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

Bugatti News

Bugatti news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Chiron in its many forms, the Mistral roadster and the track-only Bolide. Our reporting also follows the V16 hybrid Tourbillon and the auction results that set values for the earlier cars. Bugatti builds in very small numbers, so a single sale can reset the market for a whole model. That is where our marketplace helps readers most. Bugattis covered here are often listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts the reporting and a real asking price side by side. For Bugatti news today, and the hypercar news and exotic car market news around it, start below.

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 09, 2023

Bugatti Shows Off The 1-of-10 Centodieci Hypercar In Le Mans

Bugatti’s ultra-rare hypercar visits an important home for motorsport. When it comes to racing, Le Mans is one of the most important and historic locations in the world, being the venue for the ultimate endurance race that has tested manufacturers, teams, and drivers alike for over a century. Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the mark of motorsport excellence, and garners respect worldwide, and Bugatti is one of the many names that is embroidered on the tapestry of Le Mans racing history. In 1994, the Bugatti EB 110 LM raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and despite it unfortunately not finishing the race, the car and its roadgoing counterpart, a legendary supercar, inspired Bugatti’s modern efforts, and especially the Centodieci. Based on the Chiron, the Centodieci is a highly exclusive creation from Bugatti, with only 10 examples allotted, and with design heavily inspired by the EB 110. To pay homage to its predecessor, the Bugatti Centodieci visited Le Mans. Photographed in the forest near the historic race track by Max Fifer, the Centodieci is showing off in a new post on Instagram from Bugatti in a stunning silver color, beautifully showcasing the 1990s and EB 110-inspired design elements like the circular vents and lighting assemblies. With painstaking attention paid to its engineering and design, as well as 1,578 horsepower coming from its quad-turbocharged W16 engine, the Centodieci is certainly a worthy successor to the iconic EB 110, as well as an homage to the intensity, legend, and splendor of Le Mans, and the countless important moments in motorsport history that Le Mans has created. View All Bugattis For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by BUGATTI (@bugatti)

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 19, 2022

The Final $8.5M Bugatti Centodieci Has Been Delivered

One of the most incredible celebrations of Bugatti’s brand history is already over. Bugatti’s Centodieci, the 10-off tribute to the legendary EB 110 that shaped its recent history has finished production. The final Bugatti Centodieci is finished in a Quartz White exterior, with accents finished in Black Carbon and matte black finishes as well. Previewing the striking interior are the brake calipers, as well as the logo on the spoiler, both in Light Blue Sport, a modernized reinterpretation of the iconic Bugatti Blue that symbolized that era of the brand. MUST READ: Behind the Design of the Bugatti W16 Mistral: An Interview With Achim Anscheidt The interior is finished in vibrant Light Blue Sport leather, highlighting the unique and laboriously-created square quilting pattern that is used throughout to adorn the seats, roof, center console, door panels, and more. The painstakingly detailed pattern is lined up for perfect symmetry and honors the amazing craftsmanship that went into creating the EB 110 decades ago, which featured the same quilting pattern. The 16-cylinder engine in itself pays homage to the EB 110’s power plant, which was a V12 that was similarly quad-turbocharged for incredible performance that defined the highest echelon of automotive capability at the time. Now that the Centodieci has finished production, the era of the W16 is quickly coming to a permanent close, as Molsheim looks forward to finishing its run of less than 100 remaining Chirons, just 99 W16 Mistral Roadsters, and the 40 track-only Bugatti Bolide examples. As the era of production for the Bugatti Centodieci and the W16 engine comes to a close, even the sadness of car enthusiasts all over the world is a stunning Bugatti Blue. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 08, 2022

How The New 10-Example Bugatti Centodieci Is Test Driven ...

Bugatti strives for excellence on all fronts. The incredibly rare Bugatti Centodieci will only be made in 10 examples. However, despite its scarce numbers, Bugatti was still dedicated to ensuring its quality and putting it through as intense a round of testing as its cars that are made in much higher numbers. Responsible for this testing is Bugatti’s resident test driver Steve Jenny, who has driven over 217,000 miles in cars like the Veyron, Chiron, Divo, Centodieci, and even the one-off La Voiture Noire. MUST READ: Bugatti x Champagne Carbon’s New ‘La Bouteille Sur Mesure’ Features Its Own Personalized Configurator Steve Jenny’s unparalleled experience behind the wheels of Bugattis is essential to making sure the rare and unique Centodieci behaves as a truly-crafted Bugatti should, and with its “EB110 Argent” paintwork, this Centodieci is first inspected for the quality of its finishes, from the body to the interior. It’s then taken around the countryside for over 180 miles, through a beautiful and scenic route in Alsace, determined according to the season and weather, including Alsatian villages, mountain passes, vineyards, and importantly the runway of a local airport, where the car is taken to its top speed to make sure that it remains stable and safe. After that, it's tested even more for further assurance. Every Bugatti, including the incredibly rare Centodieci, has to be deemed ready for delivery after Steve Jenny’s careful inspection and incredibly thorough testing program before it moves on to the next step before going to its new owner, and it’s that kind of refusal to cut any corners that gives Bugatti the reputation, prestige, and status it has today. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 24, 2022

The 6th And 7th Of 10 Bugatti Centodiecis Have Been Deliv...

Seven down, three to go. The incredible new Bugatti Centodieci only has 10 examples, and the level of craftsmanship exhibited by the car is in the highest echelon the automotive industry has ever seen. Bugatti spent an incredible amount of time creating the car, putting int through intense and rigorous testing despite such small production numbers, and giving it the iconic square quilting pattern in the interior seen in the EB110 that it pays homage to. The sixth and seventh examples of the Centodieci have been delivered to Bugatti Dusseldorf to be collected soon by their new owners. MUST READ: An Immaculate Collection Of Historical Bugattis Returns To Bugatti’s Molsheim Chateau The two cars are finished in a classic white, with an interior that matches the exterior with a black and white color scheme. Not only do these cars boast incomparable rarity, but they are also incredibly powerful, luxurious, and stylish with a combination of references to the EB110, the trappings of Bugatti’s signature style, and a futuristic look that hopefully will preview the Bugatti brand of the future. View all Bugattis For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by BUGATTI (@bugatti) Source: Instagram/Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 13, 2022

The Bugatti Centodieci Builds On The EB110 Supersport's I...

With over a century of rich history, Bugatti looked at its recent past for inspiration when creating the Centodieci. Bugatti’s iconic EB110 supercar was the product of the 1990s Romano Artioli era of the brand, and the Supersport version of the car, like the Super Sport versions of modern Bugattis, showed an increased focus on performance, with things like weight reduction and added downforce with an unmistakable Bugatti look that serves the need for speed. With the Supersport performance version of the car and the quad-turbocharging of the V12 engine of the EB110, it was an integral precursor to the Bugatti brand that we know today. MUST READ: The Final Bugatti Chiron Sport L’Ébe And A Similar Chiron Sport Were Delivered To Two Brothers The design of the new Bugatti Centodieci, limited to just 10 units, pays homage to the EB110 Supersport with the placement of its vents, its spoiler, and even the square quilting on the interior. The performance honors the EB110 Supersport by exceeding it, with a 0-60 time under 2.4 seconds, and a top speed electronically limited to 236 mph. It’s a highly exclusive hypercar that is not only the stuff of legends in itself but also builds on the legend of the EB110 Supersport. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 14, 2022

The First Bugatti Centodieci Has Finally Been Delivered T...

One of Bugatti’s rarest pieces of automotive excellence has finally come to fruition. Years of anticipation have built up for the Bugatti Centodieci, and that’s because the Centodieci is the intersection of Bugatti legends. It combines the W16 engine that changed the automotive world forever with the legend of the Bugatti EB 110 supercar of the 1990s. On top of that, Bugatti has shown painstaking effort in making the Centodieci an incredible and capable hypercar despite only 10 of them being built, which is why we have had to wait so long for one to finally be delivered to its customer. However, that wait is finally over, as Bugatti has delivered the first Centodieci to its customer. MUST READ: Bugatti Releases Its Second ‘UYN for Bugatti’ Apparel & Footwear Collection The car is finished in EB110 Blue, a color that is most known for the EB110 that the Centodieci is inspired by, as even the factory that it was built in in Campogalliano, Italy was finished in that color. The reason for this is that the owner of this Centodieci also owns an EB110 GT in the same color. Since the introduction of the Centodieci in Bugatti’s 110th anniversary year of 2019, all 10 Centodiecis were immediately accounted for, and EB110’s began to sell for amazing numbers at auction, most recently for over $2 million by RM Sotheby’s at Amelia Island. Now that we’ve seen what this well-deserved hype has led to, it’s time for the era of the Bugatti Centodieci to begin. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 16, 2022

Bugatti Drove The Centodieci Testing Prototype For Over 5...

Even with only 10 being made, it’s come a long way. Bugatti prides itself on being a purveyor of some of the most amazing cars in the world, whether that be in speed, performance, luxury, or quality, Bugatti refuses to accept defeat. That’s why when it came time to make the incredibly rare one-of-ten Bugatti Centodieci, an homage to the zany Bugatti EB 110 supercar of the 90s, Bugatti put the car through the same testing wringer that it would with any of its other cars that are produced in much larger numbers. MUST READ: The Bugatti Centodieci’s Square Quilting References The EB 110 Super Sport The Centodieci testing prototype has now reached an incredible 55,000 kilometers, and it’s gone on its final quality assurance drives to ensure production. Set on a stunning French backdrop like the Molsheim Atelier itself, the test drive takes the Centodieci through winding mountain passes, idyllic towns, and the Colmar Airport in Alsace, France for speed and braking testing in a safe environment. We are closer than ever now to seeing deliveries begin for the Centodieci, and with this rigorous testing cycle nearing completion, we know it’s a car with incredible quality just as much as its speed and style. Source: Instagram/Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 12, 2022

The Bugatti Centodieci's Square Quilting References The E...

The rich Bugatti history can be seen clearly in the new Centodieci, inside and out. With its signature vents and retro-inspired shape, just about any car enthusiast could tell you that the new Bugatti Centodieci is an ode to a classic supercar, the Bugatti EB 110. Just a few weeks before deliveries of the Centodieci begin, we learn what makes the Bugatti Centodieci even more special than just that: the fact that Bugatti and the Molsheim Atelier have gone to painstaking lengths to reinterpret the daring style of the EB 110 Super Sport and give it modern context, and this goes for the interior just as much as it does for the exterior. MUST READ: The Bugatti Centodieci Nears Completion With Nighttime Testing The first thing you will notice about the interior of the Centodieci is the unique quilting pattern on the leather upholstery. The seats are quilted in small, neat squares, and this pattern adorned the interior of the EB 110 Super Sport of the 1990s. While the customer can choose to have the headrest of the seat embroidered or embossed differently, the Centodieci comes with a seat that features an embossed EB logo that references the EB 110 Super Sport. Even though only 10 Centodiecis will be made, the effort taken in ensuring that the square quilting lines up perfectly even over curves and slopes on the surface means that the interior of each Centodieci takes 16 weeks to complete. Just like the EB 110 Super Sport before it, and every Bugatti since, the Centodieci is a powerful, fast car with a luxurious and breathtaking design no matter where you look, and it represents Bugatti’s commitment throughout the brand’s history to being the absolute pinnacle of the automotive world. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 04, 2022

The Bugatti Centodieci Nears Completion With Nighttime Te...

When the lights dim, the show is about to start. Only ten of the incredible EB 110-inspired Bugatti Centodieci cars will exist. It’s Bugatti’s third example of beautiful, rare modern coachbuilding, and it was revealed all the way back in 2019 at The Quail in California. However, perfection takes time, and even with a model that Bugatti will only make ten of like the Centodieci, has to be perfect, which is why even almost three years later, the Centodieci is still in testing, but it’s almost done because now, it’s being tested in the dark. MUST READ: The Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Is Displayed At the Guggenheim With Jean Bugatti’s Brother’s Art The man responsible for making sure the Centodieci is in perfect shape is Steve Jenny, Bugatti’s in-house quality assurance test driver who has driven over 200,000 miles testing Bugatti’s cars since the Veyron. He took the Centodieci out into the dark to make sure that the headlights, light sensors, and interior lighting systems like the instrument lights, ambient lights, and other lights do what they need to and facilitate safe and beautiful driving. Like he does with the other Bugattis he tests, Steve Jenny drives over 200 miles through Alsace from the Molsheim Atelier to the Colmar Airport to do speed and braking tests, through mountain passes, and back again. While the Bugatti Centodieci’s owners are surely anticipating their cars, they’ll know that at any hour, they have one of the most beautiful, capable, and powerful cars ever made. Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 28, 2022

The Bugatti Centodieci Nears Production After Over 30,000...

Even with just 10 being made, Bugatti is putting the Centodieci through the wringer. Bugatti demands the best out of everything it does, which is why its cars are known for breaking records, turning heads, and being the objects of people’s highest aspirations. Its coach built models are the biggest representation of that, being Bugatti’s most rare and incredible creations. The brand’s latest coach built model, the Centodieci, pays homage to the EB110, another Bugatti legend from the 1990s, known for its revolutionary speed capability, thanks to a carbon-fiber monocoque, quadruple-turbos, and all-wheel-drive. MUST READ: See the World’s First Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Delivery The Centodieci not only builds on the EB110’s legacy but also the legacy of cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Bugatti Chiron that define Bugatti’s success and excellence. And to do that, the Centodieci needs to be held to the same high standard of quality. Even though only 10 Centodiecis will be made, Bugatti has put the car through a rigorous round of testing, in the name of over 50,000 kilometers, or 30,000 miles of testing at Nardò. For Bugatti, and especially the Centodieci’s engine, this is somewhat of a return to Nardò, as the Volkswagen W12 Nardò was named after the incredible speed records it set with the W12 engine on the track, which would go on to be the basis for the W16 that powers the Bugatti supercars we know and love today. After this testing, a final assessment will decide whether the Centodieci is ready to enter production at the Molsheim Atelier in Alsace, France, and once it does, all ten cars are getting delivered to their owners this year. Source: Bugatti

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