Bentley News

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 Jordan Aquistapace – July 28, 2023

Bentley Reports Its Financial Results For The First Half ...

While global sales slightly fell by 4% compared to 2022, the Americas, China, and Europe remain Bentley's top markets.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 17, 2023

Bentley Announces Record-Breaking 2022 Financial Results

Bentley’s at the top of its game, and the numbers don’t lie.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 22, 2023

Bentley Will End W12 Engine Production In April 2024

Bentley kicks off a year-long goodbye.

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 23, 2023

Why Bentley Is Hiring 200+ New Positions Ahead Of EV Reveals

Bentley’s electrification plans jolt into action. The goal of Bentley’s ambitious Beyond100 plan is for the brand to transition into providing its incomparable automotive luxury in a form that is more environmentally sustainable than it has been in the past, and this is going to be achieved through better production practices, a sustainably-designed production facility, and most pertinent to the drivers and enthusiasts, electric vehicles. Now, Bentley’s latest announcement indicates that the luxury brand is ready to kick its electrification efforts into high gear, as its Crewe, England “Dream Factory” has announced more than 200 new jobs, all being recruited towards the end of developing new electric vehicles. MUST READ: Bentley Announces A New Director For Its Mulliner And Motorsport Divisions More than half of these newly opened positions are for engineering, and the end goal is to fulfill Bentley’s “Five-in-five” promise, which will see the brand reveal 5 electric models between the years of 2025 and 2030, completely transforming the Bentley model lineup. With the increased presence of software and digital components in electric vehicles, Bentley is seeking talent in these areas to make sure that its 5 upcoming electric models deliver the level of excellence that Bentley’s gasoline-powered models have achieved so it secures the same reputation it has held for decades in the new and undoubtedly fiercely competitive electric vehicle market that will soon materialize. With the time for Bentley’s first electric vehicle to be unveiled approaching relatively soon, the storied brand’s futuristic efforts are quickly coming to fruition. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 13, 2023

Bentley Announces A New Director For Its Mulliner And Mot...

Bentley brings in new talent to continue building on incredible success. Bentley recently announced that it delivered 15,174 cars last year, which is not only a new record and the third year in a row where Bentley has broken its previous record, but it is also the first time in the manufacturer’s history that it delivered over 15,000 cars. A large part of its success is thanks to the customization that customers are offered from Bentley’s bespoke division: Mulliner. Derived from the world’s oldest coachbuilder, Mulliner offers unparalleled levels of craftsmanship, and the ability for Bentley owners to make beautifully unique vehicles, having completed 500 commission builds in 2022 alone, half as much as the 1,000 Mulliner completed in the eight years before, the division has experienced explosive success and growth. MUST READ: Bentley Brings A Bespoke Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition To The 100th Brussels Motor Show With Bentley’s sights set on going to levels even beyond the one it has achieved with Mulliner, the manufacturer has announced the appointment of a new director for both its Mulliner division and its Motorsport division: Ansar Ali. Previously, Ali worked as the Managing Director of McLaren Special Vehicle Operations, as well as in positions at Ford, Lotus, Caterham, and as a co-founder of Zenos Cars. With Bentley, Ali will be responsible for Motorsport, working with the brand’s GT3 teams, but for Bentley’s roadgoing customers, he’ll be working as director of Mulliner. With Mulliner, he’ll be responsible for the division’s three aspects, reviving Bentley classics, creating highly exclusive collector’s cars, and creating bespoke commissioned Bentley cars. With a portfolio already consisting of incredible projects like the Batur and Bacalar, Blower heritage cars, and the wide array of stunningly customized Bentleys, Bentley hopes that Ansar Ali’s appointment as director of Motorsport and Mulliner will take its already-incredible craftsmanship, luxury, and success to the next level. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 10, 2023

Bentley Says The Bentayga Is The World's "Most Successful...

Bentley built on unprecedented success in 2022. In 2021, Bentley shattered its financial records, making for what was its best year ever as a luxury automotive brand. However, in 2022, Bentley was not only able to achieve the same success, but even build on it, achieving an incredible total sales number of 15,174 for the year. This is not only a 4% increase over 2021’s number, but also the first time that Bentley has ever seen annual sales above 15,000. For this incredible achievement, Bentley credits the rapid expansion of its bespoke Mulliner offerings, as well as the introduction of new hybrid models, an early but significant step in Bentley’s Beyond100 journey towards electrification throughout its lineup. MUST READ: Bentley Mulliner Bespoke Celebrates 500 Personal Commission Builds For 2022 The Bentayga SUV was the most popular model in 2022, and this goes along with the popularity of luxury SUVs throughout the automotive industry. With the model making up a 42% portion of Bentley’s 2022 sales, and plenty of orders for upcoming EWB and Hybrid Bentaygas, Bentley says that the Bentayga is the “most successful luxury SUV in the world.” However, the rest of Bentley’s lineup excelled, as well. The Continental GT and its convertible counterpart accounted for just under a third of sales, and the Flying Spur over a quarter. Bentley celebrates the Flying Spur’s success as evidence that its electrification efforts are well received, as 30% of the Flying Spurs sold globally were hybrid models, and in the UK, over two thirds of 2022’s Flying Spurs were hybrids. With electrification on the horizon and plenty of success on its resume, Bentley is ready to continue dominating the luxury world. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 02, 2022

Bentley's Profits Increase By 109% For YTD Q3 2022 Results

Despite global challenges, Bentley continues to excel. With supply chain crises around the world, financial results from the most successful automakers have been plagued by reduced deliveries and profits, but in such a challenging environment, some brands still manage to shine, and Bentley is one of the greatest examples. In 2021, Bentley managed to absolutely shatter its previous records, making 2021 its greatest financial year ever, and despite the circumstances, Bentley has shown to not only thrive but even improve in 2022. MUST READ: Why The New Bentley Bentayga Odyssean Edition Is The Most Sustainable Bentayga In the first three quarters of this year, profits, which are at roughly $568.6 million, are double last year’s figure for the same period. The previous highest full-year profit figure was roughly $384.6 million. Deliveries for the period also increased by 3 percent to 11,316, and Bentley credits the expansion of Mulliner models and customization opportunities, as well as the introduction of the Azure lineup. Sales of the Bentayga SUV were the highest of the brand's lineup, increasing by 9 percent over last year, and Bentley has even more optimism for the rest of the year as it has now introduced the Bentayga EWB model to the mix. With a whopping 109% increase in profit, Bentley has stayed at the top of its game and gone even higher. Used Bentley For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 29, 2022

Bentley Eclipsed Its 2021 Operating Profit In Only Six Mo...

The numbers are in, and Bentley’s are quite high. It seems as though the challenges facing the world’s automotive industry have failed in hindering Bentley’s success, as for the first half of 2022, Bentley is looking forward to what may well be its best year ever. With an operating profit for the first six months of this year higher than the record-breaking number the brand achieved during the entire year of 2021, and a significantly higher return on sales, as well as increased sales, it seems as though Bentley is driving in the right direction with its multi-billion dollar investments in sustainability and the brand’s Beyond100 strategy. MUST READ: Bentley Celebrates 20 Years In China With Four New Exclusive Mulliner Models Operating profit for the first six months of this year came in at a staggering €398 million, which is more than double the figure for the same period of 2021, and as a matter of fact, it is greater than 2021’s operating profit figure for the entire year, which was at €389 million, which happened to be the company’s record year. When it comes to operating profit, Bentley has already achieved yet another record-breaking year, and the year is only halfway over. Bentley credits an increased revenue per car, which went up by €27,000 to increased personalization. In turn, return on sales increased by roughly 10 percent, going from 13.4% last year to 23.3%. The most popular model, unsurprisingly in today’s market, was the Bentayga, while the Continental followed close behind, and the Flying Spur came in third. Sales increased everywhere in the world except for China, where lockdowns are still in effect in many places, but with a revenue increase of 29% and an explosive operating profit increase of 124%, Bentley’s astonishing success seems to continue. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 08, 2022

Bentley Completes The First Phase of "Extraordinary Women...

Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy involves bringing women into the automotive world, and Bentley is bringing that to fruition. The Beyond100 plan that Bentley has laid out for a more positive future includes Bentley’s commitment to increasing diversity throughout the company. To this end, Bentley has announced the successful completion of the first phase of the “Extraordinary Women” program, in which 8 female students have been mentored in areas like engineering, business, and design by entrepreneurs, academics, and Bentley experts, visiting Bentley’s Crewe headquarters for a week to learn more about the brand and its careers. MUST READ: The New Bentley Bentayga Belgian Equestrian Collection Honors Show Jumping Tradition The goal of the program is to achieve the Beyond100 benchmark of 30% diverse management by 2025. In the program, students not only learned about Bentley’s products and strategy but also had the opportunity to join panel discussions with Bentley’s senior leadership and pitch ideas to colleagues. Bentley has also announced that the next chapter of Extraordinary Women will be announced soon and introduced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 05, 2022

Bentley Has Its Best Q1 Ever After Its Best Sales Year Ev...

Bentley’s incredible success continues even after a record-breaking year. Even in the face of a challenging world, Bentley celebrates its best-performing first quarter in its entire history, coming off of a 2021 that shattered the brand’s annual profit record by over twofold. Bentley has also recently announced a €3 billion investment towards sustainability and carbon neutrality by 2030, starting with the Crewe, England factory. The brand says that this incredible performance in the first quarter shows that the Beyond100 strategy and investments like these are worthwhile, and confirms that Bentley is on the right path not only towards financial success but also sustainability for the company and the world around it. MUST READ: Bentley’s Upcoming Model Takes Customization And Comfort To The Next Level Sales are down 5 percent compared to Q1 2021, however, increased revenue per car means that Bentley emerged with nearly double the return on sales of Q1 2021 and enjoyed the best Q1 it has ever had. Along with this great news, global sales of the Bentley Continental GT have increased by 10 percent, and Bentley says that it looks forward to selling more hybrids in 2022 than it ever has before, especially with the introduction of the Flying Spur Hybrid and its confirmation as the most efficient and least emissions-producing Bentley that the brand has made thus far. Hopefully, this incredible success for Bentley continues towards a luxurious and sustainable future for the car world. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

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