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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 – May 11, 2020

TAG Heuer Unveils Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

Grand Prix drivers have relied on Tag Heuer watches since the earliest races. Already the sponsor of the Monaco F1 race, we're excited to announce they have expanded to the Monaco Historique races. This new timepiece is 39mm and limited to 1,000 examples. Powered by their award-winning Calibre HEUER 02 Automatic movement. Designed to honor legends of the past Monaco winners, and the press release mentions Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, Alain Prost, Mika Häkkinen, David Coulthard, Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and Daniel Ricciardo. And of course the “King of Monaco”, longtime TAG Heuer friend and Ambassador Ayrton Senna. Learn More

By Edward Jones – May 05, 2020

New Bell & Ross HUD Edition Inspired by Fighter Jets

Bell & Ross has taken their fantastic 03-92 watch and created a new special edition model that's inspired by fighter jets of the sky. While the overall build is similar to that of the other 03-92 watches, this one has a completely new dial that sets it apart. For the glass, Bell & Ross used a green sapphire, mimicking the heads-up-display (HUD) of a fighter jet. Another great addition is the central hour disc with a triangle acting as the hand. This is similar to a directional marker on a fighter jet's HUD and it's honestly a fantastic touch. All numbers, indices and hands are painted with Super-LumiNova®, so this watch will be very visible in the dark. Only 999 pieces of the Bell & Ross 03-92 HUD will be created, and they come with a price of $3,990.00. For more information, click the button below. Learn More Source: BellRoss.com

By Andrew Nabors – April 30, 2020

RWB & REC Unveil 2 new Watches

To say that Akira Nakai likes Porsches is the understatement of the century. As the founder of RWB, he has built an empire around restoring classic 911 models while giving them unprecedented power. His drift team RAUH-Welt (Rough World) began by pushing the limits of production cars. Once he got his hands on a classic Porsche, the rest is history. RWB cars are incredibly fast with tighter gaps than even the best new cars. Attention to detail is what drives him and his team, so it is only natural that it translates to timepieces. So we're happy to announce that RWB and REC have unveiled 2 new watches. Both are based on Nakai-San's two favorite Porsches. Stella Artois was a testbed for a dozen years, making sure every part was perfect before a customer build. Rotana is their latest build, and the state-of-the-art in resto-modded 911s. Danish watchmakers REC have been working for over two years on this project. DIMENSIONS: Diameter 46 mm (44 mm without body-kit) Height 14,4 mm Weight 118 g FEATURES 3 Hands / Day / Date / Month / Power Reserve Quick Date Set Super-luminova C3 on hands (Premium yellow lume with the brightest glow) 4-Piece stainless and PVD-coated steel case with PVD-coated side panels 2 year full warranty 5 ATM, 50 meters MOVEMENT Reference Miyota Premium Automatic cal. 9100 movement Type Mechanical, self-winding and/or hand winding Frequency 28,800 VPH (4.0 hz) Power reserve +40 hours Jewels 26 MATERIALS 316L Stainless steel Top glass Sapphire Crystal with 3 layers of anti-reflective coating Stainless steel caseback with laser-engraving and deep etching DIAL Handcrafted metal dial cut directly from Akira Nakai-San’s two personal RWB Porsche 911’s: Stella Artois – 1985 Porsche (911) 930 Rotana – 1995 Porsche (911) 993 STRAP Premium, soft, black rubber strap (FKM, Fluorocarbon (Viton®), with debossed texture, RWB logos and quick-release system Strap Width 24mm Strap Length 127/75mm Thomas Funder is the lead designer for REC Watches, and he says: “The extreme nature of Akira Nakai’s iconic RWB creations turn heads whereever you go. Whether you like them or not. You take a stand – these vehicles don’t go unnoticed. We wanted to incorporate the same visual aura to our Stella and Rotana timepiece to give them the same powerful presence on your wrist”. Only 305 examples will be produced, with the final designs being unveiled on May 14th. Of course, we will be covering these closely, so click the button below to get in line and stay with us for all your RWB updates. Click Here To Register

By Edward Jones – April 28, 2020

The Incredible New Timepieces from Watches & Wonders 2020

Watches & Wonders 2020 has move to an entirely new digital space that brings the new timepieces to everyone around the world in an instant. Deep dives into the design and engineering behind the watches can be found, as well as professional videos, photos and more. Below are just ten incredible examples of watches from this year's Watches and Wonders. To see them all, click the button below to head to their website. Visit WatchesAndWonders.com Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon " width="680"> Laurent Ferrier's Grand Sport Tourbillon is a timepiece built around the watchmaker's exceptional ability to create exceptional classical watches. This timepiece offers a sporty appearance that's very elegant. This is also Laurent Ferrier's first time integrating a stainless steel bracelet. Learn More Cartier Pasha de Cartier " width="680"> A stunning new timepiece collection from Cartier, set with diamonds. It's available in steel, yellow gold and pink gold. The blue cabochon spinel on the crown is a fantastic touch. Learn More Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept " width="680"> The Altiplano Ultimate Concept measures in with a thickness of just 2mm, making it the world's thinnest mechanical watch. It's more than just a concept as it's now ready to be purchased. Learn More HYT H0 " width="680"> HYT's latest H0 timepiece has a primarily black appearance with vibrant orange highlights that stand out beautifully. Telling the time is black fluid that runs around the watch's dial, a feature that HYT is so famous for. Learn More Purnell Escape II Carbon There's surely no watch out there like the Escape Double Tourbillon, which Purnell is touting as the world's fastest triple axis tourbillon. The engineering behind the double Spherion cages housing the 30-seconds tripll=e-axis tourbillons is jaw-dropping. Learn More A. Lange & Söhne ODYSSEUS New for 2020, the A. Lange & Söhne ODYSSEUS is a sporty watch with a white gold case and hands that contrast beautiful with the grey dial. This is a truly stylish watch that will pair well with an unlimited amount of outifts. Learn More Hermès Arceau L’heure de la lune Inspired by Earth's moon, the Arceau L’heure de la lune is a magnificent timepiece that's unlike anything you've seen before. The two mobile counters actually rotate on either a lunar, Martian or Black Sahara meteorite dial, covering the mothe-of-pearl moons, displaying the lunar phases for both the northern and southern hemispheres. Learn More Roger Dubuis Excalibur Diabolus in Machina Roger Dubuis have taken a minute repeater and couple it with a flying tourbillon to create the complex and impressive RD107 caliber. This movement can be seen from both sides of the watch. If this weren't a watch, you'd lose track of time staring at this complex piece of art. Learn More Panerai Luminor Marina Fibratech™ Panerai is celebrating the 70th anniversary of their first use of Luminor with a new collection of watches for 2020 like the Luminor Marina Fibratech™. This new watch was forged out of Fibratech™, a composite comprised of fully recyclable mineral fibers derived from molten volcanic rock and mineral additives. Learn More IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IWC Schaffhausen's new Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide is a perfect companion for anyone who spends time out on the seas. It displays both the tides, as well as the lunar phases for both the northern and southern hemispheres. Learn More

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 24, 2020

Meet the New Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Blue Titanium

Montblanc’s diverse product line is meant to incorporate style with actual functionality, and they most certainly embed that motive into each of their timepieces. The Montblanc 1858 Collection is the best example, and they have recently added a new model to the lineup. The new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Blue Titanium was created to pay homage to the original 1920’s and 1930’s military watches used as everyday tools. The unique dark blue dial is enclosed in a 42mm titanium case, paired with a matching blue leather strap or grade-five titanium strap, that has a power reserve for 42 hours. Where the materials and metals used on the watch label it more luxurious, two globes are located on the dial which rotate on a 24-hour span to ensure that it is a tool for daily use. The Montblanc 1858 in Geosphere Blue Titanium is currently available, as well as the other two unique styles, a limited-edition green and a classic black finish. Click below for more information on the 1858 Collection from Montblanc. Shop Now Source: Montblanc.com

By Edward Jones – April 24, 2020

Watches & Wonders is Going Virtual for 2020

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the highly-anticipated Watches & Wonders 2020 event has been canceled. But that hasn't stopped the event from showcasing this year's most illustrious and remarkable watches to the world. The event is pivoting to a digital showcase for 2020, allowing the entire world to preview timepieces from the world's most prestigious watchmakers, like Arnold & Son, Cartier, Girard-Perregaux, HYT, IWC Schaffhausen, MB & F, Panerai, Roger Dubuis, Ulysse Nardin and more. You will be able to preview the watches on their new virtual platform, which is set to launch tomorrow, April 25, at 6:00 AM EST. All of the watches will be easy to navigate through and explore, and you'll even have the opportunity to connect with participating companies. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the finest watchmaking brands in the world to bring the Watches & Wonders concept to life online at a time when our industry needs it the most," said Fabienne Lupo, Chairwoman and Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Visit WatchesAndWonders.com Featured Image Source: Instagram/WatchesandWonders (MB&F HM10 Bulldog)

By Edward Jones – April 24, 2020

Hublot Debuts the Big Bang GMT All Black Yohji Yamamoto

May 2020 marks the official grand opening of Hublot's new flagship Boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. So what better way to celebrate than to collaborate with world-renown designer Yohji Yamamoto to create a limited edition Hublot Big Bang GMT All Black Yohji Yamamoto. Yamamoto is known for his work with the shade of black, especially for having created "the Shock of Black." His ability to create a visual masterpiece with black is on full display across this new Hublot timepiece. "We are honored to celebrate the opening of our new flagship Boutique in Tokyo with fashion designer super star Yohji Yamamoto," said Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO. "This All Black limited edition we created together expresses a simple beauty through the fusion of Yohji Yamamoto’s black design signature and the complicated GMT manufacture movement." For the watch's movement, it is equipped with the Hublot Unico manufacture movement HUB1251. This allows it to display two different time zones, an important feature for Yamamoto. "This watch can easily display the time zones of the two cities where I'm based, Tokyo and Paris," said Yamamoto. This movement is encapsulated in an all-black case with, you guessed it, black hands, a black dial, and even smoked sapphire crystal. Yamamamoto's signature can be found right on the six o'clock of the watch. This watch will be limited to just 50 examples and will be exclusively available at Hublot Boutique Ginza. Learn More Technical Specifications REFERENCE471.CI.1114.RX.YOY20Limited to 50 pieces, only in Japan with limited availability at Hublot Boutique Ginza CASEMicro-blasted and polished black CeramicDiameter: 45mmThickness: 15.85mmWater resistance: 10 ATM (100m) CASE-BACKMicro-blasted black CeramicEngraved “SPECIAL EDITION”XX/50 BEZELMicro-blasted and polished black Ceramic DIALBlack Sapphire dialSatin-finished black PVD plated appliques with black luminescent MOVEMENTHUB1251UNICO Manufacture self-winding GMTFrequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h)Power reserve: 72 hoursNo. of Components: 328Jewels: 41 STRAP & BUCKLEBlack Rubber strapBlack plated Titanium deployant buckle clasp Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – April 23, 2020

Bid on Bubba Watson's Richard Mille Watch and a NASCAR Ri...

Bubba Watson and Denny Hamlin have teamed up for Fanatics' "All-In Challenge" and are auctioning off something very special. First up is a true 2021 Daytona 500 experience with Hamlin. It starts with a meet-and-greet, four hot passes, four suite passes, four seats on top of the FedEx pitbox and a ride-along Hamlin on the track. The winner will also either receive a signed, race-worn helmet or fire suit. After that, it's time to play 18 holes of golf at Michael Jordan's private course, The Grove XXIII. Joining Hamlin and the auction winner is Bubba Watson. After the final putt on the 18th hole, it's off to lunch where the winner will be gifted two sets of PING golf clubs complete with a custom fitting. The cherry on top is Watson gifting the winner the Richard Mille RM 39-01 Automatic Winding Flyback Chronograph Aviation watch. This watch has a retail price of over $150,000! Whatever the winning bid on this auction is, 100% of the money raised will go directly to Feeding America, Meals On Wheels, World Central Kitchen and No Kid Hungry. For more information, click the button below! Learn More https://www.instagram.com/p/B--WAs_j9hU/?igshid=1si572iqn00qs Source: Fanatics.com, Image Source: Richard Mille

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By Edward Jones – April 16, 2020

Breitling's New Superocean Heritage '57 Capsule Collectio...

Breitling has just launched the new Superocean Heritage '57 Capsule Collection, which acts as a tribute to the surfers of the 1950s and 1960s. You know, the guys with the long hair out in California that cruised around on massive longboards. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take some time and watch the film "Big Wednesday." This new collection is available with two different dial options: one with a classic black dial and another with a blue dial. Breitling is also offering a two-tone version with a bidirectional rotating bezel in 18k red gold with a black ceramic ring. No matter which watch you pick, they're all beautiful and modern reinterpretation of a truly classic sea watch. As for what's inside the case of these watches, that's a Breitling Caliber 10. This movement features a power reserve of around 42 hours. Superocean Heritage '57 The Capsule Collections let us tell some of our brand’s most inspiring stories while we produce some remarkably unique watches for a limited amount of time," says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. "With the Superocean Heritage ’57 Capsule Collection, we’ve focused on the relaxed Southern California fun-in-the-sun culture that defined an era. The surfing itself in the 1950s and 1960s is at the heart of our storytelling here, but those times offered so much more: the great music, the amazing cars, and the almost spiritual connection to freedom found on endless sandy beaches and in the search for the perfect wave." Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition Breitling is also launched the new Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition. This new watch is similar to the Capsule Collection, but is much more vibrant. Around the dial are color markings at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition is limited to only 250 pieces, with each caseback having the words "ONE OF 250" engraved. If you want to pick one up for yourself, be sure to find a local Breitling boutique. Visit Breitling.com Source: Breitling

By Edward Jones – April 08, 2020

Jacob & Co. Launch New Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, Sportin...

Jacob & Co. have just debuted a new watch that actually adds some horsepower to your wrist. The new Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon features a 16-cylinder "engine" that actually turns, prompting the 16 pistons to move up and down just like an engine. It even has two turbochargers that rest on either side of the engine block spin when the engine is running. The entire movement of this watch consists of 578 components, making it an incredibly complicated watch. Although, you really didn't need to know that in order to figure out this is a complex piece of art. It actually took Jacob & Co. just about a full year to develop this watch and its complex movement. Don't believe me? Check out the video below form Jacob & Co. where you can learn all about the watch. This is a watch that any Bugatti Chiron owner should add to their collection. Images via Facebook and YouTube/Jacob & Co.

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