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 Khris Bharath – May 16, 2026

BMW’s Wild Vision K18 Concept Hints at the Future of High-Speed Luxury Motorcycling

Now we don’t cover motorcycles often on duPont REGISTRY, but the ones that we do have garnered serious attention in the past. Be it the Volonaut Airbike or the one-off #HF355 V12 Ferrari-powered superbike, these are stand-outs that have caught our attention, and this latest one from BMW Motorrad certainly fits into that camp. This is the BMW Vision K18, a futuristic-looking one-off concept that was unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lago di Como in Northern Italy. Unlike the R18 Concept and the sporty carbon-clad super-bike Concept RR shown at the same venue last year, which served as the preview for the next-gen M1000RR, the Vision K18 seen here gives us an idea of where BMW Motorrad wants to take its next generation of long-distance cruisers and baggers. The K-Series, of course, can trace its roots back to the early 1980s and the original K100, which established the in-cylinder lineage for the propeller badge, but on two wheels. The K1600 Series in more modern times raised that ceiling further into a 1650 cc in-line unit. The K18 builds on that with a 1,800 cc unit, and the inline six is a layout that is also synonymous with BMW cars. “With the BMW Motorrad Vision K18, we show how we interpret performance, luxury, and emotion in a new, very confident way. For us, the inline six-cylinder is far more than an engine – it is a statement. The Vision K18 translates this power into a sculptural form that makes dynamism and speed tangible even at a standstill. This bike stands for our passion to redefine the boundaries of design and performance repeatedly.” - Markus Flasch, CEO BMW Motorrad. BMW says that the long-elongated stance takes cues from the likes of Concorde (yes, the now-defunct supersonic jet that could take you from Heathrow to JFK in just over three hours) to convey dynamism and speed, even at a standstill. The power-train and the number six play a key role in the way this concept looks, with its abstract, aerodynamic form. As seen on the Vision Alpina Concept also revealed at the same venue, the Vision K18 also starts with a shark nose upfront with six sleek LEDS with active cooling on the fascia, six intake ducts that feed the central air filter, culminating in six beautifully formed exhaust pipes, three on either side of the rear wheel. Ideally, this is where you’d find the luggage box. Created by flame spraying, the bright orange finish on the exhaust recalls classic Formula 1 exhaust headers. <- Gallery -> The low-slung stance made possible with the hydraulic suspension certainly accomplishes that, and the industrial hand-formed monolithic brushed finish aesthetic that stretches to 6.5 feet long only adds to that. The rider sits on rubber pads under a forged carbon panel that extends from the tank to the handlebars. Look closely, and you’ll see the propeller badge embossed into this single continuous side panel from headlight to tail. Built around a lightweight carbon fiber core, overall, this shape manages to be both classic and futuristic at the same time. The BMW hasn’t revealed exact power figures, but what this one-off concept hints at is that the six-cylinder is going nowhere and should feature in something truly spectacular in the future. View All BMWs For Sale Images: BMW Motorrad

By Khris Bharath – May 15, 2026

BMW Vision ALPINA Concept breaks cover at the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

BMW’s relationship with Lake Como has increasingly become about more than elegance and heritage. Over the past several years, the Bavarian automaker has transformed the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este into its preferred launchpad for low-volume halo cars, design studies, and ultra-luxury concepts aimed at the highest end of the collector market. Last year alone, the company revealed the limited-production Concept Speedtop shooting brake, the M2 CS, and the Motorrad Concept RR. The year before that, BMW introduced the Concept Skytop, a 617-horsepower targa-style roadster limited to just 50 examples. The group’s flagship brand, Rolls-Royce, has also done the same over the years, and we saw the one-off Phantom Dentelle last May and the five hand-painted Cullinan Black-Badge SUVs done by Cyril Kongo, which were shown earlier today. Now, this latest reveal may be one of the most significant ones yet. Just days after a teaser dropped earlier this week, BMW officially unveiled the Vision BMW ALPINA at Villa d’Este, confirming many of the details hinted at beforehand, including its long-wheelbase grand touring proportions, dramatically raked roofline, and positioning as the first true Alpina-era concept developed fully under BMW ownership. At 204.7 inches long, the Vision BMW ALPINA immediately separates itself from every current BMW production model. The proportions lean heavily into classic grand touring design themes, combining a low-slung body, stretched hood, slim greenhouse, and coupe silhouette capable of carrying four adults comfortably across continents at high speed. BMW also confirmed that the concept packs a V8 powertrain paired with a specially tuned Alpina exhaust system engineered around deep low-speed tones and richer acoustics at higher revs. More importantly, the Vision BMW ALPINA looks intentionally restrained compared to some of BMW’s increasingly aggressive M models. The illuminated kidney grille avoids oversized vertical proportions, while the warm white daytime running lights appear softer and considerably more elegant than anything currently offered by BMW M, whereas the flush glasshouse and fixed panoramic roof visually stretch the profile even further. BMW has also packed the concept with subtle heritage references that longtime Alpina enthusiasts will immediately recognize. The shark-nose front fascia recalls the original Alpina B7 Coupé, while the signature deco lines first introduced during the mid-1970s have been retained. Even the signature classic multi-spoke Alpina wheels return, now enlarged to massive 22-inch front and 23-inch rear. Inside, BMW deliberately avoided the minimalist approach dominating many modern luxury interiors today. Instead, the cabin focuses heavily on architectural layering, material richness, and long-distance comfort. Sculpted rear seats, crystal switchgear, machined metal accents, and full-grain leather sourced from Alpine-region suppliers reinforce Alpina’s long-standing philosophy that effortless speed and luxury should coexist. Combined with the aforementioned panoramic roof, it makes for a truly airy on-board experience. “Alpina has always represented a very specific idea of performance and refinement, where speed and comfort are complementary ambitions” - Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. <- Gallery -> This reveal also marks a significant moment for the Alpina brand itself. BMW formally assumed control of Alpina in January this year, ending an independent era that began in 1965 when Burkard Bovensiepen started building refined, high-speed BMW grand tourers in Bavaria. Models like the B7 and B5 eventually earned loyal followings among enthusiasts wanting V8 performance without sacrificing on understated luxury. But following BMW’s acquisition announcement in 2022, Andreas and Florian Bovensiepen moved on toward independent projects, most notably the Bovensiepen Zagato revealed almost exactly one year ago during the Fuori Concorso event beside Lake Como. That 611-horsepower carbon-bodied grand tourer, based on the BMW M4 and styled by Zagato. As for Alpina, BMW has confirmed the first production-era model will debut next year, and will be based on the BMW 7 Series, but developed with its own distinct identity. View All BMW Alpinas For Sale Images: BMW Alpina

By Khris Bharath – May 11, 2026

BMW to Unveil Vision Alpina Concept at Villa d’Este on May 15

With the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este now just days away, BMW is once again preparing to use the shores of Lake Como in Italy as a stage for one of its most significant reveals of the year. On May 15, BMW will unveil the Vision BMW Alpina concept. Since it assumed full ownership of the Alpina name on January 1 and subsequently announced with a new logo, this will be the second presentation as a stand-alone brand after the 120-unit XB7 announced at Amelia Island in early March. A teaser image of the upcoming car shows the profile of a long-wheelbase coupe with a dramatically raked roofline and what appears to be bespoke lighting signatures not shared with any existing BMW model. The front bumper shows vertical aero elements and a chin spoiler, while brightening up the image reveals what appears to be a fixed glass roof, sleek rear view mirrors, and exhaust pipes in the rear bumper. Exactly what will power this upcoming GT car needs to be seen. As one of the official organizers of the historic event alongside the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, the Bavarian automaker has transformed the annual gathering into far more than a concours weekend. In recent years, it has become BMW’s preferred venue for unveiling low-volume halo cars, design studies, and future-facing concepts aimed at collectors and ultra-luxury clientele. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BMW ALPINA (@bmwalpina.official) Last year, BMW revealed the Concept Speedtop, a low-slung shooting brake grand tourer limited to 70 examples, alongside the M2 CS (which we’ve since reviewed) and the Motorrad Concept RR. The year prior, it debuted the Concept Skytop, a 617-horsepower targa-topped roadster now heading to 50 lucky customers at roughly $550,000 each. The group’s flagship brand, Rolls-Royce, has also done the same over the years, and we saw the one-off Phantom Dentelle last May. Alpina, meanwhile, has roots stretching back to 1965, when Burkard Bovensiepen founded the company in Buchloe, Bavaria, building performance-tuned BMWs that earned a devoted following for combining speed with grand tourer refinement. Sedans like the B7 and B5 became favorites among enthusiasts who wanted V8 performance without sacrificing refinement. That original era has now closed, and BMW announced its acquisition of the brand in 2022. With the brand now fully absorbed, Bovensiepen's sons, Andreas and Florian, have since moved on, and almost exactly a year ago, at the Fuori Concorso fringe event on the shores of Lake Como, they unveiled the Bovensiepen Zagato, a 611-horsepower, carbon-bodied grand tourer built on the BMW M4 and styled by the Milanese design house Zagato, limited to 99 units at $406,000. According to Autocar UK, the first new-age Alpinas to reach showrooms will be based on the 7 Series and X7. BMW Group R&D chief Joachim Post said Alpina will prioritize "speed, comfort, and luxury," positioning it between the likes of BMW’s sporty M Division and Rolls-Royce. View All BMW Alpinas For Sale Images via Instagram: @bmwalpina.official, @bmw

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