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 Jordan Aquistapace – September 15, 2022

The Best BMW M4s You Can Buy Today

Since its debut into BMW’s performance lineup in 2014, the M4 became the predecessor to the original M3 Coupe. Sporting an aggressive two-door configuration with the design and performance to dominate any road or track, the BMW M4 quickly gained traction within the automotive market. Now, BMW’s M4 fleet solidifies itself in its own shape with a passionate community of owners and enthusiasts that dedicate their garage space to the M Division's most popular coupe. While the BMW M4 comes in an array of colors and variations boasting impressive power outputs, we have compiled a list of the best examples available today through duPont REGISTRY. Click on the links below to view the price and listing on the BMW M4s included in this special. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and supercar news. 2022 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2021 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2020 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2022 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2018 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2022 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2015 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2022 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2022 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING 2017 BMW M4 VIEW PRICE AND LISTING

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 15, 2022

BMW's New "Dune Taxi" Film Shows Off And Previews Off-Roa...

BMW takes its off-road performance to new heights. In a new video called “Dune Taxi,” BMW shows off the capabilities of its off-road motorsport projects, and honors the unique car culture of the Middle East. The film is centered around actress Madelyn Cline getting a ride from and acting as a co-driver to rally driver Abdo Feghali, and their destination is the Tal Moreeb dune in Liwa, Abu Dhabi, a dune with a height and slope that many see as impossible to scale. Their vehicle, the “Dune Taxi” electric prototype, is a new cutting-edge all-electric rally car with over 536 horsepower and 737 lb/ft of torque. The body shell is made of NFRP, or natural fiber reinforced polymer, and over 15 inches of wheel travel allows the car to be incredibly agile on desert terrain. MUST READ: 2022 BMW M5 CS Review: M Performance At Its Best The pair are then joined by the Red Bull Driftbrothers each in a BMW X6 M Competition, an SUV boasting 617 horsepower and M xDrive with Active M Differential, an all-wheel drive system tailored for off-road motorsport. Also joining the fun is the new BMW iX M60, the newest electric performance SUV from BMW that for the first time combines all three of BMW’s important letters: i, X, and M. It boasts 811 lb/ft of torque and rockets to a top speed of 155 mph. The final stunt is one that is well-known in the Middle East, and it involves getting the car on two wheels and driving down the road with the car nearly sideways. As the Dune Taxi passes by a line of BMW X5 SUVs on two wheels, it approaches the dune and clears it with ease despite its 130% slope. Ending the video is the Concept XM SUV, unveiled late last year. The production version of the XM is going to be unveiled soon on September 27, and it will continue to bring BMW’s performance prowess off the beaten path. View All BMWs For Sale Source: YouTube/BMW Middle East

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 08, 2022

Watch A 500+ HP BMW M5 Wagon Race A Professional Golfer O...

Two completely different sports competing using Bridgestones product line of high-performance tires and golf balls. Nowadays, it's easy to pull a vehicle's performance figures using state-of-the-art tuning technology and high-tech dyno systems. The team at DriveTribe find more creative ways to measure the power output using other strategic challenges. On the most recent video uploaded to its YouTube channel, DriveTribe partners with Bridgestone to see if a golf ball can outperform a set of sport tires. Enlisting help from professionals, TopGear host Richard Hammond takes the wheel of DriveTribe's BMW M5 Wagon while renowned golf YouTuber Rick Shields sets up at the tee box. MUST-READ: Jay Leno And Post Malone Drive The New Hennessey Venom F5 On Jay Leno’s Garage The race takes place at the old Aintree F1 track in England, where Richard Hammond needs to try and complete two laps before Rick Shields finishes the par-four hole parallel to the track on foot. The weapons of choice are a set of Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires and the Bridgestone Tour BXS golfball. At the drop of the flag, Shield tees off alongside Hammond's perfect launch start. Without giving away the results, this is a close race that you will need to see for yourself to believe. Click on the video link above to watch Richard Hammond race a pro golfer around an old F1 track. View all current BMW M5 examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and celebrity car news. VIEW ALL BMW M5 FOR SALE Source: DriveTribe YouTube

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 19, 2022

A Brand New BMW i7 Is The Hole-In-One Prize At The BMW Ch...

With a new BMW i7 on the line, these golfers better get their practice swings in before the big day. Although a hole-in-one for any golfer seems incredibly difficult to accomplish on the course, its not an impossible shot to make. Being the main sponsor for The BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club, the German automotive manufacturer decided to put that thought to the test during the weekend golf event in Delaware. BMW is excited to announce that an all-new i7 xDrive60 will be the prize for the first golfer to hit an ace at the 15th hole. The 15th hole of Wilmington Country Club East Course is a long 234-yard par 3 shot with a man-made water hazard to the left of the green, making this a challenging shot for the long list of professional golfers looking to take home a new BMW i7. MUST-READ: BMW Is Testing A New Four-Motor Electric Drivetrain For Upcoming M Models In the 15-year history of the tournament, the BMW Hole-in-One Car has only been won twice. On behalf of the first player to hit a hole-in-one at the BMW Championship (regardless of the hole), BMW will donate a full four-year scholarship to a caddie through the ESF. This has happened on five occasions in the past at the BMW Championship. All proceeds from the BMW Championship go to the foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for hardworking young caddies. View the current BMW 7 Series examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and automotive news. VIEW ALL BMW 7 SERIES FOR SALE Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 17, 2022

BMW Is Testing A New Four-Motor Electric Drivetrain For U...

BMW M is getting ready to make some shocking new moves. With the BMW i4 M50, and the BMW iX M60, we’ve had a taste of what BMW’s performance looks like in electric form, and it’s quite enticing. The BMW i7 M70 is coming as early as next year to continue bringing performance to BMW’s all-electric offerings. However, BMW has announced that it is diving headfirst into the electric performance era of BMW M, and it’s amping up (pun intended) its all-electric high-performance portfolio with a new concept test vehicle being used to test hardware and software for high-performance electric vehicles. The test vehicle uses a four-wheel drive system with four electric motors, and what it aims to achieve is unprecedented levels of performance and dynamism. MUST READ: 2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible Review: Lone Segment Leader The M xDrive four-wheel drive system uses an electric motor to drive each wheel, which opens up new possibilities when it comes to variability and precision, and it works with a control unit that monitors the driver’s preferences as well as the conditions of the road and constantly makes adjustments within milliseconds. Importantly, these concept tests come at a time in which BMW is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its M division, and it proves that the M division remains at the top of its game. The next generation of BMW M vehicles is going to use electric power to be more ingenious, clever, powerful, and dynamic than ever. View All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 05, 2022

The 20th MotoGP BMW M Award Is The First BMW M3 Competiti...

Excellence in motorcycle racing will earn a MotoGP qualifier winner two more wheels. BMW M and MotoGP’s owner Dorna Sports have had a partnership for years, and The BMW M Award has been an integral part of that partnership. This year, the BMW M Award is being given to the fastest MotoGP qualifier for the 20th time, and BMW M is celebrating its 50th anniversary of dialing BMW performance to the next level. To celebrate such an important anniversary, the BMW M Award this year will be a very special prize that honors both anniversaries and highlights another special anniversary gift that came from BMW M this year. MUST READ: The Best BMW M4s You Can Buy Today The fastest MotoGP qualifier will win the first BMW M3 Competition Touring with xDrive. The Winner’s Car will be introduced at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where the BMW M3 Touring MotoGP Safety Car will also make its race debut. With the BMW M3 Touring being introduced as part of BMW M’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations, getting it as the 20th MotoGP BMW M Award is an incredibly special opportunity, and having the first M3 Competition Touring with xDrive is a new experience from BMW that combines the ultimate performance, luxury, and practicality. View All BMW M3s For Sale Source: BMW

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 03, 2022

Shop The New PUMA x BMW M Motorsport 50-Year Autumn/Winte...

PUMA is honoring the legacy from the iconic Le Mans winning ‘Shark Nose’ 3.0 CSL race car, to the very latest BMW M4 GT4. Celebrating 50 years of racing domination, innovation, and creativity, BMW M Motorsport takes a look back on its historic timeline dating back to its beginning in 1972. With a focus on building lightweight performance chassis for on-track competition, BMW achieved success behind the wheel of iconic race cars like the Le Mans winning ‘Shark Nose’ 3.0 CSL. BMW M is proud to commemorate its milestone with a special edition collection in collaboration with its performance apparel partners at PUMA Motorsport. The all-new BMW M Motorsport Autumn/Winter ’22 Collection defines the brand and its forward-thinking on engineering faster, lighter, and more agile sports cars. MUST-READ: McLaren x APL Release The Automotive-Inspired HySpeed Sneaker Collection The creative apparel lineup incorporates the historic red, light blue, and dark blue colors of BMW M, along with logos and graphics that showcase motorsport elements. The collection includes a complete line of t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and jackets sure to rev up interest from all fans of PUMA and BMW M Motorsport. The all-new PUMA x BMW M Motorsport Autumn/Winter ’22 Collection is currently available by clicking on the link below for more information. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle news and releases. SHOP PUMA X BMW M MOTORSPORTS Source: PUMA

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 28, 2022

BMW and Tomorrowland Join Forces With A New Custom iX1 De...

BMW is helping make Tomorrowland’s return after a long time away even more special. After almost two years away, the Tomorrowland music festival has returned, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. In an effort to deliver on this promise, BMW has forged a partnership with Tomorrowland that extends past the local stage and goes to the European level, and at the center of the partnership is BMW’s new all-electric SUV, the iX1. In June, Brussels Airport was home to BMW’s “Magical Forest of Joy,” where BMW and Tomorrowland celebrated Sustainability and the simple joy of music. MUST READ: The GearBox: An M3 Wagon Wardrobe At the festival, which kicked off on the 15th of July, the “Magical Forest of Joy” theme continued, this time with a custom BMW iX1 that boasts a bold wrap with a nature-themed print and “Messages of Joy” written all over it. This custom wrap was created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer, artist and designer Steve Aoki, who derived these Messages of Joy from a campaign BMW and Tomorrowland created where festival visitors shared messages with #UnitedInJoy. The car will be on display in the Magical Forest of Joy during the three weekends of the festival at Tomorrowland, and visitors will be able to visit the BMW stand where they can pose for pictures and videos with the all-new, all-electric BMW iX1. View All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 15, 2022

BMW Fires Up The Engine Of Its LMDh Car For The First Tim...

BMW’s LMDh prototype is being powered by an engine with experience. The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will see LMDh prototype race cars battle it out in the GTP class, and while the chassis and hybrid drive systems of the cars come from suppliers, the combustion engines of the cars are provided by the team. BMW is announcing that it has elected to use a P66/3 turbocharged V8 engine in its LMDh car, which will be paired with the hybrid system, and while this engine itself is new, it’s a descendant of an engine with motorsport experience of its own. MUST READ: PUMA Motorsports Releases The New BMW M 50 Years Collection The P66/3 engine started life as the P66/1 engine, a naturally aspirated V8 engine used in the BMW M4 DTM during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Of all of the engines BMW had to choose from to use as a basis for the LMDh engine, the P66/1 was the closest to being LMDh-ready. However, it still took quite a bit of effort to transform it from a DTM engine into one for the LMDh race car. First, turbochargers had to be added and the engine had to be adjusted accordingly. Once this engine, the P66/2, was tested, the P66/3 was created, this time made to fit specifically to fit the chassis supplied from Dallara and the other components in the LMDh race car. It has a regulated 640 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque. Now, BMW has announced that the engine and hybrid system have successfully fired up together, and testing for the car will begin soon in preparation for the first race at Daytona in 2023. View All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 14, 2022

Braman Motorcars' Lisa Solodar Awarded BMW's 2022 Top Nat...

The prestigious BMW award commemorates a winning performance of five consecutive years. The luxury automotive industry and its leading manufacturers aim to set high standards for its network of dealerships, establishing a comfortable environment to ensure the ultimate car buying experience. BMW showcases its best-performing dealers and individuals through its acclaimed Profiles in Achievement Program, highlighting those that can accomplish consistent winning performance for five consecutive years in a row. The automotive specialists at Braman Motorcars of West Palm Beach, FL are proud to announce that General Sales Manager Lisa Solodar is named BMW’s Top National Manager for 2022. For over 30 years, Braman Motorcars has been providing South Florida with a world-class luxury automotive experience. With locations in West Palm Beach and Jupiter, Braman is an authorized dealer for new Bentley, BMW, MINI, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and quality pre-owned automobiles of all brands. MUST-READ: The New BMW M3 Touring Is Both Practical And Powerful The award is open to the thousands of BMW center Sales and Aftersales employees, including technicians, client advisors, service advisors, shop foremen, geniuses, and managers. Lisa was amongst only three sales managers receiving the award, the only woman to do so, joined only by two other non-management women amongst the forty-three award recipients. President and CEO of BMW North America expressed his gratitude for Solodar by stating “Your devotion to our great brand does not go unnoticed by the executive team of BMW of North America.” Along with obtaining the prestigious management award, Braman Motorcars BMW is also a multi-year winner of BMW’s Center of Excellence award and ranked #1 for sales volume nationally in May. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury automotive releases and dealership news. Source: Braman Motorcars

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