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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 Edward Jones – September 25, 2015

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R's Booming Engine

It's not often that you get to hear a concept car's engine, and that's mostly due to a lot of concept cars not even having engines. Luckily, BMW's 3.0 CSL Hommage R concept car has been fitted with an engine and they're not afraid to show it off.(Related: Real-Life Bugatti Vision GT Engine Sounds Monstrous)In a video uploaded by WorldSupercars Sept. 24, we get a chance to hear the concept BMW start its turbocharged six-cylinder inline engine and even rev it. This all took place at a BMW event in Paris, where lucky guests got the chance to experience the sound for themselves.Check out the video above to hear the engine for yourself.This car was created to mark BMW's 40th anniversary of being in North America, and to celebrate the success of the 3.0 CSL in 1975. It was first unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance earlier this year. See More BMW Videos, Pics and News

By Andrew Nabors – September 22, 2015

2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition For Sale

Lime Rock Park is an historic Race Track in Salisbury, Connecticut. It is host to a wide variety of motorsports events, from NASCAR to SCCA and everything in between. Before the debut of the latest M3 body style, BMW chose to build 200 of the last E92 series M3 coupes as a tribute to the track. The 2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition included every possible option along with titanium exhaust and a wild Fire Orange finish.You might associate the M3 with inline six cylinder power, but this generation featured a high winding, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8. Built from 2008 to 2013, they made 414 hp and redlined at a wild 8,300 rpm. Their current offerings have changed, with the coupe being labeled an M4, and the return of the straight-six engine.BMW For SaleThe Lime Rock Park Edition will probably be the last V8 powered M3, and a coupe version of this storied model is not likely to return. This collector’s item is equipped with a six speed dual clutch automatic and has only 1,513 miles on the odometer. Our friends at Ferrari Maserati of Central Florida will be happy to give you more information on the car; call 407-667-4300 or email sales@ferraricf.comFor more classic and collectible BMWs, stay tuned to Autofluence.View PriceGallery See More Cars For Sale Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 17, 2015

One-Off BMW M3 “Münchner Wirte” at Oktoberfest

Today, BMW announced plans to unveil a new M3 in “Münchner Wirte” livery. This one-off vehicle has been created to celebrate the company's ties with both motorsport and the city of Munich. Naturally, BMW will be unveiling the car during Oktoberfest in Munich, which runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.The car sports a livery modeled after the BMW M1 Procar that raced 34 years ago, in 1981. But, this isn't the only similarity between the two cars: both have a six-cylinder in-line engine and rear-wheel drive.(See Also: Koenigsegg Founder Races Veyron Against His Own CCXR)Interestingly enough, the two engines of these cars are close when it comes to performance in power. The engine powering the M1 Procar develops 470 hp, which allows it to complete a 0-62 mph run in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 193 mph. Powered by a new-age M TwinPower Turbo engine, the upcoming M3 has 431 hp on tap, and can run 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds, topping out at 174 mph.But, at the end of the day, the M3 and M1 are two cars that respresent two different moments in BMW's history.“Although the two cars are very different, it was surprisingly straightforward to carry over the design from the two-door BMW M1 racer to the four-door BMW M3 Sedan,” said Walter Maurer, the man responsible for the original M1 Procar and the one-off M3.Be sure to check back with us for more exciting BMW news as it's released.M3s For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 16, 2015

BMW Reveals Remote Control Parking, Additional Upgrades f...

Those who were planning on adding a new BMW to their collection may want to hold off on their purchase until November, when a host of new upgrades will become available for the marque's top models.Ranging from remote control parking to new engine options, customers ordering a 7 Series, 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, X1 or 2 Series Active Tourer will have a wider choice of features for their cars, as a press release from BMW today tells us. Most of the additional options come shortly after the 2016 7 Series' market launch, an impressive creation that already features a host of advanced technologies.A 3.0-liter, straight-six diesel engine offers up 320 hp and 501 lb-ft for the 7 Series, and will be available beginning in November. The V8 gasoline engine that was only available for 7 Series models ordered with the BMW xDrive system will also become available for models featuring rear-wheel drive in the same month. 0-62 mph takes only 4.7 seconds with the V8, which creates 450 hp and 479 lb-ft.BMW M6 For SaleOf course, the 7 Series' performance is only the beginning of why this model is so impressive. A wide variety of driver assist programs come in the 7 Series, and now customers can add Remote Controlled Parking to the list. The BMW Display key activates this function, which allows a car to pull into and out of straight-line parking spots or garages without a driver at the wheel.The X1 can now be equipped with BMW xDrive or upgraded to an M Sport version for the first time. X1s featuring the M Sport package have the ability to select Estoril Blue metallic paint, which will exclusively be available to those models. The interior will feature anthracite fabric or Alcantara with blue accents, M leather on the steering wheel, Estoril Blue accent strips and more.A new gasoline engine will be available for the 2 Series Active Tourer beginning in November, bringing the total engine options for this range up to eight - four diesel, four gasoline. BMW xDrive will also be available with this new engine option.(See Also: BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition Revealed)The other models seeing upgrades, the 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series and 4 Series, will all now have the ability to add Parking Assist to the list of assistance features, thanks to the addition of new sensors around the exterior of the vehicles.Check out the photos of these upgraded models below, and find your own BMW from our exclusive listings.BMWs For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – September 15, 2015

BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition Revealed

Unveiled today in a press release and yesterday at the 2015 International Auto Show (IAA) is the new BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition. This new special edition is exclusively for the M6 Coupe optioned with the Competition package. The Competition Edition is essentially a boost of power and style for the specific aforementioned car.The power created by the twin turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine is increased to 600 hp and maximum torque of 516 lb-ft, a decent increase from the base M6's 552 hp and 502 lb-ft. Top speed of the coupe is also increased to 189.5 mph.(See Also: 2016 BMW M6 GT3 Fully Introduced at IAA)The M6 Coupe Competition Edition comes in either Alpine White or Austin Yellow metallic. To signify its special edition status are the iconic BMW M exterior body stripes that come with the package. Matte black 20-inch wheels contrast against both the vibrant finishes and body stripes, as do the black chrome door handles, side gills and kidney grille.Inside is a BMW Individual interior clad in fine-grain black Merino leather with contrast stitching available in either Opal White with Alpine White paintwork, or Yellow with Austin Yellow metallic paintwork. "M6 Competition" lettering can be found throughout the cabin, even on the cupholder lids.Technology available through this package includes the BMW Head-Up Display, Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System.Pricing for the Competition Edition option starts at €17,700, or approximately $20,000 USD as of press time. This price does not include the other required options, which amount to roughly $2,700 USD.BMW M6s For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 15, 2015

2016 BMW M6 GT3 Fully Introduced at IAA

We've had a few sightings of the 2016 BMW M6 GT3 in full camoflauge over the past year, but with the Sept. 17 start of the Frankfurt International Motor Show just two days away, BMW has fully revealed their new GT race car. Original rendering of the M6 GT3 from Oct. 2014Customer race teams will be able to purchase this new powerhouse by the end of this year for a price of €379,000, or approximately $428,707 USD as of press time. A press release issued today by the marque shared a full gallery of this upgraded M6 wearing BMW racing livery, and it may be one of the first times we can say that it truly looks like the first renderings we saw.Its arrival as the successor to the Z4 GT3 was first announced in October 2014, when BMW released two renderings of its design and announced that the M Twin Power Turbo 4.4-liter V8 would be powering it.On Feb. 5, that information was expanded, and we learned that 500 hp from the V8 would be channeled through a six-speed sequential racing transmission, which will propel the 2,866 lbs M6 GT3 to impressive speeds. But today we've learned, too, that the driver is centrally positioned in the vehicle, all while drivability, economy and handling have been improved drastically.(See Also: Montblanc for BMW Travel Collection for the 7 Series)Check out the photos of this new race car below, keep an eye on circuits near you for the 2016 BMW Sports Trophy series and find your own M6 more suited to daily driving from our exclusive listings.BMW M6s For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More News from Frankfurt

By Caitlin Duffy – September 09, 2015

BMW Produces 10 Millionth 3 Series Sedan

BMW is breaking out the champagne today; they have some serious celebrating to do.In a case of fortunate timing and wonderful circumstance, BMW is currently celebrating both the 40th anniversary of the 3 Series Sedan and the production of the 10 millionth 3 Series Sedan. A press release issued by the German luxury car manufacturer today announced the completion of model number 10 million, a 320d in Imperial Blue.The BMW Group Plant Munich had the honor of crafting this special example, and the location could not have been more appropriate. The Munich facility produced the first of the 3 Series cars in 1975, and has been the only BMW production facility to create all six of the 3 Series' generations. As the release tells us, they currently create 1,000 cars a day in Munich, with approximately half being 3 Series models.(See Also: The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Out in the Desert)The new 3 Series was just released in July of this year, and its official launchfilm was released on YouTube May 24. Check out the video of this new generation above, and find your own 3 Series from our exclusive listings below.3 Series For Sale (Source: BMW, YouTube) See More BMW News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 17, 2015

The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Out in the Desert

A creation from BMW marking two important milestones for the marque was introduced to the world as the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Aug. 14, and a video shared by the manufacturer gives us a better idea of what the 3D view looks like.Both in a press release Aug. 14 and the Aug. 16 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, BMW celebrated the 40th anniversary of their first entry into the North American market, as well as the 40th anniversary of the 3.0 CSL's victories. The Hommage R wears the same livery as the original 3.0 CSL, and you can see the two together in the video below.Added to YouTube by BMW Aug. 14, it takes us into the desert and above the two BMWs, one from the past, one looking toward the future. The new Hommage R Concept may look like the 1975 creation on the outside, but on the inside, it's all 22nd century. It even forgoes the head-up display and jumps straight to a helmet visor display setting.Check out the video to see more, read our article from last week to learn more and find your own BMW from our exclusive listings below.BMWs For Sale(Source: BMW) See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – August 14, 2015

BMW Concept M4 GTS is a Water-Injected Monster

It has only been a year since BMW launched the new M4 Coupe, but the German automaker has already introduced the new Concept M4 GTS.Unveiled in a press release issued today, the new Concept M4 GTS has a large number of optimizations that make it ride above the rest. One of the most interesting upgrades is the new water injection system. This system emits a fine spray into the intake manifold, which reduces the combustion chamber's temperature and allows for higher boost pressure without introducing additional stress.(Related: BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Celebrates Anniversary)On its outside, this new M4 has an exterior finished in Frozen Dark Grey Metallic with Acid Orange accents. The exterior is also highlighted by the manually adjustable front splitter and wing, each of which is crafted from carbon fiber.Specifics about the car's performance are unknown as of right now, but we do know that it will be a series-produced model, with production numbers also unknown. Stay with us for more information on the car as it is released.BMWs For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News, Pics and Videos

By Edward Jones – August 14, 2015

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Celebrates Anniversary

To mark BMW's 40th anniversary of being in North America and the success of the 3.0 CSL in 1975, the German automaker has created the new BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R.BMW has brought the car to California for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, one of the most prestigious car shows in the world. They also announced the car in a press release issued today, which is full of details and photos.On the outside, the 3.0 CSL Hommage R is very similar to the 3.0 CSL Hommage, but has a livery that harks back to the original. In fact, there are even "Bavarian Motor Works" decals on the front and rear windscreens, just like the original. Inside, the cabin is almost bare, but that's because the necessary gauges are displayed on the driver's helmet visor in a sci-fi movie sort of way.(See Also: Bang & Olufsen Sound for the BMW X5 & X6)From the inside out, this is a rightfully gorgeous car with a classic-styled livery that blends effortlessly with modern design cues. And that's not to mention the cabin's technology is something that has me more than interested.For now, this is only a concept car, but it's most definitely a look into the future of BMW race cars, as well as the technology and design cues that will shape them.Gallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News, Pics and Videos

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