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

BMW News

BMW news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, M division launches and electric range developments. Our coverage runs from the 7 Series through the M cars and across BMW's growing electric line-up, alongside the earlier models that still trade strongly. Reporting comes from first-drive access and from the auction results that determine collector values. Many sites carry performance car news, but few carry it beside live inventory. A great many of the BMWs covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, so a review and an asking price appear together. For BMW news today, and the luxury car news around it, start below.

By Edward Jones – June 02, 2021

First-Ever BMW iX Revealed as an All-Electric SAV

SAV stands for Sports Activity Vehicle. BMW has just unveiled the new iX xDrive50 for the United States as an all-electric SAV. This new model's electric powertrain is poised to produce 516 horsepower, with torque not being stated as of yet. This power is good enough for the iX xDrive50 to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds. Because we're talking about electric luxury cars, the two most important factors to many are range and charge time. As for range, BMW states that the iX has an estimated range of around 300 miles. When it comes to charging, 0 to 80 percent can happen in 40 minutes with a 200 kWh charger. With the standard charging rate of 11 kW, however, a recharge from 0 to 100 percent will take under 11 hours. The new BMW iX xDrive50 will come with a price of $82,300, not including the $995 destination fee and first deliveries are expect in the beginning of 2022. BMW also notes that a new and more powerful iX M60 model with over 600 hp is planned for the future. See All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW USA

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 26, 2021

BMW Announces The New M4 Competition Convertible M xDrive

The BMW M performance convertible fit for all conditions. Since its anticipated introduction into the automotive industry, the newly redesigned BMW M4 Competition acts as a canvas for the brand's new performance and technology. The German automotive manufacturer is now proud to announce the new BMW M4 Competition Convertible with M xDrive. The most apparent change to its design is that BMW incorporated a retracting soft-top roof, rather than the traditional hardtop option on the previous generation. While the open top allows for a better listening experience from the 510-horsepower twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, the interior has been designed to provide a comfortable and versatile driving experience. The new aggressively styled competition seats feature heating and cooling for any day that the top goes down, making year round drives effortless. The performance of the new BMW M4 Competition Convertible is managed with M xDrive, a configurable all-wheel-drive system that allows for a quick switch between 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD. Technology is further updated with added performance analytics from BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which is home to powertrain and chassis settings as well as an M Drift Analyzer. Along with the BMW M4 Competition redesign, the brand is further expressing the true functionality behind its new performance-focused Convertible M xDrive. View All BMW M4 For Sale Media/Information Source: BMW Group For more BMW news, Check out BMW R 18 First Editions Receive Stylish Upgrades

By Andrew Nabors – May 12, 2021

BMW R 18 First Editions Receive Stylish Upgrades

The best just got better! Last year we were introduced to a new version of an old friend. The BMW R 18 & R 18 Classic offer all the power and refinement you would expect, and their First Editions have already found 13,000 new owners. To keep the up this unprecedented momentum, BMW Motorrad has unveiled stylish and functional upgrades and options. Design Package Aero includes new valve covers, intakes, and other details inspired by their streamliner models. These Art Deco parts are capped by a copper badge that is triple-chrome plated. An optional heated seat is diamond-quilted and retains the stock ride height. New wheels fall into their Aero and Icon packages, and the new color choices include Galaxy Dust Metallic and Titanium Silver 2 Metallic. If you need a new Bavarian cruiser, our dealers have all the details. Stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse BMW For Sale Images (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – May 03, 2021

Watch The 2022 BMW M4 GT3 Scorch The 'Ring

He's going the distance! In order to build the Ultimate Driving Machine, the Bavarians pulled out all the stops. Last Thursday, fans at the Nurburgring Nordschleife were treated to the latest M4. BMW's GT3 cars look and sound ready to take on the world, and these hot laps made sure it was ready to race. The forged S58 3-liter is their latest straight-6, and it can be had with an 8-speed automatic or six-speed stick. Adjustable cams and twin-scroll turbos offer 510 horsepower to the rear wheels, but our dealers can order xDrive for the new M3 and M4 Competition. Are you ready for this year's endurance races? Tell us what you think of the fast BMW in the comments below. Shop BMW M4 Images (C) BMW M GMBH

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2021

BMW M3 Manual Transmission Competition Flogged on the Aut...

It's geared for Bonneville! Bavarian engineers are faced with a dilemma: How to offer consistent acceleration when there are no speed limits. What it comes down to is making the differential gears taller, or spacing the transmission's gear ratios further apart. Both these changes hurt acceleration down low, trading it for passing power above 100 mph. With the release of the M3 and M4 xDrive, we see that BMW M does it the old-fashioned way. The one consistent cure for sluggish launches is more power. Because the BMW straight six gives three cylinders their own turbo, turning up the boost is easy. Lesser cars like the Corvette and Porsche simply added a 7th gear, but BMW's 6-speed gearbox is indestructible, and it easily handles 510 horsepower. There is no reason not to experience the power and refinement offered by every BMW M car, so click the button to find yours! Shop BMW M3

By Andrew Nabors – April 23, 2021

BMW M8 Gran Coupe is Where Power Meets Luxury

Tired of losing to CTS-Vs? Don't listen to the mainstream media. Fast BMW sedans are still a hot commodity, and they allow you to social distance very quickly. So if you need 617 horsepower at all wheels, the M8 does it best. I would be sure to leave the xDrive AWD system engaged because 4 wheel drifts are more fun than a barrel of monkeys. They are also quite stylish, as you can see in our latest Wheels x Wardrobe compilation. The exhaust from the turbos opens up to allow 553 lbs of torque to appear at any rpm. This car is as precise as a scalpel but as smooth as polished stainless. Throw on some Akropovic pipes and the local gentry will be amazed. Click the button to find your M8 and you will not regret it! Browse New BMW M8 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 22, 2021

2022 BMW M4 Competition Meets The M4 GT3

"Who made who" The chicken or the egg, which one was first? That's what Bavarian motoring fans have been asking themselves. If you need a 510 horsepower coupe (or M3 sedan) that can be AWD when needed, the BMW M4 Competition is for you. However, if you need a race car to run at Sebring, Daytona, or LeMans, the M4 GT3 has your name on it. Honestly, it's a tough choice. A quick office poll shows that some of us want a stock M4 with cup holders. Other people asked if the GT3 can be driven on the street...Tell us which BMW is right for you, then click the button to find yours! Browse BMW M4 For Sale Image (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – April 20, 2021

2022 BMW M3 & M4 Competition xDrive Unveiled

M Town has much to offer Big power has been known to transform BMW's high-performance models into drift machines. Because they have 510 horsepower from the twin-turbo straight-six, the 2022 BMW M3 & M4 Competition have been unveiled with xDrive. The world's most capable AWD system normally sends all power to the rear wheels. This retains a sporty nature for both cars, saves fuel, and makes driving great again. In the twinkling of an eye, the active M differential can send power to the front, or to any wheel that needs it. Years in the making, this system has multiple settings for track and street while maintaining 28 MPG. The genius of the design is a wet clutch inside the transfer case. This allows your car to constantly dish out torque where its needed, without angering the stability systems. Tell us which M car is your favorite in the comments below and stay with us for all your BMW news. M3 For Sale M4 For Sale Image (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – April 16, 2021

How Fast is the BMW X5 Le Mans?

BMW Classic highlights a beastly V12 SUV Do you happen to have an extra Le Mans-winning engine laying around? BMW did in 1999 so they dropped it into a new X5 for sale. Our affinity for Bavarian concept cars will never subside, so we figured you might like to know the details of the build. It is just as potent as the KITH for BMW Collaboration! Pulled out of the corner of the BMW Classic Museum in Munich, we see how Hans Stuck was able to scorch the 'Ring. Back in June of 2001, he was able to clock a lap at 7:42.253 seconds, still fast even 2 decades later. The X5 is a fun and practical SUV, and many of them have V8 power. Tell us your best BMW M story in the comments and click the button to find yours! Shop BMW X5 Images (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – April 14, 2021

Watch the BMW M2 Competition Scorch the Autobahn

Turn up the volume While it's not the smallest M car, the M2 really shines above 100 mph. Our friends at AutoTopNL like to push the world's fastest cars to their limits, so let's watch the BMW M2 Competition scorch the Autobahn. Yes, they fit their legendary straight-six under the hood. It makes drifting the M2 easier than making coffee. With each turbo getting a straight shot from its own set of three cylinders, the TwinPower six has been massaged to make 585 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The mods necessary to achieve this are not expensive, and neither is a pristine M2. Click the button to find yours and stay with us for more Autobahn action! Browse BMW M2 For Sale

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