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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 Khris Bharath – April 14, 2026

1-of-3: This Bugatti V12 Sedan Coming Up For Auction Features a Manual Transmission

Last week, we spotlighted the car that gave three-time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna his break in Formula 1, coming up for auction at RM Sotheby's Monaco sale on April 25th. That same sale will also see another historically rare and significant modern-day Bugatti cross the block. Now, when you think about Bugatti in the modern context, you think W16 from the Pïech era, fastest production car in the world, and hypercar royalty. Clearly, these were automobiles that realized their full potential. The Bugatti EB112 being offered in Monaco later this month clearly falls in the category that never saw its full potential. By the early 1990s, Bugatti had already reestablished itself with the Bugatti EB110, a quad-turbocharged machine producing over 600 horsepower. Yet the company’s ambitions extended well beyond two-door performance cars under the leadership of Romano Artioli. The EB112 represented a deliberate shift toward a high-performance luxury sedan capable of matching supercar dynamics. <- Gallery -> Engineers retained the advanced carbon fiber structure of the EB110 but reworked the layout entirely. The naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 moved to a front-mid position, sitting just behind the front axle. Power output reached 460 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque, delivered through all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. While V12 manuals are more prevalent among coupes, this is an extremely rare configuration in a four-door, four-seat format. Also, in the modern context, it is often believed that V12s are losing relevance, but in our listing this past weekend, we found 22 cars still in production with this storied 12-cylinder powerplant in 2026. As for performance, the EB112 could accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and was projected to reach 186 mph, placing it firmly among the fastest four-door cars of its time. This was a sedan with exceptional balance and control, aided by its lightweight construction combining aluminum and carbon fiber. Design played an equally important role. Legendary Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro shaped the EB112 with a clear connection to Bugatti’s heritage. The sloping fastback profile eliminated the traditional trunk, while the split rear window referenced the iconic Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. Subtle detailing and the prominent horseshoe grille reinforced its identity, while the overall silhouette introduced a form that would later influence the development of modern four-door coupés. When the EB112 appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993, it stood apart from everything else on display. The combination of a front-mounted V12, all-wheel drive, and a sculpted fastback body challenged established conventions in both design and engineering. Production never materialized. Bugatti Automobili in Campogalliano in Modena, Italy, ceased operations in 1995, leaving only three prototypes and partially completed chassis. Only one fully driveable car was completed by the factory before bankruptcy. Monégasque businessman, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, later acquired the remaining components and completed two examples, including the car now offered. It remained registered in Monaco and was driven sparingly, with just 241 miles recorded. Lot 151 currently carries a pre-auction estimate of €1.5 - €2.0 million EUR ($1.76-$2.34 million). While Bugatti explored other four-door concepts like the Galiber under Volkswagen Group ownership, none reached production. That leaves the EB112 as a singular outlier. A V12, manual, all-wheel-drive Bugatti sedan that combined advanced engineering with forward-looking design, and quietly shaped an entire segment without ever entering it. View All RM Sotheby's Inventory Images: RM Sotheby's, Bugatti

By Khris Bharath – January 15, 2026

duPont REGISTRY Live: Last Chance to Bid on 1-of-60 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Jaune Molsheim

Our team is ecstatic and eagerly awaiting a landmark moment with great anticipation, because in just over 24 hours, our all-new auctions platform, duPont REGISTRY Live, will finally cross into seven-figure territory, with the sale of the 2023 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, the very first Hypercar listed on the platform. Unique to our platform, duPont REGISTRY Live also offers a 14-day return policy and a 100% sell-through rate, giving you confidence before you place a bid. Showing just 6,848 miles and single ownership from California, this particular example is one of just 60 Pur Sports built for the entire world and is finished in the historically significant Jaune Molsheim specification and Beluga black interior. The yellow and black combination directly references founder Ettore Bugatti and his personal cars. The example seen here packs an extensive list of factory options that amounts to a staggering $234,300. Highlights include a Sky View roof ($62k), Pur Sport interior in Giallo Taurus, Nocturne-painted engine cover, black-coated exhaust deflector, and extensive Giallo Midas detailing and more. Unlike much of the Chiron range that focuses on outright speed, with the Pur Sport, the focus is on handling, lap times, and performance on the race track. Bugatti shortened the gear ratios by 15 percent, recalibrated the 7-speed dual clutch, and revised the all-wheel-drive system to sharpen throttle response and corner exit. Power still sits at 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque from the glorious Piëch-era quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16. 60 mph takes under 2.5 seconds, but top speed is capped at 218 mph, so engineers could focus on control. Chassis changes are substantial. Spring rates jump 65 percent up front and 33 percent at the rear. Camber and stability control are retuned for aggressive driving. Aero revisions, including a fixed rear wing and enlarged splitter, generate up to 1,654 pounds of downforce. duPont REGISTRY Live has already seen a Porsche 911 Targa reimagined by Singer bid to just under seven figures. This Pur Sport raises that bar, and for those seeking a modern Bugatti defined by driver engagement, documented rarity, and historically correct specification, this is your last chance to bid on this track-bred Chiron. View Listing Images: duPont REGISTRY, Bugatti

By Edward Jones – August 07, 2021

RM Sotheby’s Presents The Fox Collection: 2008 Bugatti Ve...

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Talk of a Bugatti revitalization, which would have returned the storied French marque to the prominence of its pre-World War II glory days, began not long after Ettore Bugatti’s death in 1947. Despite a noble revival effort undertaken in the late 1980s, which led to the fascinating EB 110, Bugatti would not experience a lasting renaissance until the Volkswagen Group purchased the rights to company in 1998—a strategic acquisition initially intended to realize Ferdinand Piëch’s vision of an 18-cylinder automobile of superlative power, performance, and prestige. Piëch’s mandates for the car that would eventually become the Bugatti Veyron were refined with time, becoming even more ambitious: It needed to produce 1,001 PS (987 horsepower) and achieve a top speed in excess of 400 km/h (nearly 250 mph), yet also be entirely usable for daily driving and comfortable for both driver and passenger. Impressive today, these parameters seemed otherworldly around the turn of the millennium. The cost of the project was of little consequence; what mattered was resurrecting Bugatti in spectacular fashion while demonstrating the engineering prowess of the Volkswagen Group as a whole. What is truly remarkable is that the production car that emerged in 2005 managed to meet, and even exceed, these lofty expectations, with 0-62 mph acceleration taking just 2.46 seconds en route to a top speed just over 408 km/h (nearly 254 mph). Built around a magnificent, mid-mounted, quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16 featuring four valves per cylinder and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Veyron stunned the world with its surefootedness at even the most extreme speeds—an ability enabled by a full-time Haldex all-wheel drive system. Even the car’s ancillary systems, including 10 radiators, are marvels of automotive engineering conceived to perform under the most demanding circumstances. The stopping power was similarly stunning, as the Veyron was anchored by massive carbon-ceramic disc brakes with 15.7-inch discs and eight-piston, four-pad calipers up front, while 15-inch discs with six-piston, two-pad calipers were equipped at the rear. The alloy wheels, which were respectively 20 and 21 inches at the front and rear, were shod with special purpose-designed Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 PAX run-flat tires that provided superior grip. The array of technology extended to three different drive modes: a Normal mode, at which the ride height was 4.9 inches; a Handling mode that deployed the rear spoiler and lowered ride height to 3.15 inches; and a special key-activated High-Speed mode that dropped ride height to 2.56 inches in front and 2.75 at the rear, while changing the spoiler position. Equally captivating is the intricacy of the Veyron’s hand-crafted construction and the impact of its design. In its scale and proportions, the Veyron is unlike anything else: It is actually shorter in overall length than a modern Porsche 911, though it rides on a longer, 106.7-inch wheelbase, and it is noticeably lower and wider than that benchmark German sportscar. When experienced in person, a rare opportunity given its low production numbers and corresponding exclusivity, the Veyron has a presence all its own; it is a fitting inheritor of the Bugatti legacy and the world-renowned horseshoe grille. VEYRON NUMBER 066 The 66th Bugatti Veyron completed, and the 20th delivered new to the United States, the car offered here has enjoyed a life of limited use and careful maintenance. The exterior is finished in silver metallic over bright silver, an effective two-tone pairing that subtly emphasizes the Veyron’s distinctive lines and complex curves. Like the Bugattis of old, this Veyron’s interior is elegant, simple, and purposeful, while being finely crafted of the highest-quality materials. This example is trimmed in the rare combination of Silk leather with Anthracite inserts; an engine-turned center console serves as a focal point while adding a dash of vintage spirit to the cabin. With just 750 miles driven at time of cataloguing, this Veyron, now offered from the Fox Collection, has had only two owners from new. Under the care of its first owner in 2018, this car was serviced by Los Gatos Luxury Cars of Los Gatos, California; an invoice on file indicates over $51,000 in work performed, including an annual service as well as new front and rear tires. Given its limited milage and careful maintenance, it is hardly surprising that the car presents in excellent condition today. Bugatti Veyron production ceased in 2015, at which point a total of 450 cars were produced; only 252 of these were Veyron 16.4 coupes, with only 76 in U.S. specification, meaning examples such as this are destined to remain rare and desirable. Accompanied by its special “speed” key with presentation box, owner’s manual, tools, and battery tender, as well as service invoices, this Bugatti Veyron 16.4 coupe represents a special moment the saga of the revitalized Bugatti marque, as well as the history of the modern supercar. It would make a significant—and not to mention exhilarating—addition to any serious stable. With minimal production runs and maximized performance, the Fox Collection is filled with supercar selections that truly stand out from their contemporaries, with a combination of uncommon specifications, low mileages, and outstanding color combinations. The Fox Collection will be offered entirely without reserve at RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale, taking place 12-14 August 2021. View Listing

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2018

Mecum Auctioning Off Bugatti Chiron in Kissimmee, Florida

It's not easy to come by a Bugatti Chiron, but with Mecum's latest consignment you'll be able to pick one up during their Kissimmee 2018 auction. Just added to their extensive lineup of supercars, hypercars, muscle cars and more is a Chiron in showroom-quality condition. There are only 249 miles clocked on its odometer, making it virtually brand new.This example comes in a two-tone Carbon Black and Carbon Blue exterior. If you look closely at the body, you'll be able to see the carbon fiber weave underneath the translucent color finish. Inside is a black leather interior with deviated red stitching, and carbon fiber and aluminum trim elements.If you aren't familiar with the Chiron, you should at least know that this is far from an ordinary car. For power, the Chiron relies on a massive 8.0-liter W16 engine that produces an insane 1,479 horsepower. What kind of speed does this translate to? 0-190 mph in 13.6 seconds. Goodbye to any troubles merging on to the highway when you're in this hypercar.Bugatti is producing just 70 examples of the Chiron each year, making this car an anomaly in the automotive world where millions of cars are produced each year. If you're interested in owning one of the most advanced machines on four-wheels, click the link below to learn more about its auction and listing.Learn About This Car

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