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 – March 21, 2019

Behold the new BMW Watch Collection

Before cars had accurate clocks, a driver needed a proper watch to monitor the car's performance. If you think a Sport Chrono package is a little ostentatious, behold the new BMW watch collection. A press release this morning outlines 15 new timepieces. Split into two categories, the BMW Collection has 8 examples and the BMW M Motorsport collection has 7 models. Initial prices range from 169 to 439 EUR, or $192 to $499. The formal unveiling will be on March 22 at Fossil Headquarters in Basel. Our dealers have all the info along with great deals on the M3. Click the link below and find a new BMW for you. Shop BMW M3

By Andrew Nabors – March 15, 2019

New BMW 3-Series Targets a Younger Audience

Several variables need to be considered when launching a new model. Because the new BMW 3-Series has such a dynamic history, they turned to EDM artist Dennis Lloyd to match the car to his hit song "Nevermind". This car has been in the works longer than usual, in order to make sure it launches with a bang. For the 330i, power comes from a 2.0L turbo. If you opt for the xDrive AWD system, 0-60 arrives in only 5.3 seconds. Stepping up a notch, the M340i is available in rear and AWD, powered by a detuned M3 straight six. It offers 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It only takes 4.2 seconds to reach 60 mph! The new styling hides an all-new suspension. Inside the interior is ergonomic and loaded with all the latest safety tech. If your E46 has seen better days, click the link below and stay with us for all your 3-Series updates. Shop BMW 3-Series " width="680"> Related: Lego BMW M1 Needs Our Support! Wheels & Wardrobe: All Black BMW i8

By Andrew Nabors – February 14, 2019

2020 BMW X3 M & X4 M Competition Unveiled

SUV sales are booming, and manufacturers are locked in a horsepower war. The American contingent is led by SVE with their 1,000 horsepower Escalades and Suburbans. But there is another pair of Americans that are poised to shake up the market. BMW has unveiled the X3 M and X4 M competition models, which are built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Both the X3 M Competition and the X4 M Competition will arrive soon with 510 horsepower under the hood. Their venerable 3.0L straight six has been completely redesigned. It has a higher redline and 442 lb-ft of torque sent to all wheels. The new M xDrive has two modes, one for rear-wheel drive fun and the other for normal commuting. The Active M Differential is mounted on the rear to instantly react to cornering conditions. These drift-ready SUVs can leap to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds thanks to the new 8-speed automatic. It uses a traditional torque converter, as BMW is slowing discontinuing their dual-clutch gearboxes. Since this is the most powerful inline six BMW has ever offered, it could possibly find its way into the Z4 and its Supra sibling. Click the link below to find a BMW X Series near you and stay with us for all your M Performance updates. Shop BMW X Series For Sale Related: New Land Rover Range Rover Sport HST Unveiled SVE 1,000 Horsepower Suburban Yukon & Escalade Now Available

By Edward Jones – February 11, 2019

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Revealed

It's been a while but a new ALPINA is finally here. Introducing the 2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan, the 6th-generation model from ALPINA and the 3rd generation of the famous B7 series. As expected from a B7 model, this performance sedan is packing some power. Under its hood is a 4.4-liter V8 engine with two, twin-scroll turbochargers that delivers 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. ALPINA notes that the new B7 will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, 0.1 seconds quicker than the previous generation. Top speed of the car is rated at 205 mph, previously 194 mph. Handling the power is a ZF 8-Speed Sport Automatic Transmission that features ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC. ALPINA actually modified the software so it pairs up better with the new twin-turbo V8 engine. Based on the new 7 Series, the 2020 ALPINA B7 is just as sporty as ever before. A few modifications were made to the exterior in an effort to make it stand out among all other 7 Series on the road. This includes the new front bumper, rear spoiler, stainless steel sports exhaust system with elliptical twin tailpipes, and more. For paint, exclusive paint finishes call ALPINA Blue metallic and ALPINA Green metallic are available. Expect the 2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive sedan to launch in Q3 2019 with an MSRP of $141,700 plus the $995 destination fee. view all alpinas for sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 04, 2019

BMW Unveils M850i xDrive First Edition

Don't believe everything you read. Big 2-Door coupes are not dead. When BMW began development of their latest coupe, it was done on the track then refined for the street. The time for waiting is over, now that BMW has unveiled the M850i xDrive First Edition. If your deposit is not in you better hurry. That's because only 400 examples are being built. Each one will arrive in Frozen Barcelona Blue metallic with gloss black trim. Inside you are treated to two-tone leather in white and night blue. Piano black trim with a serial number plate will set it apart from lesser coupes. BMW Individual Unveils M850i Night Sky Edition Under the hood is their latest 4.4L V8. It offers 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque to all wheels! Our dealers have all the info along with great offers on the refreshed M5. Click the link below to get your deposit in and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse All BMW FOr Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

2018 BMW M5 Review

You might not know this, but BMW's latest M5 has a tractor beam. You feel drawn to it. As you find yourself overcome with pure emotion, you need to understand what is in front of you. We spent a week with the Ultimate Driving Machine, and you should too. Known internally (and by enthusiasts) as the F90 series, the latest version arrived in 2018. The problematic Dual-Clutch transmission was axed in favor of the ZF 8-speed automatic. It is the only transmission offered, but it sends power to all wheels. I had never experienced an AWD M5 before, and it never failed to impress. My daily driver is a CTS-V, which sends great feedback to the driver. At first, I thought the BMW was numb, but I discovered I was nowhere its limits. It is 88 lbs lighter than the 2017 model thanks to using high-strength steel instead of layers of conventional sheet metal. Not only is the chassis stronger, it is very hard to find its limits on public roads. Under the hood is a revised 4.4L V8 with twin turbos. They offer 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque across the tachometer. Build up the boost by holding it back, and you will rocket to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. It only takes 11.1 seconds to reach 124 mph, so you could probably cut a quarter-mile in the high 10-second range. Fuel mileage? Go get a hybrid. This is a fire-breathing Ktulu for only $102,000. For that price, it comes with leather and carbon fiber surrounding you. The controls are easy to reach and the HUD is full-color. From the carbon fiber roof to the finely sculpted side mirrors, you will spend hours discovering the finer details. Click the link below and our dealers will be happy to help you. Shop BMW M5 For Sale " width="680"> Related: BMW M5 and R nineT Star in Mission Impossible: Fallout AC Schnitzer Unveils 700 HP M5 Competition

By Edward Jones – January 16, 2019

2020 BMW 7 Series Makes its Entrance

The new 2020 BMW 7 Series has been unveiled by the German automaker as a redefined take on their flagship luxury-class model. It features a redesigned style that gives it a bold appearance on and off of the road. In the front are new headlights with adaptive LED tech as standard. Customers can also opt for the Laserlight tech if they want to take their lighting game to the next level. Between the two headlights is a new kidney grille that's 40% larger. Underneath the grille is a new front bumper with air inlets on either side and chrome edging. The back of the new 7 Series is where it's at, thanks to the new LED rear lights. These new tail lights are 1.4-inches slimmer than the outgoing model and extend across the entire tailgate thanks to a light strip that's only 0.2-inches wide. Other additions to the new 7 Series include new light-alloy wheels, new paint finishes, extra insulation around the rear wheels arches, 0.2-inches of added thickness in the laminated glass, two-inch height increase in the front of the car and much more. BMW will be offering the following 2020 7 Series models in the United States: 740i, 740i xDrive, 750i xDrive, 745e xDrive, and M760i xDrive. Interestingly enough, the M760i xDrive will be powered by a 6.6-liter V12 engine. This power plant provides the sedan with 600 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. BMW says this power will allow the car to run 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. Long live the BMW V12! Pricing has not been stated yet, but BMW has said that market launch is set for April 2019. Expect pricing closer to the launch date. If you need additional information, be sure to give your local BMW dealership a visit. find your local bmw dealer Also Check Out: BMW Group Sees Best-Ever Sales Figures in 2018 The Last Manual BMW Will Be the M4 BMW Individual Unveils M850i Night Sky Edition

By Edward Jones – January 11, 2019

BMW Group Sees Best-Ever Sales Figures in 2018

BMW Group is on a roll in terms of sales, having achieved eight consecutive years of sales records. In 2018, BMW Group (BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce) sold a total of 2,490,664 cars that were delivered around the world-- that's an increase of 1.1 percent year-over-year. The BMW brand was, by far, the main contributor to the sales record with a total of 2,125,026 cars delivered in 2018-- an increase of 1.8 percent. Sales of the X family increased by 12.1 percent, for a total of 792,590 cars delivered (33.8 percent of total sales). BMW M GmbH increased their sales by 27.2 percent with 102,780 cars sold. This allowed BMW M to reach their goal of 100,000 cars sold in a year two years early. BMW Group also saw an increase in the amount of electrified (hybrid, electric, etc) cars delivered. When you combine electrified models sold by both BMW and MINI, there was a 38.4 percent increase over the previous year. As we reported earlier, Rolls-Royce also had a record-breaking year with 4,107 cars sold. That's a 22.2 percent increase of the previous year and an all-time high for the luxury brand in their 115-year existence. In December 2018 Compared with previous year % In ytd Compared with previous year % Europe 97,568 -5.2 1,097,654 -0.3 - Germany* 29,400 -0.1 319,134 2.5 - UK 21,766 2.8 237,895 -1.4 Asia 84,716 8.8 874,828 3.2 - China (Mainland) 62,895 20.9 639,953 7.7 - Japan 8,664 2.5 78,001 -2 Americas 45,176 -5.9 456,325 1.4 - USA 37,154 -4.4 354,698 0.5 - Latin America 5,107 -6.3 54,858 8.1

By Andrew Nabors – January 03, 2019

BMW Individual Unveils M850i Night Sky Edition

This is the one you have been waiting for. BMW has spent a few years developing the 8 Series to make sure it surpasses everyone's expectations. Two distinct teams were brought together to show the world an astronomical new concept. BMW Individual along with the M Performance division joined forces for this breathtaking build. The M850i Night Sky is a one-off example that captures the imagination. To show the public what BMW Individual can do, the 3D printed center console has illuminated constellations in lieu of traditional lighting. Inspiration from above can also be seen in the seat backrests, exterior trim, and even the brake calipers. Lamborghini Aventador vs 1,000 Horsepower BMW It will be outside starting tonight in order to coincide with the year's first meteor shower. Today and tomorrow we will pass through the trail of Asteroid 2003 EH. The falling stars can also be seen in the center console. It has been machined of meteorites along with the door sills, starter button, and the shifter. They turned to the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics to make sure the materials were cut correctly. Meteorites have a unique Widmanstätten grain when polished. The sparkles of rare elements like iridium form a crystalline pattern. A bath of acid and heat was used to give the iron crystals a look of wet ice. This attention to detail is available to all BMW Individuals, so click the link below to find a new 8-Series near you. BMW 8 Series For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 30, 2018

The Last Manual BMW Will Be the M4

Are you a fan of slamming through gears thanks to a manual transmission? Unfortunately, for those us who enjoy some clutch action, the manual gearbox is a dying a long and slow death thanks to the improvements made on automatic transmissions. Thankfully, there are still a few automakers out there that are committed to bringing manual transmissions to the world, like BMW is doing with their M4. See a Manual M4 in Action Below If you've ever driven a manual BMW M Performance car before, you know that it is a sweet treat, akin to a dessert. That being said, our beloved gearboxes are being replaced with paddle shifters. Bob Sorokanich of Road & Track recently sat down with Klaus Fröhlich, the head of development at BMW and a board member, to talk manual gearboxes. Sorokanich asked if the next M3 and M4 would have a manual option. His response was both sobering and uplifting: "I think, in the overall portfolio, manuals will disappear. But I think M4 should be the fortress of manual. So the last manual transmission which will die, it should die in an M4, as late as possible. That's my view." At least we now know that there are those in BMW that want the manual transmission to live on and the M4 will continue to carry them. But how long can they hold out offering the manual option? Only time will tell. Also Check Out: The New BMW X7 Unveiled as a Gigantic SUV 2019 BMW M340i Makes Official Debut " width="680">

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