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.

By Edward Jones – July 08, 2016

Sound Off: Bugatti Chiron vs Pagani Huayra BC

Sure, France has moved past Italy in the EUFA Euro 2016 tournament, but can a French car sound better than an Italian? In a video from Drag Games we get the chance to hear the brand-new 2017 Bugatti Chiron rev-off against the also new 2017 Pagani Huayra BC in one video. When the Huayra BC revs, you're hearing a new titanium exhaust system that weighs only 6.4 lbs and ends in four tips. When the Chiron revs, you're hearing a titanium exhaust system complete with four pre-converters, two main catalytic converters and four tips. As for the engine that provides the force, the Huayra houses a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 12-cylinder, while the Chiron is home to an immense 8.0-liter W16 powerplant. Click play on the button below and let us know who you think sounded better. Pagani FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – June 24, 2016

First POV of Bugatti Chiron's Goodwood FOS Lap

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway and with it comes all the hill climb videos you can handle. Today, Bugatti has uploaded a video of their new Chiron taking on Goodwood.Bugatti Chiron Specs Price: $2.6 million Engine: 8.0-liter W16 Horsepower: 1,500 hp 0–62: Under 2.5 seconds Top Speed: 260 mph Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch Torque: 1,180 lb-ft Buy Bugatti Chiron In the videos' description, they note that the Chiron is the "world's most powerful, fastest, most exclusive and most luxurious production super sports car." While that's a mouthful, it's a pretty solid statement about the car. It's luxurious interior and stylish exterior is motivated by an 8.0-liter W16 engine that's capable of 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. All of this power makes for one of the most exciting Goodwood runs. Check out the video to see the Chiron's first trip to Goodwood.Bugattis For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 02, 2016

First Production Bugatti Chiron Lap Around Nurburgring, H...

With a lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, the high-speed legacy of the Bugatti Chiron has begun. In a video uploaded on June 1 by Car Throttle is a video of the first production Chiron being taking around the famous stretch of road known as "Green Hell." In the passenger seat is the videographer from Car Throttle, while the driver is none other than Wolfgang Dürheimer, the President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. If you're going to have someone take you for a trip in the Chiron, there's no better than the man behind the brand.Chiron ClassifiedsAs they go through the road, Wolfgang is as stoic as ever, while his passenger is nothing but laughs and giggles. But if you were in his seat, you'd be doing the same exact thing. If you check out the video below, you'll see what I mean. What an incredible experience!Bugattis For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 12, 2016

Black Bugatti Chiron Cold Start Up and Unloading

The monster that is the Bugatti Chiron is making its way around the globe, most recently the United States. But now, the Chiron has been spotted in the land of luxury: Monaco.Uploaded by WorldSupercars to YouTube today is a video showcasing the euphoric exhaust note that the Chiron carries. In the video we see and hear the Chiron taken off of a delivery truck at its destination. Once unloaded, it made its way into the showroom of a Bugatti dealership, along with a Carbon Blue Vitesse.Check out the sound of the car below and let me know what you think about its exhaust note when compared to the Veyron. Personally, I think this car sounds leagues better than the Veyron.Bugattis For Sale Bugatti Chiron For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2016

Your Wait Is Over! Bugatti Chiron Delivered to NYC

Making the rounds in New York City is the all-new and groundbreaking Bugatti Chiron. A completely sensible alternative to the overcrowded subways of the city, the Chiron arrives with sixteen cylinders and four turbochargers that would turn many heads in Times Square. Richard Marcus, AKA lamborichnyc on Instagram, was lucky enough to witness the awakening of the beast.As an evolution of the Veyron, this new model makes 1,500 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque from a W-16 engine. Performance should far exceed its predecessor, and Chiron will likely spawn a host of special editions. Floyd Mayweather will be performing a long-term evaluation as soon as his car arrives, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more Chiron updates.Bugatti Chiron For Sale Bugatti Chiron on US soil #bugatti #chiron #bugattichiron #billionairelifestyle #billionaire #nyc A video posted by Richard Marcus (@lamborichnyc) on Mar 22, 2016 at 11:07am PDT

By Edward Jones – March 09, 2016

Colors of the Bugatti Chiron

Are you a fan of Bugatti? If you are, then you know that this automaker has a tendency to personalize their cars to no end, resulting in some of the most spectacular hypercars on the road today. And now, with the release of the Chiron, Bugatti is keeping up with their tradition of personalization. On their webpage dedicated to their new model, they say, "Each single Bugatti Chiron is a one of a kind - as individual as its owners. The level of individuality that can be achieved is subject to very few limitations." And, just below this quote, are multiple examples of what they are capable of with the Chiron. 2018 Bugatti Chiron Specs, Price, Photos & Review From what I can tell from the images, there will be plenty of exposed carbon fiber Chirons roaming the streets, and I'm okay with that. Check out the cars below and let us know your favorite in the comments below. Sell My Bugatti: Get a Cash Offer Exposed Carbon Fiber Exposed Blue Carbon Fiber With Silver Light Blue and White With Carbon Fiber Accents Exposed Carbon Fiber With Champagne Red And Black With Carbon Fiber Accents Dark Blue and Light Blue Exposed Blue Carbon Fiber Exposed Red Carbon Fiber and White Bugattis For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 21, 2015

Bugatti Chiron Spotted With Veyron, 918 Spyder, Huracan a...

Coming after the Veyron is Bugatti's new Chiron hypercar. Modeled closely to the Bugatti Vision GT, the Chiron bears a resemblance to the overall style of the Veyron, but is a brand new car in itself. Its sharp new lines blend with the curves we know and love from the French automaker to create a car that will go down in automotive history books.As of today, Bugatti hasn't officially revealed the Chiron for sale, but they have confirmed the name. Our best look yet comes from Tim Wolke, who filmed two of the car's prototypes roaming the streets with a Porsche 918 Spyder, Lamborghini Huracan, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport WRC and a BMW i8.In this video, we get up close and personal with what looks like a Chiron test mule wearing barely any camouflage at all. We also get to hears its engine, which is reported to launch the car up to 288 mph and cost $2.5 million.Check out the video below to see the Chiron for yourself.Veyrons For Sale (Source: YouTube)

By Edward Jones – November 30, 2015

New Bugatti Model Officially Named the "Chiron"

Since it was announced that Bugatti would be making a new model, the consensus has been that it would be called the Chiron. For those of you who have hopped onto this bandwagon, I have great news for you: you were right.In a press release issued today, Bugatti officially announced that the new model will be called the Chiron, after Louis Chiron. As far as looks go, spyshots show us that it will look similar to the Vision GT pictured above. In the press release, they note that he "was the most successful Bugatti works driver and the best racing driver n the world in his time."“In Louis Chiron, we found a worthy patron for a new model in the history of our brand,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S, in the press release. “The name of the best racing driver and the most successful Bugatti driver of his time for the best super sports car of the present day – that is the ideal combination.”As for the car itself, Bugatti is touting that it will be "the world's most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production sports car." Right now, the car is being shown to a select number of customers and is going through final testing. The customers' response? Pretty good, considering over 100 customers have already ordered the Chiron without even driving it. Louis ChironRegarding the new car, Dürheimer put it simply: "We want to make the best significantly better. The Chiron will set new standards in every respect."Excited? So am I. Bugatti also announced in the press release that the car will be unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, which runs from March 3-13.Bugattis For Sale (Source: Bugatti)

By Caitlin Duffy – November 05, 2015

Bugatti Chiron's Front End Spotted

Slowly but surely, details about the newest supercar from Bugatti are making their way to the public light, the latest of which is what its front end looks like.In a cell phone video shared by AUTO BILD TV to YouTube today, we get a look at the front end of an camouflage-free Chiron as it tries to get around a truck hauling lumber on a narrow road. The iconic horseshoe grille is very visible, as are the same headlights found on the behemoth Bugatti Vision GranTurismo concept car.From an inset on the lower left corner, we can tell that the original video was filmed vertically, showing off a landscape of snow capped mountains and tall pine trees, with buildings indicating an Alpine region. We caught a look at the rear ends of two Chirons testing in Lavis, Italy on Oct. 30. Lavis is a northern region that looks similar to what's seen in this second video, indicating that they were likely captured around the same time, if not on the same day.What do you think of this newest design from Bugatti? Do you think they'll stick with the Chiron name, or that they'll announce something different when it's finally officially unveiled? Let us know in the comments below, and find your own Bugatti from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For Sale (via YouTube) See More Bugatti News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 30, 2015

Best Look Yet at the Bugatti Chiron

On Oct. 15, a Bugatti rep confirmed to us that development of the Veyron's successor would continue, and in a series of photos reportedly taken in Lavis, Italy, we've got some visual confirmation of that fact. Chiron For Sale Bugatti Head of Communications Manuela Höehne told us in an email that “work on the next Bugatti continues as planned.” However, she couldn’t confirm the name of this next Bugatti, or any other details, saying “this will follow in due time.” However, multiple reports from sources including Car Magazine have stated that this new Bugatti beast will be capable of reaching 288 mph and have a price of around $2.5 million USD.When you take that price into consideration, it becomes all the more impressive to learn that Magazín ProDriver CZ, an automotive magazine from the Czech Republic, reports that 110 orders have already been placed.A gallery of four photos shared to their Facebook page today shows what appears to be two undisguised Chiron test mules driving around Lavis, a province of Trento, Italy, near the Austrian and Swiss borders. They credit Stefania Piffer with snapping these images, which show each car's license plates ending in "BG 101" and "BG 102."(See Also: Floyd Mayweather Buys $3.5 Million Bugatti Veyron)There are dozens of instantly recognizable design cues on these cars, though we aren't able to see the front of either in these shots. The rear does appear similar to the rear of the Vision GranTurismo concept, save for the massive rear wing and straight line taillights.Let us know what you think about the development of the Chiron so far in the comments below, and find a Bugatti for your collection from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For SaleGallery (via Magazín ProDriver CZ's Facebook) See More Bugatti News

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