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

Dries Vanthoor Puts The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 On Pole At Le Mans

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 12, 2026

BMW M Hybrid V8 Secures Pole At Le Mans

One of the most legendary and historic motorsport events in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is taking place this weekend. Of the many teams competing for success in the revered endurance classic, BMW M Motorsport already has a historic victory to celebrate, as the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 secured pole position, with driver Dries Vanthoor behind the wheel. The pole position marks the first pole position at Le Mans ever for BMW M Motorsport, and it comes from a 3:22.564 lap. Initially, that lap time was second by just 0.005 seconds to a Cadillac, but that lap time was cancelled, putting BMW M Motorsport at pole. Meanwhile, the #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 finished fourth, with Robin Frijns behind the wheel. The entire BMW M Motorsport team is starting the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans on a high note, as all four cars made it into the top six of the starting grids for the Hypercar and the LMGT3 classes of the race. About the pole victory, Dries Vanthoor said, “I’m super happy to be on pole at Le Mans! This is such a great event, and now being on pole here and giving everyone in the team what they deserve, is awesome. At the same time our goal is to win the race, so we need to keep it clean over 24 hours to be right there on Sunday.” <- Gallery -> The positive result comes on the heels of an impressive success for the team at the 2026 6 Hours of Spa, the previous FIA World Endurance Championship race at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. There, the BMW M Hybrid V8 completed the race with a sensational 1-2 finish, with the #20 car finishing in first place, and the #15 car following closely behind in second. Currently, BMW also leads the manufacturers’ standings in the FIA World Endurance Championship with 59 points thus far. Going into the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans with an incredible 1-2 finish at Spa, and a pole position qualification, BMW M Motorsport is riding high for one of the most important and anticipated race weekends of the year. View All BMW For Sale Image Source: BMW

The April Fools’ BMW M3 Touring 24H Race Car Becomes Real

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 16, 2026

BMW Is Actually Racing The M3 Touring 24H

Station wagons have spent decades getting the short end of the stick in the automotive world. Decried as ugly family haulers, wagons ended up giving way first to minivans and then SUVs in the market. However, a small but growing crowd of wagon lovers has always remained. For them, wagons were most extravagantly expressed as luxury performance models, a handful of cars made by European manufacturers that gave their luxury performance sedans the long roof treatment. Not many of those models are around, but as they have started to gain some popularity among enthusiasts, more have emerged, even seeing success in the United States, where wagons have been quite uncommon. With its M5 Touring, BMW has been part of that increase, and the BMW M3 Touring is part of the manufacturer’s lineup, as well, just not for the United States market. Unveiled as a concept last year, the BMW M3 Touring 24H, a hypothetical endurance racing version of the BMW M3 Touring, was showcased as an April Fools’ joke. However, wagon enthusiasts expressed the desire to turn that joke into something serious, and BMW has done just that. The new BMW M3 Touring 24H is now a real race car, and it’s going to race at this year’s 24h Nürburgring. The “Green Hell” will serve as the debut for the new race car, and it will compete in the race’s SPX category with Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen behind the wheel. Meanwhile, competing for overall victory in the race, three BMW M4 GT3 EVO cars will be racing in the SP9 category. Thanks to fans who gave an unprecedented reception to an April Fools’ joke, the BMW M3 Touring 24H is now a reality that could spell a future with a flourishing performance wagon category. View All BMW M3 For Sale <- Gallery -> Image Source: BMW

A white, blue, and red race car leads another car on a racetrack during a motorsport event, with spectators and barriers visible in the background.

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 04, 2025

BMW M Hybrid V8 Wins 1-2 Finish At Road America

The first IMSA victory for the BMW M Hybrid V8 this season was an extra special one. The current top class of endurance racing consists of the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which brings the world’s greatest racing hypercars to tracks across the States. This past weekend, the championship came to Wisconsin’s Road America, where the BMW M Team RLL celebrated its first victory of the season with the BMW M Hybrid V8 hypercar. However, the team didn’t just win the race, but secured an incredible 1-2 victory. The number 24 car, with Philipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor behind the wheel, finished the 2 hour, 40 minute race in first place, while the number 25 car, piloted by Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann, finished in second. The victory, a major milestone for the team this season, comes after four pole positions and two previous podium finishes, and it was complemented by the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Neil Verhagen and Madison Snow, emerging victorious in the GTD Pro class. Both BMW M Hybrid V8s delivered solid qualifying times, starting the race second and third on the grid, and despite challenges early in the race, a solid pit strategy and precise driving allowed the team to not only secure the victory, but dominate the race with its one-two finish. The first victory of the season for the BMW M Hybrid V8 was not only hard-earned but impossible to ignore. View All BMWs For Sale Image Source: BMW

A BMW M2 Racing car with a blue, black, and red livery speeds around a track curve during the 24h Nürburgring, with empty grandstands visible in the background.

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 19, 2025

BMW To Test The New M2 Racing At 24h Nürburgring

BMW gets ready to open a new racing chapter at the Nürburgring. With a performance car lineup known for driving pleasure, robust power, and engineering excellence, BMW offers performance-oriented vehicles, as well as race cars like the BMW M2 Racing, for which a new generation is on the horizon. With the sales launch of the new BMW M2 Racing coming soon, the vehicle is taking to the track for one final endurance test, specifically at one of the world’s most legendary race tracks: the Nürburgring. At this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring, which is taking place from June 21 and June 22, the new BMW M2 Racing will be competing, specifically with BMW M Works drivers, Ugo de Wilde, Charles Weerts, and Jens Klingmann at the wheel. The test will not only gather information about the new car’s performance, adding to over 18,000 testing miles already covered by the car, but also serve as one of the earliest competitive settings for the new M2 Racing to take part in. Serving as BMW’s new entry-level racer for the 2026 season, the new BMW M2 Racing will represent the manufacturer’s performance legacy and racing ability for teams and customers across the globe, and as its final endurance test before its sales launch, the legendary, revered, and challenging Nürburgring will be the course on which its mettle is proved. View All BMW M2s For Sale Image Source: BMW

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