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 – August 18, 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo Arrives Home With New Bugatti Veyron

To celebrate his Euro Championship 2016 win with Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated by buying himself a Bugatti Veyron. Even though many soccer fans have strong feelings for Ronaldo, either good or bad, he still has pretty good taste in cars. His black French hypercar is a perfect addition to his garage, considering how fast the car is and how fast he is on the pitch.In a new Instagram video posted by @cristiano, his personal account, Ronaldo arrives home in his Veyron. What will he bring home if he wins the Ballon d'Or in January 2017? Maybe a new Chiron, or even a Ferrari LaFerrari? We'll have to wait to find out!View All Bugatti Veyrons For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BJN-7E5gr6U/

By Edward Jones – July 27, 2016

Bugatti Veyron Vitesse "Hellbug" Hits 230 mph on Highway

One false move at this speed and you could lose your life. Seriously, going over 200 mph is absolutely no joke. But when you have a car like the Bugatti Veyron Vitesse "Hellbug", an open highway and the nerve to handle such speed, it's hard to not give it a shot.On July 22 and 23, exotic cars from around the country gathered in Ketchum, Idaho for no-speed-limit runs on a closed public road. In the past, we've seen Veyrons hit top speeds before and this year we get to see it again. Sometimes repetition can be a bad thing, but not when it involves speeds way over 200 mph in a French hypercar.(Also Watch - Koenigsegg Agera R Tests Top Speed Against 918 Spyder on Autobahn)Since just about all of us weren't able to attend the event, TheStradman was on-hand during the Hellbug's run to record what happened. In a video uploaded to YouTube, we get to see multiple perspectives of the Hellbug's run, including some that truly portray the car's rate of speed. Check it out below!Do you think you could handle driving a car at 230 mph? Let me know in the comments below.Bugatti Veyron For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 18, 2016

A Day in the Life of a Bugatti Owner

For their YouTube series, SCD-TV, Supercar Driver met up with Bugatti Veyron owner, Carl Hartley, to find out what's it like to own one of the most iconic supercars to date. Hartley first gave insight into the type of seat he has (comfort) and where he purchased the car (an owner in Vienna) and then went into needing to have the car serviced. Apparently, servicing the Veyron to bring it to tip top shape cost a, "mere 32,000 pounds," he stated with a bit of a sarcastic chuckle. (That's an approximate $42,000).(Also Check Out - Cristiano Ronaldo Buys Bugatti Veyron to Celebrate Euro Win)He also talks about having the ability to drive just about any car thanks to his work, but he always wanted a Veyron. He speaks to the Veyron's superiority as a supercar and it's investment opportunity.He then goes through some of the expenses associated with owning the Veyron, which, in themselves, cost more than some of us make in a year. Insurance apparently equals the cost of, "a nice new car," on a yearly basis. Driving the Veyron? Like piloting an F16. Check out the full video to find out more about what it's like owning a Bugatti Veyron.Bugatti Veyrons for Sale

By Edward Jones – July 15, 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo Buys Bugatti Veyron to Celebrate Euro Win

Whether you're a fan of soccer/football or not, you more than likely have heard of Cristiano Ronaldo at some point in your life. And it's funny, because even though he's arguably one of the finest players on and off of the field, people are so divided in their feelings for him. Essentially, either you love him or you hate him. Well, now I'm giving you another reason to either love him or hate him.Yesterday, Ronaldo posted images of a present he gave himself after winning the 2016 Euro Championship with the Portugal national team. That present? A Bugatti Veyron.(Also Check Out - BMW Reveals New Shoes Based On Concept Car)https://www.instagram.com/p/BH2Y5wngFd_/I'd saying buying a hypercar worth over $1 million is a decent gift you can give yourself. So the question remains: how do you feel about Ronaldo? Let me know in the comments below. Personally, I think his kind gestures off of the field are amazing, as are his skills on the pitch. Though, some might say he's a bit too "emotional" when it comes to fouls.View Bugatti Veyrons For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BH2rYASAbL7/

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By Andrew Nabors – February 02, 2016

Why You Should Buy A Bugatti Veyron

If eight cylinders and two turbochargers are enough, this article isn’t for you. For those with more extreme appetites, sixteen cylinders and four turbos have been the state of the art for the last few years. They can be found in the Bugatti Veyron, and this is why you should own one.PowerYou will have almost 1,000 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque from idle to redline. This is possible because the 8.0-liter W16 engine uses Volkswagen’s innovative VR6 narrow-angle architecture to package sixteen pistons in a space not much larger than a Big Block V8. The ultimate evolution of this powerplant was launched in the Grand Sport Vitesse models, which were built from 2011 to 2015. With attention to detail in regards to intake and exhaust restrictions, they were able to make 1,200 hp and 1,100 lb-ft of torque. PerformanceThe aforementioned Vitesse can reach 62 mph in 2.6 seconds thanks to the Haldex AWD system. While capable of 267 mph, US versions are limited to only 233 mph.RarityOnly 450 Veyrons were produced, so your chances of seeing another one in traffic are next to none. Buy it, drive it, sell it for a profit. Whatever you do, don’t hide them away, these cars are engineered to be driven, and collecting dust is a disservice to the legacy of Ettore Bugatti and to auto enthusiasts everywhere. 2011 Bugatti Veyron View Listing 2006 Bugatti Veyron View Listing 2008 Bugatti Veyron View Listing 2014 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse View Listing 2008 Bugatti Veyron View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – September 21, 2015

Onboard Video of Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse 0-231 MPH

Each year, as summer peaks in Idaho’s Sun Valley, gear heads and exotic car owners transform a remote stretch of Highway 75 into an unrestricted test of top speed. For 2015, the Sun Valley Road Rally saw an unprecedented test of speed thanks to the brave owner of a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse L’Or Rouge.In a video uploaded to his YouTube page on Sept. 19, TheStradman captured some incredible acceleration along with an inset of the speedometer. With a short rollout, the driver unleashes the fury of 16 cylinders and four turbochargers onto the closed course. Even with slight braking around 160 mph, the driver reached 231 mph faster than most cars can cover a quarter-mile. Check out the video for yourself above.Top speed events are growing in popularity each year, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more coverage of these wild events.Veyrons For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Bugatti News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 10, 2015

Bugatti Veyron vs. Kawasaki Ninja H2

There's little questioning the fact that it's difficult to take on the Bugatti Veyron, but if there's any two-wheeled vehicle up to the challenge, it's a Kawasaki creation.Swedish car spotter and YouTuber Gustav of GTBOARD.com got a chance to ride shotgun in a 1,001 hp Veyron as it went up against a Kawasaki Ninja H2 sans exhaust. A closed track in Sweden provided the perfect location for rolling start races, and from the Instagram accounts of Gustav and the Veyron's owner, dutchbugs, everyone enjoyed the full day of racing that took place.A few videos were uploaded to Gustav's YouTube account this past week, with a Sept. 9 upload (above) showing the race between the Veyron and Ninja from a few different perspectives, including the Veyron's driver seat. A second video uploaded today gives us the Kawasaki's point of view (below).It may not seem like a motorcycle's 200 hp could be any match to the Veyron's 1,001, but the Ninja H2 isn't just any motorcycle - as Kawasaki's website tells us, it's a supercharged supersport motorcycle capable of reaching 200 mph.https://instagram.com/p/7X7e3ioRon/?taken-by=dutchbugsWhich set of wheels do you think reaches the end of a track first? Keep in mind, they had a rolling start at 50. Whether it was 50 mph or km/h, we're not sure, but we know it was 50.(See Also: Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: The Most Intense Bugatti, Ever)Let us know in the comments below who you think wins, then check out the video above to see if you were right. When you're done, find your own Bugatti for a day on the track from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For Sale (Source: YouTube, Kawasaki) See More Bugatti News

By Edward Jones – July 29, 2015

2014 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse L'Or Style For Sale

Up for grabs is this 2014 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse in a L'Or Style exterior finish. According to the car's description, the exterior is finished in a "Lamborghini White" and "Bugatti Light Blue Sport." Inside the supercar's cabin is a "Tangerine Leather" interior that as exciting as it is unique. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a one-of-a-kind model. Click the button below for more information and pictures.View Listing

By Caitlin Duffy – July 27, 2015

Bugatti Veyron Hits 235.7 mph at Sun Valley Road Rally 2015

Idaho isn't a state that comes to mind when most people are planning vacations.However, if you're the type of person who has an affinity for watching cars hit their limits, then it might be time to reconsider your destination preferences.Hosted every summer since 2009, the Sun Valley Road Rally is a one day event where a stretch of I-75 loses its speed restrictions. From 8 am to 3 pm, local traffic is diverted another route, and drivers from around the country bring their pride and joy just north of Ketchum, Idaho, for a chance to hurtle down the road as fast as they can.Of course, the car of choice for this event has consistently been the Bugatti Veyron. Last year, on August 4 and August 9, we shared photos of the massive gatherings of Veyrons, all ready to test their speedometer and see how far it can be pushed.This year, James Condon, better known as The Stradman, was on hand to catch a close look at the one of one Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse L'Or Rouge hitting a top speed of 235.7 mph. At that speed, it sounds like an airplane taking off. Literally.A video added to YouTube July 25 and posts to Facebook July 24, 25 and 26 give us a full look at this stunning red and black Veyron, with a license plate bearing its nickname, "Hellbug," on full display.Check out the video from this event above, and find your own Veyron from our exclusive listings below to prepare for the 2016 Sun Valley Road Rally.Bugattis For Sale(Source: Facebook, YouTube, SunValleyRoadRally.com) See More Bugatti News

By Edward Jones – July 20, 2015

Transformers Bugatti Veyron Autobot Edition

It's not just a Transformer, it's an Autobot. And not only is it an Autobot, it's a Bugatti Veyron.Posted on @EricSteelePhoto's Instagram account July 14 is a blue Veyron with a unique blue paint scheme. While the contrasting blues may look like simple shapes, upon closer inspection you'll see the Autobots symbol smack dab on the car's hood. Inside, the robotic theme continues, as does the blue color scheme. In between the seats embroidered with the name "Daniel" is an Autobots symbol.https://instagram.com/p/5GMThCOG7X/?taken-by=ericsteelephotoIn a Drizz.ly article dated the same day, they claim that the car is sitting at the Los Gatos Luxury Cars dealership in Los Gatos, California. They also state that the car is an Asia spec. vehicle and was recently shipped to the United States from Singapore.(Related: The Cars of Transformers 4)This Veyron reminds us of Autobot Drift featured in the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction, who could transform in a Veyron. Found below is a video of Drift and other supercar Transformers starring in the movie.What do you think of this car? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.Bugattis For Sale Related Video: Gallery (Source: Instagram via Drizz.ly) (Photos by: Eric Steele) See More Bugatti Veyron News and Images

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