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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 Jordan Aquistapace – April 13, 2022

Bugatti Celebrates A Special Client With An 8-Car Deliver...

Taking delivery of not 1, but 8 new Bugatti models. The delivery of a dream car is a celebration between the owner and manufacturer, commemorating a point in time when excitement is at an all-time high. The monumental event is one that the Bugatti brand continues to celebrate since the first vehicle delivery by founder Ettore Bugatti. The grounds of the iconic Molsheim factory have welcomed many happy new owners, creating unforgettable memories throughout its centuries-long tradition. Bugatti is proud to showcase a truly astonishing customer delivery featuring a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition certified by ‘La Maison Pur Sang, and six Bugatti Baby II models in vibrant spring colors. The once-of-a-lifetime delivery experience is a testament to this client’s loyalty to the Bugatti brand and its historic heritage as a leader in the hypercar industry. Bugatti The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ features a gloss black finish with vibrant orange racing stripes that accentuate the curvature of the hypercar’s body design. Being the first production series car to exceed the 300mph mark at the hands of Bugatti Pilote Officel Andy Wallace, the collector-grade Chiron Super Sport is only 1-of-30 exclusive units. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ achieves its 304.773mph top speed from its 8.0L Quad-Turbocharged W16 engine, which produces over 1,577-horsepower and 1,180lb-ft of torque. Bugatti Adding to the record-breaking theme, the second Bugatti chassis part of the extraordinary delivery is the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition. The milestone chassis showcases a matching gloss black and orange finish that completes the fastest hypercar pairing from the manufacturer. With only 8 vehicles produced and delivered, this owner’s example comes with an official certification from La Maison Pur Sang. Although its record has been broken since its 254.04mph run in 2013, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition still generates over 1,200hp from its legendary 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine. Bugatti On-scene for the delivery day aside the Chiron Super Sport 300+ and Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition are six custom-made Bugatti Baby II models. The yellow, red, blue, green, white, and orange models are made especially for each of the owner’s children. The Little Car Company collaboration models are part of a limited 500-unit product series, with a 75% scale that features a 42mph top speed from its electric motor. The conclusion of the tour and delivery includes a special surprise, Andy Wallace himself firing up the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ as all eight car covers are removed in front of the historic grounds of Château Saint-Jean. View all of the current Bugatti examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming hypercar news and releases. View All Bugatti For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 04, 2022

The First Bugatti Chiron Super Sports Are Finally Being D...

The legendary Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is finally hitting the road for real. The Bugatti Chiron is a legendary hypercar, and like its Veyron predecessor, the legend only grows when the Super Sport version of the car comes into the picture. With a top speed of over 270 mph, and the Super Sport 300+ model able to break the barrier of an unfathomable 300 mph, calling the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport a continuation of the Bugatti legend is a severe understatement. MUST READ: What production cars have the fastest quarter-mile times ever? FIND OUT This speed improvement is thanks to Bugatti taking improving the Chiron very seriously, which is what you must do when the base car is already one of the greatest cars on the planet. With revised aerodynamics, increased power, an increased rev limit, more powerful turbochargers, and a stunning long tail design, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport took lots of effort in being even better than before. Finally, Bugatti fans, and more so the Chiron Super Sport’s customers, get to enjoy this incredible improvement as the first Chiron Super Sports are being delivered. Almost a year has gone by since the initial reveal of the car, and now that we get to see the first Chiron Super Sports in real action, we can definitely say that it was worth the wait. Source: Bugatti

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 29, 2021

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Flexes Brains And Brawn

You have to know what you’re doing at 273 mph. It’s been some 16 years since the earth-shattering introduction of the Bugatti Veyron. Before and since, Bugatti have led the race in more ways than top speed. In order to get there, they had to blaze trails in the realms of powertrain, aerodynamics and handling. And because they’ve topped the Veyron time and time again, most recently with the 273-mph Chiron Super Sport, as well as the near 305-mph Chiron Super Sport 300+, we know that they haven’t stopped changing the game. Bugatti says the Chiron Super Sport is “shaped by speed.” Here’s why. Bugatti When Bugatti made the Chiron Super Sport, they had to consider a whole new set of circumstances, because they were making a production car that would have to withstand being driven at speeds no production car had before. They had to make sure the Super Sport would be stable, reliable, powerful, and safe as it braved uncharted territory in the automotive world. The Super Sport has a longtail design, giving it just under an extra foot of length compared to the Chiron. This leads to lower resistance and higher speeds. To this end, Bugatti also increased the power of the engine to 1578 horsepower, and gave the car a new gear ratio as well as all-new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Bugatti That speed needs to be sustainable, and the Chiron Super Sport makes every effort to add downforce and make the air that surrounds it turbulence-free so that your trip to 273 mph is safe and secure. Airflow through the radiator is increased by 8%, the front of the car has cylindrical air-holes reminiscent of the EB110, which look all the same size from the front, but are sized differently to precisely optimize the airflow. The exhaust tips are stacked to allow extra space for the rear diffuser, and those exhaust tips are made with double walled titanium that is as thin as 0.4 millimeters, preventing the exhaust gases which can reach up to 1560º F from causing any interference or harm to any part of the car. The Chiron Super Sport has been radically improved down to the electronically controllable chassis to deliver the ultimate performance and comfort, so while it isn’t easy for Bugatti to get to 273 mph, it is easy for you. View all the current Bugatti Chiron models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Bugatti Chiron For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – September 23, 2021

1st Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is Ready For Delivery

Actually, the first eight are ready for delivery. Bugatti just has announced that the first eight out of the 30 examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ are ready for delivery. This news comes after Bugatti has put the hypercar through two years of testing and development to ensure that it's ready for the high speeds it's capable of. To be more exact, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is capable of going over 304.773 mph, hence the name. This top speed was recorded back in 2019 and set a new world record. Each example of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ comes packing Bugatti's 8.0-liter W16 that produces an astonishing 1,577 horsepower. Unlike the standard Chiron, this variant comes with a new thermal management system, as well as refinements to the engine, gearbox, powertrain and turbochargers. MUST-READ: Bugatti Chiron Price & Specs If you're interested in picking one up, you're out of luck because all 30 examples are sold out. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ comes with a starting price of 3.5 million euros, or about $4.1 million USD. View All Bugatti Chirons For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – September 20, 2021

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Proves To Be Very Popular in N...

For good reason: it's amazing. Bugatti has just announced some pretty incredible sales stats regarding the new Chiron Super Sport. While it was just recently unveiled at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, it has already attracted the attention of many new customers in North America. According to Bugatti, 45 percent of the new orders for the Chiron Super Sport have come from new customers. Being an unbelievably gorgeous hypercar with 1,600 horsepower that delivers an unmatched drive, it's no wonder that many are jumping into the world of Bugatti with the Chiron Super Sport. “At the pinnacle of automotive technology and design, Bugatti sells cars to a very small and specific group of customers, most of which are collectors that have more than one Bugatti or ultra-high-end vehicle in their garage,” said Cedric Davy, Chief Operating Officer of Bugatti of the Americas. “As we reach the end of the limited Chiron production, we are seeing more and more new customers approach Bugatti for the opportunity to own the greatest representation of the W16 engine.” The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has an MSRP of $3,825,000. Expect deliveries to begin in 2022. Discover the Chiron Super Sport " width="680"> Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – June 22, 2021

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Speeds Up to 273 mph During Te...

Testing a hypercar requires a very special track. Bugatti is continuing work on the Chiron Super Sport, ensuring that it offers a comfortable ride, even at speeds well over 200 mph. The French automaker recently took the new hypercar out to a high-speed track where it would have enough room to really open up. While they've tested the car at speeds up to 236 mph, they have no successfully tested the Chiron Super Sport all the way up to 273 mph. During these tests, engineers placed an additional 100 sensors across the Chiron Super Sport. These sensors keep track of many factors, including temperature, pressure, and more. After high-speed tests, the engineers go over what was recorded and then optimize the hypercar for better results. Things like the car's height, damping, steering, and rear wing angle can all be adjusted on the fly, making these tests very productive. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport comes with a starting price of 3.2 million euros, or about $3,810,000 USD. Its production run will count within the initial Chiron production run of 500 units. All Bugatti Hypercars For Sale Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2021

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Revealed: A 273 MPH Hypercar

Travel to an insane top speed in absolute luxury. The new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has been revealed as the latest model from the French automaker. This new Bugatti hypercar was created with comfort, elegance and speed in mind. "With this new creation, we established another distinct personality within the Chiron family," says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "It is the essence of what we learned and developed in recent years – the ultimate grand tourer." To make the Chiron Super Sport stand out in Bugatti's lineup and give it even greater aerodynamics, the body of the new hypercar has been upgraded with new components. This includes the front splitter, rear diffuser, front side air intakes, hood exhaust holes and so much more. All of these changes were made so that when it's at its top speed of 273 mph the downforce and aerodynamics are absolutely perfect. “Our aim was to give the vehicle a neutral setup at its top speed while also giving it as streamlined a shape as possible,” explains Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti. "The design process was therefore in particular about achieving aerodynamic efficiency.” As mentioned before, the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's top speed is an insane 273 mph. The aforementioned body aids the immensely powerful 8.0-liter W16 engine in the hypercar's pursuit for top speed. This engine produces an insane 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. Sprinting from 0 to 124 mph in the Chiron Super Sport will take just 5.8 seconds, while 0 to 186 mph will happen in 12.1 seconds and a climb up to 248.5 mph will be seven percent quicker than in a Chiron. When traveling at high speeds, there's more than just power and aerodynamics to consider. The chassis for the Chiron Super Sport, for instance, is made specifically for the model. This new chassis gives the model firmer dampers and steering system, harder springs, and more. Bugatti also installed newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that have been optimized for top speed. These new tires can consistently drive at speed of up to 310.6 mph. Deliveries of the new Bugatti Chiron Super are scheduled to start in early 2022. It comes with a price tag of $3.9 million. See All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

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