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

Bentley News

Bentley news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Continental GT, the Bentayga, the Flying Spur and Mulliner's bespoke commissions. Our reporting takes in model reveals, first drives and the auction results that establish what these cars are worth. Bentley Motors news tends to move slowly and matter for years, so we follow how values hold across a generation. This is where the marketplace becomes useful. Many of the Bentleys covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, placing the reporting and a genuine asking price side by side. For Bentley news today, and the luxury car market news that surrounds it, begin below.

By Edward Jones – January 27, 2020

New Mystery Bentley Continental Spotted

It looks like Bentley is teasing a new Continental model or variant on Twitter, but its name and purpose is a current mystery. In the photo, taken in Kitzbühel, Austria, we see a bright blue Continental that looks outfitted for rally racing. An LED bar is implemented into the car's roof rack, while a tow hook sticks out from the front bumper. What's more, the car is parked on a road surrounded by snow. Could this be a new rally car from Bentley? Knowing Bentley is working on electric cars, could this be an electrified off-road model? We may not know the answers now, but Bentley says they'll unveil all on January 28, 2020. ALL CONTINENTALS FOR SALE https://twitter.com/BentleyComms/status/1221138761217708033

By Andrew Nabors – December 03, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Pike's Peak Limited to 15 Examples

What does it take to conquer the world's most brutal hill climb? According to the record books, you need twelve cylinders and two turbochargers. To celebrate being the fastest production car up the mountain, the Bentley Continental GT Pike's Peak is limited to 15 examples. Each car will receive bespoke carbon fiber accents and Radium paint by Mulliner. The same livery used on the race car also includes gloss black accents and green calipers. An optional "100 Grille" celebrates 2019 as their centenary year, and the celebration continues inside. References to the record time of 10:18.488 can be seen in graphics and in stitching, with a map of the track embossed on the dash. What is not optional is the 12-cylinder hammer under the hood. Browse All Bentley Continental GT For Sale It sends 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. If you want to join the celebration, click the button above to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Bentley news. " width="680"> Related: Bentley Continental Supersports: Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Convertible Gets Tweed Roof

Walking out of your house and into your car, you're rocking a tweed suit or dress. Why? Because tweed is a timeless material that's incredibly stylish. But as you look at your car, smile because it matches you and that's all thanks to the new roof for the Bentley Continental GT Convertible. "We wanted to create something that hadn’t been done before and we had never seen a Tweed effect hood (roof)," says Cathy Bass, Colour and Trim designer at Bentley Motors. "We felt confident that tailoring and heritage fabrics would become a significant trend with longevity, and we decided that was the right direction to pursue." Bentley has selected two colors in combination for the tweed roof which they say will harmonize with the exterior paint palette for the Continental GT Convertible. The color is a perfect blend between dark brown and cream that's perfect for the material. SEE ALL BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT'S FOR SALE

By Andrew Nabors – September 09, 2019

Bentley Continental GT V8 Announced

Refinement never sleeps at Bentley. The third-generation Continental GT has been a runaway success for the brand, and it offers something for almost anyone. If you enjoy the incredible power of the W12 engine, you can now order it with a panoramic glass roof. Carbon fiber has been added to the interior trim choices, which pushes the configurator past 7 billion possible combinations. Those now include an engine option, as the Bentley Continental GT V8 was announced yesterday. Browse Bentley Continental GT For Sale Available to order as a coupe or convertible, it offers the same 4.0L twin-turbo V8 from the base-model Bentayga. It is rated at 550 metric horsepower with 568 lb-ft of torque. It is more than enough to reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, with the convertible taking 0.1 second more. Capable of cruising at 198 mph, it can also run on 4 cylinders when full power isn't needed. This V8 was engineered by Porsche for the Cayenne and Panamera, and it can also be found in the Lamborghini Urus. It sips fuel when the turbos aren't spinning, offering more range and efficiency than its competitors. Click the link above to learn more from your local dealer, and stay with us for all your Bentley News. " width="680"> Related: Bentley Continental GT Onboard Video from Pike's Peak 2018 Bentley Continental Supersports: Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – September 05, 2019

Bentley Beverly Hills Begins New Continental GT/GTC V8 De...

Our friends over at Bentley Beverly Hills have begun delivering the much-anticipated Continental GT/GTC V8 models. Their first examples of the new Continental GT V8 Convertible arrived just before Labor Day and they were spotted driving around Los Angeles throughout the three-day weekend. view bentley beverly hill's dealer page The new Continental was spotted in places like Beverly Wilshire, Waldorf Historia of Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Universal Studios, Mc. C and even the beautiful canyon roads of Los Angeles. Interested in seeing what the new Bentley Continental GT/GTC V8 model has in store for you? Be sure to contact them and set up a test drive. Who knows, maybe it will be you spotted around Los Angeles in their new Bentley. view bentley Beverly hill's inventory

By Andrew Nabors – August 28, 2019

Bentley Aiming for Record-Breaking Turnout at Salon Privé

Bentley is going all out this year at Blenheim Palace. This year's Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance will be the UK debut of the EXP 100 GT, along with their recently restored 1939 Corniche. Inviting all Bentleys and their owners, Bentley is aiming for a record-breaking turnout at Salon Privé. Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark will lead a team on Saturday. They will judge 50 exceptional Bentleys, both old and new. Also on display will be the EXP 2, the oldest Bentley in existence. The Bentley Drivers' Club will hold their annual rally on Sunday. Their goal is for over 1,000 Bentleys from around the UK to converge on Blenheim, hopefully setting a new world record. The entire 2020 lineup will also be on display for the attendees to interact with. Expect to see early 3-liters and the latest Continental GT in a setting that shows how far they have come. The Bentayga Hybrid will be next to both of the LeMans-winning 2003 Speed 8, who took first and second place. If need to understand why Bentley owners are so loyal, check out the new Continental GT from our dealers and stay with us for all your Bentley news. Find Your Bentley Continental GT Here " width="680"> Related: Mulliner Recreates the 1939 Bentley Corniche Bentley Continental GT Price, Specs, Review & Photos

By Andrew Nabors – July 09, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Onboard Video from Pike's Peak

Last week you might have missed the big news. Our friend Rhys Millen set a new production car record. This amazing effort didn't take place at a test track or under ideal conditions. It was the 97th running of America's most brutal hill climb. With no less than 156 corners and climbing 5,000 feet in altitude, let's ride along with the Bentley Continental GT onboard video from Pike's Peak. Beating a record previously held by the Bentayga, the new Continental GT has serious performance hidden under a graceful body. The twin-turbo W12 engine is all-new, and it offers 626 horsepower to all wheels. While that number is not insignificant, it is the torque that launched this big car into the record books. Using electronic wastegates, the turbos allow 664 lb-ft of torque to reach all wheels. Lack of oxygen at 14,000 feet caused many cars to run rich and sputter, but the Bentley used the turbos to overcome this disadvantage. Other goodies include a 48-volt roll control system and less weight than its predecessors. If you want to drive a winner, click the link below for great offers from our dealers. Browse Bentley Continental GT For Sale Related: Bentley Continental GT sets new Pike's Peak Record Time 2018 Bentley Continental Supersports: Price, Specs, & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 01, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Sets New Pike's Peak Record Time

Pike's Peak tops out at over 14,100 feet, so getting to the top is never an easy task. It was an amazing achievement for the Bentayga to break the SUV record last year, and they decided to go for a bigger prize. With Rhys Millen behind the wheel, the 2019 Bentley Continental GT set a new Pike's Peak record time. No, it wasn't a record for luxury coupes or twelve-cylinder engines. Bentley now holds the record for the fastest production car. The fastest car ever was the VW I.D. R, which ran a 7.57.148 on battery power. Their luxury division wasn't far behind, with Millen crossing the line in only 10.18.488. Not only is it 8.4 seconds faster than the old record, but he also averaged 70 mph from start to finish. From someone who lives at sea level, the drive is quite scary once you are above the treeline. It takes a few days to prepare for the lack of oxygen, which has been the cause of many high-altitude incidents. In order to negate this, the Continental GT is all new for 2019, and that includes the twin-turbo 6.0L W12 engine. The intake is more linear and the turbos gained computer-controlled wastegates. The driver was kept level by the new 48-volt roll-control system. It allowed him to make use of 664 lb-ft of torque that's available between 1,350 and 4,500 rpm. It also offers 626 horsepower...simply mind-boggling. If you don't need Thor's Hammer on a daily basis, the 2020 Bentley Continental GT V8 has 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Click the link below to find one near you, and stay with us for all your Bentley news. Browse Bentley Continental GT For Sale Related: Bentley Bentayga Specs, Price, Review & Photos Bentley Continental GT Tank

By Edward Jones – June 27, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition by Mu...

Bentley Motors is once again celebrating their heritage with a new model. Introducing the new Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition by Mulliner. That's quite the name. However, the name makes sense when you learn that this car specifically honors the No. 1 Bentley Blower from 1929. Only 100 examples of this limited edition Bentley will be created. It can be ordered in either Dragon Red II (not to be confused with Dragon Red I) or Beluga. The roof can also come in either Claret of Beluga. Each edition comes with the Centenary Pack, Bentley Black Line Specification and Carbon Body Kit as standard, as well as the painted Number "1" on the grille. Bentley is set to celebrate their centenary on July 10, 2019. Mark your calendars now. See All Bentley Continentals For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 07, 2019

Bentley is Ready to Break the Pikes Peak Production Car R...

Bentley Motors is motoring right on ahead as they get closer to their Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) attempt. Their goal is to break the production car record with their new Continental GT. Currently, the record sits at 10:26.9, but that won't deter Bentley. In fact, just last year they broke the production SUV record at Pikes Peak with a time of 10:49.9. That's not far off from the current production car record, and I'd imagine the Continental GT could drastically cut that time. Putting the odds even more in their favor is the driver, who will be none other than Rhys Millen. With a nickname like "King of the Mountain," he's the perfect driver for the attempt. Rhys Millen and the Bentley Continental GT he will be driving. "We have taken much learning from our successful visit to Pikes Peak last year with the Bentley Bentayga and applied it to our preparations this time around,"said Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush. "We are proud to demonstrate the Continental GT’s breadth of abilities in competition on a global stage." The Bentley Continental GT's record attempt will take place on June 30. See All Bentley Up For Sale Also Check Out: Bengala Bentayga²: A Bentley Like No Other Bentley Reveals All-New Flying Spur Bentley Centenary Opus 100 Carat Edition: A $250,000 Book

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