McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Bugatti News

Bugatti news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Chiron in its many forms, the Mistral roadster and the track-only Bolide. Our reporting also follows the V16 hybrid Tourbillon and the auction results that set values for the earlier cars. Bugatti builds in very small numbers, so a single sale can reset the market for a whole model. That is where our marketplace helps readers most. Bugattis covered here are often listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts the reporting and a real asking price side by side. For Bugatti news today, and the hypercar news and exotic car market news around it, start below.

By Edward Jones – August 10, 2020

See the Unboxing of the First Bugatti Divo in the US

It was just a week ago that Bugatti announced the deliveries of the first customer Divos. Now, we are happy to announce that Miller Motorcars x Bugatti Greenwich has received one of those examples and they did a complete unboxing video of the hypercar. This Divo made is one of the 40 that will be produced, making it a rare gem in the automotive world. Thankfully, Bugatti took very special care when shipping this Divo from Paris to New York, ensuring its safe arrival. The giant box holding the hypercar inside had to be very specifically disassembled so that the Divo could roll out. You can see the process from start to finish by clicking play down below. View Miller Motorcars' Inventory https://www.instagram.com/p/CDoD3eUF1qR/?igshid=8ud9drpr8arl

By Andrew Nabors – August 06, 2020

First Bugatti Divo Delivered to a Lucky Customer

Last week we explained the brutal testing process that each 2021 Bugatti Divo for sale will undergo. Heat and cold, fast tracks and cobblestone streets ensure each car is ready to meet its new owner. Test Driver Steve Jenny used an HD microphone to analyze all cockpit noises. It also was tuned to listen to each movement of the engine's (64) intake and exhaust valves. Bugatti Divo Delivery Team Prepares First Production Car Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, says. “The Divo starts a new era at Bugatti – the era of modern coachbuilding. With the Divo we have created a highly customised masterpiece of automotive craftsmanship that is a must-have for any Bugatti collection.” Of course, all Bugatti models are built by hand, but the Divo is built to order. The remaining 39 cars are already sold, so perhaps the Chiron Pur Sport is in your future. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 21, 2020

Bugatti Divo Delivery Team Prepares First Production Car

We know you are anxious to get behind the wheel of your new Bugatti Divo. However, the delivery process takes two days and dedication from a dozen employees. Because each Bugatti is handbuilt, it makes sense to allow a different team to shakedown the car to ensure objectivity in spotting potential issues. Starting with a six-hour body inspection, four automotive artists scour every surface inside a light tunnel. Fluorescent bulbs can magnify any paint defect, and the team members compare notes after each one inspects the car inside and out. Then a protective film covers the car for the shakedown runs. Bugatti Divo Price, Specs, Photos & Review They repeat the process outside in sunlight before giving the keys to test driver Steve Jenny. He has signed off on 95% of Bugatti production cars, and his process is very thorough. Starting with removing the wheels and belly pan, test parts are installed to protect the car. From there, a 4-wheel alignment is finalized and he embarks on a 5-hour test drive. From the Vosges mountains to city streets, an HD microphone records the interior for any unwanted noises. After several heat and cooling cycles, a runway at Colmar Airport is used to test launch control, aerodynamics, and the engine's ability to offer 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque at 211 mph. Back at the factory, the paint protection film is removed and the fluids are changed. The production belly pan and wheels are put back on before a final 30-mile test drive. Engineers scrutinize the audio recordings to confirm the car is ready to meet its new owner, and then all delivery team members discuss and address any issues. When you are spending $5.6 Million on the world's greatest hypercar, you will surely get your money's worth. Due to such an involved process, only 40 cars will be delivered in the coming months. Be sure to stay with us, because we will cover them arriving stateside. Click the button below to browse all Bugatti for sale. Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 25, 2020

Bugatti Divo Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

After it was announced in April that the Bugatti Divo deliveries would start this year, we've been waiting to see more of this insane hypercar. That's why I'm happy to present this video of the Divo being tested at the Nurburgring. Filmed by YouTube channel Automotive Mike, the video was taken during the Industry Pool at the Nurburgring. This was a perfect place to capture the Divo in action because this hypercar has been designed to be an absolute beast on the track. And the fact that only 40 examples of the Divo will be made, instances like this where the Divo is being ripped on the track will be hard to find even when deliveries are completed. So, turn up your speakers and enjoy, because the Divo sounds like a dream. See All Bugattis for Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – May 06, 2020

Bugatti Releases Stunning New Divo Configurations

When it comes to designing your new Bugatti Divo, it's much more involved than just going on a configurator and clicking some buttons. Owners of the new Divo have the ability to truly dive into the look of their car, creating a truly personal hypercar that's one-of-a-kind. To make it happen, customers go to Bugatti's headquarters in Molsheim to meet with the automaker's team. The process can take upwards of five hours, but that's because they're learning every little detail about the car and customizing every detail. Aspects of the Divo that can be customized include the body color, centerline, engine covers, air intakes on the wing, interior materials, and so much more. “Some customers might know exactly what they want. But we also have customers whom we advise in detail, we work together with them and come up with suggestions,” says Anne Beynat, Sales Coordinator at Bugatti since 2011. “Customers often have their own ideas, such as family crests, national flags, their own logos or special color schemes. We then try to implement the ideas in technical terms." Bugatti can make just about anything happen, having embossed a child's footprints in the rear panel of a Veyron or put crystals into the cockpit. If the customer wants special grilles or logos in the wheels, they can make that happen too. What I'm trying to get across is that the possibilities are truly endless when it comes to customizing a Divo. In fact, it took one customer more than a year to finalize his Divo's customization. Bugatti knows that their cars are special to their customers, so that's why they put so much time and effort into making sure they deliver something that's personal and extraordinary. What's more, we're going to start seeing the fruits of Bugatti's labor soon as they will start delivering Divo's shortly and production has once again restarted. See All Bugattis for Sale Source: Bugatti

By Edward Jones – April 23, 2020

The First Bugatti Divo Deliveries Happening This Year

After years of development, it's time that the first Bugatti Divo examples are delivered to their owners this year. How many of the 40 examples will be delivered? We don't know for certain, but there will, for sure, be some Divos heading to their respective garages in 2020. After paying a price of 5 million euros for one, I'm sure the owners are more than excited to see their investment in action. The exact timing of deliveries has not been announced as of yet, but we will most definitely provide you with delivery news as soon as it's released. "With the Divo, Bugatti is reviving a long-forgotten coachbuilding tradition," says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "The limited and extremely high-performance hyper sports car has its own exclusive character, features enhanced lateral acceleration, agility and cornering characteristics and is an absolute must-have for any Bugatti enthusiast’s hyper sports car collection." See All Bugattis For Sale Source: Bugatti

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By Andrew Nabors – April 17, 2019

Bugatti Divo Endures Desert Endurance Testing

Somewhere deep in the Kalahari, the Bugatti Divo endures desert endurance testing. In their latest Facebook post, engineer Julia Lemke is holding the Divo at 155 mph for hours. This heat soaks the turbos to make sure the intercoolers do their job, and it is a perfect way to calibrate the air/fuel tuning. With a daytime high of 104 degrees, it is one of the most unforgiving tracks in the world. Stay with us for all your Bugatti updates, and click the link below to find one near you Browse Bugatti hypercars For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 03, 2018

Bugatti Divo: A Hypercar Gallery from Paris

The new Bugatti Divo has had its European debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Before its debut, Bugatti looks to have given the Divo a tour of Paris and snapped some incredible images of the new hypercar for everyone to see. These images can be found right down below. If these aren't perfect for a phone or desktop background, I don't know what it.In the images down below, you're looking at the latest hypercar from Bugatti. It comes powered by the company’s eight-liter W16 that’s capable of 1,479 horsepower. While the power remains exactly the same as the Chiron, Bugatti made it a car that's built around perfect cornering. The Bugatti Divo price is set at €5 million, which equates to roughly $5.8 million USD. Bugatti has limited the production of the Divo to just 40 examples, all of which are spoken for. Read the Bugatti Divo's specs to learn more.

By Andrew Nabors – September 10, 2018

Bugatti Says Their W16 Engine Is the End of an Era

If you are looking for the State of the Art in automotive power, we have several Bugatti Veyrons for sale. They were the first production car to have a W-16 engine, which is based on the Audi/Bentley W12. It can be tracked all the way back to the Jetta's legendary VR6, but times are changing. Everyone is jumping on the electric bandwagon and is making the most powerful gas engines looks like dinosaurs.Bugatti Divo Price, Specs, Photos and ReviewHowever, CarAdvice has is reporting that Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed the engine's departure to them. He told them there will be no new 16-cylinder engine and that the current one is the "last of its kind." Whatever powers the Divo's successor will have some sort of electric system, and you know it will be powerful. The Chiron offers 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, but it comes at a price for the manufacturer. The time it takes to build each engine and the fact it shares nothing with any other brand have sealed the fate of the sixteen-cylinder. Because it fires multiple cylinders at once, you do need to experience the smoothness and the power that Bugatti offers. Click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your Bugatti news.Browse Bugattis For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2018

Bugatti Divo Price, Specs, Photos and Review

The new Bugatti Divo hypercar is the French company's most extreme production they've ever created. In fact, The Divo can accomplish a lap around the Nardò handling circuit eight seconds quicker than the Chiron. Stephan Winkelmann, Bugatti President, put it bluntly: “The Divo has significantly higher performance in terms of lateral acceleration, agility and cornering. The Divo is made for corners.”Bugatti unveiled the car at “The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering“ in Monterey, California. The name Divo comes from French racing driver Albert Divo. He was a two-time Targa Florio race winner in the late 1920's and drove for Bugatti. Bugatti Divo EngineEngineThe Bugatti Divo's engine is the company's eight-liter W16 that's capable of 1,479 horsepower. While that number is the same as the Chiron, the Divo sees its upgrades in the form of other modifications. Still, this is one of the most monstrous engines being produced and can rocket the car to a limited top speed of 236. Could it go faster? Most certainly, but then you have to worry about tire wear, fuel usage and so forth. Bugatti Divo Front Wheel and BrakesBrakesAs stated before, the Divo is was meant for corners and one thing you need for great cornering is good brakes that don't overheat. To ensure the brakes don't overheat, Bugatti implemented new cooling sources. Four air source on each side of the Divo cool the brakes, and there are even vanes that direct air right onto the brake discs. There's also a heat shield that pushes hot air out through the wheels.2018 Bugatti Chiron Specs, Price, Photos & Review Bugatti Divo InteriorSteering and SuspensionBrakes may be important for corners, but it means nothing without proper suspension and steering. Bugatti's engineers modified the steering and suspension to be more precise and direct in its response. Bugatti did not specify the changes made to the suspension and steering, but they did note that the suspension changes did help drop the overall weight of the car. Bugatti Divo SideDesign and AerodynamicsWhen taking corners, cars have to be completely grounded and that's made possible through downforce. Naturally, Bugatti introduced a slew of aerodynamic components in the Divo that results in 198 lbs more downforce than the Chiron. In the front are air intakes that Bugatti says reduces "the effective cross-sectional area of the vehicle at the same time as ensuring improved air flow at the front and increasing aerodynamic efficiency." There's also a new front spoiler that pushes air to the air inlets on the sides, as well as a new air curtain design for better airflow along the rear sides of the Divo. In the rear is a wing that's six feet wide and rests at a fixed height. This wing adjusts for braking and for the different driving modes. Bugatti Divo RearWeightBugatti went all out to drop the weight of the Divo. The new wheels, carbon fiber intercooler cover, reduced amount of insulation material, removal of the storage compartments in the center console and door trims, modified chassis and suspension, and fixed front diffuser flaps all work together to help drop the weight of the car. The total loss, when compared to the Chiron is 77 lbs. Bugatti Divo WingPrice and AvailabilityThe Bugatti Divo price is set at €5 million, which equates to roughly $5.8 million USD. Bugatti has limited the production of the Divo to just 40 examples, all of which are spoken for.Quotes “The Divo is a further project intended to thrill people and the world. Our fans are very important to us.” - Stephan Winkelmann, Bugatti President “When I took up my position at Bugatti at the beginning of the year, I soon learned that our customers and fans were waiting for a special vehicle which would tell a further story for the brand in addition to the Chiron. The Bugatti team was also very eager to implement a project like this.” - Stephan Winkelmann, Bugatti President Bugatti Divo Front“The modern interpretation of coachbuilding gave us engineers new freedom. The step that we have taken with the Divo in terms of agility and high-performance cornering dynamics can be compared with the overall development from the Veyron to the Chiron.“ - Stefan Ellrott, Head of Technical Development at Bugatti Bugatti Divo Taillight“The Divo is a further example of our design philosophy ‘Form follows Performance‘. In this case, the engineers and designers aimed to create a vehicle focusing on cornering speeds and lateral dynamics.” - Achim Anscheidt, Director of Design of Bugatti Bugatti Divo Front

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