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, 2020

2021 Bugatti Bolide Styling Breakdown By Frank Stephenson

Until McLaren hired him away, one man was responsible for Ferrari and Maserati's concept studio. Praised as one of the best designers of all time, here is the 2021 Bugatti Bolide styling breakdown by Frank Stephenson. His achievements include the F430, FXX, Maserati MC12, McLaren 12C, 675LT, 570S and the P1. Bugatti Patents Dimpled Air Scoop For The Bolide He views the Bolide as a functional, real-world interpretation of the Bugatti Vision GT. Bugatti's most technical design so far, the body is tucked down onto the chassis, clearly exposing the path air follows from front to rear. Because the car is FIA-compliant, the track-ready aspects are also easily seen. The closest we will get is a new Bugatti Chiron for sale, so click the link to find one for yourself. Browse Bugatti Chiron For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 24, 2020

Bugatti Chiron Sport Les Légendes du Ciel Honors Their Da...

Ettore Bugatti knew full well the power and abilities of his cars. Names like Veyron, Divo, and Benoist were skilled airmen who transitioned into motor racing, so that is why the new Bugatti Chiron Sport Les Légendes du Ciel honors their daredevil drivers. Baby Bugatti II Debuts At Willow Springs As an artist and engineer, Ettore stood at the crossroads of aeronautical and automotive technology. That is why the precision of machined aluminum and attention to detail can be seen on every Bugatti. If Hitler had not destroyed Europe, He was aiming to break the speed record in 1938. It was the drivers who encoraged him to rebuild and build the world's best cars after the war, and it was this renaissance that saved the brand for us to enjoy today. To immortalize the Bugatti team, twenty owners will enjoy "Gris Serpent", or matte grey paint with the tricolour of the French flag. The aeronautical theme is continued inside with Gaucho leather in light brown. These resiliant hides in their natural finish were found in the finest aircraft. You will enjoy a dramatic racing scene hand-stitched in the door panels. A Bugatti Type 13 versus a Nieuport 17 represents the zenith of pre-war France. All this comes with 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. Pricing starts at $3,412,000 and production will begin soon. Click the link below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Bugatti news. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 12, 2020

2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Customer Test Drives

For those among us waiting for their Bugatti to arrive, it looks like deliveries are about to begin. In their latest press release, we learn that the 2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport customer test drives have started. Nearly 2 years and 31,000 miles after the project started, the Pur Sport has arrived as the perfect blend of luxury and performance. Their goal was to maximize grip in the corners without sacrificing street civility. Customers eagerly awaited their turn to drive a few laps at the Bilster Berg race track. With less weight and more aggressive transmission gears, it reaches 62 mph in 2.3 seconds, 124 mph in 5.5 seconds, and it can leap from 62 to 75 mph in 3.4 seconds while locked in 6th gear! Nothing else in the world can do this, so click the button below to learn more from our Bugatti dealers.

By Andrew Nabors – September 09, 2020

2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Production Starting Soon

After thousands of employee-hours and hundreds of miles, the 2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport production will start soon. In their latest press release they have confirmed that the final testing is finished. The last event at the Nardo Ring produced 9 gigabytes of engine data alone, so engineers are sorting through the data collected from all systems to finalize the car's calibrations. Bugatti Chiron Price, Specs, Photos & Review Chief Test Driver Andy Wallace says: "I am really impressed by the precise balance of the running gear, the extremely high grip level, the exact steering response and the way in which the Chiron Pur Sport accelerates so quickly and safely out of the corners. This car has exceeded my expectations by far". This masterpiece was built for sharp corners and tough track days, so we can't wait to get behind the wheel. Production will start in a few weeks to meet the goal of the first customer delivery before the Holidays. Only 60 examples will be built, so click the button below to learn more from our dealers. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 03, 2020

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Arrives in Manchester

Soccer fans take note: Manchester now has another reason to celebrate. This bustling metropolis is known for technology, art, ancient libraries, and architecture that was spared from the Nazi bombings. That is why the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport was placed in front of the new National Football Museum. The Bugatti dealer is on-target to open early next year, so the brand also had a Chiron Sport and a late-model Veyron on display. The service department is already open, but aside from oil changes a Bugatti is a very reliable investment. Only 60 examples of the Chiron Pur Sport will be built later this year, so click the button to find your Bugatti and stay with us for all your automotive news. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2020

How The Bugatti Chiron A/C Keeps You Cool at 248 MPH

Here in the Sunshine State, driving a car without Air Conditioning is sadism. In the old days, manufacturers skimped out on climate control to offer more power. But thanks to an ingenious design, the Bugatti Chiron Air Conditioner keeps you cool at 248 miles per hour. In a press release this morning, engineer Julia Lemke explains the prominent details without giving up Bugatti's closely guarded trade secrets. Her Doctoral Dissertation "Energy assessment of car air conditioning systems with secondary circuits” looked forward to a world where the compressor would have two circuits to offer optimal cooling without wasting horsepower. When the Chiron was still in the virtual realm, her team realized that Europeans prefer to be around 71 degrees, but Americans like it much colder. Therefore they chose to give the car two massive condensers that hold nearly 7 lbs of refrigerant. The compressor was tested to destruction several times under the most punishing conditions. That is how it easily transforms 28 psi on the low side to almost 440 psi on the high side. Bugatti Chiron Price, Specs, Photos & Review In a normal car, air is forced into the cockpit from the high pressure that builds at the base of the windshield. This would literally blow the windows out of most cars, so Bugatti switches to negative pressure at 155 mph. By pulling a slight vacuum through the vents, its keeps the car sealed tight and the cool air right where you want it. With enough capacity to cool a 900 square-foot apartment, your Bugatti will be comfortable traveling 4 miles a minute. This is just one aspect of how each Bugatti is offered without any compromises. Click the button below to find one for yourself and stay with us for all your Bugatti news. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 24, 2020

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Tour Delights Downtown Düsseldorf

Nothing at Bugatti is arbitrary. From the stitches of the interior to the insulated power window motors, nothing is overlooked. This adherence to perfection is also seen in the planning and execution of the Chiron Pur Sport's tour of Europe. Paris offered historic backdrops and the attention of the fashion world. Hamburg allowed the car to be seen by bankers and industrial magnates, and now it delights the residents of downtown Düsseldorf. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Engineering Details Explained As the cultural capital of the Ruhr Valley, the city's center is home to young, well-educated professionals. The old harbor was riddled by rusting industrial eyesores, and now it features architecture by Steven Holl, David Chipperfield, and Frank O'Gehry. World-renowned buildings are a perfect setting for the Chrion Pur Sport, so stay with us for insights on its next destination. Browse Bugatti For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2020

Bugatti Unveils 3D Printed Titanium Exhaust

When it comes to building a work of art, no expense is spared. That's why engineers in Alsace have developed a new process to build the lightest, strongest, and gorgeous parts for their cars. Using a quartet of 400-watt lasers, Bugatti has unveiled 3D printed titanium exhaust. To meet their own lofty goals, the exhaust and tailpipe trim for the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and the Chiron Super Sport 300. With a wall thickness of 0.015" at the thinnest point, they are made of 4,200 layers of titanium powder capable of handling the heat of the 8-liter beast. Rated to run at 1,200 degrees for hours would amaze the builders of the SR-71 Blackbird, so that's why a new Chiron needs to be in your garage. This is just one detail of how Bugatti stays at the top of their game, so click the link below to find yours. Browse All Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 07, 2020

Bugatti Teases Something New

While other manufacturers are posting their 2019 numbers, Bugatti is looking to the future. It is hard to believe that every Bugatti Chiron for sale is based on a design from 2015. That's why Bugatti has teased something new on their Instagram page What emerged as a successor to the Veyron, it spawned the Chiron Sport in 2018, and a hardcore track model named "Divo". It was followed by the La Voiture Noir last year, and a world-record speed attempt. So what might we be looking at? One theory is another flavor of Chiron. How to do the $21k Bugatti Veyron Oil Change Considering the Veyron had over a dozen bespoke versions, it is very plausible. Since we've never seen a Bugatti in the rain, our guess is a Chiron Speedster. Who needs a roof at 250 mph anyway? Tell us what you think it is in the comments below and stay with us for all your Bugatti updates. " width="680"> Related: Bugatti Chiron "Hermes Edition" Revealed by Manny Khosbin

By Andrew Nabors – December 02, 2019

2020 Bugatti Chiron Sport Zebra is a Masterpiece

We first spotted this special-order supercar back in October. Inspired by the 2-tone liveries of the later model Veyrons, the 2020 Bugatti Chiron Zebra is a masterpiece. In their latest Facebook Video, Bugatti takes us behind the scenes of this build. What we see is that it is a 1 of 1 example of a highly-customized Chiron. The rear bumper looks to be U.S.-Spec, and the unique motif is replicated throughout the interior. You can order your Bentley Chiron Sport for sale in any livery your heart desires, so click the button below to find our dealer near you. Browse All Bugatti For Sale https://www.facebook.com/bugatti/videos/2829154953802118/ Related: Bugatti La Voiture Noire Price, Specs, Photos & Review

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