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 Caitlin Duffy – October 07, 2015

Creating the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: Behind the Scenes

In creating a car for one of the world's most popular racing games, Bugatti strove to do two things: stay as close to reality as possible, and stretch existing abilities as far as possible.With the Vision Gran Turismo, they've achieved both. The French automaker shared a video to YouTube Oct. 5 looking into the process behind developing this beast of a car, which resulted in an aurally arresting and visually addictive concept at the IAA. Its creation is based on the marque's "engineering excellence, aerodynamics research and existing racing technologies.""Our previous chapter, the Bugatti Veyron, is over, and Vision Gran Turismo is the first step into the new direction," Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S, said in the video.There's quite a bit of speculation around just where Bugatti is headed with the development of a new model, with many thinking it will bear the name "Chiron" and appear similar to the Vision GT. From leaked photos to spotted test mules, the small details that can be seen do look quite similar to the eight-light headlights and classic Bugatti horseshoe found on the GT's front.In the video, they show a shot of the Vision GT racing around a digital Le Mans track, with a brief view at the car's speedometer. It's hitting a speed of 437.63 kph, or about 272 mph - just a little slower than the reported top speed of the Chiron. In August, Car Magazine reported that the Chiron will cost approximately $2.5 million, with an 8.0-liter W16 engine creating 1,480 bhp and 1,106 lb-ft - with a top speed of 288 mph possible.(See Also: Bugatti Chiron Test Car Leaked)Since the Vision GT was designed to be a purebred race car, could the Chiron be its road-legal variant? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and find a Veyron for your collection from our exclusive listings.Veyrons For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Bugatti News

By Edward Jones – October 01, 2015

Bugatti Chiron Test Car Leaked

While the Bugatti Chiron has not yet been released to the masses, we were still introduced to one of their new models: the Vision GT concept. This model introduces sharper corners and a more extreme overall design when compared to the Veyron.It's these new design cues on the Bugatti Vision GT that make three Instagram posts by GTBoard interesting. Each of these posts was shared yesterday, Sept. 30, and they feature what looks like a test mule for a car that resembles the Vision GT. The description of each post states that this is, in fact, the new Bugatti Chiron in mule form.https://instagram.com/p/8O4869sxVn/Take a close look at this mule's headlights and you'll notice that they're quite similar to the Vision GT's, having separate and staggered lights. However, it appears to have two lights behind the glass, instead of the Vision GT's four. This is a sign that maybe the concept car isn't far off from the production Chiron in terms of design.https://instagram.com/p/8O4wggMxVS/However, we'll have to wait until we can finally see the Chiron in its entirety. In the meantime, check back with us for more Bugatti news as it's released.https://instagram.com/p/8O42ndMxVc/Bugattis For Sale(Source: Instagram) See More Bugatti News, Pics and Videos

By Edward Jones – September 24, 2015

These Are Our Top 5 Bugatti Concepts

Bugatti have only recently pulled back the sheets on their Vision GT concept car, but we have already seen this car re-rendered by Alex Imnadze. His creation is called the Type 57GT Concept, which was influenced by classic Bugattis, such as the Type 35 and Type 57SC Atlantic. This concept can be seen directly below.After seeing this concept, we decided to round up five of our favorite concepts based on Bugatti's automobiles. You can check them all out below. Which one's your favorite? Got a better one? Let us know in the comments section.Bugattis For SaleBugatti Type 57GT Concept By Alex Imnadze Bugatti Renaissance GT - 6 By jmvdesign Bugatti 12.4 Atlantique Grand Sport Concept By Alan Guerzoni SourceBugatti 16 C Galibier Concept By Bugatti Darth Vader Bugatti Concept By Khyzyl Saleem

By Edward Jones – September 22, 2015

Real-Life Bugatti Vision GT Engine Sounds Monstrous

There is no questioning that the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the most extreme car crafted by the French automaker. It was originally developed as a concept for the Gran Turismo video game series, but a real-life example of the car was unveiled at IAA 2015.And now, for all of those who thought that the vehicle at IAA was a shell, we present to you a video of the Bugatti Vision GT's engine. Autoforum.cz/Channel ProDriver CZ was on hand for when Bugatti started up the fully-functioning concept car and followed it until it was loaded up. To say this car sounds amazing is an understatement. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if people consider this the best sounding Bugatti, ever.Check out the video below for just about five minutes of pure engine sounds.Veyron Listings (Source: YouTube) See More Bugatti News, Pics and Videos

By Andrew Nabors – September 21, 2015

Onboard Video of Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse 0-231 MPH

Each year, as summer peaks in Idaho’s Sun Valley, gear heads and exotic car owners transform a remote stretch of Highway 75 into an unrestricted test of top speed. For 2015, the Sun Valley Road Rally saw an unprecedented test of speed thanks to the brave owner of a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse L’Or Rouge.In a video uploaded to his YouTube page on Sept. 19, TheStradman captured some incredible acceleration along with an inset of the speedometer. With a short rollout, the driver unleashes the fury of 16 cylinders and four turbochargers onto the closed course. Even with slight braking around 160 mph, the driver reached 231 mph faster than most cars can cover a quarter-mile. Check out the video for yourself above.Top speed events are growing in popularity each year, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more coverage of these wild events.Veyrons For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Bugatti News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 14, 2015

Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept Debuts at IAA

This one was built for the fans.Well, perhaps not this exact one, in particular. But this design, as Bugatti has said before and says again, "is for the fans."Today, ahead of the official start Sept. 17 of the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Bugatti introduced the physical version of their Vision GT concept, bringing a video game's design to life. First introduced Sept. 2, the concept for the Gran Turismo video game series is a true example of futuristic racing, and features such concepts as augmenting the dashboard with visuals displayed on the driver's goggles."Bugatti has transformed its Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo from the virtual world of bytes and pixels into a real carbon-fibre racer specially for the 66th International Motor Show (IAA). ‪#‎imaginEBugatti,‬" describes the caption of a gallery showing off the model on Bugatti's Facebook page, as well as the press release.This is the first unveiling in a series of events that, Bugattis release tells us, will culminate in the revealing of their new super sports car. The Vision Gran Turismo pays tribute to the marque's racing designs of the 1920s and 1930s, while also providing insights into the future of the brand's "design language."The headlights on the Vision GT seem similar to the ones peeking through the camoflauge of the Chiron test mules spotted around the world, which could mean that the Chiron's final form may not be far off from what the GT shows us.(See Also: Bugatti Veyron vs. Kawasaki Ninja H2)Check out the photos of this carbon-fiber video game character below, stay with us for more updates from Bugatti as they are released and find your own model from the marque's existing cars from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For SaleGallery (Source: Bugatti, Facebook) See More Bugatti News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 10, 2015

Bugatti Veyron vs. Kawasaki Ninja H2

There's little questioning the fact that it's difficult to take on the Bugatti Veyron, but if there's any two-wheeled vehicle up to the challenge, it's a Kawasaki creation.Swedish car spotter and YouTuber Gustav of GTBOARD.com got a chance to ride shotgun in a 1,001 hp Veyron as it went up against a Kawasaki Ninja H2 sans exhaust. A closed track in Sweden provided the perfect location for rolling start races, and from the Instagram accounts of Gustav and the Veyron's owner, dutchbugs, everyone enjoyed the full day of racing that took place.A few videos were uploaded to Gustav's YouTube account this past week, with a Sept. 9 upload (above) showing the race between the Veyron and Ninja from a few different perspectives, including the Veyron's driver seat. A second video uploaded today gives us the Kawasaki's point of view (below).It may not seem like a motorcycle's 200 hp could be any match to the Veyron's 1,001, but the Ninja H2 isn't just any motorcycle - as Kawasaki's website tells us, it's a supercharged supersport motorcycle capable of reaching 200 mph.https://instagram.com/p/7X7e3ioRon/?taken-by=dutchbugsWhich set of wheels do you think reaches the end of a track first? Keep in mind, they had a rolling start at 50. Whether it was 50 mph or km/h, we're not sure, but we know it was 50.(See Also: Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: The Most Intense Bugatti, Ever)Let us know in the comments below who you think wins, then check out the video above to see if you were right. When you're done, find your own Bugatti for a day on the track from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For Sale (Source: YouTube, Kawasaki) See More Bugatti News

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2015

Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: The Most Intense Bugatti, Ever

Gran Turismo 6 has become one of the most well-known racing games thanks to the physical and digital Vision Gran Turismo models that are being released by prestigious automakers for use in the video game. The latest company to create one of these concepts is Bugatti, who just released their model in a press release issued today.Called the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo, this new model was crafted by the Bugatti design team to be created as a physical show car and digital race car. The team drew inspiration for this car from the company's racing history, more specifically, the Bugatti Type 57 Tank. In fact, the two-tone exterior finish of this new concept car is borrowed from the Type 57 G Tank that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937.“In the Bugatti Veyron, we have developed a super sports car which unites two characteristics, the beauty and the beast,” explained Achim Anscheidt, the head of Bugatti Design, in the press release. “The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo embodies the performance beast. It has a more radical and extreme style. This is a thorough-bred Bugatti for the virtual race track, not for the street.”(View Bugattis For Sale)For the overall design of the car, Bugatti wanted to bring the brand "back to its roots," according to Sasha Selipanoc, the Head of Exterior Design Creative Development. From the side, it has the same line as the Veyron, while the front also has the iconic horseshoe grille. But, these two aspects are just about all that it and the Veyron hold in common.The front of the car has an extreme front splitter, large air intakes and canards on the sides. Solid headlights have also been ditched for four separate LED lights on each side. Head to the back and you'll find a rear more extreme than any other made by Bugatti. A thin and solid rear LED taillight and a quad-exhaust setup sits between a massive diffuser and rear wing. The sides have air vents for the front and rear wheel wells, while a stylised air intake for the engine creates an almost elliptical line that flows into the side windows and front wheel well.One design element that really harks back to Bugatti's past is the center fin, which was first found on the 1936 Type 57 Atlantic. This fin runs across the front hood and along the roof, ending at the rear wing.Inside, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo's intense design continues. The press release states that, because this is a race car, all the necessary indicators, displays and controls are within arm's reach of the driver. A racing seat with massive bolsters hold the driver in place, as an appropriately designed racing steering wheel with a digital display in its center sits in front of them. From the picture of its interior, we also see a cluster gauge that consists of a rather large electronic display. As for its aesthetics, the two-tone interior is comprised of massive amounts of exposed carbon fiber and what looks like Alcantara.Regarding its powerhouse, Bugatti's press release did not indicate what would be powering the car.The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo show car will be on display at the International Auto Show in Frankfurt from September 17-27.Bugattis For SaleGallery (Source: Bugatti) See More Bugatti News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 01, 2015

$2.5 Million Bugatti Chiron to Reach 288 mph

Bugatti has been tight-lipped about the development of their successor to the Veyron since confirming it was in the works June 27, but the United Kingdom's Car Magazine has peeled back a layer of secrecy and found out the highly anticipated details.The Veyron has evolved into the Chiron, and as Car reported Aug. 30, the world will first see it at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, scheduled for March 3-13. But for a special group of Bugatti clients, it's already been seen, and deposits have already been made - despite the reported price. Chiron test mules spotted at LAX"The Chiron, which is being prepared for a debut at the Geneva motor show in March 2016, will cost €2.2 million (£1.6m) at launch for a base-spec model, according to our sources," Car reported. With conversion rates where they are as of press time, that's the equivalent of approximately $2.5 million USD. Of course, with numbers like the ones predicted, it's not hard to understand why.Though the idea of a 14-cylinder engine was toyed with, the Chiron features a quad turbo 8.0-liter W16 capable of creating a projected 1,480 bhp and 1,106 lb-ft. Its estimated top speed is said to be 288 mph. Be prepared to hit 62 mph from a standstill faster than you can take a breath - only 2.3 seconds will elapse.Car Magazine also reported that plans estimate 500 examples will be created, each showing off a stunning restyle of the Veyron. Check out Car's article to learn more about Bugatti's new contender, and find a Chiron predecessor from our exclusive listings at the button below.Bugattis For Sale(Source: Car Magazine) See More Bugatti News

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2015

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

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

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