Bugatti, Rimac

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 Khris Bharath – October 14, 2026

Bugatti Names Hendrik Malinowski CCO as Tourbillon Era Begins

Bugatti Rimac has appointed Hendrik A. Malinowski as Chief Commercial Officer, consolidating Bugatti's sales, sales operations, aftersales, customer experience, dealer network, marketing and communications under unified leadership as the hypercar maker prepares to begin deliveries of the upcoming Tourbillon. Malinowski, who has spent more than 14 years at Bugatti, including four as Commercial Director of Bugatti Rimac, and has also served as Managing Director, will now also oversee Bugatti International, which manages the marque's lifestyle business, and will work across teams in Molsheim, Zagreb and Berlin. His responsibilities include brand strategy and development of Bugatti's global dealer network, alongside the aftersales network supporting its modern hypercars, giving him oversight of the customer relationship from initial configuration through delivery and ownership. “From the TOURBILLON and Programme Solitaire to the continued growth of our global community, we have the opportunity to honor Ettore Bugatti’s vision while shaping the future of the brand for the custodians of the future.” - Hendrik Malinowski - COO Bugatti Rimac The appointment comes during a period of significant change for Bugatti Rimac. The company's ownership structure has also changed following Porsche's sale of its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group to HOF Capital, marking another shift as the group begins its next chapter. “Hendrik has led with rigor and a constant focus on the customer. He understands that for a brand like ours, the relationship with each owner matters as much as the automobile itself. In this new role, I have every confidence that he will build on that success.” - Mate Rimac - CEO Bugatti Rimac Following the end of the glorious W16 era that produced some of the world's fastest production cars with the landmark Veyron, its successor, the Chiron, ending with the Mistral, Bugatti is preparing first customer deliveries of the Tourbillon, its new $4.6 million V16 hybrid hypercar. The 1,800-horsepower Tourbillon will be assembled at the recently opened La Manufacture facility in Molsheim, with production limited to 250 examples, all of which have already been spoken for. Bugatti has said all production slots are allocated. Bugatti also appointed Jan Schmid as Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications. Schmid previously headed exterior design for the Tourbillon and one-offs like the F.K.P. Hommage, a tribute to former Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Karl Piëch, and the Destrier, recently unveiled at this year's Monterey Car Week. This restructuring comes as Bugatti expands beyond series-production hypercars. Its commercial operation also covers exclusive Grand Tours and private customer gatherings, while Sur Mesure handles bespoke personalization and Programme Solitaire creates coachbuilt one-offs like the Brouillard. La Maison Pur Sang focuses on heritage automobiles, while the marque has expanded into branded real estate through Bugatti Residences in Dubai and a $650 million luxury residential project in Miami. View All Bugattis For Sale Images: Bugatti

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 25, 2024

Watch This Head-To-Head Battle Between A Bugatti Chiron S...

You'll have to see it to believe it. Only a handful of manufacturers share the niche automotive space when it comes to ultra-exclusive, multi-million dollar hypercars with the performance capabilities to set world speed records. Of those industry leaders, two of the biggest names now live under one company, Bugatti and Rimac Automobili. And while having the opportunity to own just one proves to be a car lover's dream in itself, The Hamilton Collection is lucky enough to showcase both as part of its unbelievable collection of supercars and hypercars. Recently uploaded to its YouTube channel, The Hamilton Collection finally decided to put the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport head-to-head against the Rimac Nevera in a top-speed drag race on one of the longest and widest open air strips. Professional drivers from Bugatti and Rimac, both of which have standing records behind the wheel of each car, made the journey to participate in a one- and two-mile, full-throttle shootout. The most interesting aspect of this race is the difference in powertrains and how each achieves its quad-digit horsepower figures, with Rimac's innovative battery system (1,813 horsepower) and Bugatti's famous quad-turbocharged W16 (1,578 horsepower). The Hamilton Collection leveled the playing field with specific Michelin tires, a full battery charge (Rimac), 100-octane fuel (Bugatti), and designated launch controls to make it an even battle. Without spoiling the results of the one and two-mile race, you'll have to click the video link above to see who wins the battle between the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport and the Rimac Nevera. View all Bugatti hypercars for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Bugatti Hypercars For Sale Source: The Hamilton Collection YouTube

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 05, 2023

Bugatti Celebrates 20 Years Of The Molsheim Atelier

Discover the heart of Bugatti's success: a dedicated team at Molsheim, with a 20-year journey of innovation, passion, and luxury car excellence. In the picturesque town of Molsheim, where the iconic Bugatti Château Saint Jean stands, a story of dedication and automotive excellence unfolds. This is where, in 2003, the first employees of the new Bugatti era were welcomed, marking the beginning of a remarkable chapter in the brand’s illustrious history. The Château, acquired by Ettore Bugatti in 1928, became the epicenter of a renaissance, reviving Bugatti's glory and embedding its legacy in the world of hyper sports cars. The unveiling of the Veyron 16.4 in 2005, Bugatti's first modern marvel, signaled the brand's revival. This groundbreaking vehicle, which spearheaded a new hyper sports car segment, was born at Molsheim's historic home. The resurrection of Château Saint Jean, coupled with the transformation of the two Remises and the Orangerie, played a pivotal role. Most crucial was the construction of a new Atelier, a state-of-the-art facility where each Bugatti hyper sports car is meticulously hand-assembled. This journey began with a handful of visionaries tasked with preparing Bugatti for its renaissance. Patrick Burk, Jean-Luc Furst, Didier Arbogast, Francis Jund, Loic Hoenig, and Ludovic Herbez, all hailing from the surrounding areas, became integral to preserving the legacy of Château Saint Jean. Their connection to the location, once a symbol of Bugatti's history and elegance, turned into a driving force for the brand's resurgence. The team's commitment to reviving the marque was profound. Didier Arbogast and Loic Hoenig, leveraging their automotive expertise, transformed the Atelier into a hub of innovation and craftsmanship. Patrick Burk, the first employee at Molsheim and now Head of Safety and Facility, notably preserved a crumbling wall between the Atelier and the Orangerie, symbolizing the bridge between Bugatti's past and future. The emotional connection to Bugatti runs deep in Molsheim. Jean-Luc Furst, Head of Accounting, describes his immersion in the Bugatti world as "magical," reflecting the sentiment of many team members. Their passion extends beyond professional commitment, infusing every aspect of their work and contributing to the unique customer experience Bugatti offers. Today, the team at Molsheim exceeds 140 members, each driven by the same dedication that sparked the brand’s rebirth. Francis Jund, Head of Disposition, emphasizes the familial atmosphere and the shared pride in being part of Bugatti's story. Loic Hoenig, an expert in After Sales technical support and training, remains in awe of the cars they create, a testament to the enduring allure of Bugatti's creations. The brand's journey, guided by the vision of leaders like Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, and inspired by legends such as Ferdinand Piëch, continues to evolve. As Bugatti steps into a new era, the team’s excitement for future innovations and the expansion of the Molsheim site is palpable. Their story is not just about building exceptional cars; it's about crafting a legacy, driven by passion, precision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. View All Bugattis For Sale Image Source: Bugatti

Bugatti, Rimac

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