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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 24, 2017

Skiing and Snowboarding Behind a Lamborghini

When the snow comes down, sometimes it's hard to take your Lamborghini out. You know, with the roads being all slippery and visibility being low, it can be a drag. But, that didn't stop TheStradman from having what looks like one heck of a good time.(Also Check Out - Snowboarding on Sand Dunes With A Mini Race Car)Upon the mountains, TheStradman attached a rope to his ski storage that's mounted onto his Lamborghini Gallardo. He and his friends then got behind the Italian supercar on skiis, tubes and a snowboard, and were pulled down the mountain. They even took some time to build a jump that they could launch off of.Am I jealous? For sure. But being in Florida, snow is hard to come by.All Lamborghinis For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 23, 2017

It's a Sound Fight! Koenigsegg Agera vs Bugatti Veyron

When buying a car, many car fanatics always make sure their new ride will have a great sound or it has the ability to have great sound with some aftermarket parts. PRonTheRoad recently spotted a couple of cars that have a sound any owner would be proud of.(Also Check Out - Jaguar F-TYPE SVR vs Corvette Z06 Rev Battle)The cars he captured on film were a Koenigsegg Agera R and Bugatti Veyron. These two cars were spending some time having fun around the streets of Monaco and were joined by a few other exotic cars as well.While these two were the stars of the video, I have to say that the heavily modified Porsche Panamera sounded more to my tasting-- deep exhaust notes are my jam. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2017

A 3,000 Horsepower Lexus RC F...What?!

Get ready because you're about to see what is most likely the fastest Lexus in the world.In a video uploaded to YouTube by EKanooRacingTV, we get to see an absolutely absurd monster of a Lexus. The car is, or was, an RC F, but it now houses 3,000 horsepower.In a Facebook post, the racing team said "We are now the fastest door car in the world. We went 5.50 at 447.39 KPH (277.99 mph). We are well on our way to achieving our ultimate goal of being the quickest along with the fastest car with doors. This was achieved in pro boost trim (94 mm turbos at 2550 lbs). I am so proud to say that we built this car in my shop here in The Kingdom of Bahrain."Check out the record run below.All Lexus For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2017

Tesla Model S P100D's 0-60 mph in 2.4 Seconds - Tested

With the Tesla P100D the Ludicrous+ mode is available. The rumor is that this mode will allow the car to run 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, but that's a rumor. To put this rumor to the test, DragTimes took their Model S out, with the mode enabled.In order to really test it, Brooks from DragTimes found a dry road to unleash the electric monster and hooked up his VBox to accurately measure the sprint.After the sprint and reading the results, Tesla's claim seems to have been true. Brooks' Model S ran from 0-60 mph in just 2.465 seconds in a distance of 124.531 ft. That's...insanely impressive. Check out the video below to see the car in action for yourself.All Tesla Model S For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 12, 2017

Tubing Behind a Lamborghini Isn't Easy or...Safe

Well, it may not be easy or all that safe, but it sure looks like fun. TheStradman decided be towed around Park City, Utah behind a Lamborghini Aventador Pirelli Edition in a tube.As he was pulled around on top of the snow, he did hid best to not fall while also filming with a GoPro in one hand. Of course, he did take a few spills, but luckily none of them threw him off of the side of the mountain. You've got to give it to him, he did a good job at it.(Related - Kermit the Frog's Epic Lamborghini Aventador SV)The Pirelli Edition of the Aventador was revealed back in 2014 and sports a few modifications that allow it to stand out from other Aventadors. The exterior of the car comes in a two-tone color scheme that is available in two options: matte black with either Giallo Spica, Rosso Mars, Bianco Isis, Nero Aldebaran, Grigio Liqueo or Grigio Ater, or glossy black with Bianco Canopus, Nero Nemesis, Grigio Adamas or Grigio Titans. Whichever scheme picked, the black finish is found on the roof, air intakes, engine hood, pillars and rearview mirrors. The performance figures remain the same as in other examples of the Aventador LP 700-4.All Lamborghini Aventador For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 11, 2017

Jay Leno Drives V8 BMW 1M Clone and it Sounds Like a Dream

Engine swaps are not easy. Even replacing a stock rebuild is complicated by the interconnected nature of modern cars. So what happens when you outgrow the power limits of your block? Most enthusiasts choose to sell their cars for something faster, and to be honest that is why duPont REGISTRY exists. But for those who have formed an emotional bond to their automobile, a larger engine is the only way to go. Many BMW purists were shocked when the E92 series M3 was introduced with a 4.0 liter V8. Another point of confusion was the limited sales of the 1M in the US. Not to be confused with the legendary M1, the 1M coupe was a compact & nimble machine powered by a twin turbocharged straight six.BMW E90/E92/E93 For SaleLess than a thousand examples were sold in the US, so building a clone from a lesser equipped 1 series seems like a logical choice. Given the ample engine bay needed to house an inline six cylinder and two turbos, one California enthusiast dismantled his 135i and endowed it with the drivetrain from an E92 M3. Leaving the V8 in stock form would have been completely acceptable, but Dinan's 4.6-liter stroker kit was too hard to resist. So as long as you are building a new engine, go ahead and integrate the A/C, stability system and traction control? Add a roll cage and carbon fiber wheels and you have a supercar. We don't want to see the final bill for the time and parts involved, but we enjoy tiny cars with giant power. Tell us your favorite engine swap in the comments below, and LS owners please respect your German friends. Stay with us for more clips from Jay Leno's Garage.F80 BMW For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 02, 2017

The Sounds of Heaven: 20 Minutes of Supercars Racing

BrianZuk was recently at Shift-S3ctor's California Airstrip Attack where some of the world's fastest cars show up to take on the empty, half-mile runway. Dozens of cars, including the new Ferrari 488 GTB, Underground Racing Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren 650S and many more, ripped down the stretch of concrete, putting on an automotive spectacle.Now, typically when I find these videos, they're around five minutes long and feature some kind of music. As for this one, it's 20 minutes long and all you can hear is the sound of the cars' engines and exhaust putting in work.Sit back, relax and enjoy the video below.-Underground Racing Lamborghini Huracan Twin Turbo-Ferrari 488 Spider-Ferrari 488 GTB-Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4-Ferrari F12 Berlinetta-Audi R8 V10 Plus-McLaren 650S-VF Engineering Supercharged Lamborghini Huracan-Dodge Viper ACR-Lamborghini Murcielago LP640-Audi R8 V10 Twin Turbo-Porsche 991 GT3 RS-Lamborghini Gallardo Twin Turbo-Ford GT-Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4-Porsche 997 GT2-Dodge SRT Viper Twin Turbo-Nissan GTR-Porsche 991 Turbo S-Dodge SRT Viper TA-Porsche 997 Turbo-Dodge Viper GTS Twin Turbo-Porsche 991 GT3-C7 Corvette Z06-Mercedes C63 AMG S-Shelby GT350R…and more!Sportscars For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 21, 2016

Green Pagani Zonda Cinque Delivered in US

Oh yes, the Pagani Zonda. The car so loud that your ears will cry out of joy and pain. Unfortunately, not many American ears have been graced with the sound of the car, but thankfully we will now have a better chance to hear one.(Also Check Out - One-Off Pagani Zonda Zozo Crashed in Japan)A bright green Zonda Cinque was recently delivered to a lucky buyer and effspot journeyed alongside with the driver and car to capture it in all of its glory. He notes in his video's description that the car has "super low miles" and is in "absolute pristine condition."This car is one of ten produced and is one of four that was not painted in white. Check out the video below to see one of the rarest Paganis ever made.All Paganis For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 21, 2016

Jaguar F-TYPE SVR vs Corvette Z06 Rev Battle

On one hand, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is an American monster that's powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 engine. That's quite the displacement. On the other hand, you have the F-TYPE, which signals the revival of the brand's two-seater sports car design. Powering this car is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8.(Related - Camaro ZL1 vs Challenger Hellcat)While there is quite a difference in the size of these engines, they both still sound close to heavenly. To see just how well these two stack up against each other when revved, Motorsport Magazine parked the two side-by-side and started laying down on their throttles. Which one ended up sounding better? Click play below and find out!All Jaguar F-TYPE For Sale | All Corvette Z06 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 19, 2016

Camaro ZL1 vs Challenger Hellcat

Do you ever read a video title and instantly know the comments will be epic? Hennessey Performance is able to be first on the web with many late model comparisons because customers who want to be the fastest send their rides straight to Sealy, Texas. The most potent pony cars from Dodge and Chevrolet are the Hellcat and ZL1. Both have supercharged 6.2 liter V8 engines, rated at 707 hp and 650 hp respectively. Dodge lists the curb weight of the Challenger Hellcat at 4,448 lbs against a 3,883 lb Camaro.(Also Check Out - Battle of Volkswagen' Brands: Lamborghini vs Porsche)To see how they would fare in a real world situation, Mr. Hennessey and his employee staged a series of roll races at Lonestar Motorsports Park. The Camaro has a weight advantage and a six-speed manual transmission. A new 10 speed automatic is available for the ZL1, and it was developed with Ford to meet tougher emissions laws. Hellcats also offer the same Tremec manual, but this eight-speed automatic is no slouch. Stick shift is fun, but manufacturers are building traditional automatics that can shift in 300 milliseconds. Another factor is break-in. I know for a fact the Tremec TR-6060 is capable of power shifting when needed, but young synchros should not be abused. Tell us who would win if transmissions were equal, and stay with us to see what these cars put down when completed.Camaro ZL1 For Sale|Challenger Hellcat For Sale

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