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 – April 14, 2021

Watch the BMW M2 Competition Scorch the Autobahn

Turn up the volume While it's not the smallest M car, the M2 really shines above 100 mph. Our friends at AutoTopNL like to push the world's fastest cars to their limits, so let's watch the BMW M2 Competition scorch the Autobahn. Yes, they fit their legendary straight-six under the hood. It makes drifting the M2 easier than making coffee. With each turbo getting a straight shot from its own set of three cylinders, the TwinPower six has been massaged to make 585 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The mods necessary to achieve this are not expensive, and neither is a pristine M2. Click the button to find yours and stay with us for more Autobahn action! Browse BMW M2 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 10, 2021

How To Drift The BMW M2 Competition

Don't let Cancel Culture give you the blues. If your tires deserve death with honor, here is how to drift the BMW M2 Competition. For the 3rd instructional video from BMW M, they remove the stigma about a controlled experience with a manual transmission. Stefan Landmann enjoys having 410 horsepower on tap, but it is the torque that keeps the smoke show going. This pocket rocket has 406 lb-ft at almost every rpm, and it can be had with a six-speed stick. See all the specs here then find your new BMW by clicking the button below. BMW M2 For Sale Image (C) BMW

By Edward Jones – February 14, 2020

BMW M2 by FUTURA 2000 Unveiled at Frieze Los Angeles

Contemporary artist FUTURA 2000 has taken their work to the BMW M2 Competition and turned it into a stunning piece of art. This is the first of three M2 Competitions that FUTURA 2000 is slated to create, which is having its world premiere at Frieze Los Angeles February 13-16. Across the German sports car, FUTURA 2000's signature art style can be found in white paint on the deep black finish. Even its interior trim has been touched by his artistic talent. “The BMW M2 Competition is dynamic, extroverted and, to a certain degree, pleasantly provocative. I consider it a great honour to be able to add a special touch to this vehicle,” says FUTURA 2000. BMW has also announced that FUTURA 2000 is also in the process of designing a limited-edition M2 Competition that will be available for public purchase in June 2020. SEE ALL BMW M2 FOR SALE

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 – 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 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 Andrew Nabors – May 21, 2019

Tesla Model 3 vs BMW M2 Competition

It is safe to say there are two types of electric car owners. The first group drives responsibly to save power and lower their carbon consumption. But the other half embraces the performance of battery power. So what happens when electric hot rods line up against the Ultimate Driving Machine? Get ready to watch a Tesla Model 3 vs a BMW M2 Competition. The German is a turbocharged 3.0L straight-six making 405 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. It is a compact RWD coupe with a six-speed stick. The M2 Competition arrived a year after the M2, and completely replaced it. We don't mind, as it has track-ready suspension and a drift-happy personality. Tesla Model 3 Performance: Skidpad Drifting To keep the comparison somewhat fair, the Tesla Model 3 is not the extended range or performance models. It is their standard dual motor with 346 horsepower. No matter who wins, the BMW offers 25 mpg and great performance. The Tesla only has a 60 kWh battery powering both motors. After 208 miles you better find a plug or the game is over. It is fast, but too quiet. The M2 is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, so click the link below to find one near you. Find Your BMW M2 Here Related: AC Schnitzer Unveils 500HP M2 Competition BMW M2 Competition: Record Breaker

By Andrew Nabors – August 13, 2018

BMW M2 Competition: Record Breaker

If you demand precise handling and abundant power, the 2019 BMW M2 is perfect for you. We were introduced to the first performance 2 Series with the M240i. A perfectly sensible car that flies under the radar. Further suspension tuning and more power spawned the M2 in 2016, which is a fun and capable machine. The good BMW engineers at the M division couldn't leave it alone. So the M2 Competition has arrived for the 2019 model year.Lamborghini Races Against 1,000 HP Sleeper BMWIt is not an option package, the M2 Competition is the only M2 we will get. So to show the world what it is capable of, they armed it with a powerful laser and a sword. No, this isn't poetry. These weapons were mounted to the car for a new ad campaign. "Chasing Records" is a series of videos that were recently shot in Cape Town. The center console was replaced by a capacitor for the laser, and the stage was set.Because it shares the same twin-turbo straight six with the M3 and M4, the driver had 410 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The press release says the driver was able to pop 79 balloons (why not 99 Luftballoons?1?). The blade sliced 117 bamboo mats, which we will show you in a few days. For now, check out the laser footage and click the link below to find a BMW near you.Browse BMW M2 For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=84&v=QzJeQOibd5s

By Andrew Nabors – July 12, 2018

BMW Unveils M Performance Parts Concept at Goodwood

If you want to push your M2 to new limits, check out what BMW delivered to Goodwood. For this year's Festival of Speed, the M Division pulled out all the stops to build a brutal M2. In a press release this morning, we see a frozen black exterior. All of the optional performance parts are gold to provide to make them stand out. Starting with the front end, new carbon fiber grilles will be available from your local BMW parts department before the Holidays.Other new carbon fiber pieces include fender flares, rocker panels, rear diffuser and a trunk-mounted spoiler. Even the roof is one piece of glossy carbon fiber, and it will be available from your dealer. The M Performance Parts Concept is 132 lbs lighter than a normal M2, even with the wider 19" forged wheels. Behind the new wheels are 18" brakes and a new coil-over suspension. The double-adjustable shocks have 12 settings for compression and 16 for rebound, allowing for easy changes between track and street. Not just for show, the concept will be making a run up the hill later today. Stay with us for all your Goodwood coverage.BMW M2 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 18, 2018

BMW USA Formally Unveils the M2 Competition

BMW from down under took us all by surprise when they leaked the specs of the new BMW M2 Competition last week. We knew an official press release was in the works, and it just hit our inbox. We've learned that the Competition is not just an option package, it has replaced the M2 completely.As we suspected, the monster twin-turbo straight six found in the M3 and M4. It offers 410 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. To handle this much power the front end has been reinforced with a CFRP strut tower brace and additional reinforcements around the firewall. The dual-clutch transmission is listed as optional, so we hope a few six-speed sticks make it to the US. The interior was also treated to a series of upgrades including M Sport seats finished in perforated Dakota Black. Blue or orange accent packages are also available. Our dealers have all the details, so click the link below and get yours ordered today!Browse BMW M2 For Sale

BMW News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe