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 08, 2020

BMW M4 Offers Incredible Donut Recipe

Nothing beats a ring of fried flour covered with your choice of confectionery. If your car is front-wheel drive we apologize in advance, because what you are about to wittness is a delight for AWD and RWD enthusiasts. More than just drifting a complete circle, a proper demonstration of opposite-lock steering and brake control is required. So let's see how the BMW M4 offers incredible donut recipes. Shot at their Proving Grounds in Maisach, instructor Ede Weihretter sentences a pair of rear tires to death. At his command, the TwinPower 3-liter turbo offers 444 horsepower with 406 lb-ft of torque along with an active differential. The innovative front suspension has dual ball joints and more steering feedback than you ever dreamed of. That is how donuts are born. Not in a bland food factory, but with your hands behind the wheel. Click the button below to find your M4 and stay with us for all your BMW updates. Browse BMW M4 For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – September 03, 2019

BMW M4 ///M Heritage Edition Revealed

Debuting at the upcoming DTM race on the Nurburgring is the new BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage. This new model is meant to celebrate BMW Motorsport GmbH, which was founded all the way back in 1972. There are a few characteristics that make this new M4 variant a special one. Three exterior colors are available which honor the icon M stripes: Imola Red, Laguna Seca Blue and Velvet Blue metallic. No matter the color picked, there's a carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof with a decorate BMW M color stripe. There's also a set of 20-inch M light allow wheels in a unique star-spoke design to finish of the exterior. Inside the M4 Edition ///M Heritage, BMW has matched the interior colors with the exterior. For Laguna Seca Blue, the interior is Silverstone/Black with turquoise stitching; for Velvet Blue metallic, the interior is Velvet Blue and Orange; for Imola Red, the interior is red and black with yellow an red stitching. Only 750 examples of the BMW M4 Edition ///M Heritage are planned for production. see all bmw m4s for sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 15, 2019

BMW M4 DTM Debuts at Dutch Racetrack

It has been a productive year for BMW. New model introductions and continuous sales growth have allowed them to refine their core products. When it comes to the M cars, lessons learned on the track lead to perfection on the street. Marking the half-way point in the 2019 season, the BMW M4 DTM was debuted at a Dutch racetrack. Not that the car is new, it was just their first outing at the famous TT Circuit Assen. The M4 DTM is a preview of the styling and powertrain for the 7th generation M4. It is slated to be released early next year as a 2021 model. The 4 Series will be a derivative of the G20 chassis that underpins the new 3 Series sedans. Power will come from the meanest straight-six BMW has ever offered. Earlier this year we told you about the X3M and X4M Competition SUVs. They make 503 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque to battle the Mercedes-AMG crossovers and SUVs. The new 3.0L engine is named the S58, and it will allow the M3 and M4 to compete on the World Stage. As for now, our dealers have several offers on the new 3-Series, so click the link below and tell us what you want to see in the new M4. Browse BMW 3 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">

By Andrew Nabors – May 25, 2017

The 2018 BMW M4 GT4 Is Ready To Race

if you are looking to field a new BMW for the 2018 season, BMW Motorsport has something for your consideration. The new M4 GT4 had a very successful debut at 24 Hours of Dubai, so after a few final touches, it is now officially for sale. Using lessons learned on the M6 GT3, the interior is driver-focused, and devoid of many distractions. Built in-house, the welded roll cage not only meets FIA standards, but also the strict DMSB (Germany's Motor Racing Board).Most of the body is carbon fiber, which is easily lifted by onboard air jacks. The hood and trunk are quick-release for speedy pit stops. A "motorsport" exhaust system is hopefully just a straight pipe from the turbos, because mufflers are useless weight. Suspension is based around Öhlins shocks with three spring rates available. Sadly the transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch with shifts calibrated for the track. A locking differential has hardened output shafts, a feature many M owners would love to have on the street. A production engine is controlled by a new computer which has "power sticks". Each stick is set to produce a different horsepower level to meet different balance of performance rules.Also Check Out - 720 Horespower McLaren 570GT Goes for Top Speed Autobahn RunIf your E46 has seen better days, the new M4 GTS can be yours for the equivalent of $190,000 (without the value added tax). Although it is not street legal, how many of you are already looking for an M4 Salvage Title? A new BMW M4 GTS for sale is as close as we will get, so check out the listings from our dealers and watch for the GT4 at the Nürburgring!

By Caitlin Duffy – November 03, 2015

BMW Bringing M2 Coupe & M4 Coupe to Feature M Performance...

Manufacturers and aftermarket companies from around the world are all en route to, or have already arrived in, Las Vegas for the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show BMW is there with their best foot forward, guaranteeing their place in the next 12 months of trends spawned and spread throughout the industry.The German manufacturer released a press release today showcasing their two display cars and all of the M Performance parts they've brought with them to the United States, each bearing their name more distinctly than ever before. SEMA kicked off today, and guests in the South Hall will get the first look at the M2 Coupe and M4 Coupe completely decked out in customary M colors. Each features new BMW M Performance parts, and all new M Performance parts have been inscribed with the M name.M4 Coupe owners will be happy to know that they can further the racing look of their car with the addition of new aerodynamic components, including side sill attachments, side gills in high-gloss black, carbon fiber diffuser and a through-flow rear spoiler made of carbon fiber. The front trim grille comes in high-gloss black, as do the side gills, while motor racing stripes on the side create an even more dynamic profile.M Performance updates for the M4 continue throughout the engineering and interior. The exhaust is even more lightweight, crafted from stainless steel and fitted with a rear silencer. The silencer offers two settings for sound characteristics, which both reflect the driving dynamics selected. An M twin-clutch transmission bumps 0-62 mph acceleration down to 4.1 seconds. The M4 Coupe's interior features a new steering wheel in Alcantara Anthracite, an M Performance gear selection lever, new center console trim, carbon fiber door handles and handbrake handle, LED door projectors and M Performance pedal covers.For the M2 Coupe, many of the same upgrades available for the M4 are found, including the black gloss grilles and gill elements, as well as the carbon fiber mirror caps and rear spoiler. Check out the photos of these decked out BMWs in the gallery below, then find your own M2 Coupe or M4 Coupe to upgrade from our exclusive listings.BMWs For SaleGallery (via BMW) See More BMW News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 08, 2015

BMW M4 GTS in Action

On paper, the BMW M4 GTS is one of the most impressive creations to carry the M badge. But when you see it hitting a wet track, you'll know that fact is certain.Capable of finishing the Nürburginring's Nordschleife in just 7 minutes 28 seconds and reaching 62 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds, this new M4 is unlike any before it. As we found out yesterday, an innovative water injection system vastly improves the engine's abilities, leading to some insane performance from the turbocharged six-cylinder.(See Also: BMW Concept Stunt G 310 Motorcycle Introduced)BMW shares a look at that performance in a video added to their YouTube page Oct. 6. After seeing how incredibly well the M4 GTS handles a slick track, it cuts back and forth from one to two cars on the track, with the second purportedly showing "yesterday's" track run. The first car finishes a half second before the second, and text flashes onto the screen asking viewers to do one simple thing: "Challenge yourself."Check out the video below, and if you can't quite wait to get your hands on this water-injected monster, find an existing M4 from our exclusive listings.M4s For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2015

BMW M4 GTS Production Model Revealed: Specs and Pics

Back on Aug. 14, BMW unveiled the BMW Concept M4 GTS: a water-injected take on the M4 Coupe. Fast forward to today, and BMW has unveiled the production version of the car and all of its specifications in a press release.Being called, unsurprisingly, the M4 GTS, it's the first high-performance special edition BMW has created for the M3/M4 model range, according to the release. But what makes it high-performance? Well, the new water-injection system is a great place for us to start.At its core, the M4 GTS utilizes the turbocharged six-cylinder engine found in the M3/M4. Unlike the base models, however, the GTS has what BMW is calling "innovative water injection technology." This new injection system raises the power up to 500 hp, a 75 hp increase over the base model, and 442 lb-ft of torque, a 36 lb-ft increase over the base model.(See Also: New Porsche 911 Targa 4 & Carrera 4 Models Introduced)Thanks to the car's lightweight carbon fiber construction and the aforementioned boost of power, the M4 GTS is quick. In fact, it can complete a 0-62 mph run in 3.8 seconds, .3 seconds faster than the base model, and has a limited top speed of 189.5 mph, which is 33.5 mph faster than the base model.To make the car even more capable is the three-way M coilover suspension that can be adjusted depending on conditions or the driver's taste. This suspension combined with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (front: 265/35 R19, rear: 285/30 R20), a light weight and massive power, makes the M4 GTS a monster on the track. So much so that BMW says it can complete Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes 28 seconds.Only 700 units of the BMW M4 GTS are planned for production, at a currently unknown price.M4s For SaleGallery (Source: BMW) See more BMW News, Photos and Videos

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