Volkswagen

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 – June 07, 2018

See the VW's I.D. R 1st Pike's Peak Run

Zebulon Pike was frustrated that he could not reach the summit. Nevertheless, he got closer than anyone before, so Pike's Peak was named for him. His name also appears on VW's latest race car. The electric I.D. R is aiming to smash the EV record for ascending the mountain, which currently stands just under 9 minutes.Sell Your Exotic Car with duPont REGISTRY The track is 12.42 miles from start to finish. With only 156 turns, it rises 4,720 feet from the base to the summit. Technology has changed a little over 102 years, but those early pioneers had to face some of the same problems as today. From personal experience, the temperature drops significantly once you are above the treeline. So your summer tires will be fun in the arctic air.Speaking of air, at an altitude of 14,000 feet there, isn't much of it. Before turbos and superchargers, naturally aspirated cars lost most of their power as the air got thinner. VW's car is all-electric, but those fancy aerodynamic parts will just be extra weight. Thin air doesn't care about spoilers unless you are an SR71.Volkswagens For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 23, 2018

VW Unveils Electric I.D. R Pike's Peak

If oxygen gets in your way when racing, why not race above the clouds? June 24th marks the annual Pike's Peak Hillclimb, and Volkswagen is returning to Colorado Springs. From 1985 to '87, they sent a wild twin-engine Golf up the mountain to show the world what they are capable of.Now, with the eyes of the world looking on they will show us the future of battery-powered competition. The twin-engine design has been replicated, and the VW I.D. R Pike's Peak is aiming to break the electric car record. The fastest battery-powered car to reach the 14,115-foot summit did it in only 8.57.118. VW says their new machine has 680 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque from the combined output of both electric motors.Audi e-tron Has 400 Volt Charging!The real shocker is that 20% of the energy required to reach the top will be recovered from braking. Like most other electric cars, the brake pedal turns the motors into generators, sending voltage back into the batteries. If they make it happen, it will put other manufacturers on notice that VW has fully committed to building the world's most efficient electric car. If you need something more down to earth, click the link below to check out Volkswagens in your area.Browse Volkswagen For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 03, 2016

VW Microbus Powered By 993 Turbo S is Insanity

SEMA week always brings out the wildest engine swaps of the year. Remember when Gas Monkey Garage stuffed a junkyard LS into a 997 only to be schooled by Richard Rawlings' new Turbo S? Well, imagine that level of power shoved into one of the slowest production vehicles of all time. The VW Microbus, or Type 2 is an unassuming transportation device that has a tendency to burst into flames. Early versions have swing axle suspension that predates World War II.(Sports Cars For Sale)Ferdinand would be proud to see his son's designs have been the basis for VW's growth into a world power. He would also like to see an unassuming people mover bestowed with 530 hp from a late model 993 911 Turbo S. This van must have the SportChrono package, because overboost allows it to keep up with a 458 Italia on the track. Swapping a modern fuel injected twin turbo into something it was not designed for is fun. We swapped a later Carrera engine and modern suspension into an early bus for NFL star Cortland Finnegan, along with a flux capacitor and a few TVs. VW vans are not easy to work on, and the chassis will fail at these power levels. If this swap appeals to your abilities, take a look at engine donor vehicles in the link below, and stay with us for more Porsche-powered projects.All Porsche Turbo S For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2016

New Era for VW Starts with the New I.D. Electric Car

Volkswagen is looking to enter a new era with the unveiling of their I.D. electric car. This new zero-emission vehicle is the first in the brand's fleet of electric automobiles.Powering the I.D. is an electric motor with an output of 125 kW, which translates to roughly 167 hp. With this powertrain, VW notes that it will have a range between 249 miles and 373 miles on one single battery charge.(Related - New McLaren P1 is Purely Electric, With a Catch) Along with being fully-electric, the I.D. will also be fully autonomous. When in its autonomous mode, the steering wheel will retract into the dashpad, giving the driver more space to stretch about.While all of this sounds great, one of the most interesting tidbits of info has to be that the I.D. will accept deliveries using a new delivery service, even when the driver isn't home. Say so long to leaving notes on your door or having packages stolen.VW is looking to put the I.D. out into production, parallel to the Golf, in 2020. It's autonomous mode will be available in 2025. The German company is also setting a goal to sell a million electric cars by 2025. Ambitious.

By Andrew Nabors – July 24, 2015

Unlikely Race: VW Passat vs Ferrari 458 Italia

Passat TDI Wagon. Its name might not sound intimidating, but Volkswagen's diesel engines can make incredible power when modified. Such is the case when an ancient Passat Wagon showed up at the drag races held at the Nemunring, located just outside of Kaunas, Lithuania.(Related: Supercar Track Day: BAC Mono vs. McLaren P1)In a YouTube video uploaded July 16 by Ignas Gerčas, you can see the 1980s era wagon line up against a late model Ferrari 458 Italia. The wagon is a relic of a divided Germany, a time when Lithuania was still under the Iron Curtain. Drag racing was probably illegal in the Soviet Union, so the owner had to wait a few years to install a giant turbo along with a clutch and tires capable of a diesel hole-shot.The audio gives us a few clues as to what will unfold. Watch the video to see if the oil burner can take down the Italian stallion.Stay tuned to Autofluence for more improbable exotic drag racing action, and don't attempt this at home. Save it for the track.(Source: YouTube) See More Ferrari Videos

By Edward Jones – May 20, 2015

2015 Beetle Convertible 1.8T Review

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most recognizable cars to ever hit the roads, and this is why the German automaker has maintained its bubble shape for decades with minor, yet seemingly drastic, changes. Over the years these changes have turned the car into quite a refined and affordable car, and the 2015 Beetle Convertible 1.8T is a perfect example this.The example we test drove for a week was finished in a Tornado Red paint, with a Titan Black Leatherette interior. The look of the car, right off of the bat, was exactly what you'd expect from a Beetle. However, the one design cue that did catch my eye was the dashboard, which was finished in the same paint as the exterior, contrasting nicely against the black interior.If you are looking for a sporty car that is compact and stylish, odds are you have already thought of the VW Beetle. I'm here to tell you that the 2015 VW Bettle Convertible and Coupe are both great choices. They are well-priced, efficient and just plain old fun to drive.(Image Source: Volkswagen)

By Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2015

2015 Golf GTI SE Review

Golf is a game enjoyed by all, and as such Volkswagen offers many flavors of the original German hot hatch bearing the sport’s name. Back in March we spent a week with the 2015 Golf TSI, and discovered how versatile the seventh generation has become.In the meantime, Wolfsburg began production of the new Golf R with almost 300 hp. Try as we might, they are selling too fast for us to test drive. Instead, VW sent us the next best thing, and they call it the Golf GTI SE.While we impatiently wait for our turn with the Golf R, fond memories of the GTI will keep us entertained. Haggling on this hot hatch starts at $31,695. Considering the solid quality, six-speed manual and slot-car handling, it’s a steal. For more VW news and reviews stay tuned to Autofluence.(Images courtesy of Volkswagen) See More Volkswagen News

By Andrew Nabors – May 05, 2015

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line 4Motion Review

Do you find the Golf too small and the Toureg too large? If so, Volkswagen has the SUV for you. Last year we spent a week with the base model Tiguan, and found it to be versatile and composed. Germany must have been listening, because we received a new 2015 Tiguan R-Line 4Motion for a week of evaluation.The R-Line is their premier package that adds a host of interior and exterior content, along with an $11,000 bump in price. It may be a steep price for an option package, but it solves many of our complaints with the base model. Our favorite upgrades include the HID headlights, all wheel drive, fog lights, sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, powered heated seats and a Fender Audio 8 speaker system.DrivetrainOwning a car without these is upgrades makes the experience much more enjoyable. If you live up north, the all-wheel drive system may have more importance for you, but here in sunny Florida it is rarely needed. Their 4Motion system features a Haldex center differential and makes for great power delivery. The downside is that it is less efficient than two wheel drive. This model has stylish 19” wheels which help cornering prowess and remove some of the numbness of the suspension. InteriorInside is the same great interior with plenty of space. Leather and ambient lighting are welcomed, but we’re a tad confused by the myriad of blank buttons on the dash. Of the interior, the German attention to quality and detail is unmistakable. Controls are in the right locations and made of quality materials.ConclusionIf you need a compact SUV with great build quality, the Tiguan has several flavors to choose from. This R-Line 4Motion® has a base price of $40,100, but rest assured that it will hold its value thanks to solid engineering. Solid, safe and sensible, the Tiguan has a lot to offer. Stay tuned to Autofluence for more Volkswagen news and reviews.VWs For Sale

Volkswagen

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe