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The Pure McLaren Arctic Experience: An Adventure Beyond Compare

by Benjamin M. Ellis

As winter sets in and snow blankets the landscapes, adventure enthusiasts seek new and exhilarating experiences. One such that stands out in the realm of automotive adventures is McLaren’s Pure Arctic Experience. Set against the stunning backdrop of northern Finland, this drive offers participants the chance to push their limits in a breathtakingly beautiful and icy environment.

Unleashing the Power of McLaren

McLaren, renowned for its precision engineering and performancedriven vehicles, has taken its iconic brand to new heights with the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience. This exclusive event allows participants to get behind the wheel of McLaren's most exhilarating supercars, including the awe-inspiring 600LT. With their sleek designs and blistering speeds, these machines are a testament to McLaren's commitment to delivering unrivaled driving experiences.

Challenging Terrains and Pristine Landscapes

The Arctic setting of the drive provides a playground like no other. Participants have the opportunity to test their driving skills on snow-covered tracks specially designed to challenge both novices and seasoned drivers. The icy conditions demand precision and control, as the cars gracefully glide across a frozen lake. The pristine beauty of the Arctic adds a touch of magic to the experience, with snow-clad trees and frozen landscapes providing an awe-inspiring backdrop for an adrenaline-fueled adventure.

Expert Guidance and Unforgettable Memories

The Pure McLaren Arctic Experience is not just about driving supercars; it is an all-encompassing adventure that offers a chance to learn from the best. McLaren's team of professional drivers and instructors are on hand to provide expert guidance, helping participants master the art of handling these powerful machines on slippery surfaces. Under their watchful eyes, participants learn advanced driving techniques, honing their skills while creating unforgettable memories.

The Thrill of Ice Driving

Driving on ice is an entirely different challenge, requiring finesse and precision, and the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience allows participants to embrace this thrilling aspect of automotive sports. From controlled drifts to perfecting cornering techniques, drivers are pushing the boundaries of their skills in a safe and controlled environment. The sheer exhilaration of sliding gracefully around icy turns, with snow spraying in your wake, is an experience that few can compare to.

Beyond the Track

While the focus of the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience is on driving, the experience offers much more than just time behind the wheel. Guests can immerse themselves in the unique culture and traditions of Lapland, taking part in activities such as snowmobiling, husky sledding, and even catching glimpses of the mesmerizing Northern Lights. The combination of automotive excitement and the enchanting Arctic surroundings creates an unforgettable adventure that appeals to all the senses.

The Pure McLaren Arctic Experience is more than just an automotive event; it is a remarkable journey that combines adrenaline, skill, and natural beauty. With the opportunity to drive McLaren's extraordinary supercars in an awe-inspiring Arctic setting, participants are offered a unique experience that pushes the boundaries of driving excellence. As they carve through the snow, participants not only gain invaluable skills but also forge unforgettable memories against the backdrop of a winter wonderland. The Pure McLaren Arctic Experience truly encapsulates the spirit of adventure, leaving participants with a newfound appreciation for the thrill of the drive.

Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate

by Adam Hay-Nicholls

With all car manufacturers – even exotic ones –being forced to embrace electrification due to netzero government policies and consign their purely internal combustion treasures to museums, what we’re witnessing right now is a final push by some of the most storied sports car marques to unleash their unabashed give-it-everything-you’ve-got curtain call. And behold, the latest and last DBS from Aston Martin, the DBS 770 Ultimate, which kicks off Aston’s 110th birthday celebrations.

James Bond was described by his creator, Ian Fleming, as being a “blunt instrument wielded by a government department”. It’s questionable as to whether the UK’s defense budget bean counters would sign-off the cost of a $387,600 supercar, but 007 would look very much at home in the 770 – which refers to its 770PS or, in real money, 759 bhp. That’s more horses than any series-production Aston before, and an increase of 44bhp over the standard DBS.

They say power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore, this 5.2 twin-turbo V12 could pose very bad news indeed. But as a blunt instrument, goodness, it does the business. It wasn’t like the DBS was short on oomph to start with. With a gargantuan 664 lb-ft of torque available from just 1,800 bhp, it’ll take huge restraint not to shred the tires at every green light. Zero to 62 mph takes 3.4 seconds as it limbers its way up to 211 mph. That’s not an improvement on the standard car, surprisingly. Where most of the difference lies is the feel, with upgraded steering, tightened front stiffness and adaptive dampers. The handling is now more precise, and the steering has more feedback, while overall ride quality is unharmed.

Then there are the aggressive, yet elegant, looks at which Aston is so masterful; additions include a new front splitter, a ‘horseshoe’ engine vent to help pull more air through the radiators, loads of carbon elements, and a new rear diffuser. Most gob smacking are the 21 inch multi-spoke alloys, inspired by Aston’s wild and one-off Victor project, finished in either satin silver or satin black. Inside, there’s additional 770 jewelry, leather, Alcantara, and carbon everywhere you look. The infotainment system remains the Aston’s weak point, and brand customers will need to wait until next year for the next-gen Mercedes-sourced UX.

The DBS 770 Ultimate is limited-edition; 300 coupes and 199 Volantes will be built and, we’re sorry to report, they’re already all sold out. Getting one’s hands on this brute-in-a-suit may require a statesanctioned assassination or two.

Ferrari Purosangue

This is the most controversial Ferrari ever to roll off Maranello’s hallowed production line. Ferrari specifically says, ‘don’t call it an SUV,’ but there’s no way around it. ‘Super’ SUVs are not new. Supercar manufacturers have been blending their genes with that of the Range Rover for several years now. See the Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus, and the slightly less exotic offerings of Maserati, Bentley and Porsche (which now sells four times as many SUVs as it sells 911s). They’ve recognized that people love these supercar brands, and they love luxury SUVs even more. But Ferrari purists are, understandably, upset.

The Italian icon’s first-ever four-door is called the Purosangue – pronounced purosang-way. It’s a fabulous name. The best since Testarossa (redhead). It means ‘pure blood’ in Italian, or ‘thoroughbred’, which is fitting for a marque whose symbol is the prancing horse. Makes you wonder why it’s taken them 76 years to use it. It seems they were waiting for a challenge and to goad the naysayers. Is the Purosangue a real Ferrari?

Well, contrary to our initial concerns, it certainly looks like one. It’s a cohesive design; a high-riding and roomy GT that’s just the right parts aggressive and elegant; well proportioned; innovative in its aero without being nerdy; and, crucially, masking its girth so that it looks lissom and genuinely athletic. There are familial nods to other cars in the current Maranello model line-up: the SF90 at the front, the 296 at the rear,

by Adam Hay-Nicholls

maybe a bit of 812 and Roma in the middle, references to the Daytona of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, and an overall Berlinetta shape. This was one of the most high-wire automotive briefs of the last half-century, and Ferrari have nailed it.

It is a supercar with added practicality, not a steroid-injected luxe load-lugger. You really find this behind the wheel. The normally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 is a final hurrah for the company’s last un-boosted gloriously cacophonous leviathan. Mounted midfront for perfect weight distribution, it absolutely roars with 715 bhp arriving at 7,750 rpm and 80% of its Kratosian torque available from just 2,100. Other road users are swatted away like flies with even the smallest gap in which to overtake. Zero to 60 mph takes under 3.3s and the top speed lies beyond 193 mph. The smoothness and precision of its handling – aided by active suspension and rear-wheel-steer - blows anything else of this shape into the weeds.

Your $400,000 (you’re sitting down while reading this, right?) also buys you rearhinged rear doors like on a Rolls-Royce, four bucket seats with massage function (another Ferrari first), and enough luggage space for several sets of skis and golf bags.

Even if you took the prancing horse badges off, we’ll say this: It looks like a Ferrari, sounds like a Ferrari, and goes like a Ferrari. The Purosangue is the real deal and is surely the most desirable car in the world.

As McLaren marks its 60th anniversary, the supercar maker has teamed up with the LEGO Group to release the first-ever double pack of LEGO Speed Champions featuring two of McLaren's most iconic supercars: the McLaren F1 LM and McLaren Solus GT. In celebration of McLaren’s 60th milestone and the launch of the first double-pack together, designers from both LEGO and McLaren recently came together at LEGO’s HQ in Billund, Denmark to celebrate the brands’ long-standing partnership.

$34.99 – lego.com

by Adam Hay-Nicholls

Detroit’s latest three-ton $100,000 SUV is surely the most presidential mode of transport, short of acquiring the keys to The Beast or Air Force One. American through-andthrough, and with a blue-collar badge, the GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate makes the Cadillac Escalade look prissy. If it were an actual president, it’d be Theodore Roosevelt, who was an amateur boxer and wrestler.

While its materials, ride, and 6.2-liter 420 bhp V8 drivetrain will do little to worry its more efficient European rivals, such as the Range Rover, Mercedes GLS or Audi SQ7, it makes up for it in size and intimidation. Zoom up to someone’s fender and they will get out of your way. Likewise, you can cruise straight into restricted and sealed-off areas as guards will assume you’re the Feds. And it’s not all brawn and no brain, because it comes with the latest state-of-the-art semi-self-driving technology; so long as you’re looking where the car is going, you can take your hands off the wheel and spend as long as you like fumbling for the phone/potato chips/Glock you dropped down the side of the seat. The car will take care of overtaking, braking, accelerating, indicating and lane changes on more than 200,000 miles of compatible US and Canadian highways, with more coming online all the time.

‘Vader Chrome’ – a dark-tinted chrome trim – makes everything look extra menacing. And four extra Bose speakers over the standard Denali’s 14 are mounted in the front-row headrests, so you can cue up your own banging entrance music; on which note, each of the three rows of seats can accommodate heavyweight champs and NBA stars. The interior is trimmed in umber-colored full-grain leather, open-pore wood, and flourishes of aluminum. It’s business-like, as opposed to trendsetting.

Despite its 210in length, it’s surprisingly maneuverable and comes into its own off-road, where it’ll leave a rooster tail of dust en route to its top-secret desert or mountain destination. On tarmac, it’s genuinely quick with 60 mph arriving in six seconds. Bullet-proof glass, bomb-resistant chassis and a transfusion bag of the chief executive’s blood are all optional extras.

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