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 Andrew Nabors – December 21, 2018

Watch Bugatti Test Their 3D Printed Brake Calipers

It seems like 2018 went by quickly. Almost as fast as a new Bugatti Chiron. Going fast is incredibly fun, but stopping fast is just as important. That's why they have developed the best brakes in the automotive industry. The world's first 3D printed looks almost organic. 2018 Bugatti Chiron Specs & Price It has several exposed areas to mitigate heat, so how can it be strong enough to clamp down on the 16.5" carbon ceramic rotors? Each pair of the 8 calipers are a unique size, but the real secret is in their material. The pistons and the monoblock calipers are 3D printed- from TITANIUM! The same element that was forged to build the SR-71 Blackbird is not cheap, and it's not easy to work with. Nevertheless, watch the best brakes ever made being tested to hellish temperatures. If you need to feel them in action click the link below to find a Bugatti near you. View All Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 10, 2018

Graffiti Artist Paints Bugatti Chiron

Alec Monopoly is known to take his art to the bodies of cars, but this may be one of his wildest endeavors yet. He was recently tasked with painting a Bugatti Chiron for Art Basel week in Miami. That's right, he spray and hand painted a $4 million hypercar. After the paint was all applied, the car was given the fitting name of the MonopBugatti. The MonopBugatti also features a set of ANRKY Wheels, which complete the red/white/blank color scheme. Check it out in the Instagram photos below from @anrkywheels.

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2018

Bugatti Chiron Top Speed: See It Hit 261 MPH

The Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds are where dreams and top speeds come true. Don't believe me? They just released a new video of the Bugatti Chiron hitting a top speed of 261 mph in a matter of 2.7 miles. That's the electronically limited top speed that Bugatti has set for the car and was done so for safety reasons. The video below, however, makes the top speed run look effortless. And I'm serious when I say dreams come true here. The Proving Grounds is home to the longest strip of road for testing cars in the United States. That's because the stretch of road they use is actually the Space Florida's Shuttle Landing Facility runway, which measures in at 3.2 miles. What's more, it's also 300 feet wide, or 25 freeway lanes wide. Having visited some aerodynamic testing sessions at the Proving Grounds, like the one the Chiron took part it, I can tell you that the experience is massive in general. " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 29, 2018

Drag Racing a $3.4M Bugatti Chiron: Not As Easy As It Seems

If you were to drop $3,400,000 on a car, do you think you'd be able to take it to a drag strip and race it? Many owners would be hard-pressed to take their expensive car out for high-speed runs, but the owner of this Bugatti Chiron went all-out at the drag strip. Drag Times was with the owner of the Chiron when he took it to the drag strip and recorded the hypercar laying down some 1/4-mile times. The first run was extremely lackluster, due to the Chiron only allowing the car to run up to around 30 mph for some reason. Then the second launch came, which was a massive improvement over the first, although without launch control. Third time seemed to be the lucky one as the driver took the Chiron to what seems like the first 1/4-mile run in the 9's for the model. Check it out below! " width="680"> Also Check Out: Audi S4 Races Bugatti Chiron, Surprises Everyone Why You Should Buy a Bugatti Chiron Bugatti CEO Says Chiron Could Easily Do 280 MPH

By Edward Jones – November 12, 2018

How to Do the $21k Bugatti Veyron Oil Change

Changing your car's oil is typically pretty simple. You lift it up, remove the oil plug, let the oil drain into a pan, and put the plug back in. While you're at it, you should also replace the oil filter, which is usually as simple as unscrewing the oil filter and replacing it. Of course, there are little thing you need to take into account like replacing seals or putting a little bit of oil into the new filter before you screw it in. But, generally, it's an easy task. That is, for normal cars. When it comes to the Bugatti Veyron, it's a different story. Check Out the Crazy Bugatti Chiron Specs Right Here Houston Crosta, the owner of Royalty Exotic Cars, needed to change the oil on his Veyron but didn't want to shell out the $21,000 price of having it done elsewhere. His solution? DIY. Crosta and his coworker Jesse put on gloves and got to work. Instead of removing just one drain plug, they had to remove a total of 16 oil plugs in order to let the oil drain out. I should also mention that it was 60w oil, so it was thick and hesitant to come out. He also replaced his air filters, which involved taking off a very large portion of the hypercar's body. I still don't know how they managed to keep track of all of those screws... The entire process is in the video below. Bugatti Chiron vs Veyron in Multi-Million Dollar Drag Race

By Edward Jones – October 14, 2018

CarMax Appraises Bugatti Veyron Mansory for Hilarious Price

At CarMax locations, you can have a specialist come out to appraise your car. Upon appraisal, should you choose to accept it, they'll hand you a check and you're off on your merry way. When Carmax first introduced this, I'm sure they were expecting your typical car to come rolling through and not a hypercar. But, alas, TheStradman and his friend Houston from Royalty Exotics decided to see how they would appraise a Bugatti Veyron Mansory. Why? Because why the heck not. After having a specialist come out to check out the car and go for a test drive, CarMax entered the hypercar into their system. However, since they don't deal with cars of this significance, they had to enter the Veyron as a 12-cylinder Volkswagen Beetle. That's. Hilarious. After going through all the pleasantries and punching in all the numbers, the CarMax agent presented Houston with their incredible offer of $200,000. That's $200k for a $2 million car. Bugatti Veyron Spins $150,000 Donuts Why such a lowball offer? The maximum amount they will offer for a car is $200,000 and it's evident that this car is worth well over that amount. So, you can't fault CarMax for the low offer as this car just isn't in their intended market and, according to StradMan, the amount is the maximum the software would allow. But you have to appreciate the sincerity and professionalism of the agent and inspector during the whole ordeal. It should also be mentioned that StradMan brought his Lamborghini Gallardo to CarMax last year and got a real offer for $80,000 which was around what he expected. StradMan mentioned he was actually impressed with the offer. You can view that video " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>. Check out the downright funny experience in the video below. View The Stradman's Car Collection Originally Published: Oct 14, 2018

By Edward Jones – October 03, 2018

Bugatti Divo: A Hypercar Gallery from Paris

The new Bugatti Divo has had its European debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Before its debut, Bugatti looks to have given the Divo a tour of Paris and snapped some incredible images of the new hypercar for everyone to see. These images can be found right down below. If these aren't perfect for a phone or desktop background, I don't know what it.In the images down below, you're looking at the latest hypercar from Bugatti. It comes powered by the company’s eight-liter W16 that’s capable of 1,479 horsepower. While the power remains exactly the same as the Chiron, Bugatti made it a car that's built around perfect cornering. The Bugatti Divo price is set at €5 million, which equates to roughly $5.8 million USD. Bugatti has limited the production of the Divo to just 40 examples, all of which are spoken for. Read the Bugatti Divo's specs to learn more.

By Andrew Nabors – September 11, 2018

Bugatti CEO Says Chiron Could Easily Do 280 MPH

Taking lessons learned on the Veyron and its World Record speeds, Bugatti's CEO Stefan Winkelmann has hinted at the Chiron's capabilities. CarAdvice had a chance to speak with Winkelmann during Monterey car week regarding the Chiron's top speed. The boss says it could easily surpass 440 or 450 kph, or 273 to 280 mph. This was undoubtedly provoked by Koenigsegg's official speed of 277.9 mph.Bugatti Divo Price, Specs, Photos and ReviewMeanwhile, John Hennessey and Johnny Bohmer are both aiming for 300 mph to bring the record back to the United States. Bugatti limits the top speed of the Chiron to 261 mph because it doesn't have the tires glued on like the Veyron does. This means your Chiron's wheels don't have to be flown back to France for new rubber. Top speed records are comprised of an average of two runs, one in each direction to account for the wind. The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is capable of 267.8 mph. If they decide to go for the record, you will see it here on Autofluence.Find Your Bugatti Here!

By Andrew Nabors – September 10, 2018

Bugatti Says Their W16 Engine Is the End of an Era

If you are looking for the State of the Art in automotive power, we have several Bugatti Veyrons for sale. They were the first production car to have a W-16 engine, which is based on the Audi/Bentley W12. It can be tracked all the way back to the Jetta's legendary VR6, but times are changing. Everyone is jumping on the electric bandwagon and is making the most powerful gas engines looks like dinosaurs.Bugatti Divo Price, Specs, Photos and ReviewHowever, CarAdvice has is reporting that Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed the engine's departure to them. He told them there will be no new 16-cylinder engine and that the current one is the "last of its kind." Whatever powers the Divo's successor will have some sort of electric system, and you know it will be powerful. The Chiron offers 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, but it comes at a price for the manufacturer. The time it takes to build each engine and the fact it shares nothing with any other brand have sealed the fate of the sixteen-cylinder. Because it fires multiple cylinders at once, you do need to experience the smoothness and the power that Bugatti offers. Click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your Bugatti news.Browse Bugattis For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 30, 2018

Full-Size LEGO Bugatti Chiron That Can Be Driven

Just a few months ago, Bugatti and Lego teamed up to create a Technic kit of the Chiron hypercar. Now, they've gone above and beyond to create a full-size Chiron out of over 1 million LEGO Technic pieces. What's more, this replica Bugatti can actually be driven. Seriously.Powering this LEGO Chiron is a drivetrain that consists of 2,304 LEGO Power Function motors that utilize 4,032 Technic gear wheels. When this powered on, by what I assume is a flick of a switch, it's capable of producing 5.3 horsepower and 67 lb-ft of torque. Combine that kind of power with its weight of 3,300 lbs and you have the recipe for some serious... movement.2018 Bugatti Chiron Specs, Price, Photos & Review Photos by Max Earey

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