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 – April 16, 2020

Bugatti Looks Back at 15 Years of the Veyron

An automotive engineer was on a business trip in Japan. While riding the bullet train between Tokyo and Nagoya, the performance and refinement of their rail system inspired him to sketch a car unlike any other. While most engineers tend to butt-heads with stylists, this gentleman had a bit more influence than his coworkers. Ferdinand Piech was not only a skilled engineer and designer, he was also the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche. As the head of VW group since 1993, his genius saw Porsche being wrestled from his cousins and brought back under VW control. After transforming Audi into a true competitor to Mercedes-Benz and BMW, he oversaw the purchase of Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati. When he returned from the trip, he gathered his most talented workers to discuss the feasibility of an 18-cylinder engine. Several prototypes were made, based on the VR6 engine architecture. Weight and space considerations persuaded them to chop the last two cylinders off, and the W16 engine was born. The problem is that they didn't have a brand capable of such performance. During the mid-90s, millionaire Romano Artioli owned Bugatti and Built the EB110 in Modena, Italy. The cars were amazing but he became too ambitious and bought Lotus from GM. This bankrupted him and Bugatti went into receivership. This allowed VW to purchase the rights and intellectual property for a great price, and resurrect the corporate headquarters in Molsheim. President of Bugatti Stephan Winkelmann said: “The ideas of the outstanding engineer Ferdinand Piëch in 1997 were a testament to a brilliant mind. As well as his incredible concept of a powerful engine, he was also the driving force behind the resurrection of the Bugatti brand at its original site, the French city of Molsheim. Looking back, I would like to pay him and the employees at the time my utmost respect. They demonstrated great courage, energy and passion in reviving this exceptional brand. Some of those first employees are still loyal to us to this day.” After a few concepts by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Veyron was announced in Geneva in 2000. It took 5 years to make sure it was perfect in every way. When production began in 2005, we thought it would be a limited run. A decade later and the Veyron has become a timeless piece of automotive history, and an icon in the pages of our magazine. Although Dr. Piech passed away last year, his visions and leadership will inspire VW long into the future. If you have never experienced a Bugatti, click the button below and stay with us for all your sixteen-cylinder supercars. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 20, 2020

Wild Bugatti Veyron Plows Snow and Tows Skier

When it snows, most supercar and hypercar owners keep their prized possessions in the garage. For TheStradman and Houston of Royalty Exotic Cars, however, they took their Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini Aventador out in the snow just for fun. The two cars were taken to the parking lot of a ski resort in Utah where the cars put on a "spin class." After doing some powdery donuts, the Veyron went on a snowplow run, covering the hypercar in snow. But it doesn't end there. They then tied a rope to the Veyron and towed TheStradman on skis behind it. Insanity. ALL BUGATTI VEYRONS FOR SALE " width="680">

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By Andrew Nabors – May 29, 2019

Bugatti Veyron Legends: Two Decades of Dominance

Twenty years ago I heard a rumor that Chevrolet was working on a 385 horsepower Corvette Z06. Everyone was worried about the Y2K virus, and a majority of our fans used AOL to reach dupontregistry.com. Meanwhile, a secret project was being finalized in Molsheim, France. The resurrection of Bugatti shocked the world, so the brand has decided to look back on their major milestones. In their latest press release we see the Bugatti Veyron Legends in two decades of dominance. Every example of the Bugatti Veyron is powered by an 8.0L sixteen cylinder engine with four turbochargers. The design was finished by 2000, but it took extensive testing to get it production ready. The first cars available for sale were built in 2005. They offered 987 horsepower and 922 lb-ft of torque. Not only is that more torque than most diesel trucks, it is available between 2,200 and 5,000 rpm. Many speculated the car would be a flop, but the Veyron evolved. It spawned Grand Sport, Grand Sport Vitesse, Super Sport, and a host of one-off builds for wealthy clients. Tell us your favorite Veyron in the comments below, and click the link to find one for yourself! Browse Bugatti Veyron For Sale

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 – July 09, 2018

Woah, Someone Actually Did This With a Bugatti Veyron

Most owners of rare hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron tend to keep their prized vehicles in the garage or on Concours lawns. But for the owner of this Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Car, he likes to take his hypercar out where others don't dare venture. During the recent Heveningham Concours event, supercars, classic cars and hypercars all ventured out to the Heveningham Hall for a wild event. Some cars were parked studiously or trotted about, while others went full speed through Horsepower Hill.Koenigsegg Naraya Spins Up Donuts, Cuts GrassNow, it should be mentioned that Horsepower Hill resembles a rally circuit. So, the fact that the aforementioned Veyron and cars like a LaFerrari and McLaren P1 GTR took it on is surprising. But flying through the Hill at about 150 mph wasn't enough for the Veyron owner. No, he also put on a show and did some dirty donuts. When you consider it costs around $30,000 to replace the tires on the car, doing donuts in dirt is better than on tarmac. Although, I'm sure the body doesn't appreciate any rocks being flung about.Now, enough chit chat. Click play below to see the Veyron do its best rally impression.

By Andrew Nabors – April 09, 2018

Just How Good Is A Bugatti Veyron?

We exist to connect buyers and sellers of the world's most exotic cars, so naturally, we get a million questions about Bugatti and their products. A majority of motoring enthusiasts will never see one in person, let alone have a chance to get behind the wheel. To put that into perspective, champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather has owned at least 6 examples of the Bugatti Veyron.Ed Bolian's automotive career has also allowed him to experience the Veyron in person, and I have been lucky enough to drive them to our various duPont REGISTRY Live events. So in a recent upload to his VinWiki page, Ed gives us his thoughts on the 16-Cylinder supercar. Bugatti is wholly-owned by VW, so many people will tell you it shares parts from Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini. If this is true, please enlighten us, because the Veyron is unlike anything else.Like he mentions in the video, a Bugatti isn't stressed about anything. It makes massive horsepower and torque in every situation, and the fit & finish is worthy of the price. I've driven the Mansory Vincero d'Oro, which was an all-carbon masterpiece.Transformers 2014 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse For SaleThe Transformers Edition Veyron was the star of last year's Orange County Auto Show, and it had a temperament of the aristocracy. It would be nice to hear more exhaust while cruising, but 16 cylinders cancel each other out. This makes the dozen cooling fans the loudest noise at idle. Everything component and action of a Bugatti is solid and well thought out. Is it worth the price? Yes and probably more in my book. Tell us your thoughts on meeting your heroes in the comments below and stay with us for more VinWiki videos.Browse Bugatti Veyron For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 05, 2018

Bugatti is Showing Love to Veyron Owners

Bugatti is continuing their support for their Veyron hypercar with a new program, Loyalty Maintenance Program (LMP). Just announced, this new program will help "Veyron owners reduce the operating expenses of their super sports car," according to Bugatti.Franco Utzeri, Head of Bugatti Certified & Financial Services, worked with their Customer Service department to create the LMP. “The combination of a confirmed vehicle history, the Bugatti Certified warranty and individual support by Bugatti Customer Service makes the difference for Veyron owners and is more than just a seal of approval,” says Utzeri. “We are committed to providing our customers with a 360° ownership experience that is unique in the automotive world.”LMP will offer Veyron owners a selection of service packages that are designed to fit their needs and keep their car at the highest level of quality possible. Consider LMP to be the ultimate service program available for the French hypercar. Since Bugatti recognizes the fact that owners of the car use it in many ways, like placing it in a collection or daily driving it, the programs are made to fit the owners' needs.Lisy Your Exotic Car for Sale “Many owners enjoy driving their car every day while others see it as an automotive work of art in their private collection," says Chris Kelly, Head of Bugatti Customer Service. "This means that individual customers have very different expectations of service. We can now meet these expectations much more effectively, in line with our customers’ wishes.”Bugatti's introduction of the LMP is the latest sign of the French automaker's willingness to support the Chiron's predecessor. LMP is a part of the Bugatti Certified program, which was made to keep all Veyrons up to the company's standards. When a car is entered into the program, everything is tested and if any problems arrive, they're resolved if necessary. That includes paint, power output, equipment and more. Once the Veyron is done with its checkup, Bugatti gives it a "Bugatti Certified" seal and an extended warranty is granted.Sports Cars for Sale

By Edward Jones – December 18, 2017

Bugatti Veyron Races Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike

There are thousands of racing videos that can be found on the internet, but out of them are a few that are truly interesting. The latest must-watch is from GTBOARD.com. In the video, found below, you'll get to see a Bugatti Veyron racing against a Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike. The entire race is a treat because you get to see how the insane acceleration of the Suzuki dismantles the Veyron, while the hypercar's top-end kicks in once the bike reaches its top speed. One thing to keep in mind while watching this is that the Suzuki has an MSRP of $14,699 and the Bugatti typically sells for over $1 million. Which would you prefer, top end or acceleration?Kawasaki Ninja H2 Obliterates McLaren and LamborghiniLamborghinis Huracans for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 08, 2017

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse: By The Numbers

A blast from zero to 60 in 2.6 seconds is guaranteed to have anyone grinning from ear to ear. A max speed run at 255mph would get the heart pounding like a jackhammer. Drop the Veyron’s top, and at 255mph you’d have nothing left to worry about. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse was the grand finale of the car that changed how we define exotic cars when it debuted back in 2003. Now that Chiron production is in full swing, we can take a look back at how the Veyron changed the world of exotic cars. Vitesse is French for ‘speed’ - and it combines the manic 1,200 hp of the record-breaking Super Sport coupe with the targa-topped body of the Grand Sport. What you have here is quite simply the world’s fastest production convertible. Power comes from essentially the same 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder nuclear reactor that motivated the original Veyron, but now with a quartet of enlarged turbos and even more cooling capacity. The result is a power hike from a crazed 987 hp to an absolutely insane 1,183 hp - that’s an extra 196 hp. Max torque takes a similar leap; from 922 lb-ft to 1,106 lb-ft. This is the motor that punched a Veyron Super Sport to a record top speed of 267.81 mph at Volkswagen’s test track. Bugatti rightly caps the Vitesse’s top speed of 255 mph with the roof in place. Without the roof, the top speed is limited to 233 because of cockpit turbulence. A big chunk of that $2.3-million purchase price goes to the hundreds of hours of wind tunnel testing that helped create seemingly small but extremely effective features like the clip-on aero lip that attaches to the top of the windshield. It makes conversation actually possible at 200 mph-plus. Though we’re not sure what kind of conversation a driver should be engaging in when the world is screaming past at 293 feet every second. Yes, there is a carbon fiber hardtop, but if you remove it you'll have to leave it at home as there’s no place for it inside the car. Just as in 2003, there is still no car that compares to a magical Veyron. It’s a car everyone should be given the opportunity to drive just once in their life. The last Veyron was a Grand Sport Vitesse known as La Finale, and it signaled the end of an era. LIST PRICE $2,300,000 ENGINE 8.0-liter quad turbo W-16 HORSEPOWER 1,183 hp @ 6,450 rpm TORQUE 1,106 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic 0–60 2.6 seconds TOP SPEED 255 mph WEIGHT 4,378 lbs LENGTH 176 inches TIRES Front: 265-680 YR-500 Rear: 365-710/YR-540 PRO The world’s fastest production roadster CON Losing your favorite ball cap at 230 mph

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