If you are interested, our dealers will be happy to help you. Click on the link below and stay with us for more wild Porsche 911 videos.Search Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=181&v=eimD-f_hHI8

By Andrew Nabors – October 17, 2017

Lamborghini Huracan Performante vs McLaren 720S

Heat is the enemy when it comes to drag racing. Here in Florida, you are lucky to get three or four passes before your car starts losing power. If you haven't been following DragTimes, their McLaren 720S ran 10.1 back in the middle of summer. Realizing the potential for an unprecedented event. they invited a Lamborghini Huracan Performante to meet them at Palm Beach Raceway.Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Ferrari F430 ScuderiaResisting the urge to head straight for the staging lanes, the car was allowed to cool before the competition began. Breaking the 9 second barrier is incredibly hard, even for veteran racers. After airing down the tires, the new McLaren 720S ran a 9.98 @ 141 mph. Even though the Lamborghini is All Wheel Drive, it was plagued by traction issues. Spinning all four tires, the best it could do was 10.7. Other highlights of the event included a Tesla Model X P90D setting the world record for SUVs with an E.T. of 11.30. Tell us what the Performante could do with drag slicks, and which one you would buy in the comments below.McLaren 720S For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=eawOtLnMgo8

By Andrew Nabors – October 16, 2017

Ferrari Portofino: Lighter & Stronger

When Ferrari introduced the California in 2008, its naturally aspirated 4.3 liter V8 was perfectly matched to the car. It made 453 horsepower and 358 lb-ft of torque. While those are not insignificant, the weight and flexibility of the hardtop convertible were limiting its appeal. It was not until the arrival of the California T that the twin-turbo V8 finally pushed the chassis to its limits.Essentially the same engine found in the 488 GTB and Spider, engineers had to dial it back to keep the California in one piece. Everyone was quick to look at the new Portofino as a reskinned California, but Ferrari is asking the world to look closer. It has been a decade since the California chassis was finalized. And in that time, automakers have made incredible advancements in metallurgy and engineering.Check Out Liberty Walk's Ferrari 488 Wide Body We were shocked to learn that Rolls-Royce is leaving the unibody in the dust, as all their new models will be a spaceframe design. Ferrari stunned us all be declaring the Portofino to be 176 lbs lighter and 35% stronger. Those numbers were first published by Autocar, who says the A-pillar is now one-piece instead of 21 pieces in the predecessor. Of course, these numbers don't mean anything until you get behind the wheel, so click the link below to find a dealer near you and stay with us for all your Ferrari updates.View Ferrari For Sale https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ztl1umKKgBk

By Andrew Nabors – October 16, 2017

Top Gear: Chris Harris Drives the Ford GT

American Supercars face many hurdles when appealing to a European audience. Top Gear has been notorious for demeaning our products as savage and unrefined. But the new Ford GT was built to dominate every track in the world, so what does Chris Harris think of it? In a YouTube video uploaded over the weekend, he pushes the car to its limits on a wet track, so you might be surprised at his conclusions.Jay Leno Reviews His Ford GTWe've touched on the car's finer points before, so it's nice to hear them explained in action. Multimatic is a Canadian engineering firm responsible for turning the design into reality. Their most prolific achievement in recent years has been the DSSV, or Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve. This fancy shock absorber has several rates for compression and rebound, which makes for a comfortable street car. But in race mode, the Ford GT switches over to a torsion bar at each corner. Having two separate suspension systems on each corner is just one of the ways this car was able to win LeMans. Tell us what you think of it in the comments below and stay with us for all of your Ford GT updates.Ford GT For SaleNew Ford GT Prices & Specs

By Andrew Nabors – October 16, 2017

John Cena's Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

Some celebrities like to drive incognito, for fear of being recognized. But our friend John Cena is not afraid of anything. His impeccable taste in cars makes his collection very diverse, and his garage is always filled with the best rides money can buy. But due to his intense schedule, it can be very hard to make time to enjoy each car.His larger-than-life persona is matched by an equally impressive collection. Featured on his wife (Nikki Bella)'s YouTube page, we've seen a Ferrari 360 along with an F430, a low-mileage Ford GT, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Lamborghini is represented by this bright greed (Verde Scandal) Gallardo, but it is almost a decade old. Now that the Huracan Performante is the king of the ring, Mr. Cena has decided to part ways with his immaculate Gallardo. In order to make sure it finds a loving home, it is for sale by one of the largest Lamborghini dealers in the world. Lamborghini Palm Beach has been a fixture in our magazine for years, and they know exactly how to market this car.Check Out John Cena's SLS AMGJohn's passion for all things automotive motivates him to care for each car with the same attention to detail. That's why this 2009 Gallardo has 79.3% clutch life remaining. It is the only Gallardo painted in Verde Scandal, making it 1 of 1. No options were spared, as it has quilted leather with contrast stitching, the Branding Package, along with optional black wheels. It has been on a battery tender since new, and shows no signs of wear inside & out. If Monday is giving you the blues, know that we have great deals on the cars you've always dreamed of. Stay with us for more Celebrity Classifieds, and updates from John Cena's Garage.Lamborghini Gallardo Price and Listings View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – October 13, 2017

Exotics On Dirt Will Make You Cringe!

If you're like us, you have quick detailer and a few microfibers in your glove box. I can't stand dirt on my car, let alone dirt under my wheels. That's why the notion of supercars drifting in a forest seems like the idea of a madman. Nevertheless, the good folks at @carpicseurope uploaded a video of some of the most valuable rides on earth racing through a desolate forest.Lamborghini Newport Beach's Supercar Showdown Lamborghini was represented by a classic Miura SV and a late model Countach. Next up is a Laferrari in a unique color. A 2-tone Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport was followed by an incredibly rare EB110. The woods were shaken by 12 and 16-cylinder power, with background music from the 19th century. It might not be fair to include 2 AWD cars, but it's nice to see them in action instead of behind a velvet rope. Tell us about your offroad adventures and stay with us for all your supercar videos. Racing some multi million cars on the dirt road ?? Tag a friend who would do this ? • --------------------------------------------------- Use #Carpicseurope for a chance to get featured A post shared by Daily Super & Exotic Cars ?? (@carpicseurope) on Oct 9, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT

By Andrew Nabors – October 13, 2017

McLaren 570GT Hits 201 MPH on the Autobahn

Today is Friday the 13th, so we have a scary video for your entertainment. Our friends at AutoTopNL celebrate the end of the week by leaving work in the world's fastest cars. Their goal is to film them in action on the world's fastest highway. Since everyone is starting to figure out McLaren has been sandbagging the entire world, it is nice to see their entry-level car in action.McLaren Special Operations Unveils Two Unique BuildsWhat we mean by that, is that McLaren's cars are so capable and so powerful that its hard to compare them to anything else. The 570GT is a member of the Sports Series, McLaren's division aimed at offering a comfortable daily driver. It is their only hatchback, with a leather-lined package tray behind the seats. In addition to the front compartment, it has ample space for long trips. It is one of their most affordable offerings, and it isn't supposed to be a speed demon. But McLaren doesn't know how to build slow cars....Our dealers have great offers on the 2017 models, so click on the link below to find one for yourself. Have a great weekend!Search McLaren 570GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2017

Remote-Controlled Nissan GT-R Hits 130 MPH

Remotes can be used for many things: changing the TV channel, playing video games, and controlling an RC car. But what if that RC car is a real Nissan GT-R? Would you be willing to take the controller and race a real supercar? For GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough, it was a no-brainer.To celebrate the release of Gran Turismo Sport on the PlayStation 4, Nissan heavily modified a GT-R that could be driven entirely by a DualShock®4 controller. The "GT-R /C" was driven by Mardenborough around Silverstone's National Circuit, where the car hit a top speed of 131 mph and averaged a speed of 76 mph. He controlled the car from a helicopter that followed the racecar around the track."This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff," said Mardenborough. "The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of motorsport – in a way I never thought possible. The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well. Steering, acceleration and braking were all intelligently configured, allowing for controlled application so I could really get a feel through the corners and hold it steady down the fast straights."

By Andrew Nabors – October 10, 2017

Duct Tape Changed the Mustang Forever

Every time a new car is being designed, engineers and stylists are locked in conflict. The engineers hope to extract every ounce of efficiency from the body, and this usually causes changes to the style. In terms of aerodynamics, the front grille is always a source of argument. A smaller opening will hold the nose down at high speeds by forcing air around the car instead of through the radiator. A larger grille helps to cool the engine, but it also causes drag on the highway. One Of Our Cars & Coffee AttendeesThe 2018 Ford Mustang is arriving with a thorough set of upgrades and a flashy new look. As it was being finalized, two engineers compromised with an age-old adhesive: Duct Tape. NASCAR teams and shade tree mechanics know full well it can make or break a race. That is why crew chiefs and drivers argue about how much tape should be used during the race. At Super Speedway tracks, the air pressure under the radiator can become high enough to lift the front tires.Search Used Sports Cars For SaleLoss of steering is not a good situation. The 1963 Corvette Stingray was designed with large vents in the hood to prevent lift, but stylists won and they gave it a solid hood with fake vents. Back in Dearborn, two Mustang engineers compromised by adding a strip of tape to the lower grille. Eleanor For Sale!Mike Del Zio is a vehicle dynamics engineer noticed that it wasn't as responsive as predicted when cornering at high speeds. Jonathan Gesek is an aerodynamics engineer who showed up with Duct Tape. The press release says the small strip made a world of difference, and it helps to raise the EPA fuel economy of the new Mustang by up to 5.6%. If you are in the market for a new or used Ford Mustang for sale, click on the link below and tell us your most ingenious use of Duct Tape in the comments below.Search Ford Mustang For Sale

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