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 Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2020

2021 BMW 8 Series Golden Thunder Edition Unveiled

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By Andrew Nabors – June 17, 2020

2021 BMW M5 & M5 Competition Revealed

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By Andrew Nabors – June 08, 2020

BMW M4 Offers Incredible Donut Recipe

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By Edward Jones – May 26, 2020

BMW Announces Reveal Date for New 5 Series Models

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By Andrew Nabors – May 19, 2020

ALPINA Unleashes the 2021 XB7

When an automaker trusts a supplier enough to give them exclusivity, anything is possible. ALPINA has been building wild examples of BMW models for decades. That is how they have been granted manufcaturer status in Germany. Having integrated their parts into BMW's assembly plants is not unlike how Mercedes treated AMG during their early days. That is why we're happy to introduce the 2021 ALPINA XB7. Top 50 Best Exotic Cars & Supercars Of All Time Turning up the boost and freeing up the exhaust allows it to offer 621 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque between 2,000-5,000 rpm. Sent to all wheels by a ZF 8-speed automatic, we're glad that 6th gear is 1:1. Much like 4th gear in six-speed manual transmissions, it locks the crankshaft directly to the differential. This allows no power to be lost by mechanical disadvantage inside the transmission. Gears 7 & 8 are deep overdrives for cruising at triple-digit speeds. You will be at 62 mph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph. Click the button below to experience an X7 for yourself, and our dealers will be happy to reserve your new ALPINA. Browse BMW X7 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 14, 2020

BMW Welt is Open Again

With many of the world's best museums still closed, the masters in Munich are ready to welcome guests again. In a press release this morning we've learned that BMW Welt is open again. Showcasing the history of BMW from early airplanes to the latest M8, the facility's new hours are 8 am to 8 pm. This includes the Lifestyle & Accessory store, Cooper's Bistro, and the 2-star EssZimmer restaurant. Test drives will resume on Saturday for the electric Mini SE, with each car being sterilized between guests. If you want a similar experience on a smaller scale, BMW USA's headquarters in Spartanburg, South Carolina should also be on your list. Click the button below for great offers on the new BMW M8 for sale. Browse BMW M8

By Andrew Nabors – May 06, 2020

BMW Expands South Carolina Delivery Experience

The BMW X-Series of SUVs are very popular here in the U.S. For those wanting a true Bavarian experience, many choose European Delivery, as it includes a tour of the Munich headquarters and BMW Welt. The issue is that if we want an X-Series delivered in Munich, it has to be transported from the factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Every BMW X-Series and many others have been built there for over 25 years. That is why BMW is winding down their Munich deliveries to North American customers. Instead of the Autobahn, you will have to settle for the Blue Ridge Parkway, or the Tail of the Dragon in your new Bavarian (American) masterpiece. Also, the BMW Performance Driving School is located on-site, and the factory instructors will show you how to get every ounce of performance from your new ride. In an interview with Autoblog, BMW spokesperson Oleg Satanovsky said that any BMW for sale can be delivered in Spartanburg, not just the ones built locally. Click the button below to find an X-Series near you and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse BMW X-Series For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 29, 2020

2021 BMW 4-Series Coupe is Almost Ready

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By Edward Jones – April 29, 2020

BMW Welt to Reopen Collections, Sales Room and Showrooms ...

After the Bavarian State Government eased regulations and measures regarding the coronavirus lockdown, BMW Welt has announced that they will begin reopening their vehicle collection service, salesrooms and showroom starting May 4. It should be pointed out that this is only at BMW Welt and does not include BMW dealerships around the globe. This is, however, a light at the tunnel as we are starting to see signs of the world opening back up. That being said, BMW is still going to take things slow and be cautious in regard to the opening of BMW Welt. For example, customers who are picking up their car will be taken to a private area where they will be given a virtual presentation of their car. Unfortunately, the BMW Museum, BMW Group Classic and restaurants, other than Cooper's bistro, will remain closed until further notice. All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Edward Jones – April 17, 2020

BMW Announces Major Collaborations in the Esports World

With everyone staying at home and social distancing themselves, video games are currently the hot ticket. In the automotive world, many are truly embracing the world of video games and esports. Take BMW, for example, who just announced major partnerships with some of the biggest esports organizations. These include Cloud9, Fnatic, FunPlus Phoenix, G2 Esports and T1. It should be noted that BMW actually partnered with Cloud9 back in March 2019. “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with BMW to the global front and continue to uphold shared pillars of excellence and peak performance,” said Jack Entienne, CEO and Co-Founder of Cloud9. “We welcome the outstanding teams that we’ll work alongside to drive competitive excellence forward with BMW.” For this partnership, BMW giving them a provision of team vehicles. On top of this, each organization with have a team car with its own custom livery that's designed around the organization's logo.

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