Bugatti News

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

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 31, 2023

Bugatti Delivers New Chiron Super Sport In Brussels

Bugatti’s legendary hypercar sees yet another stunning example made.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – June 15, 2023

Bugatti Delivers An Incredible Grand Prix Bleu Chiron Sup...

Off to a happy new home, this Bugatti Chiron Super Sport will surely be enjoyed within the owner's collection.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – April 24, 2023

Bugatti's Ceramique Titane Smartwatch Honors The Chiron S...

The Bugatti Ceramique Titane Edition smartwatch is a remarkable piece of technology that combines both luxury and functionality.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 23, 2023

Bugatti Shows Off 4 Chiron Super Sports In Dubai

Bugatti shows off a quad-turbocharged quartet in the hypercar capital.

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 01, 2022

Watch The Triple F Collection Take Delivery Of Their New ...

After a year of waiting through the build process, the absolute greatest car of all time has officially joined the collection and is parked in the garage! While the passionate car enthusiasts at The Triple F Collection continue to shuffle their garage with new supercars and hypercars, the group can all agree that one car plays a significant role over all other. In many videos uploaded to the Triple F YouTube channel, brothers Jason and Jordan agree wholeheartedly that the Bugatti Chiron will forever stand out aside from all of their cars because it was the very first hypercar in the collection. Since acquiring the Chiron and creating relationships with leading manufacturers, The Triple F Collection now features countless hypercars that cross well into the seven-figure price range. As part of the newest Triple F Collection video, the team is happy to welcome Tim Burton (Shmee150) to their garage in celebration of their newest Bugatti delivery. MUST-READ: Watch The Triple F Collection Walk Through Their Spectacular Supercar And Hypercar Garage After voyaging to the compound in a Pagani Huayra BC, Pagani Huayra BC Roadster, McLaren Saber, McLaren Speedtail, and a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, all gathered in excitement to see the unveiling of the Triple F Collection’s new Bugatti. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport features an insane gloss grey carbon finish with French racing blue heritage accents. Jason and Jordan joined their father in the same location where they took delivery of the first Bugatti Chiron, making the moment even more special for their family and community of passionate fans. With the 1,600 horsepower Bugatti Chiron Super Sport now in the hands of the Triple F Collection, be sure to stay tuned for more hypercar content from the car-crazy crew. View all Bugatti Chiron examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Bugatti Chiron For Sale Source: Triple F Collection YouTube

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 27, 2022

The 400th Of 500 Bugatti Chirons Has Been Completed

With only 100 cars left, the end of a long era is near. The Bugatti Chiron has spent years at the pinnacle of the automotive industry, setting an even higher bar for performance, craftsmanship, style, and luxury than the earth-shattering Bugatti Veyron did years ago. However, from the beginning, it was announced that only 500 of these incredible hypercars would ever be built, and Bugatti is quickly approaching that number, as the 400th Bugatti Chiron, a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, has now been completed. MUST READ: The Bugatti Grand Tour In Sardinia Took 22 Hypercars On A 3-Day Journey This means that 80% of all Chirons have already been built, with just 100 to go before the Chiron bows out forever. The car is finished in an incredible bare carbon fiber tinted in dark green, with a weave that is perfectly lined up across the separate panels. The body is paired with magnesium wheels and an interior that pairs black with green. However, the car is as beautiful as it is powerful, with a 1,578-horsepower W16 engine that rockets it to an incredible Bugatti-level top speed of over 273 mph. As the Chiron era nears its end, the Mistral roadster and the track-only Bolide will serve as the W16 engine’s final act. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 17, 2022

Bugatti Chiron Supersport Delivery At Gold Coast Auto Gal...

The Windy City welcomes the multi-million dollar Bugatti Chiron Supersport! For any and all automotive enthusiasts, there is no better day than taking delivery of a new car. Whether it's a minivan for commuting or a multi-million dollar hypercar being added to the collection, the exhilarating feeling stops at no price tag. For a very special client of Chicago Gold Coast Auto Gallery, that special day came in the form of a brand new Bugatti Chiron Supersport. The passionate team at Perillo Auto Group is proud to showcase the incredible spec as is the very first Bugatti Supersport delivery. MUST-READ: Bugatti Chiron vs Bugatti Veyron: And The Winner Is… The Windy City of Chicago welcomes the Bugatti Chiron Supersport, featuring a breathtaking shade of French Racing Blue Matte finish that contrasts beautifully against its gloss black carbon exterior trim pieces and wheels. Inside the multi-million dollar hypercar, the interior takes on a sophisticated diamond-stitched black leather appearance with white contrast stitching. With keys now in the hands of its lucky new owner, the Bugatti Chiron Supersport is ready to unleash over 1,577 horsepower from its legendary 8.0L Quad-Turbocharged W16. View all current Bugatti examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and dealer news. VIEW GOLD COAST AUTO GALLERY INVENTORY Source: @perilloautogroup

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 21, 2022

The Last Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ Has Been Deliver...

As yet another new era approaches for Bugatti, the brand delivers its last record-breaking masterpiece. It wasn’t very long ago when the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport blew the minds of car enthusiasts across the world with its record-breaking top speed of 268 mph. Since the introduction of the Veyron, Bugatti has been known for pushing the boundaries of what the world sees cars as being capable of, and refusing to rest on its laurels, Bugatti did it again with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which broke not only a top speed record but also the mythical barrier of 300 mph, with its top speed of nearly 305 mph. In celebration of this incredible feat, Bugatti manufactured 30 of these legendary cars, which like the Veyron Super Sport before it featured exposed carbon fiber throughout, with Jet Orange accents. MUST READ: Bugatti Has Made England Home For Over 90 Years With The Bugatti Owners’ Club Finally, the last of these 30 Chiron Super Sport models has been delivered to its owner. It’s hard to imagine how Bugatti can top the innovation and engineering of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ in the future, with its extensive use of carbon fiber for weight savings, its lengthened body for improved aerodynamics, and its improved 8-liter W16 engine that generates nearly 1600 horsepower. However, many of us thought that Bugatti couldn’t possibly do better than the Veyron. As Bugatti enters a new era with electric hypercar brand Rimac as its partner, we might be rethinking what cars are capable of yet again very soon. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 18, 2022

Bugatti Put The Chiron Super Sport On A Dyno Built Specif...

Usually, we hear about a car taking on the dyno. For the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, it’s the other way around. The dynamometer is the place where cars get put to a controlled, objective, and respected test. On the dyno, cars get to show off their performance through sheer numbers, and hopefully prove or maybe even exceed the figures that the manufacturer claims they are capable of. Being one of the most powerful cars in the world, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is bound to put on quite a show on the dynamometer, and that’s exactly what it did. As a matter of fact, Bugatti made sure to use a special kind of dynamometer to test the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, as the conventional, two-roller dynamometer wouldn’t be able to handle the Chiron Super Sport’s full capability. MUST READ: Bugatti Drove The Centodieci Testing Prototype For Over 55,000 Kilometers There are quite a few advantages to being able to use a single-roller dynamometer. The wheels of the car only have one touchpoint to the dynamometer, creating a more realistic test that matches on-road behavior better. Also, wheel slip and flex are reduced, and more of the performance is captured. Finally, and most importantly to a car like the Chiron Super Sport, the single-roller dynamometer is capable of speeds of nearly 250 mph, and the Chiron Super Sport pushes it to its limits. At speeds of 260 mph, the tires are revolving at over 50 times a second, and the tire tread is subjected to forces over 4000 times that of gravity, which is incredibly intense for the car and the dyno. This special single-roller dyno was specially developed for the fastest cars in the world, and it means that simulation tests can be run with the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport for the first time. The dyno recorded nearly 1200 lb/ft of torque, and nearly 1600 horsepower, and while we already knew the Chiron Super Sport is one of the greatest cars ever to be made, seeing that proven with a dyno couldn’t be more satisfying. View All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 20, 2022

Bugatti Unveils Two Sur Mesure Hand-Painted Chiron Exampl...

The intricate process of creating these extraordinary paint schemes takes around five weeks. While spotting Bugatti hyper sports cars on the road is a tough task to begin with, finding two that match is next near to impossible with the creative standards set in place at the Molsheim factory in France. The process of buying and configuring a Bugatti marks itself as a one-of-a-kind experience, which is why the hypercar manufacturer ensures that no two vehicles that leave the production line will be the same. MUST-READ: Top 25 Most Expensive Cars in the World For those special clients looking to further enhance the design of their Bugatti build, the creative professionals at the Sur Mesure division transform the already magnificent design into a work of art with traditional hand-painted finishes. Bugatti is proud to showcase two new Bugatti Chiron models with configurations inspired by light and the Veyron Grand Sport that helped to introduce the bespoke service. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 'Vagues de Lumière' Bugatti The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Vagues de Lumière’ is one of the first chassis to be delivered to a client and features an intricate design that uses light selection as the main source of inspiration. The exterior presents a gloss California Blue finish with contrasting light-sculpted lines in Arancia Mira. At the owner’s request, Bugatti proudly displays the vibrant orange ’38’ racing number inside of the iconic horseshoe grill. Continuing its bold and bright theme, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport includes a set of Arancia Mira sport wheels that perfectly match the bespoke leather interior design. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport delivers over 1,577-horsepower from its famous 8.0-Liter Quad Turbocharged W16 engine platform. The Super Sport perfectly blends the comfort of a grand touring vehicle with the luxury hypercar performance from the Bugatti brand. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport The second Bugatti to receive the custom treatment from Sur Mesure is the Chiron Pur Sport, the brands performance-focused chassis that features an aggressive motorsport-inspired body design. The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport showcases a beautiful exposed blue carbon fiber base with Nocturne stripes, a hand-painting process that takes more than 5-weeks, and a number of 2D mock up designs. This spec pays homage to the French brand by incorporating the tri-color national flag into the carbon fiber rear wing endplates. Along with the neighboring Chiron Super Sport, the Pur Sport features a ‘9’ race number on its horseshoe grill in French Racing Blue. Inside the driver-oriented cabin, its theme continues with a bi-color Beluga Black and French Racing Blue leather design. The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport launches from 0-60mph in just 2.2 seconds using its 1,479-horsepower engine output. The Chiron Pur Sport defines itself as the most agile Bugatti ever created. View All Bugatti Chiron For Sale Source: Bugatti

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