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 Tyler Rampersaud – June 19, 2020

See the Bugatti Designer's 6 Favorite Veyrons of All Time

It’s already been 15 years since the introduction of the unprecedented Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the rest of the automotive world is still working to catch up. The Veyron entirely redefined what the world defined as a supercar and what cars could be capable of, and led a march of modern supercars and hypercars that we are still amazed by to this day. To celebrate, Achim Anscheidt, Bugatti’s design director, shared a few words about his six favorites. See All Veyrons for Sale Pur Sang (2007) Constructed of unpainted carbon and aluminum, the Pur Sang celebrates the look and texture of those materials and used their natural colors to design the entire car, paying homage to the brand’s classic Type 35. Super Sport (2010) The Veyron Super Sport was Buggati’s proof that even five years into holding their top speed record, they weren’t done. With the ability to reach 268 mph, and a new world record, the Veyron Super Sport was yet another milestone in automotive history. Grand Sport L’Or Blanc (2011) Made in collaboration with the Royal Porcelain Factory of Berlin, the L’Or Blanc was a one-off Veyron Grand Sport with a blue and white china-like color scheme in both the exterior and interior, evoking the look of a Chinese Ming vase. Grand Sport Vitesse (2012) After the incredible feat of the Super Sport, Bugatti decided that they wanted to push the limits of a roadster too. 92 of these incredible cars were produced, and they provide their drivers the potential to drive at incredible speeds in a coupe-like cocoon or al fresco. Grand Sport Venet (2012) French artist Bernar Venet was the inspiration for this bespoke Veyron Grand Sport, with an orange and brown color scheme and mathematical livery to celebrate the science of Venet’s work, which continues to the interior as well. "Les Légendes de Bugatti" (2014) Made to celebrate the end of the Veyron’s life cycle, this final edition made sure that the Veyron went out with a bang. Exposed dark blue carbon and satin-polished aluminum panels are the color scheme of the exterior, which is complemented by a chocolate-brown interior.

By Edward Jones – May 15, 2020

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is Now Undergoing Serious Track ...

Bugatti engineers are now able to test the Chiron Pur Sport again due to the lockdown caused by COVID-19 starting to lift. Their current track of choice for testing is none other than the Bilster Berg circuit in the Teutoburg Forest, Germany. This circuit consists of 19 turns, 44 crests and dips, 20 percent uphill and 26 downhill grades, and an elevation change of 70 meters over 4,207 meters. All of these track details make Bilster Berg the perfect circuit to test the capabilities of the Chiron Pur Sport. "With the Chiron Pur Sport, we’re pursuing a more extreme and radical development approach," says Stefan Ellrott, Head of Development at Bugatti. "It’s the perfect car for all those drivers who enjoy cornering at the limits and want to feel a connection with the road." Because the new Chiron Pur Sport has a firmer chassis, new tires and a shorter-ratio gearbox, Bugatti's engineers are taking this time at the track to fine-tune the engine. The goal of the engineers is to make sure the Chiron Pur Sport is launching out of corners as quickly as possible, making it the most track-formidable hypercar Bugatti can make. "Thanks to the new suspension geometry, the softer Michelin tires with even better grip and the enormous rear wing, the acceleration of the Pur Sport out of corners is even more brutal," explains Jachin Schwalbe, Head of Chassis Development at Bugatti. "It’s simply a pure, uncompromising driving machine." Bugatti will continue testing the Chiron Pur Sport on more tracks in the coming weeks. And, yes, that includes Nürburgring Nordschleife. All Bugatti Chirons for Sale

By Edward Jones – May 06, 2020

Bugatti Releases Stunning New Divo Configurations

When it comes to designing your new Bugatti Divo, it's much more involved than just going on a configurator and clicking some buttons. Owners of the new Divo have the ability to truly dive into the look of their car, creating a truly personal hypercar that's one-of-a-kind. To make it happen, customers go to Bugatti's headquarters in Molsheim to meet with the automaker's team. The process can take upwards of five hours, but that's because they're learning every little detail about the car and customizing every detail. Aspects of the Divo that can be customized include the body color, centerline, engine covers, air intakes on the wing, interior materials, and so much more. “Some customers might know exactly what they want. But we also have customers whom we advise in detail, we work together with them and come up with suggestions,” says Anne Beynat, Sales Coordinator at Bugatti since 2011. “Customers often have their own ideas, such as family crests, national flags, their own logos or special color schemes. We then try to implement the ideas in technical terms." Bugatti can make just about anything happen, having embossed a child's footprints in the rear panel of a Veyron or put crystals into the cockpit. If the customer wants special grilles or logos in the wheels, they can make that happen too. What I'm trying to get across is that the possibilities are truly endless when it comes to customizing a Divo. In fact, it took one customer more than a year to finalize his Divo's customization. Bugatti knows that their cars are special to their customers, so that's why they put so much time and effort into making sure they deliver something that's personal and extraordinary. What's more, we're going to start seeing the fruits of Bugatti's labor soon as they will start delivering Divo's shortly and production has once again restarted. See All Bugattis for Sale Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – March 31, 2020

The Holy Trinity of Bugatti Hypercars

Bugatti may be over a century old, but there are three cars of the modern area that have set the stage for the hypercar world we see today: the EB110, Veyron and Chiron. Throughout the past three decades, these three cars have been monementous achievements in the automotive industry. From their luxury to their insane power, they each are special in their own right. Bugatti recently gathered an example of each of these hypercars together in Dubai for an photoshoot of epic proportions. For the photoshoot, the cars all have a matching paint finish which was an awesome choice. Because of the matching paint scheme, there's a sense of familiarity between the cars but it makes it easier to witness Bugatti's evolution over the years. Check out all of the images in the gallery below. See All Bugattis for Sale

By Edward Jones – January 02, 2020

Bugatti Chiron "Hermès Edition" Revealed by Manny Khoshbin

Manny Khoshbin has just received the latest collection to his car collection and it's as beautiful as vehicles come. Introducing his new Bugatti Chiron "Hermès Edition" hypercar. Khoshbin has been waiting for this car since he designed it four years ago. For the color scheme, he went with all-cream for the interior and exterior. The Hermès Courbettes Graphic with horses can be found on the exterior and interior of the hypercar, marking the first time this pattern has been used in a sports car. Both wool and cashmere were used for the pattern in the cabin. Bugatti Chiron Specs: 1/4 Mile, 0-60 & Prices This isn't the first time that Bugatti and Hermès have teamed up. In fact, the first worked together in the 1920s and in 2008 for the Veyron. Now, Manny Khoshbin has the Hermès Chiron and it's just as beautiful as we expected. SEE ALL BUGATTI CHIRONS FOR SALE Image Source: Instagram

By Edward Jones – December 02, 2019

Bugatti Chiron Noire Special Editions Announced

Following the Bugatti La Voiture Noire's direction are two new special edition Chirons that have just been announced. The Bugatti Chiron Noire Sportive and Chiron Noire Elegance are two new versions of the hypercar that continue the dark theme set by the La Voiture Noire. The main difference between these two models is their exterior. Bugatti dressed the Chiron Noire Elegance in a black exposed carbon fiber exterior, while the Chiron Noire Sportive has an exposed carbon fiber body with a matte black finish. There are few other exclusive features to both of these special edition models on top of their elegant body finishes. Upfront on both models is the Bugatti "Macaron" emblem that is made of solid silver but refined with black enamel. The interiors of both models have also been specialized to match their dark themes as well. Bugatti is limiting these special editions to just 20 examples and it's available for both the Chiron and Chiron Sport models. They will cost roughly $3.3 million and be delivered around Q2 2020. SEE ALL BUGATTI CHIRONS FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2019

See the Bugatti Chiron Break 300 MPH Barrier

They did it. They actually did it. The new Bugatti Chiron has broken the almost mythical 300 mph barrier for a production car. The attempt was made by Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace, who was driving a pre-production version of the Chiron, at the test track at Ehra-Lessien in Lower Saxony. Wallace had to be very precise with his acceleration during the attempt. It started with acceleration up to 124 mph out of the north curve, then a push towards top speed across a 5.46-mile straight before decelerating back down to 124 mph before the south bend. The result was a TÜV-certified top speed of 304.773 mph. For the Chiron used in the attempt, Bugatti ensured Wallace's safety through a variety of modifications made with race specialist Dallara and tire manufacturer Michelin. The Michelin high-speed tires were reinforced so they could handle the world-record attempt. Wallace was kept safe with a six-point belt system and an additional safety cell. “Bugatti has once again shown what it’s capable of. With this new record of the Chiron we enter again uncharted territory. Never before has a series manufacturer reached this high speed,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. see all bugatti chirons for sale now

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2019

Bugatti “La Voiture Noire” Revealed: The Most Expensive N...

A modern interpretation of the Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic has been teased for a while and now the new one-off model is here, the Bugatti “La Voiture Noire.” Bugatti President Stephan Winkelman says that the La Voiture Noire "is a coupé with the comfort of a luxury limousine and the power of a hyper sports car." Bugatti says that every single component found on the La Voiture Noire has been made by hand. Its exterior is made of carbon fiber, with a deep black gloss covering the entirety of it until it is interrupted by the ultrafine fiber structure. The Bugatti La Voiture Noire's engine is the well-known 8.0-liter W16 engine. Pumping out of this engine is 1480 horsepower and 1180 lb-ft of torque. There may be plenty of power to be found in the La Voiture Noire, but this one-off car is all about it's beautiful styling. “We worked long and hard on this design until was nothing that we could improve," says Bugatti designer Etienne Salomé. "For us, the coupé represents the perfect form with a perfect finish. Top 25 Most Expensive Cars in the World Bugatti says the La Voiture Noire's price is €11 million, which equates to roughly $12.46 million. For those who were thinking they may be able to purchase it, I've got bad news for you as it's already been sold to a Bugatti enthusiast. What's more, that price tag makes it the most expensive new car of all time. see all bugatti chirons for sale

By Edward Jones – February 07, 2019

Bugatti Chiron Sport "110 ans Bugatti" Celebrates 110th A...

It's hard to believe it, but Bugatti's 110th anniversary is here. That's right, the French automaker that's become a staple of luxurious lives has been around for 11 decades. To celebrate the occasion, the Bugatti Chiron Sport "110 ans Bugatti" (110 years Bugatti) has been created and unveiled. In that model name, you'll notice that this is no ordinary Chiron and it is actually the newer Chiron Sport. While the engine remains the same in the Sport version when compared standard Chiron, its new mechanical underpinnings make it more capable on the track. Making this specific Chiron Sport special is not only its name but its downright beautiful appearance. At first glance, it looks like the entire body of the special edition Bugatti is one color but it is in fact a two-tone design. In the rear is a matte Steel Blue paintwork, while the front is actually exposed carbon fiber in Steel Blue Carbon. Bugatti notes that this two-tone scheme is reminiscent of history models from the 1920's. It's not just the paintwork that Bugatti paid attention to, either. They were even specific enough to pay special attention to the aluminum gas cap that had been sandblasted, hand-polished and adorned with “110 ans Bugatti” emblem. Each alloy wheel is finished in "Nocturne" mate black with bright blue brake calipers resting behind them. The final and most exquisite touch of the exterior has to be the French flag that's been painted on the underside of the rear wing. A Bugatti wouldn't truly be a Bugatti without a lavish, yet sport cabin. For this special edition Chiron Sport, they went all out. Several areas of the interior sport the “110 ans Bugatti” markings to point out its special spot in Bugatti's history. Carbon fiber is abundant, being found across the cabin on the steering wheel, steering column and seat trims. For the upholstery, Bugatti chose soft Deep Blue leather to continue the exterior's color scheme. There's also plenty of Alcantara to be found as trim on the seats, door trims, and sides. Bugatti's 110th Anniversary couldn't have been celebrated in a more elegant and fitting manner.

By Edward Jones – January 11, 2019

Why You Should Buy a Bugatti Chiron

The Bugatti Chiron hypercar was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2016, and on that day a legend was born. Bugatti needed something big to follow up their wildly popular Veyron, and they exceeded expectations with the Chiron. The car was named after Louis Chiron, a Monégasque (Monaco) racing driver who raced Bugattis back in the 1930's. While the name may come from the company's history, it's performance, style and design are all modern and somewhat futuristic. Since its unveiling, the Chiron has been flaunted at automotive events across the world and it's always the star of any show it attends. Its presence draws crowds of people of both automotive enthusiasts and those who don't know what a Bugatti car looks like. Why? Because its design exudes its status of being one of the most outrageous cars in existence. If you've ever thought about having such a magnificent car in your collection, there really shouldn't be any questioning it. And here's why. Drop-dead Gorgeous Its design is one that follows function. When designing the car, Bugatti ensured that its design features all had a technical background. They not only created one of the most beautiful cars on the road today but were also able to blend design and function seamlessly. For example, the large side vents that create a "C" shape on the sides are not only function but also frame the cockpit of the car beautifully. What's more, that shape is mirrored in the cabin between the passengers, creating an aesthetic that ventures from the exterior to the interior. It's these kind of design cues that allow the Chiron to be both a piece of fine art and a car that can be respected by anyone. The Bugatti Chiron that broke the 0-400-0 km/h record. Fastest and Most Powerful Bugatti During its heyday, the Veyron was known as the world's fastest car by all. Because of that, Bugatti knew they had to one-up themselves. To do that, they tuned the quad-turbocharged 8-liter W16 engine up to 1,500 horsepower. That amount of power trumps the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse's 1200 hp. Combine the Chiron's power with its extreme aerodynamics and you have the recipe for a true hypercar. There are a few production cars that could hold their own against the might of the Chiron. The Bugatti Chiron's Engine Unmatched Power The amount of production cars that have as much horsepower as the Chiron can be counted on just one hand. These include the Koenigsegg Regera (1,500 hp), Hennessey Venom F5 (1,600 bhp) and the Rimac C_Two (1,914 hp). It should be noted that as of writing this, both the Venom F5 and C_Two are not in production as of yet. This means the only car currently in production that can compare to the Chiron's horsepower is the Regera. That is unless I'm missing something and if I am, be sure to let us know in the comments below! In a Club of a Few If you want a car that only a few own, then the Chiron is for you. Bugatti has a planned total production run of just 500. That means just 500 of the 7.7 billion people in the world will own a Chiron. As far as percentages go, that's 0.000006494%. Talk about a select few. The Bugatti showroom in Düsseldorf. Resale Value When released, the Bugatti Chiron demanded a starting price of around $3 million. Now, we're starting to see them listed for sale well above that, around $4 million and some have even broken into the $4 million range. If you wanted to buy yourself a hypercar that could make you money while it shines in your garage, look on further Bugatti Chirons For Sale View This Chiron's Listing Page view this chiron's listing page view this chiron's listing page View This Chiron's Listing Here View THis Chiron's Listing Here Article Images via Bugatti

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