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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

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BMW Announces New Paint Colors For The XM

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The New BMW iX5 Hydrogen Is Put To The Test Near The Arct...

The BMW iX5 gets a new letter: H. While much less popular than battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars are another very viable way of going about making a car that lacks CO2 emissions. In the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the contents of two carbon-fiber, 700-bar hydrogen tanks are converted into electric power, which is then used to move a motor with 170 horsepower. However, power can also be stored in a battery, which receives power from energy recovery or from the fuel cell. When needed the iX5 Hydrogen can produce up to 374 horsepower from the total system. BMW has been testing the iX5 Hydrogen at their testing grounds far north in the Swedish Lapland, and that’s because hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have a unique set of advantages over both gasoline internal combustion engines and battery electric vehicles, and that has everything to do with their ability to perform in the most extreme cold weather. MUST READ: BMW’s New i4 and iX Get A Google Cloud AR Experience Ahead Of US Launch We all know what driving a gasoline car in the cold is like. Starting the car, driving it, and getting heat in the interior is all a struggle, full of discomfort and added aspects to remember and attend to ensure that your car stays in good condition. And the extreme cold isn’t the kindest to batteries, either. From experience with smartphones and other battery-powered devices in our everyday lives, we know that the cold can be tough on batteries when it comes to power consumption, and recharging technology still hasn’t managed to catch up with the speed of pumping gasoline. Hydrogen offers unparalleled performance in these temperatures, with unfazed performance in the extreme weather, and a refueling experience with speed and efficiency more similar to gasoline cars. Along with this, BMW sees the iX5 Hydrogen as an option for those who lack access to electric charging infrastructure, but still want to drive with minimal environmental impact. BMW plans to release a small series of the iX5 Hydrogen later this year and has also announced a commitment to improving hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 29, 2021

BMW's M Division Is 50, And They Have Quite the Golden Ye...

For half a century, just one letter has been synonymous with the best of German performance and precision. That letter is M. BMW is going to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its M division in 2022, and a Golden anniversary calls for a golden age for BMW, BMW enthusiasts, and especially BMW M or M Sport package owners. 2022 is ushering in special paint colors and emblems for M and M Sport cars, and it’s going to be legendary. BMW Motorsport was first established in 1972, and the first iterations of its logo first started appearing on race cars in 1973, in the form of shifted semicircles in the iconic blue, red, and purple. Blue represented BMW, red represented the racing world, and purple represented the two coming together to form BMW Motorsport. The BMW M1 was the first car to wear the logo as we know it today in 1978, with three diagonal stripes set against the iconic M, and while since then the purple has changed to a darker blue, the logo has always been an indicator of a dynamic, innovative, high-performance car that would stand the test of time and be loved by car enthusiasts of all kinds. BMW BMW M or M Sport package vehicles with a production date starting March 2022 can be fitted with a classic BMW Motorsport-inspired logo on the front, back, and wheels, with the red, blue, and dark blue semicircles surrounding the BMW logo. According to BMW, these vehicles can be ordered starting at the end of January 2022. In addition, BMW is offering various classic and iconic M paint colors like Imola Red, Dakar Yellow, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Fire Orange, and Frozen Marina Bay Blue on select models. BMW We can expect even more to come from M’s golden year. While it won’t be coming to the US, international M enthusiasts will be receiving an all-new touring wagon model of the M3. BMW also tells us to look forward to a special model of the M4 Coupe, and a successor for the M2. Most interestingly, however, is the promise that in the anniversary year, BMW’s first electric M performance model will be revealed. BMW also plans to celebrate the anniversary at various events this year, like Villa D’Este, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. BMW fans, get excited. The coming year is going to be a good one. View all current BMW inventory for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All BMW For Sale Source: BMW

By Andrew Nabors – May 11, 2021

Hans Zimmer Scores The Soundtrack For Electrified BMW M M...

Life is too short for silent cars One of the most prolific composers, musicians, and philanthropists of the modern era is Hans Zimmer. From The Lion King, to Crimson Tide, The Rock, Inception, and Interstellar, his tunes evoke our best cinematic memories. As such, the fine folks at BMW M tapped him to make their upcoming electric cars sound better than anything else. Starting with the i4, they then moved on to the M version, and then to the iX. It is a collaboration with Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound at the BMW Group. Hans chose to set the M cars apart from the lesser models, saying: "Every BMW has its own character, which is reflected in the sound it makes. So for the electrically driven BMW M models we have developed a driving sound which accentuates their emotional driving experience particularly vividly and ensures their performance can be felt with even greater intensity.” So if you are in the market for the Ultimate (Electric) Driving Machine, click the button below and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse BMW For Sale Images (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2021

How Fast Is the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupé?

Don't try to race it, you will lose! Understated performance is a hallmark of everything they do, so how fast is the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe? Alpina focuses on more than just power. Their goal has always been to offer a comprehensive enhancement of style, driving dynamics, and interior luxury. As such, their latest creation is much more appealing than the M8 it is based on. We're not going to load you up with the details because you would be here all day. It is pretty, it is competent, and it is an 11-second sedan. Starting with the cooling system, their intercoolers are 50% larger than those on the M850i. New exhaust, intake, and turbos allow it to cruise at 201 mph, and on your way there you will reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. This 2-ton sled loaded with every conceivable luxury launches harder than almost any other production car. It does so because you have 590 lb-ft of torque at only 2,000 rpm. Brake-boost the beast and 612 horsepower is unleashed. The 8-speed automatic has received hardened internals from ZF, and Eibach developed the suspension with optimal corner weights. Rear wheels can steer up to 2.3 degrees and xDrive can be left in RWD for incredible drifts. The finer options include a carbon fiber roof and 8 choices for interior wood trim. Perhaps the best news is the annoying safety nannies can be omitted to make it a more relaxing ride. Pricing starts at $139,990, a bargain for such a sleeper. Tell us your best BMW stories in the comments below. Browse BMW 8-Series For Sale Images (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – February 12, 2021

Fast Financials 2021: BMW Leads The U.S. In Exports

American cars can be found around the world, so you might guess Ford or GM would be at the top of the list. But for the seventh consecutive year, BMW leads the U.S. in exports. Adding all the window stickers for every BMW that leaves our shores adds up to a whopping $8.9 billion. The skilled workers in Spartanburg, South Carolina turned out more value than the entire GDP of Haiti, more than 13,000 new vehicles. Despite a 5-week Covid shutdown, they built 361,365 new BMWs. Yours is waiting at one of our dealers, so click the button and check out the new BMW M5 CS! BMW For Sale BMW Chart by TradingView Image (C) BMW USA

By Andrew Nabors – January 27, 2021

Fast Financials 2020: BMW's Free Cash Flow Beats Market E...

While many brands took a hit during the lockdown, BMW's Free Cash Flow beats market estimates. In their latest Ad-Hoc announcement, we learn how they turned lemons into lemonade. For starters, the outbreak caused many owners to stay at home, so less warranty work means money saved. Chinese buyers made strong down payments, injecting even more cash. Parts inventories were also streamlined to keep fewer valuable items on the shelf. This allowed their Free Cash Flow for Q4 to be € 2.8 billion, or 1.3 billion Euro more than Q4 2019. Our main Fast Financials will show you how BMW bounced back! Browse BMW For Sale BMW Chart by TradingView Ticker (C) TradingView.com, Image (C) BMW USA

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