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.

Italian Red Bugatti Veyron For Auction Now On duPont REGISTRY Live

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 20, 2026

2008 Bugatti Veyron Listed For Auction On dR Live

Few cars can match the level of impact and influence that the Bugatti Veyron had on the industry, especially considering how rare and exclusive the Veyron is. Only 450 examples of the Veyron were manufactured, but each was a potent reminder of the undeniable shockwaves its performance, engineering, and design sent through the entire industry. Making use of a quad-turbocharged W16 engine, the Veyron used immense amounts of power that were virtually unprecedented in their time to achieve record-breaking top speed. That level of performance would set new standards for supercars across the globe, and usher in a wave of hypercars that have continued to up the ante for automotive excellence to this day, 20 years after the Veyron’s debut. Now, the Veyron sits proudly as a collector-grade masterpiece among automotive enthusiasts, and it remains one of the most thrilling, exciting, powerful, and desirable hypercars even decades after it was first introduced. As the Veyron continues to rise to prominence as a modern classic, the opportunity to own one has arrived on duPont REGISTRY Live, the new online auction platform that is changing the luxury automotive online auction landscape with a 14-day return policy and a 100% sell-through rate. This particular example is a 2008 Bugatti Veyron finished in Italian Red, and it features various customizations that set it apart from other examples of the hypercar. <- Gallery -> Under 13,000 miles are currently on its odometer, and it’s been enhanced with a custom titanium exhaust system that transforms the sound experience of the W16 engine, as well as with custom lightweight forged wheels. In addition to its customizations, this Veyron is believed to be one of just a handful of examples that were finished in a solid red configuration. With the exclusivity, historical significance, and panache that the Veyron has, this online auction is an incredible opportunity for any enthusiast, and you can bid on this Italian Red 2008 Bugatti Veyron now by clicking below. View Listing And Bid Now

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 23, 2024

The Mullin Collection Auction Features Incredible Bugatti...

Bugatti’s rich history is showcased in this stunning collection. The late businessman Peter Mullin had a veritable passion for everything Bugatti, with one of the world’s largest collections. The amazing collection was shared with the world through his Peter Mullin Automotive Museum, which was founded in 2010. His love for Bugatti, however, expanded beyond cars. His Bugatti collection also included many of the crafts of the entire Bugatti family, which is famous beyond the automotive world for its members’ various artistic talents. Mullin’s collection includes visionary furniture designs by Carlo Bugatti, sculpture works by Rembrandt Bugatti, including the iconic ‘Dancing Elephant’, which was brought to life in stunning Lalique crystal as a result of a friendship and collaboration with famed crystal designer René Lalique, and even a Bugatti Type 52 ‘Baby’ car, originally made by Ettore Bugatti himself in 1927 for his son as a miniature replica of the Bugatti Type 25 Grand Prix Car. These incredible pieces in Peter Mullin’s collection are being sold in an auction by Bonhams. As one of the greatest collections of Bugatti family creations in the world, it’s not only one of the most anticipated and exciting auctions of Bugatti pieces but also one of the greatest celebrations of Bugatti’s rich history and interdisciplinary excellence of the world has ever seen. The Mullin Collection Auction and its incredible pieces prove why the Bugatti name holds so much renown. View All Bugattis For Sale Image Source: Bugatti

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 01, 2023

The $10.8M Bugatti Chiron Profilée Becomes The Most Valua...

RM Sotheby's closes out the eight-figure Bugatti sale in Paris today, making history by doubling its original pre-sale estimate. Today, RM Sotheby’s made automotive history with the auction of Bugatti’s final W16-powered production hypercar. The Bugatti Profilée took the stage in Paris in front of a crowd of collectors in the room, on the telephones, and via the internet. The remarkable example solidifies itself as a piece of hypercar history as it marks the end of an era and the opportunity for a lucky collector to acquire a piece of automotive excellence. While RM Sotheby’s originally pre-estimated the one-of-a-kind Bugatti between $4.6 million and $6 million, no one could expect the outcome that took place. MUST-READ: CURATED Presents Its World Speed Record Bugatti EB110SS Prototype And Ferrari 550 Maranello WSR After an extended period of intense bidding between many eager collectors, RM Sotheby’s sold the bespoke-engineered version of the Bugatti Chiron for a whopping $10,756,914. The incredible eight-figure sale makes the Bugatti Profilée the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. Along with securing a milestone within the auction world, the sale places the car among the most valuable Bugatti Chirons of any era ever sold. A percentage of the proceeds will go to benefit charitable causes. With the final production W16 Bugatti off to its new home, we are excited to see what collection the $10.8M Bugatti Profilée ends up in. View all current Bugatti examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Bugatti For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) Source: RM Sotheby's

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 30, 2023

Bugatti's Last W16-Powered Hypercar Set To Sell At RM Sot...

As we say goodbye to the legendary 8.0L Quad-Turbocharged W16, a very lucky collector is looking to secure Bugatti's most famous example. With new guidelines and regulations throughout the automotive industry, brands are faced with the sad future of discontinuing the production of traditional high-horsepower mechanical engines. While the EV market has proved its worth with state-of-the-art technology that shatters current performance figures, collectors and enthusiasts can agree that there’s nothing quite like the sound of a roaring quad-turbocharged W16. In collaboration with the auction specialists at RM Sotheby’s, the hypercar pioneers at Bugatti are prepping to auction off the last available Chiron powered by its legendary W16 engine this week. The Bugatti Chiron Profilée stands aside other recent milestones such as the W16 Mistral, Bolide, and all variations of the iconic Chiron. MUST-READ: Bugatti Delivered A Record-Breaking 80 Hypercars To Customers In 2022 The Profilée showcases itself as the only one to exist without plans to ever recreate another, making it one of the most desirable examples in Bugatti’s modern history. The inspiration behind the exclusive build comes as a response to customer demand, requesting something more radical than the Chiron Sport yet less extreme than the Chiron Pur Sport. The car recently arrived at Paris’s famous Carrousel du Louvre, where it will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s – Lot 177/200. Capturing the attention of eager collectors looking to secure a piece of automotive history, bidding for the one-of-a-kind Bugatti Profilée is set to begin at 10 AM EST on February 1st. View all current Bugatti models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Bugatti For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 21, 2022

The Bugatti Chiron Profilée Is Revealed As A One-Off Auct...

This hidden Bugatti one-off finally sees the light of day. With their rarity, luxury, exclusivity, craftsmanship, and of course their performance, any Bugatti is a truly special automobile. However, the Bugatti Chiron Profilée stands out as an incredible previously-hidden one-off with an amazing story behind it. The chance to own this incredible car is coming soon, as it will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on February 1, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. The car was intended to be another part of the Chiron lineup but was developed too late to be part of the 500-car production run. However, Bugatti decided that the car was simply too amazing to leave hidden forever. MUST READ: Manny Khoshbin’s New $1M Jacob & Co. Matches His $4M Bugatti Chiron ‘Hermes’ Edition When the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport was unveiled in 2020, it was lauded for its driver’s car character, but some customers wanted a car that was like the Pur Sport, but slightly less extreme, and more subdued and elegant like the Chiron and Chiron Sport. Responding to these requests, Bugatti developed the Chiron Profilée, using a smaller fixed spoiler that pays homage to the Bugatti Type 46, one of Jean Bugatti’s first creations. The Chiron Profilée performs similarly to the Pur Sport, with a higher top speed, and similar acceleration and cornering ability. The configuration suits the one-off model by being incredibly unique, with an Argent Atlantique color developed specifically for the Profilée that no other Chiron has been painted with, unique wheels, and interior details in woven leather, making it the first Chiron to feature such a detail. This ultimate collector’s car has one of the most amazing stories behind it of anything in the modern automotive world, and soon, it will be a prized piece of someone’s car collection. Learn More Here Source: Bugatti

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 19, 2022

Bugatti Teases A Hypercar That Never Saw Production For R...

Heading to auction is a mysterious Bugatti hypercar that never saw an actual production life. It’s no surprise that every hypercar rolling off the production line at Bugatti shapes itself as an example of automotive excellence, whether it be a $3.8 million Chiron or a one-of-one $13.4 million La Voiture Noir. Preparing for an exceptional announcement in collaboration with the auction professionals at RM Sotheby’s, Bugatti took to its Instagram page to tease “an automotive solitaire that never hit production.” MUST-READ: Record-Breaking 1993 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport Prototype For Sale Leaving collectors and enthusiasts wondering what lies underneath the car cover, the silhouette of a race-inspired hypercar is all that we are given for hints. As guesses for the Vision GT and Bolide fill the comment section, they yet to fit the description of a Bugatti model that was made but never went into production. The highly-anticipated release will be revealed on December 21st at 1 pm EST via Bugatti and RM Sotheby’s. As we prep for what seems to be Bugatti’s biggest news of the year, stay tuned into duPont REGISTRY for the upcoming reveal of the mysterious hypercar heading to RM Sotheby’s. View all current Bugatti examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Bugatti For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by BUGATTI (@bugatti) Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2017

1st U.S. Bugatti Chiron Sells Well Over MSRP at Auction

The very first Bugatti Chiron that was ordered for the United States has officially sold at RM Sotheby's ICONS auction.After crossing the block, the Bugatti Chiron sold for a wild price of $3,772,500. This price is about $600,000 over its MSRP, making it a very successful sale. As for the specifics of this hypercar, it's currently in immaculate condition. In fact, it has never been registered or driven on the road. The only miles clocked on this Chiron are 250 test miles. Patrick Ernzen ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2015

Chris Harris Drives Soon-to-be-Auctioned Bugatti EB110 SS

Growing up, I knew the Bugatti EB110 SS as the strange car that always caught my eye. I wasn't sure if it was the sleek body, unique headlights or powerful quad-turbocharged 3.5-liter V12, but I knew that this car was special. And, as made apparent in a YouTube video uploaded Aug. 25 by Chris Harris on Cars, so does Harris. See for yourself in the video found below.There's no question that the EB110 SS was one of the most iconic cars of the 1990s. It had style, power and a storied background. It came into the world after Romano Artioli, an Italian Ferrari dealer, wanted to bring Bugatti back through a new supercar. Now, Bugatti hadn't created a car since 1952, making this quite the task, but that didn't stop Artioli.According to RM Sothebys' lot listing for this very car, after establishing Bugatti Automobili SpA in October 1987, he set off to start a revival. On Sept. 15, 1991, in celebration of Ettore Bugatti's 110th birthday, the new supercar was unveiled. Appropriately named the EB110, in honor of Bugatti's birthday, the car was powered by the aforementioned 3.5-liter V12 engine that boasted four turbochargers.And, just six months after the EB110 was unveiled, Bugatti pulled back the sheets on the EB110 SS, which had larger injectors and an optimized exhaust system. These changes brought the car's power up 53 hp, to a total of 603 hp.Unfortunately, Bugatti had to shut its doors in 1995 due to a worldwide economic recession. Only 139 EB110s were created, and that number includes just 33 examples of the EB110 SS.These numbers make the EB110, especially the Super Sport version, a hot commodity. Up for auction at RM Sotheby's September 7 event in London is a 1995 Bugatti EB110 SS, the very one Harris is driving in the video found above. To see the car's estimated hammer price and more info, click the button below.View Price and InfoGallery (Source: RM Sotheby's, YouTube) (Photos by: Remi Dargegen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's) See More Automotive Auction News

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