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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 – August 29, 2016

Porsche 964 Barely Escapes Nurburgring Corner Crash

If you live in or around the country of Germany and like to drive cars fast, you surely frequent the Autobahn and the magnificent stretch of road known as Nürburgring. Located in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Nürburgring has a combined circuit length of 16.123 miles. All of these miles are filled with winding corners that are separated by stretches of straights that give drivers a chance to take in the scenery. But, don't take your eyes away from the road ahead of you because the Ring's corners can hop up on your quite fast.(Related: Audi R8 Almost Crashes at the Ring)In a new YouTube video from EMS Nordschleife TV, we see what looks like a Porsche 964 coming into a corner at all the wrong angles. I'm not exactly sure what happened, it could be that the driver was trying to drift into the corner, downshifted to far or who knows. All we can see is that the rear-end on the German sports car gets out and steers it towards the guard rail. It looks like the front bumper did scrape the rail, but the Porsche did escape what could have been a nasty accident that resulted in extensive damage. Check it out below!View All Porsches For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 29, 2016

Koenigsegg CCX vs Porsche GT2 Race: Sweden vs Germany

Just because it's not the newest model doesn't mean its any less potent. In a showdown of supercars from yesteryear, cvdzijden was able to capture a Koenigsegg CCX lining up against a Porsche GT2. Both cars are forced induction but that's where the similarities end. The Swede is powered by a 4.7L V8 of their own design. Topped by two Rotrex superchargers it makes 806 hp and 693 lb-ft of torque. Made possible by 20 psi of boost pressure, it was their first model to not use Ford's modular V8.(Also Check Out - Who's Faster: Nissan GT-R vs Porsche 911 GT3 RS in Drag Race)The opponent in the far lane has the home field advantage, and the GT2 in stock form makes 620 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It could be a clone, but nonetheless adding two turbos to any 911 makes it a worthy contender. Racing at airports is easier thanks to less noise restrictions and concrete runways that are much smoother than a typical blacktop. Both CCX and the GT2 are destined to increase in value so take a look at these listings from our dealers.Koenigsegg For Sale|Porsche GT2 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 11, 2016

650 hp Porsche 911 Turbo S vs 800 hp Lamborghini Huracan

In the same woods that saw the defeat of Napoleon and Hitler's armies, Dragtimes has built a world-class racing facility near Moscow. Since it is probably the best drag strip in Europe, it attracts some of the best heads up racing we have seen. First is a modified Huracan owned by Andrey A. Tuned by Morendi, it's rated at 800 hp and starts with a bye run.(Also Check Out - Pure Supercar Drag Races: Bugatti Veyron, Carrera GT and More)His opponent is Dmitry in a 650 hp Porsche Turbo S with modifications by Altechno, another Russian aftermarket shop. Both cars are all-wheel drive, so in theory this should be a close race. Russia currently claims 1/8th of our planet's inhabitable land, so their races don't stop at 1,320 feet. Racing to the half-mile, aerodynamics and engine size are the main variables above 200 mph.Porsche For Sale DallasWho do you think should have won? Tell us in the comments below, and come back for more wild 1/2 mile action.View 911 Turbo S For Sale | View Huracan For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 29, 2016

2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo Is Now The World's Fastest Lu...

Porsche has just officially unveiled the brand new 2017 Panamera model and now we've come to find out that the luxury sedan has already broken records.(Also Read: First Production Bugatti Chiron Lap Around Nurburgring, Hits 200 MPH)In a video uploaded by Porsche, we get to see the 2017 Panamera Turbo's lap around Nurburgring. With 550 hp worth of motivation from a biturbo V8 engine, the sedan lapped around the famous "Green Hell" in just 7 minutes and 38 seconds. For comparison purposes, thanks to NurburgringLapTimes.com, here are some cars that lapped Nurburgring at the same time or slower than the Panamera Turbo. Lexus LFA - 7:38:00 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - 7:39:00 Ferrari F430 Scuderia - 7:39:00 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV - 7:42:00 As you can see, the Panamera Turbo sits above some pretty serious cars. Now, click play below to see the luxury sedan's record lap.View Panameras For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 13, 2016

Non-Car Supercar Driver Compares Ferrari 458, Porsche GT3...

Jason Franske of popular YouTube channel, Engineering Explained has never driven a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche. Lucky for him, that's all about to change. Thanks to Xtreme Xperience, Franske has the opportunity to take a few laps in each of the supercars and compare how they drive.Sports Cars For SaleNote to viewers: Franske is definitely not a professional supercar driver, but his analysis of each vehicle's performance and feel is pretty great. He talks about how each car drives, how he felt behind the wheel and which car was his favorite to drive. Which do you think felt the heaviest on the road? Which does he pick as his favorite to drive? Check out what he thinks about each vehicle in the video below.Ferrari 458 For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 07, 2016

Who Wins in this Triple Race? McLaren 675 vs 911 Carrera ...

When racing vehicles, typically, one would expect them to be somewhat evenly matched, but Top Gear decided to spice things up a bit.They pitted a McLaren 675LT, a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and a VW Golf R. Let's just check out the specs for a second:McLaren 675LT 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds 0-100 mph in 5.6 seconds 1/4 mile in 10.4 seconds VW Golf R 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds 0-100 mph in 11.1 seconds 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds Porsche 911 Carrera GTS 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds 0-100 mph in 8.7 seconds 1/4 mile in 11-9 seconds Given these stats, it seems pretty easy to determine who won the race, but nonetheless, the video is still pretty entertaining to watch. Check out the Top Gear race in full in the video below. Did the car you thought would win take the number one spot?McLaren 675LTs For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 12, 2016

History of the Porsche 911 in 90 Seconds

In 1963 Porsche brought the 911 to life. Over 50 years later, the 911 is still one of the most iconic cars to hit the track and the streets. Over those years, the iconic roadster morphed and changed not just to keep up with the times, but to set the standard. Though its body transformed, the 911 maintained it's ever recognizable shape and grandeur.In the video below, watch the years pass and the 911's ultimate transformation into the power car it is today. From colors to spoilers to shape shifting, the video highlights all of the major and minor changes made to the 911 over time while engine sounds and clips from radio and television narration characterize the background. Check it out below.Porsches For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 04, 2016

Porsche 918 Spyder RSR Races Stunt Plane and Hits 170 mph...

There's no doubting the Porsche 918 Spyder's power. It comes with a 4.6-liter V8 engine that's coupled with an electric powertrain, resulting in a power output of 887 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque. Impressive.But does this power translate into performance? I think we all know the answer to that question by now.Showing the car's true power are the two videos found below of the 918 Spyder RSR displaying its true power. The first video is of this 918 racing against a stunt plane. Honestly, it's one heck of a video when the race actually happens, which is towards the end. The second video shows the driver taking the 918 for a few runs on the highway, stating a speed of 170 mph (we do not the condone the act of speeding on public roads; always follow your local traffic laws).Porsche For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 14, 2015

Rudy Mancinas' Colorful Porsche Collection

"I don't find the cars, they find me.""...got to drive 'em like ya' stole 'em."With quotes like that, you know that Rudy Mancinas is a passionate collector. His love for the Porsche 964/993 generations all started when he purchased a red and black 965 Cabriolet. Once he started driving it, that's when it happened. He then traded that car in for a coupe and has been collecting the cars ever since.YouTube channel, eGarage, had the chance to interview Mancinas and film his collection. They uploaded the video to YouTube on December 10 and in its description, they tell us of his goal to own every color of the 964/993 generations. Ambitious? Yes, but when you have as much passion as him, things can happen.Check out the video below to learn more about Mancinas' story.Porsches For Sale (Source: YouTube)

By Edward Jones – December 09, 2015

Top Shooter Shoots at Clay Pigeons Fired By Porsche 911 T...

The Porsche 911 Targa has always been regarded as a fantastic car for its ability on the track and stunning style. But, professional shooter, Philip Thorrold, saw the sports car as something other than just a car. Instead, he saw the car as a perfect carrier for a clay trap.Thorrold's YouTube channel uploaded a video on December 8 of a black 911 Targa fitted with a clay trap in the front, which would fire clay pigeons that had exploding discs set underneath. This made for a exciting round of skeet shooting like none other. From shooting at the clay pigeons as the car drove by, to shooting them from the passenger's seat, he did it all.Check out the video below to see it happen for yourself.Porsche 911 Targa For Sale (Source: YouTube)

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