BMW 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 Tyler Rampersaud – March 08, 2022

New 2022 BMW 8 Series Is Revealed At Amelia Island

BMW’s flagship coupé gets a fresh face and makes that announcement in the best place possible. BMW’s 8 Series Coupé, Convertible, and Gran Coupé have all been updated for 2022, and the announcement was made at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, which not only made for a spectacular reveal but also a spectacular celebration for BMW, as 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of BMW M. MUST READ: BMW Teases New M3 Touring And Vindicates Wagon Fans Everywhere The new model features plenty of upgrades, which include a signature “Iconic Glow” BMW kidney grille which is now illuminated, as well as a Control Display that has increased in size to an incredible 12.3 inches. However, the new 8 Series wasn’t the only car on display at Amelia Island. With it came an entire fleet of BMW M cars, from iconic, to rare, to one-off, all there to celebrate half a century of motorsport excellence. These included the one-off M8 prototype, based on the modern classic 8 Series of the 1990s, a 1980 BMW M1, the Le Mans-winning BMW V12 LMR, and the new, all-electric BMW iX M60. BMW M has been a constant staple in the world of performance luxury cars for 50 years, and the new 8 Series is just one look into an even longer future. Source: BMW

By Andrew Nabors – March 23, 2021

2022 Alpina B8 Gran Coupe Arrives Tomorrow

For those who want M8 looks with unhinged performance! Bavarians stick together when it comes to building the Ultimate Driving Machines. So if you need a comfortable sedan that reaches 60 mph in less than 3 ticks, the 2022 Alpina B8 Gran Coupe arrives tomorrow. When gas was affordable, other automotive publications were quick to deride sedans with supercar power. Not everyone wants a big, boxy SUV, and not all roads lead to Affalterbach. The engineers at Alpina don't build hundreds of cars in order to focus on performance and quality. We know they are going to unlock incredible power, but the M8 is already potent. Being fully integrated on the BMW assembly line, they have 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Bowers & Wilkins supply 16 speakers, and you can enjoy them in 4WD, AWD, or RWD thanks to an intelligent transfer case. We will have all the details for you tomorrow, so check out these great offers and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse BMW M8 For Sale https://www.facebook.com/AlpinaAutomobile/videos/856472764904250 Image (C) Alpina GMBH

By Edward Jones – November 16, 2020

Learn How to Drift With a BMW M8 Competition: RWD vs AWD

Drifting is not only fun, it's an art. Being able to keep a car sideways around a corner, on the edge of control, all while giving it gas is a technique that must truly be mastered. Here to show you how to drift a new BMW M8 Competition in both RWD and AWD (xDrive) modes is Stefan Landmann, one of BMW Driving Experience's driving instructors. In the video below, he shows the different setting and techniques that are necessary when it comes to drifting with either the rear two wheels or all of them. It's interesting to see just how much more concentration is needed for AWD drifting, but that's a given considering all wheels are given power as opposed to just the rear two. Check out the video for yourself down below. See All BMW M8s For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 09, 2019

New BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe Revealed

When BMW unveiled the 8 Series, I grinned at the thought of an M8. Well, we've seen the M8 before but now we have the BMW M8 Gran Coupe and M8 Competition Gran Coupe. Oh, yes. And BMW unveiled the models in a downright stunning maroon/purple paint. That's the cherry on top. For the unveiling of the new models, BMW dropped two informative graphics that give us all of the details. You can learn all about the new M8 models down below. The only thing missing is the torque in lb-ft, as they threw it in there as 750 Nm, which translates to roughly 553 lb-ft of torque. see all bmw's for sale

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2019

2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Revealed: 840i and M850i

The new 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has been unveiled by the German automaker in three different variants: 840i, 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive. As with all BMWs with xDrive in their model names, all-wheel drive is available for both the 840i and M850i. Being a Gran Coupe, these new models are larger when compared to the 8 Series Coupe. To put it specifically, this new model is 9 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider and 2.2 inches taller. The new 8 Series Gran Coupe also has an extra 7.9 inches in its wheelbase. Source: BMW For the two variants, there are two different engines at play. The 840i Gran Coupe will get a TwinPower 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. For the top-of-the-line M850i Gran Coupe, a TwinPower 4.4-liter V8 engine will be the source of power. This engine is capable of producing 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. BMW says that's enough to get the M850i xDrive from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Mated to each of the engines is the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Source: BMW Pricing was also announced for the models by BMW. The new 2020 840i Gran Coupe starts at $84,900, the 840i xDrive at $87,800 and the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe at $108,900. These prices do not include the $995 destination charge. Expect them to launch in September 2019. See All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Andrew Nabors – June 05, 2019

BMW M8 Competition Coupe & Convertible Finally Unveiled

This is the one we've been waiting for. When we heard the M6 was being discontinued it put a hole our hearts. It had a good run, but the BMW 8 Series has a host of new technology and engineering saved for something special. Today is the day because the BMW M8 Competition Coupe & Convertible were finally unveiled. Instead of starting with a production car and building it to race, BMW M built the M8 GTE and made it street legal. Thankfully, lessons learned on the track have translated into a highly capable supercar. Starting with the heart of the beast, a revised 4.4L V8 with twin turbos delivers 625 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It can be sent to all wheels by the xDrive system, or you can leave it in 2WD for a traditional experience. The chassis has forged links and control rods, and they attach to a stronger chassis than a normal production 8 Series. On top of that are several braces for the shock towers, subframes, and steering. This allows the Competition models to run more camber for extreme grip in the corners. The grip is provided by 20" wheels wearing 275/35 and 285/35 tires in a perfect staggered setup. Owners can configure their own driving mode by selecting transmission, suspension and stability system specifics. You can completely disable all the electronic helpers if you want to find the limits of this beast. The best new feature is an adjustable brake force. You can choose how responsive the pedal is, offering the best in luxury or feedback depending on the situation. Of course, we've summarized the 20-page press release because our dealers have all the details. So click the link below to find one near you. Browse BMW 8-Series For Sale P.S. Tell us what license plates this car should have: M8 ING, 4MR NM8, GDAY M8, W8 M8, M8 0FTN.... Related: BMW M8 Will Arrive With New M Mode Controls BMW M8: Go For Launch

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