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 – February 16, 2017

BMW and LEGO Create Insane Hover Bike Concept

It doesn't matter how old you are, building LEGO sets will always be fun. Take it from me and my multiple car sets resting on my desk right now. It's therapeutic and nostalgic to take a lump of bricks and turn it into a creation that either you thought of or instructions helped you create. And while I may have built some pretty awesome LEGO creations over the years, I've never had one turned into a full-size replica. This is why the BMW Hover Ride Design Concept is so special.The LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure is a fantastic model kit, but the designers at LEGO Technic and BMW decided to take it a step further. To provide an alternative build for this kit, as is common for the 2-in-1 kits. In the end, they created the Hover Ride Design Concept.“It was a great idea and a superb creative challenge to develop a fictitious model from the parts of the LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure set. Our concept not only incorporates the BMW Motorrad design DNA with typical elements such as the boxer engine and the characteristic GS silhouette, it also draws on the LEGO Technic stylistic idiom,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design.Sure, the kit is neat and all, but what's really great is that the two companies decided to make a full-size replica out of the Hover Ride Design Concept. BMW had their second to fourth-year trainees use actual production parts used for the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure to create the life-size replica. This even includes a front-wheel rim that was modified to form a propeller.BMW For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – March 07, 2016

BMW Envisions Future with Vision Next 100 Concept

Looking 100 years into the future to celebrate their 100 year past, BMW envisions a concept fit for the years to come. The VISION NEXT 100 concept focuses on "Sheer Driving Pleasure," according to the car maker, with driver experience at the top of the list.VISION NEXT 100 features an array of futuristic components, which allow the driver to be fully immersed and connected to the vehicle for an intense driving experience. Innovation permeates the vehicle, but BMW pays special attention to three factors in particular: intuitive technology called Digital Companion, aerodynamics and object alter through Alive Geometry and intense vs laid back driving experience thanks to Boost and Ease functionality.Ergonomics and intuitive technology are all taken into account as the interior is fashioned to "create space and the right atmosphere for entertainment and relaxation according to the driver's preference," according to the car maker. While the car is being self-driven through Digital Companion, the driver can relax in comfort.Like something out of Minority Report, the Alive Geometry transforms the dashboard of the vehicle into a mass of moving triangles that the driver can manipulate according to their exterior surroundings. The purpose of this Alive Geometry is to provide the VISION NEXT 100 with the most accurate, real-time information on surroundings.The two driving modes, Boost and Ease, give the driver complete control over their experience. Boost mode is for the driver that wishes to be in control-- as he or she would in a traditional, 21st Century vehicle. Ease mode allows the car to be self-driven so the driver can relax on their journey.The new VISION NEXT 100 concept is definitely something out of the not-so-distant future. Check out more photos below. What do you think of the vehicle? Let us know in the comments below.

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By Caitlin Duffy – November 11, 2015

BMW eRR Electric Supersport Motorcycle Concept Unveiled

Though few details were released, BMW announced that they are embarking in a new direction with their Motorrad division, looking to a new energy source for their high-performance motorcycles.The eRR Supersport is the marque's first electric motorcycle concept, one which takes the lessons learned from the BMW i program and C evolution and applies them further to the world of two wheels. As a press release issued by the marque today announced, it takes the chassis and design of the S 1000 RR, and applies an all-electric drive. As the Head of BMW Motorrad, Stephan Schaller, explained in the release, applying this technology was an easy decision."If acceleration, handling or topspeed – the RR is setting standards," Schaller said of the S 1000 RR. "However, if acceleration on the first metres, up to 50, 60 kph, is the point, the RR’s 199 bhp have to admit defeat by another BMW product: the C evolution with its electric drive."Essentially, because an electric engine provides all of its torque up front, quick acceleration from a standstill is easily possible; the Tesla's crazy 0-60 mph times in various modes prove the point well.No technical details about this concept have been introduced as of yet, but stay with us for updates as they are released. In the meantime, find your own BMW on four wheels from our exclusive listings at the button below.BMWs For SaleGallery (via BMW) See More Motorcycle News

By Edward Jones – October 27, 2015

BMW M1 Design Study Supercar: Could It Happen?

It's been over three decades since production of the BMW M1 ended back in 1981. Since then, fans of the German supercar have been waiting for its successor. The closest taste we've had of a revival was the M1 Homage, a concept created in 2008 to celebrate the car's 30th anniversary.(See Also: Tesla Drone Design Concept)For Giom Mouton, a South African rendering artist, the wait has become unbearable. So, he's taken matters into his own hands and has created a new M1 Design Study.Mouton released images of a GT3-styled M1 concept and a standard version on his Facebook page yesterday, Oct. 26. These images show an incredible car concept, the likes of which we haven't seen since the M1 itself. Its long, sloping lines and wide rear are exactly what you'd want in a supercar. Collaborating with these supercar design cues are various notes of BMW design, including the grill and the GT-3 version's livery. One of the best parts? This concept has a mid-engine setup, just like the original M1.Check out the concept below and let us know if you think BMW should make something similar to this in the comments section.BMWs For SaleGallery (Source: Facebook via BMW Blog) More BMW News

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 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

By Edward Jones – May 22, 2015

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Unveiled at Villa d'Este

We've been waiting weeks for the official unveiling of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept, but today the wait is over. In a press release issued online, and at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the new concept paying homage to the original BMW Coupe from the 1970s was unveiled.With this new design, BMW took everything that made the original car iconic and put a modern flare on it. This can easily be seen in the kidney grille, rear wing, front air intakes, elongated front end, its roofline that has been divided into three sections and the exterior finish of Golf Yellow.And, just like the original 3.0 CSL, this concept is extremely light. However, unlike the original, this version's low weight is thanks to the application of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.“Our Hommage cars not only demonstrate how proud we are of our heritage, but also how important the past can be in determining our future,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design, in the press release.Everything about the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept harks back to what CSL stands for, “Coupé Sport Leichtbau” (coupé, sport, lightweight).BMWs For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – May 13, 2015

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept Coming Soon

Coming May 22, BMW Group will be unveiling the new BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept car to the public at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. What is this new concept?See More Concept CarsAccording to a press release issued today, this model is a tribute to the BMW 3.0 CSL, a Coupe model from the 1970s. While we only get a teaser for right now, BMW did explain the design and styling of the concept in the press release. The original 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL (Source: BMW)Its body is home to "striking" air deflectors, large wheel arches and a roof and rear spoiler. As for its construction, it features extensive use of carbon fiber in the lower section highlights.(Related: BMW Performance Updates for Summer 2015)The press release does not go into details about its interior, but does state, "All the elements in the cabin are absolutely essential and each constituent has a high-quality structural or driving-related function. In its materials and detail solutions, the Hommage displays technical supremacy and formal sophistication. Like the interior as a whole, it reflects the special character of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage, embodying as it does a consummate combination of lightweight design, sportiness and elegance."Be sure to check back on May 22 for the official unveiling of the new BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept.BMWs For Sale (Source: BMW)

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