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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

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By Andrew Nabors – February 03, 2020

BMW USA Unveils 2021 M2 CS Racing

Stop, don't cut up your new BMW M2 CS. If you want the ultimate Bavarian track machine, BMW USA has Unveiled the 2021 M2 CS Racing. BMW Motorsport customers have won three team titles and two divers championships since 2016. Racing in the TC America Series is sanctioned by USAC, who have already slapped it with a restrictor plate. It is limited to 365 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. The press release mentions it will be able to make 450 horsepower unrestricted, so we hope they offer this 3.0L monster at the parts department. Click the button below to find your M2 and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse all BMW M2 For Sale " width="680"> Related: Cheap Supercars for sale

By Edward Jones – January 28, 2020

1979 BMW Art Car by Andy Warhol Heads to India

The legendary 1979 BMW Art Car painted by Andy Warhol is making its way over to India for the India Fair in New Delhi. This car is actually a 1979 BMW M1 Group 4 race car that Andy Warhol painted in less than half an hour. He had this to say about the car itself: "“I love this car. It’s more successful than the artwork.” Mr. Rudratej Singh, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMW Group India said, "It is at India Art Fair and I would urge our fans and patrons not to miss seeing it in person! We bring to India yet another timeless interaction between art, artist and the automobile closer to our customers and connoisseurs of art." If you happen to be near New Delhi, it will be on display at the India Art Fair from January 31-February 2. ALL BMW M1 FOR SALE Source: BMW

By Edward Jones – January 02, 2020

BMW i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition Revealed

Alcantara and BMW Italy have teamed up to create a truly special version of the i8 Roadster. Called the i8 Roadster LimeLight Edition, this car has completely customized to be a one-off creation. Throughout the inside, Alcantara can be found on the seats, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel in black. Contrasting against the black materials are lime accents that match the exterior paint. There's also lime-colored stitching to hold it all together. If you've ever wanted an eye-catching BMW, this would be it but as we noted before, this is a one-off creation. SEE ALL BMW I8'S FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – December 17, 2019

2020 BMW M2 CS Coupe Price Announced

The new 2020 BMW M2 CS Coupe has been announced for the U.S. market and we can finally rejoice. This German two-door coupe packs 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, a light weight, adaptive M suspension, carbon fiber accents, manual or seven-speed M double-clutch transmission and a whole lot more. Now onto the 2020 M2 CS Coupe's price. BMW has announced that its MSRP is set at $83,600, not including its $995 destination charge. This puts the M2 CS pricepoint above the current M2 Competition and M4 Coupe, but under the M5 (naturally). If you want to see the highlights of new model, be sure to scroll down below for graphical breakdowns. SEE ALL BMW'S FOR SALE

By Andrew Nabors – December 04, 2019

BMW X5 M & X6 M Competition Comparison

Don't judge a book by its cover. In the battle of Super SUVs, BMW likes to offer familiar styling with unprecedented power. If you are in the market for 4WD and 617 horsepower, here is the BMW X5 M & X6 M Competition comparison. Both the X5 M and the X6 M are available with or without the competition package. It offers 17 additional horsepower along with aggressive calibrations for the transmission and active differentials. Browse BMW X5 FOr Sale BMW X5 M BMW X6 M The xDrive system sends 553 lb-ft of torque to the rear, or instantly to all wheels if needed. Tell us which one you would choose in the comments below and stay with us for all your BMW news. Browse BMW X6 For Sale " width="680"> Related: New BMW X6 M and X5 M Competition Models Detailed in Pictures Jay Leno's Car Collection

By Edward Jones – November 18, 2019

All-Electric BMW i4 Details Released: Range, Horsepower a...

A new electric sedan is coming from Germany in the form of the BMW i4. This new model will be BMW's first all-electric model for their mid-range lineup, sitting above the i3. Details regarding this new model have been sparse, but BMW has just unleashed a long list of information for us all to dig into. First, BMW says that the i4 has a lot of new components in its powertrain, including the electric motor, power electronics, charging unit and battery. Speaking of the electric motor, it has a max output of around 530 horsepower. We also can't talk about an electric vehicle without mentioning range, which this car has around 373 miles of. You ALSO can't talk about an electric vehicle without throwing in a 0 to 60 mph time. The i4 will do that sprint in around 4 seconds. Electric vehicles come with what many consider a "caveat": charging. Thankfully, technology has allowed EV's to charge quickly, and the i4 will not be an exception. BMW says their new i4 will get an 80 percent charge in just about 35 minutes. More information regarding the new BMW i4 will be released in the future, so be sure to stay with us. SEE ALL BMW M4'S FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2019

2020 BMW M2 CS Revealed With 450 Horsepower and Standard...

The new 2020 BMW M2 CS has been revealed by the German automaker and it's quite the potent sports car. It comes packing a turbocharged six-cylinder engine that's based on the one found in the M4 Competition model. BMW says this engine's power output for the M2 CS is rated at 450 horsepower. Making all of this news even greater is the announcement of a standard 6-speed manual transmission, while the 7-speed M dual-clutch gearbox is optional. Long live the manual gearbox. Inside, the 2020 M2 CS borrows the lightweight M racing seats from the M4 CS, replete with Merino and Alcantara covers. BMW is also offering an optional M sports steering wheel with an exclusive Alcantara covering. BMW M2 CS We'll be learning more about the 2020 M2 CS when it debuts at the L.A. Auto Show, starting November 20, 2019. SEE ALL BMW M2'S FOR SALE BMW M2 CS BMW M2 CS

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2019

2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Announced: First of its Kind

The new four-door 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has been unveiled before its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019. This is the first time we've seen the Gran Coupe variant in the 2 Series lineup. In the United States, we'll be seeing the 228i xDrive and M235i xDrive Gran Coupe. The former model is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. As for the latter, more powerful version, it has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that packs 301 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. Mated to the transmission is the standard 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power through the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. 2018 BMW M4: Price, Specs, & Review As for the car's look itself, the four-doors are the first thing you'll notice. The wheels will also vary depending on the model. The 228i comes with standard 17-inch multi-spoke wheels, while the M235i has 8-inch M double-spoke wheels. Pricing has not been announced as of yet, but expect to learn more in November when the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe makes its public debut. see all bmws for sale " width="680">

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 – October 03, 2019

M Performance Parts Announced for BMW X Models

A whole slew of M Performance Parts have just been announced for BMW X models. This includes the BMW X7, X6, X6 M and X5 M. BMW created these new parts to further enhance the appearance and functionality of these models. For the exterior, there are quite a few new M Performance parts. This includes the carbon fiber components. There is also the M Performance Frozen Black Wrapping that is actually a matte black and grey strip that stretches along the side of the car. New 22-inch wheels in either Jet Black or matte black are available, as well as a new brake system that sits behind the wheels. 2018 BMW M4: Price, Specs, & Review Inside, a new M Performance steering wheel can be chosen, along with a number of other cabin enhancements. This steering wheel is for the X5 M and X6 M. Customers enhance this steering wheel further with carbon fiber trim and an Alcantara insert. Want more? The BMW LED door projectors are the cherry on top. see all bmw's for sale

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