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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 – July 11, 2017

Relax by Watching the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive ...

Sometimes you can relaxation in the oddest of places. While driving a powerful car like the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series may tense you up and give you white knuckles as you grip down hard on the steering wheel, watching one being made is about as tranquil as car production can get.In the video below, you'll see how the new Porsche sports car's paint is applied, the upholstery is installed, the engine is put into place and so much more. Seriously, I watched way more of the video than I expected to.The 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series is special because it's the most powerful 911 Turbo S that Porsche has ever made. It has a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine that produces 607 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for a 0-60 mph run of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. I could only imagine just how fun this car would be on the track of even the Autobahn.

By Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2017

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 In Action, Proves its Worth

Last month we caught a glimpse of something wicked. Jaguar announced they would be cramming the supercharged V8 from the F-Type SVR into the midsized XE sedan. The upcoming Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be limited to 300 cars, with each one capable of 200 mph. Zero to 60 mph happens in only 3.3 seconds thanks to 600 horsepower under the hood. It will be the first car to roll out the new SVO Technical Center in Warwickshire. The new plant was built at a cost of $25.7 Million, and it will be home to hand-built exotics from Jaguar and Land Rover.Also Check Out: F-Type SVR vs Corvette Z06 Rev BattleThe XE series has always been attractive, but the unassuming engine choices have been lacking a proper V8. We've had the latest F-Type SVR as a press car for the week, and its abilities will scare you. We understand the logic of building an XE supercar, but limiting it to 300 seems nearsighted. All cars will be left-hand drive, and the press release says racing seats will be offered outside North America. So at least we will get a few examples to play with. Carbon fiber body panels and the industry's first ceramic nitride wheel bearings along with other advancements will be launched on the XE SV Project 8, so it's sure to be a hit at the auctions. Pricing starts at $193,280 in the UK, and for information on dealer allotments, please check with our Jaguar dealers for more information. In the meantime, watch and listen to the beast tear up the hill at Shelsley Walsh.

By Edward Jones – July 10, 2017

Lamborghini vs Nissan GT-R Drift Battle Will Leave You Br...

Hey, here's a video of a Lamborghini Murcielago being drifted by Daigo Saito going up against a Nissan GT-R being drifted by Steve "Baggsy" Biagioni.This post could just have that one sentence and it should be enough to draw anybody to click play on the video below, because... come on, this is incredible.On one hand, you have Daigo's Murcielago, which has been heavily modified. Powering the Lamborghini drift car is the same 6.5-liter V12 engine it was produced with, but it has had its interior gutted and steering heavily modified for getting sideways. When Daigo is behind the wheel, going full throttle, it really is like watching an artist create their masterpiece. Click play below to see it for yourself.Also, keep an eye out for the special visitor that joins the pair!

By Andrew Nabors – July 07, 2017

Porsche 911 Turbo S Hits 193 MPH on Autobahn

Nothing separates an automotive enthusiast from normal drivers like an on-ramp. We have the opportunity to review every make and model, and nothing else is more disappointing than not reaching traffic speeds in time to merge. Everyone loves the minivan with stick figure decals that hits the highway at 45 mph.The Autobahn and the Porsche 911 were built for drivers, by drivers. Many of the original Autobahn entrances were simple intersections with 90 degree turns, but Germany didn't build slow cars, so everyone knew to get up to speed in a hurry. To show this in first person, our friends at AutoTopNL borrowed a 750 horsepower Porsche 911 Turbo built by PP Performance. The car accelerates so quickly that the stock speedometer can't keep up, so a GPS speedo was mounted to the windshield. Only Porsche could build a six-cylinder that accelerates like an ACME rocket, and this beast approaches 200 mph with ease.If your current conveyance can't merge at a decent speed, we have several new Porsche 911 Turbo S coupes to choose from. Have your fun at the track and be safe on the street. Stay with us for more wild Autobahn action.

By Edward Jones – July 06, 2017

New Porsche 911 GT2 RS Does Massive Donuts and Launches

The 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is already known as the world's most powerful 911, ever. Now, however, we know that it's perfect for doing either massive donuts or launching like a rocket.The video below, by TheTFJJ, shows the 911 GT2 RS bringing the action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2017. The driver manages to pull off exquisite donuts in the famous cul de sac, and launches the new Porsche 911 off of the hill climb's starting line.What you're seeing in the video is the car's twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat six engine getting put to work. This engine can produce 700 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, a massive amount for a 911. Porsche states that this new supercar will run 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds, a feat which was on full display during the hill climb.What are you waiting for? See and hear the 911 GT2 RS for yourself below!

By Andrew Nabors – July 06, 2017

Pink Twin-Turbo Lamborghini Huracan 1/2 Mile World Record

Racing tends to be a male dominated sport. That's why the ladies half-mile speed record needed to be broken. Rising to the challenge was Team OB Prestige, who drove all the way from Quebec. Pike's Peak Airstrip Attack is a Shift Sector event that took place last month in Colorado. At an altitude of 6,187 feet above sea level, naturally aspirated cars are at a loss due to the lack of oxygen. So that's why most of the competitors were either turbocharged or supercharged. Still can't believe what just happened!!! I did my personal best AND it just happens to be the new women's world record with @obprestigeauto SEXY built by @heffnerperformance !!!! Thank you so much @mlpaquinpointcom for being my instructor!! Thank you @shifts3ctor @ego_mtl @paulyprestige @autoralph @xpozemtl @nadia_xpoze @pierrespirit @bouladier.max @dedebrass @lafrancenancy @laloca254 @lamborghinimtl A post shared by Maude Bouladier (@mbouladier) on Jun 18, 2017 at 3:30pm PDT OB Prestige is a luxury dealership located in Gatineau, Quebec, and their team runs a 2015 Lamborghini Huracan wrapped in pink chrome vinyl. Power comes from our local heroes at Heffner Performance. The twin-turbo V10 makes more power than most clutches can hold, so it takes a skilled driver to prevent a deep fried transmission. In order to understand how to push a supercar beyond 200 mph, Maude Bouladier took a few practice runs while riding shotgun with OB's drivers. When the time came, she was hoping to beat the existing record of 205 mph, and she was happy to learn she smashed it by reaching 210 mph. Never missing a top speed event, the 1320Video team was there to capture the action. The results speak for themselves, so if you are a lady in need of speed, we have several new & pre-owned Huracans to choose from. Stay with us for more fast females in action, and all your 1/2 mile racing updates.

By Edward Jones – July 06, 2017

Look Inside the New Ford GT Order Kit

The team at Turn 10 Studios recently visited the Ford GT factory to get a glimpse of how their new American supercar would be made. However, before they even knew how their GT would look, they took delivery of an epic order kit for the car.In the kit is just about everything a Ford GT buyer needs to chose from when ordering their car. Molds painted in the various exterior colors are stacked, giving a perfect representation of how the finished product would look. Wheels with interchangeable brake calipers are also included, which look like they would be perfect for a high-end model car. Ford also has pads of interior materials, including the Competition and Heritage Edition palettes.As soon as Turn 10 Studios gets their hands on their Ford GT, we'll be sure to share it with you all.

By Andrew Nabors – July 06, 2017

Brutal Launch Control In A Ferrari 812 Superfast

Leaving in style is sometimes the best reason for going anywhere. Maybe that is why Ferrari has engineered such a potent launch control system on the new 812 Superfast. Even bad cars have some form of traction system, using throttle of ignition timing to keep the wheels from spinning. But launch control is another story. Trying to send anything over 400 horsepower to the pavement with street tires can be a recipe for burning rubber. For cars without all-wheel drive, the trick is in holding the engine at the right RPM. If it's too low you will bog the launch and embarrass yourself. Revving too high and you will smoke them.Ferrari has made sure the new 812 Superfast can make an exit. Engineers in Maranello are obsessed with traction, which is why launching a used F12berlinetta scared me like nothing else. But the new car has a 6.5 liter V12 instead of 6.3, which offers 789 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. No turbos to spool, or superchargers to whine, it is all motor all the time. A manual transmission would not live very long at these power levels, so the only gearbox offered is a 7-speed dual clutch. The factory claims it is capable of reaching 62 MPH in only 2.9 seconds, and one lucky driver took us along for the ride. In a video uploaded by Motorsport Magazine, the incredible acceleration can be witnessed. Rolling into the skinny pedal at 3,000 rpm, it looks like 2nd gear arrives before 60 mph. If money wasn't a consideration I would attempt to foot-brake it with drag radials, but maybe that is a goal for retirement. You can't deny the abilities of Ferrari's latest flagship, so turn up the audio and listen to a proper exit. Stay with us for all your Ferrari updates.View Ferrari Inventory at duPontREGISTRY.com

By Edward Jones – July 06, 2017

Savage Race Between 800 HP Mercedes SLS AMG and Porsche 9...

Dragtimesinfo is back at it again with an intense drag race on their epic runway. Their latest video features races between a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Unfortunately, the Z06 was taken down promptly by the 911 GT3 RS, but the race between the two Germans was much more interesting.You see, the SLS AMG racing the 911 GT3 was no ordinary version. Under its hood is an engine that has been upgrade to 800 hp, a major step up from the stock engine's 563 hp. Racing against this SLS AMG was a stock 911 GT3 RS with 493 hp on tap. Sure, there's a massive difference in power between the two, but the Porsche managed to put in some serious work in order to make it a close race. Click play on the video below to see the race for yourself!

By Andrew Nabors – July 03, 2017

BMW Teases i8 Convertible

Summer 2017 is off to an electric start, and BMW is adding to the buzz with a quick preview of the third i-Series model. A convertible i8 is the next logical step for the brand, and it looks just as aerodynamic as the coupe. BMW's first ever plug-in hybrid sports car, the i8 packs a 7.5 kWh battery along with a 1.5-liter turbo three cylinder to keep it charged. At full power, it delivers 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, which makes for an exciting ride. That's because the BMW i8 only weighs 3,455 lbs. With the ability to cruise 15 miles on battery alone, it makes for a good mix of city car & wild styling.A full convertible roof would require an extensive redesign of the chassis, so it looks like the i8 Roadster will arrive with a Targa top. The best of both worlds, they offer open-air motoring with the strength and safety of a coupe. This might coincide with the release of a revised i8 coupe with more power, but that is speculation at this point. The i3 and i8 represent the future of hybrid design, and they are worthy of a drive if you haven't experienced them. Our dealers will have more info on the new i8, so stay with us for all your BMW news.

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