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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 – July 23, 2018

NHTSA Recalls Just Two Bugatti Chirons in US

If you have the means to purchase a new 2018 Bugatti Chiron, it comes with certain services not offered by any other brand. Their flying doctors will travel anywhere except Antarctica to diagnose and repair your car. So when it comes to customer safety, they are willing to go to extreme measures. That is why the side airbags have endured multiple tests. But a new heat shield designed to keep your arm hair intact has allowed some of the gunpowder to burn the seats when the bags go off.How To Perform A $21,000 Bugatti Oil ChangeThe NHTSA report says only two cars in the US have the updated design, so the Bugatti Flying Doctors are en route. The seats will be flown back to the factory in France to receive a new design. The report says "Burn hole in the side airbag could be found following deployment in certain conditions because a heat shield may have been installed in an incorrect position. The population was determined for all delivered cars where the side airbag module has been produced by one individual worker in 2017. After the first test showing a wrong assembly, all other production cars in our possession have been completely checked." Kudos to Bugatti for volunteering this information, customer safety is one of their top priorities, so click the link below to experience one for yourself.Your Bugatti Chiron Is Here

By Andrew Nabors – June 01, 2017

POV of Bugatti Chiron's Hillclimb (Turbo Sounds Galore)

Fast cars are fun on flat ground, but climbing a hill is a true test of power. The Prescott Hill Climb was founded by the Bugatti Owners Club in 1937, about 100 miles northwest of London. The course is 1,127 yards long with banked switchbacks and steep grades. The grounds also has a driving school and 'The Bugatti Trust', a collection of historical photos and historical documents, vintage parts and several cars. The historic track is unique, as the summit has a return road back down to the paddock. No stranger to horsepower, it's a great place to watch a Bugatti Veyron in action.Fans from across Europe converged on the track last weekend for a truly spectacular event. Screaming up the mountain was a new Bugatti Chiron. Ettore Bugatti would be proud to see his namesake racing on a track built by and for his fans. To document the incredible run, TheSUPERCARDRIVER recorded the climb from the passenger seat. Owners of turbocharged cars know that boost builds quickly under load, so the constant demands of the uphill battle kept all four turbos spinning. It takes a hefty volume of boost to fill 8 liters of a W16 engine, so it sounds like the blow-off valves release enough pressure to start a 747. The only hills in Florida are occupied by senior citizens, so as soon as we get our hands on a Chiron we're heading to the beach. Stay with us for all your Bugatti news.

By Edward Jones – March 24, 2017

First Review of the Bugatti Chiron

The Bugatti Chiron hasn't even started being delivered to customers as of today, but Carfection managed to get their hands on one for the first full review on the hypercar.During the testing of the car, Carfection had absolutely nothing but nice things to say about the car. Everything seemed to be perfect, including its design, sound, power, and handling. I must say, when they recorded the exhaust of the Chiron revving, my heart fluttered, because that is one lovely sound.An interesting point that was made in the review was that even though this car may be heavy, weighing in at around 4,400 lbs, it's drive is still very manageable and refined.In closing, the reviewer said: "Chiron is unlike anything else I've been lucky enough to drive. Bugatti has raised the bar yet again, and frankly, I may never be the same."Supercars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 06, 2017

Bugatti Begins Chiron Already Half-Way Sold Out

The Geneva International Motor Show is the beating pulse of the exotic car industry, so Bugatti released stunning news to start off the week. The long road of development for the Chiron is over. Customers are beginning to receive their orders and sales have reached 250 cars. Only 500 will be produced, so reaching the half-way point is significant. One lucky owner allowed the manufacturer to showcase his car in their booth, finished in "Bleu Royal" exposed carbon fiber. Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer said: “The fact that we have already taken orders for half of the Chiron series even without test drives so far bears witness to the great confidence of our customers in our brand and its strong aura”.Capping the number of production cars at this price range might seem trivial, especially if Bugatti claims to lose money on each example due to development costs. As the successor to the quad turbo sixteen cylinder Veyron, the engine is one of the few parts to be carried over. Of course, it has been fortified to produce 1,479 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. In theory, it should make for a top speed north of 280. This would claim the title of world's fastest production car back from Hennessey Performance but he has something new in the works. Also noted in the press release is that European orders are surpassing US and Asian markets, but we know a few are coming this way. So stay with us for Bugatti updates as cars begin to arrive.

By Edward Jones – February 17, 2017

Bugatti Chiron Will Go 0-250-0 mph in Under a Minute

Back in 2015, the Koenigsegg One:1 broke a world record by going 0-300-0 km/h (186 mph) in just 17.95 seconds. This was an absolutely absurd record that was shocking to read. Now, two years later, the news is getting out about the Bugatti Chiron's ability to speed up and come back to a complete stop in an insane amount of time.Related - Bugatti Chiron Revs and Sounds Off in Monaco, Sounds Downright BrutalDan Prosser of EVO recently had dinner with Wolfgang Durheimer, Bentley and Bugatti's boss. It was during this meal that Durheimer remarked that the Chiron will accelerate from 0-250-0 mph in under 60 seconds.https://twitter.com/TheDanProsser/status/831919676192075776?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwRoad and Track reported on this fact on Feb. 15, and were then told by a Bugatti spokesperson that "this figure isn't official as it hasn't been measured yet." That being said, it's tough to go against the word of the head honcho himself.Bugatti Veyron For Sale Related Video:

By Edward Jones – November 28, 2016

The First Bugatti Chiron Crash Has Happened

Yes, you read that correctly: the first Bugatti Chiron crash has happened. An image of a Chiron being towed by a construction truck via straps have surfaced on GTBOARD.com's Facebook page. According to TheDrive.com, the accident happened in Wolfsburg, Germany. This area also happens to be where Volkswagen Group's headquarters is located.(Related - Coby Persin's Gold BMW i8 Smashed With Bat by Angry Guy)A Bugatti spokeswoman told BILD: "The driver was unfortunately a little inattentive, which is why the car landed in the road ditch. Fortunately nobody was hurt."Thankfully, nobody was hurt. However, it still stinks to see parts a $2.5 million hypercar being dragged across the road as it's being towed. Also, we're also not sure if this was a test car or one that was meant for a customer. As soon as more information is released, we'll be sure to write about it. So be sure to check back for more info on the world's first Bugatti Chiron crash.All Bugatti For Sale Oups.Posted by GTBOARD.com on Thursday, November 24, 2016

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2016

Bugatti Chiron Premieres in Japan

After it made its debut in Europe, North America and Singapore, the Bugatti Chiron has finally made its way to Japan. In a press release issued by Bugatti, the French automaker detailed their new hypercars premiere in Tokyo, Japan.(Related - Bugatti Chiron Revving Sounds Savage)“Japan is Bugatti’s strongest market in Asia,” said Dr. Stefan Brungs, Member of the Board of Management of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. responsible for Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service, at the unveiling of the Chiron. “Japanese super sports car customers have a well-developed understanding and considerable passion for technological masterpieces of the highest quality and for the ultimate in luxury. This is why the resonance created by the Chiron here in Japan is outstanding.”Bugatti also points out in the press release that of the 450 Veyrons they sold, more than 10 are owned by Japanese customers. And now, with the release of the Chiron, about six percent of the total orders are coming from customers in Japan, exceeding the total sales of the Veyron.The Bugatti Chiron will be on display in the showroom of Bugatti Tokyo until November 16, but will be returning to in time for Christmas.All Bugatti For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – September 16, 2016

Bugatti Chiron Debuts in Singapore

Bugatti's newest hypercar, the Chiron, is in them middle of it's world tour and just recently, it made a stop in Singapore for its South-East Asia debut. This marks the third stop after Europe and North America. The car has been shown to private buyers in exclusive appointment-only settings, and it has now officially made it's public debut in the region. Chiron will also be on display this weekend for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.(Also Check Out - Bugatti Chiron and Vision GT Sold to this Guy for How Much?)The South-East Asian market is an important one for Bugatti as there are many collectors and brand ambassadors in the area. Their debuting the Chiron in the area gives insight into just how important the region's market is. In conjunction with East Asian brand, Wearnes Automotive, Bugatti was able to create a Chiron-centered presentation. Interactive in design, the presentation, "focuses on exhibits and animations highlighting the extraordinary technical achievements and the elegant and aggressive design of the super sports car as well as the history of the brand," according to a Bugatti press release."It is truly the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car, and we are honoured to showcase the actual car for the very first time in Asia to an exclusive group of customers and guests here.”The South-East Asian region was happy to receive the Chiron, and it's easy to understand why. As stated by Pang Cheong Yan, Managing Director of the Prestige Division of Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd. View All Bugattis For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 21, 2016

Bugatti Chiron Makes Debut at Le Mans in France

Le Mans is known for bringing out the contenders. Each year, car enthusiasts crowd the streets and the stands to catch a glimpse of their favorite supercars. This year's 24 Heures de Mans in France was no exception, as the Bugatti Chiron was spotted at the event. During the driver's parade, crowds gathered to get a first-hand look at Bugatti's newest supercar. Photographers snapped away in a frenzy and fans watched in awe as the modern marvel made it's way down the proverbial red carpet.View Bugatti Chiron InventoryAfterward, the Chiron made its way to the track to the cheers of thousands more car aficionados. Le mans echos Bugatti's sentiments of the Chiron as, "the most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive production supercar" to greet the streets of France. To recap, the Chiron features an impressive spec sheet, which includes an 8-liter W 16 engine capable of 1500 horsepower and 1180 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse propels from 0-60 in a mere 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 260 mph. This elegant, beast of a supercar comes in myriad color combinations perfectly suited for its owners.Bugattis For Sale

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