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 Tyler Rampersaud – May 24, 2022

The New Bentley Azure Range Prioritizes Relaxation, Comfo...

These new cars are designed to do what a Bentley does best: make you feel pampered. When you think about it in its most basic form, the greatest luxury is simply the feeling of relaxation and satisfaction. Feeling comfortable and carefree is the kind of luxury that most people in the world can agree upon wanting to experience, and it’s that luxury that Bentley aims to provide with its new Azure range. Available for Bentley’s entire model lineup, the Azure range focuses on comfort and well-being for Bentley drivers, and it achieves this by designing everything in the car with the goal of reducing stress and promoting relaxation. MUST READ: The New Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition Maximizes Luxury This new Azure range serves as a counterpart to Bentley Speed, a range that highlights the highest performance potential of Bentley cars, and brings into the limelight Bentley’s other specialty: timeless, uncompromising luxury. Developed with the help of neuroscientists and other wellness experts, the Bentley Azure range's features like 22-way adjustable seats with adaptive heating and ventilation and a massage function that aims to optimize the body’s posture, a suspension system that prioritizes comfort, and a host of safety features that reassure the driver of confidence in various conditions, Bentley’s Azure range aims at a goal that seems simple: to be the nicest cars to drive. Everything from the functions that prevent fatigue to promote safe driving to the curation of interior design elements to create a relaxing environment was carefully chosen and designed to make the Bentley Azure experience the most relaxing and comforting one to have behind the wheel of a car. If driving a Bentley wasn’t already one of the most enjoyable experiences in the world, it most definitely is now. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 19, 2022

The New Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition Maximize...

The Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure knows how to make an entrance. The new Bentley Bentayga EWB not only lengthens the luxury SUV, but it also seriously dials up the luxury factor of the vehicle, and for the first 12 months of EWB orders, a Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition is going to take that idea even further, and prove that when it comes to the Bentley Bentayga EWB, the early bird gets the worm. That’s because the Azure First Edition of the Bentayga EWB gets all the features of the Azure, and then some. Bentley’s new Diamond Illumination comes standard with the First Edition, featuring LED lighting situated under perforations in the leather on the door panels that creates a completely unique and stunning ambient lighting setup for the interior. MUST READ: Bentley’s Bespoke Mulliner Division is Up 200% Since 2020 Along with this, the First Edition features First Edition embroidery and badging, as well as eye-catching 22-inch wheels. With things like jeweled fuel filler caps and a 1720-watt, 20-speaker sound system by Naim for Bentley, there’s no stone left unturned when it comes to making the Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition an incredible luxury experience. As with any Bentley, configuration features a wide range of options for customers, with a total of over five dozen paint colors to choose from, optional two-tone upholstery, and veneer choices that include wood, carbon fiber, aluminum, and more. A Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition is a luxury SUV that simultaneously impresses anyone and matches your personal tastes. View All Bentley Bentaygas For Sale Source: Bentley

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 12, 2022

Bentley's Bespoke Mulliner Division is Up 200% Since 2020

On average, three Bentleys per day are now produced that include bespoke requests. With the luxury automotive market at an all-time high, it is more common to see high-dollar exotic vehicles out in the wild. As a push for exclusivity, collectors and owners are turning to the manufacturers for special requests to add custom enhancements that ensure their example will be unlike any other. The creative team at Bentley Mulliner specialize in offering a one-of-a-kind custom configuration process for its clientele, allowing complete creative control to bring the vision of a dream car to life. Bentley is proud to announce that its demand for Mulliner bespoke personalization has tripled since 2020, meaning that three Bentley models produced each day contain individually-commissioned bespoke features. As part of its celebration of success, Bentley is proud to include new personalization options for customers looking to enhance the experience through its Mulliner division. MUST-READ: The New Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Adds Length And Luxury The first addition takes shape as 18K Gold Plated Organ Strops that sit beautifully against the front fascia of the dash, paying homage to the original Bentley Boys and their early days at the iconic Le Mans circuit. The second new addition is an increased selection of open-pore veneer. Inspired by the natural effect of Stone veneers, the latest offering now includes Liquid Amber, Vavona and Tamo Ash in more sustainable open-pore finishes. Each layer of open-veneer is applied by hand and sticks to the natural surface of the wood, resulting in a wax-like finish that highlights the natural color and texture of the wood. Bentley extends its Mulliner services to its clientele through its latest Mulliner Personal Commissioning Guide, which offers a unique array of traditional and contemporary options. With one of the most extensive color palettes in the world and with almost limitless interior options, unique configurations can run into billions of variations. There are currently a total of 17 billion ways a customer can configure a Bentley Continental GT. View all of the current Bentley models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle news and supercar releases. View All Bentley For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 10, 2022

The New Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Adds Length A...

The Bentley Bentayga stretches to become an even more sumptuous luxury oasis. It seems as though the luxury SUV has become the luxury car of choice for many, with the entire category offering vehicles with excellent drivability, practicality, looks, and creature comforts in spades, and the Bentley Bentayga is one of the most prominent examples of the potential that the luxury SUV category has. Bentley has announced, however, that that potential will be extended, because, with 7 inches of added wheelbase, all kinds of space gets added to the Bentayga for incredible luxury appointments. MUST READ: Bentley Has Its Best Q1 Ever After Its Best Sales Year Ever In 2021 As with all luxury cars, the rear seats are where the luxury is the most apparent, and that area is where Bentley added the most space to the Bentayga. The most prominent addition is the ability to add the Airline Seat, Bentley’s new seat that it says is the most advanced seat ever fitted to a car. It can adjust 22 ways, it has automatic climate sensing, and it has postural adjustment technology. In its Relax Mode, the Airline seat can recline up to 40 degrees, with the front passenger seat moving forward to make way for a leather-trimmed footrest. With a Business Mode that sits the passenger upright to work comfortably on the go, heating and cooling that responds to the actual humidity and temperature conditions of the passenger and postural adjustment that uses six pressure zones and up to 177 adjustments to minimize fatigue, the Airline Seat is a feature worthy of the Bentley name. For the driver, however, the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase uses rear-wheel steering to eliminate the compromise of mobility that usually comes with having a longer car. In addition, the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase might be a luxury oasis, but it certainly isn’t sluggish. The 4.0-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine is capable of 542 horsepower, 568 lb/ft of torque, and a 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds, which evolves to a top speed of 180 mph. Just when you thought that the Bentley Bentayga was the greatest luxury SUV, Bentley just made it better. Source: Bentley

2. Gil Dezer Emerson Fittipaldi Cristiano Piquet and Sebastian Tettamanti at Bentley Residences Miami Sales Gallery

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 09, 2022

Bentley Residences Miami Sales Gallery Hosts Event Honori...

The anticipation for the Bentley Residences tower builds with an amazing event. On May 4th, The Bentley Residences Miami Sales Gallery held an incredible cocktail reception hosted by Gil Dezer, President of Dezer Development, which is the company responsible for developing the Bentley Residences tower, along with the Porsche Design Tower and Residences by Armani/Casa, and Cristiano Piquet of Piquet Realty. The purpose of the event was to honor racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time F1 champion, Indy 500 Champion, and Cart Champion. MUST READ: Motor Mansions: Gold Coast Luxury Along with this cocktail reception, the invited guests of this event were treated to a tour of the Bentley Residences Sales Gallery, which provided a 360-degree video presentation of the upcoming building, which will feature 216 units starting at $4.2 million, all with private balcony swimming pools, stunning views, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and the amazing patented Dezervator car elevator that allows you to bring you car all the way to your high rise residence and have the best of both worlds when it comes to luxury living. Source: Bentley Residences Miami

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

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 04, 2022

Bentley's Upcoming Model Takes Customization And Comfort ...

Bentley’s upcoming model can be configured in 24 billion different ways. That’s “billion” with the letter B, as in Bentley. The brand says that the upcoming model will have greater opportunities for personalization than ever, and better yet, these unique cars will all be handcrafted at Bentley’s carbon-neutral Crewe factory. This new Bentley will introduce what Bentley is calling the Airline Seat, which it says is the most advanced car seat ever, with 22 ways of adjustment and automatic climate sensing and postural adjustment technology that employs up to 177 pressure changes in six different zones. MUST READ: Bentley Announces A New Model Will Be Revealed May 10 The door trim is perforated in a diamond pattern that echoes Bentley’s signature quilted leather, and through those perforations, an illuminated LED pattern is formed, with 12 LEDs on each front door, and 22 on each rear door. Both of these innovations show what Bentley says is its commitment to delivering true and timeless luxury in its vehicles, while combining futurism and modern technology for an experience that’s truly unparalleled. While there’s still much to find out about this new Bentley, we’re getting to know it where the magic really happens in a luxury car like this, from the inside out. Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 03, 2022

The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Is The Most Efficient Bent...

Bentley’s journey to electrification is off to a thunderous start. The most efficiently Bentley ever, the Flying Spur Hybrid, has just been certified as such with its incredible plug-in hybrid technology and V6 gasoline engine . The vehicle is able to achieve a driving range of 500 miles with the total combined system. 26 miles are able to be driven on pure electric power alone. The Flying Spur Hybrid also boasts the lowest CO2 emissions for a Bentley at 75g per kilometer of CO2 emitted. Bentley also says that the 2.9-liter V6 with its electric motor can achieve a total of 536 horsepower and 553 lb/ft of torque, and that this power allows the hybrid efficiency to be achieved without compromising the spirited performance of the Bentley Flying Spur. MUST READ: Bentley Announces A New Model Will Be Revealed May 10 Along with the Bentayga Hybrid, the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid is the next step in Bentley’s process of transitioning towards manufacturing electric vehicles. The entire model lineup will have hybrid options by 2024, and the first all-electric Bentley will be introduced in 2025, with a fully electric Bentley brand being realized by 2030. Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 29, 2022

Bentley Announces A New Model Will Be Revealed May 10

Bentley is adding a new model to its lineup, and it’s getting revealed very soon. A fifth model will be joining Bentley’s current portfolio of four cars soon, with the reveal scheduled to take place at 12:30 PM BTS on Tuesday, May 10. While Bentley has been building anticipation for the transition the brand will be making towards battery electric vehicles, it’s been announced that the first all-electric Bentley won’t roll off the production line until 2025. While this announcement could be the reveal of the electric Bentley, we will still have to wait quite some time to get our hands on it. MUST READ: Bentley’s Sustainability Efforts Already Show Huge Success However, if the new model being announced is all-electric, it will mark the beginning of a period of some quick and sweeping changes for the Bentley Brand, something the brand calls Five In Five, as Bentley has confirmed that a new electric model will come each year from 2025 for 5 years, meaning that back-to-back, five new electric Bentleys will transform the entire model lineup at a blistering pace. Regardless of what it might be, we will soon be seeing the next chapter of Bentley’s long history. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 21, 2022

Bentley's Sustainability Efforts Already Show Huge Success

Sustainability in the automotive industry goes deeper than just the cars themselves, and Bentley knows that. While many manufacturers are looking to create hybrid and electric cars to reduce emissions and innovate the world of transportation, the goal of reducing environmental impact can only be truly achieved by being conscious and making effort to be sustainable across the board, whether it be in manufacturing, the vehicles themselves, or in sales and aftersales points. In an effort that is a far cry from the massive twin-turbocharged V8s and W12s that powered the cars of its past, Bentley has embarked on the mission of being completely carbon neutral as a company, and the Dream Factory concept is a huge part of achieving that mission. MUST READ: The Oldest Bentley T-Series Ever Is Being Fully Restored Recent data coming from Bentley’s Crewe, England headquarters show that it is on track towards becoming the world’s most sustainable luxury automotive brand. With water usage down by 26%, and carbon emissions down by an incredible 70% at the Pyms Lane site where Bentley builds its cars, Bentley’s sustainability efforts have already made wonderful progress. These figures come from before Bentley announced a £2.5 billion investment towards sustainability in January 2022, and with the first all-electric Bentley coming soon, the future has even more in store for a sustainable Bentley brand. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

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