BMW News

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 Jordan Aquistapace – April 04, 2024

Access Granted: The BMW M5 Touring Comes To America For T...

Get ready North America, there's an all-new M5 Touring on its way! Performance station wagons have been an integral part of automotive history since the beginning, offering a unique fusion of speed and practicality. These long roof variations seamlessly sweeten platforms built for individuals who seek both speed and versatility as part of their daily driving needs. The only problem with high-horsepower wagons is that they were rarely offered to the U.S. market, making the models that were approved even more expensive and harder to get your hands on. BMW M is breaking new ground with the introduction of the BMW M5 Touring to the U.S. market. Piggy-backing off the success of its sedan counterpart, the touring version promises enthusiasts an exhilarating driving experience paired with extra storage space. Since its inception in 1992, the M5 Touring has captivated drivers with its Motorsport-derived engine and chassis. Now, with an M Hybrid drivetrain inspired by race technology, the next M5 Touring aims to redefine driving dynamics in its 5-door class. As testing commences across various terrains and tracks worldwide, the BMW M5 Touring swears to deliver exceptional performance and comfort. Stay tuned as BMW M continues its legacy of pushing boundaries and redefining high-performance driving. View all BMW M5s currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All BMW M5s For Sale Source: BMW USA News

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 03, 2024

BMW Hits The Gas On Growth, Electric Sales Shine In 2024

BMW kicks off 2024 with a sales bump and a bold electric leap. As the automotive industry rolls out of Q1 2024, many are reflecting on the successes and areas of improvement surrounding both ongoing vehicle manufacturers and future plans for enhancing mobility as a whole. With a strong position in the luxury car market, BMW of North America just reported promising Q1 2024 sales results for the U.S. The two main factors attributed to BMW's successful sales strategy are its four fully electric U.S. models and the overall increase in EV deliveries. BMW's first quarter in 2024 clocked in a solid 2.4% increase in U.S. sales with 84,475 vehicles driving off the lot, an uptick from last year's 82,466 units. Sebastian Mackensen, the top executive at BMW of North America, couldn't hide his enthusiasm, banking on the diversity and sheer quality of BMW's lineup to keep the brand ahead. Electric dreams are becoming a reality at BMW. The debut of the BMW i5 has electrified its lineup, joining forces with the i4, i7, and the iX to power a greener future. These electric marvels accounted for 12.7% of BMW's total sales in the U.S. during the first quarter. The plot thickens with BMW's plug-in hybrids with the BMW 550e on the horizon. View all BMWs for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All BMWs For Sale Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 21, 2024

BMW Reveals The New High-Tech Vision Neue Klasse X Concept

BMW shows its vision of the future of luxury SUVs. The moniker “Neue Klasse” has been used to describe the near-future generation of BMW’s lineup: featuring a bold movement towards electrification among myriad other futuristic technologies. For the first time, BMW has envisaged its Neue Klasse in a new SUV concept: The BMW Vision Neue Klasse X. With the upcoming generation of BMWs set to come to fruition as soon as 2025 with a new, fully-electric architecture, the concept shows a detailed look at what BMW’s next SUV will likely look like. Computing power is front and center for the Vision Neue Klasse X, with four “super brains” developed in-house, which will synergize and promise to provide unprecedented levels of control and automated driving capabilities, with the help of new software, also developed in-house by BMW. The new SUV concept’s design uses the signature design language of the Neue Klasse with the typical two-box design of BMW’s other X models. The interior features a whole host of futuristic ideas and technologies, including the full-width HUD seen in other Neue Klasse concepts, as well as a new “Personal Sound Experience,” delivered through a device named the HYPERSONX Wheel, delivering a holistic, real-time generated sound experience for an immersive experience while driving. Showcasing the sixth generation of BMW e-Drive, the Vision Neue Klasse X features cylindrical battery cells that are more efficient than the previous prismatic ones, as well as an 8000-volt fast charging system, and a design that uses aerodynamics, special tires, and special brakes to significantly improve efficiency. A sustainably upholstered interior in the Vision Neue Klasse X deepens BMW’s commitment to environmental consciousness, and on top of that, BMW will produce its Neue Klasse cars at the BMW Group Plant in Debrecen, Hungary, which will be the first BMW Group manufacturing site to run completely on fossil-free energy. With the introduction of the new BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, the future of BMW is on the horizon. View All BMWs For Sale Image Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 14, 2024

BMW Group Celebrates Increased Global Deliveries In 2023

BMW Group celebrated global success this past financial year. Recently, BMW Group closed the chapter on its 2023 financial year, and looking back at its results, it's announced that there is lots to be proud of. Throughout the year, BMW Group managed to deliver 2,554,183 vehicles across the globe, a 6.4 percent increase over 2022, and 717,620 of those were delivered in the fourth quarter alone, an increase of over 10 percent compared to 2022’s number. This has translated to strong financial performance, as well, with EBT and EBIT increased over 2022’s number. Of the over 2.5 million vehicles BMW Group delivered over the past year, 375,716 of them were fully-electric, and 565,875 of them were electrified, marking an incredible 74.1 percent increase and 30.5 percent increase over 2022 respectively. The increase of deliveries for electric and electrified vehicles is one of the biggest highlights for BMW Group, which contributes towards its long-term goals of electrification, and as a result increasing environmental stability and reducing negative environmental impacts from its fleet. Throughout 2023, BMW Group decreased its European fleet’s CO2 emissions by 2.8 percent. At 102.1 grams per kilometer, it sits well below the European Union’s target figure of 128.5 grams per kilometer. With positive financial results, increased deliveries, and the dramatic increase of electric and electrified vehicles’ presence and contribution to the success within the BMW Group, as well as a significant stride made towards sustainability, the future is bright for the manufacturer. With a positive 2023 in the books, BMW looks forward to continuing on the same path this year. View All BMWs For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 04, 2024

How To Buy: LEGO's New BMW M Hybrid V8 & M4 GT3 Speed Cha...

Ready. Set. Build! LEGO has been the ultimate starter kit for car fans, with a collection of intricate build sets that turn a hobby into a full-blown obsession with all things automotive. As the motor sport season gears up, BMW M Motorsport and LEGO have joined forces to create a new addition to the LEGO Speed Champions series, giving racing enthusiasts and collectors the opportunity to hand-assemble automotive icons. This latest set comes together as a 676-piece set that reveals the replicas of two of BMW M Motorsport’s leading competition cars: the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3. These two race cars are at the forefront of BMW M Motorsport's quest for victory, notably at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2024. Crafted with the same precision as factory cars, these miniature racers showcase authentic BMW M Motorsport paintwork, detailed diffusers, striking exhausts, and dynamic spoilers, alongside intricately designed interiors. Removable roofs enhance playability, allowing the racing driver figures included in the set to take their places in the cockpits, ready for imaginative racing adventures. This new set celebrates nearly a decade of bringing legendary cars to life in LEGO form while extending an invitation to a wider audience to immerse themselves in the excitement of BMW M. Priced at $44.99, the all-new BMW M Hybrid V8 and BMW M4 GT3 set is now available by clicking the link below. Shop Now Source: LEGO

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 01, 2024

New Color Changing BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA Echoes 1991 BMW ...

BMW honors its Art Car legacy with one of its most futuristic models. BMW is known for combining its automotive luxury and design with incredibly creative artistry, boasting a series of Art Cars that are designed by notable artists from all over the world. At the Frieze Los Angeles art fair, that history of Art Cars is being celebrated in a futuristic, but equally creative way with a new one-of-a-kind BMW i5 with a design by South African artist Esther Mahlangu. Fans of the BMW Art Car series will notice that this new i5 takes after the 1991 BMW 525i Art Car designed by Mahlangu previously. Named the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, the car is named after Mahlangu’s son, and is employs color-changing technology via E Ink. It features sections that can be animated on the roof, hood, and sides of the car. The color changing technology is the latest in a rapid evolution of the innovation, with the BMW iX Flow featuring the ability to change from white to black, and the BMW i Vision Dee boasting the ability to change to 32 different colors. The car was unveiled on February 29, the opening day of the Frieze Los Angeles art festival, continuing a longstanding partnership between BMW and the festival. Simultaneously, the original 1991 525i Art Car will be on display in Mahlangu’s home country of South Africa for the first time in over 30 years, in an exhibition hosted by the Iziko Museums of South Africa and the BMW Group in Cape Town. The exhibition, featuring some of South Africa’s most important artists and cultural icons, will run until August 11, 2024. Paying homage to a classic BMW Art Car, the new BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA evolves Mahlangu’s artistry with cutting-edge technology. View All BMW i5s For Sale Image Source: BMW

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 06, 2024

BMW Celebrates The 20th Edition Of Its Art Car Collection...

Adding to its artistic legacy, BMW is prepped to welcome the 20th edition of its BMW Art Car Collection. Art cars have been a staple for BMW just as long as its high-performance M-Division, introducing a bright and ingenious idea that the automotive industry had never seen before. Since the first art car made its grand debut in the 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans as a BMW 3.0L CSL painted by Alexander Calder, other world-renowned artists, past and present, have gone on to collaborate with BMW and some of its most iconic sports cars. Whether you're talking about the famous BMW M1 by Andy Warhol or Jeff Koon's 2010 BMW M3 GT2, there's no denying that they will all continue to appreciate in popularity and value as they represent a moment in time. Today, BMW is proud to be celebrating the 20th Edition of the BMW Art Car Collection, featuring artist Julie Mehretu's BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car that will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2024. Starting as a blank canvas, Julie applies one of her monumental motifs from a two-dimensional picture plane onto the multi-million dollar BMW M Hybrid V8 race car. The car's ultra-lightweight carbon body is layered in obscured photographs, dotted grids, neon-colored spray paint, and Mehretu's iconic gestural markings, inspiring a portion of her project to Frank Stella's 1976 BMW 3.0 CSL Art Car. In keeping with the tradition of the BMW Art Car Collection, every artistic BMW is debuted to the public inside of an internationally renowned museum. The 20th BMW Art Car will celebrate its official world premiere at the Centre Pompidou in Paris on May 21, 2024, before competing a few weeks later in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15-16. Make sure to tune into the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this year to root Julie Mehretu's BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car onto a hopeful victory. View all BMW models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All BMW For Sale Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 31, 2024

The 2025 BMW Z4 Will Be Offered With A Manual Transmission

BMW’s stylish roadster gets the three-pedal treatment. The BMW Z4 has long been celebrated for its beauty, style, and commitment to two-seater, open-top driving pleasure. However, for the 2025 model year, BMW is taking it to the next level, as for the first time ever, is making the new BMW Z4 M40i available with a six-speed manual transmission. What that means is that drivers get to harness the 382 horsepower of the roadster’s turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine through a manual transmission, continuing a long-standing BMW tradition of inline six-powered roadsters with manual transmissions, which includes the 328, Z1, Z3, and the first two generations of the Z4. With the Z4’s lightweight construction, powerful engine, and manual transmission, the car gets from 0-60 in just 4.2 seconds, reaching a limited top speed of 155 mph. To highlight and celebrate the return of the manual transmission to the BMW Z4, exclusive colors are available only for the manual transmission model as well: San Remo Green Metallic and BMW Individual Frozen Deep Green Metallic. With a manual transmission and new unique touches, the 2025 BMW Z4 is continuing to prove itself an excellent luxury driver’s roadster. View All BMW Z4s For Sale Image Source: BMW

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 11, 2024

BMW M Breaks Global Sales Record In 2023

When it comes to BMW, performance is more popular than ever. Recently, BMW’s performance-oriented M division celebrated its 50th anniversary, and throughout the celebration, new cars were introduced and BMW M previewed a bright future. That future is starting to come to fruition, with 2023 being a record sales year for BMW M, as over 200,000 BMW M vehicles were sold annually for the first time in its history. The total number is 202,530, and it includes new electric models, limited-production driver’s cars, and also an incredibly powerful record-breaking hybrid performance SUV. The past year has been incredibly successful, with models like the M variants of the i4, i5, and i7, the new M2, the M3 CS and M4 CSL, and the XM and XM Label adding fresh takes on M’s performance premise. However, there’s still more to come for 2024. BMW is set to reveal the new BMW M5, which will be available both as a sedan and as a Touring wagon body style. The i5 M60 xDrive Touring will also add an all-electric M wagon to the mix. Building off the success of the BMW M3 CS will the the introduction of the BMW M4 CS, as well. On the racing front, BMW seeks to bring the BMW M Hybrid V8 into the WEC in 2024, and what that means is that BMW has its sights set on taking it all at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At Le Mans this year will also be the introduction of the 20th BMW Art Car, with one of the two BMW M Hybrid V8 race cars sporting a livery designed by Julie Mehretu inspired by the Art Car Collection. With a record-breaking 2023 in the books for BMW M, the goal is for 2024 to be even better. View All BMWs For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 04, 2024

BMW Breaks Annual US Sales Record In 2023

2023 saw success and evolution for BMW. 2023 is now behind us, and according to its sales results for the year in the US, BMW is looking back on it quite fondly. With a general increase in sales compared to the previous year, as well as the rapid expansion of its electrified efforts, 2023 marks the beginning of an exciting future for the iconic premium automotive manufacturer. Between its battery-electric vehicles and its electrified hybrids and plug-in hybrid models, BMW boasted a futuristic and successful, growing electrified lineup, with more to come in the future. In the US, BMW sold 362,244 cars, which is not only a 9 percent increase from 2022’s number of 332,388, but an all-time US sales record for BMW. In the fourth quarter of the year alone, the 107,881 vehicles sold represented a 6 percent increase compared to Q4 2022’s number of 101,738, as well. However, electrification stood out as a highlight when it comes to BMW’s success in 2023. Among BMW’s wide range of battery-electric vehicles: the i4, i5, i7, an iX, 14,374 BEVs were sold by BMW in the US in Q4 2023, a 65.4 percent increase compared to Q4 2022’s number of 8,689. Looking at the full-year perspective, and adding in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, BMW sold a total of 70,735 electrified vehicles in 2023, which represented nearly 20 percent of its total-year sales. With innovation, performance, luxury, style, and electrification all mastered by BMW and its diverse lineup of models, 2023 was its greatest US sales year yet, and the future continues to look up. View All BMWs For Sale

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