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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 Edward Jones – September 16, 2021

Dennis Schroder Posts About "Fumbling The Bag" With His B...

Making light of his... situation. Dennis Schroder is having a good time making fun of his decision to reject the LA Laker's contract offer of $84 million for four years, only to sign with the Boston Celtics for $5.9 million for one year. Recently, Schroder posted a gallery to his Instagram page that not only includes memes about him "fumbling the bag," but also his Rolls-Royce Dawn and Bugatti Chiron. While he is making less than what he would've been if he had signed the other contract, he's still able to flex by loading up his Bugatti with his owns bags. That Bugatti Chiron alone is worth around $3 million, so he's doing quite well no matter the contract he signed. Browse Bugatti Chirons For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CT2ibrTsWAK/

By Edward Jones – August 28, 2019

Post Malone Bought a Bugatti Chiron Hypercar

Post Malone has just added another car to his collection and this one is pretty substantial: a Bugatti Chiron. He purchased the car from our friends over at OB Prestige Auto in Quebec, Canada. The Chiron, which OB Prestige Auto configured and named "Angel," is an all-white spec that's just downright beautiful. As for the specs of this car, it's the epitome of a hypercar. The quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine pumps out an extraordinary 1479 horsepower and 1180 lb-ft of torque. Post will definitely have fun with that amount of power. Check out OB Prestige Auto's video on the car up above and be sure to click the button below to see the other incredible cars they have in stock. Also Check Out: Post Malone Gets Massive Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6 for Christmas Post Malone’s New Lamborghini Aventador SV is a Screamer Source: OB Prestige

By Edward Jones – June 06, 2019

Afrojack's Bugattis Wrapped in Wild Blue Camo

Afrojack, the famous Dutch DJ, is a self-proclaimed lover of Bugattis. Within his car collection are two hypercars from the French automaker, a Chiron and Veyron. That's a lot of money between two cars, but when you love a car and have the money... why not? Not only does Afrojack love these cars, but he loves driving them. That's why Team Afrojack will be taking the two hypercars on the Gumball 3000 rally. Following tradition, he's also wrapped his cars in a specially designed wrapped that helps them stand out among the supercar-filled rally lineup. These wraps were done by JD Customs, a Dutch aftermarket company. JD Customs posted a gallery of Afrojack's Bugattis on their Instagram page, allowing us to see the fine details of the wrap. For instance, there are bits of orange in the camo design, which I assume is a nod at Afrojack's Dutch heritage. The Gumball 3000 will start on June 9th, 2019. It will take the group of cars from Mykonos to Ibiza. See All Bugattis For Sale Source: Instagram/@jd_customs via autoevolution

By Edward Jones – August 13, 2018

Bugatti Chiron Races Ducati 1299 Superleggera on Top Gear

The Bugatti Chiron and Ducati 1299 Superleggera are two completely different vehicles, but both are extreme in their own right. Bugatti's new Chiron hypercar comes packing a 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque that come from a quad-turbocharged 8.-liter W16 engine. That's a lot of metal and power. On the other hand, you have a two-wheeled hyperbike with 215 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque on tap from its twin-cylinder engine.How to Do the $21k Bugatti Veyron Oil ChangeTo test these vehicles out, Top Gear put Chris Harris in the Chiron and Matt LeBlanc on the Ducati to see who would win in a race to the finish. Of course, one of the two hosts finishes the race first and is patiently waiting for the other. But which one of them is it? Check out the funny bit in the video below.

By Edward Jones – March 12, 2018

Odell Beckham Jr Checks Out Cristiano Ronaldo's Bugatti

Football/soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo first showed off his new Bugatti Chiron a few months ago. Now, he's been captured showing football superstar Odell Beckham JR his Chiron. In the video below, compiled by YouTube Channel knarty, the two meet up for good times and a drive in the French hypercar. OBJ had a good time starting up the car and seemed to enjoy it, but who wouldn't? I mean, it's a Chiron. He does note that it was "disrespectful" putting the "CR7" on the side of his car, which was more than likely just a joke.Bugatti Chiron Specs and PhotosRonaldo's Chiron is an impeccable machine. Topping out at 261 mph, the Bugatti speeds from 0-60 in a mere 2.5 seconds thanks to an 8-liter, 16-cylinder engine pumping out 1,479 horsepower. Even with its overwhelming speed and power, the Chiron offers a smooth and inviting road experience.

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2017

Christiano Ronaldo Shows Off New Bugatti Chiron

Is Christiano Ronaldo the owner of a new Bugatti Chiron? Sure looks like it.It all started back in February 2017 when Bugatti uploaded a video of Ronaldo taking the Chiron out for a spin. Now, seven months later, he's being seen driving the Chiron in a video and photo uploaded to his own Instagram page.https://www.instagram.com/p/BZmKiMCFtZ1/The example he's driving in the new video is definitely different from the one he was shown driving earlier this year. Who knows, maybe that test drive convinced him to buy one, but he probably ordered one a while ago considering he's not a stranger to the Bugatti.Check out the video below to see CR7 showing up in his new Bugatti.https://www.instagram.com/p/BZl9v6YFStc/

By Edward Jones – March 17, 2017

Chris Harris Goes Hard in the Bugatti Chiron

There's no denying that Chris Harris has one heck of an awesome life. His current stage in life finds him as a host on Top Gear, the most popular automotive show of the past decade.Thanks to where his career has led him, Harris has driven the world's greatest cars time and time again. One of his recent escapades took him to Dubai, where he managed to push the Bugatti Chiron as hard as he could.The Instagram account @onlychirons has a video of his time in Chiron, which was taken by @hamed.alhashmi. I can assume that we will see more footage of Harris in the Chiron in the current season of Top Gear, which is already underway. In the meantime, check out the video below to see Chris Harris slam the pedal down in the 1,500 hp Chiron and listen to the brutal exhaust note.Exotic Cars For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BRoZv-CBNBM/?taken-by=onlychirons

By Edward Jones – February 24, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo Tests the Bugatti Chiron...Is It His?

Cristiano Ronaldo was recently spotted driving in his Bugatti Veyron and it looks like the French automaker took notice. In a new video from Bugatti, Ronaldo is given the keys to a new Chiron by Andy Wallace, the automaker's test driver. Then, naturally, the soccer superstar takes the car out for some hard driving.Related - Bugatti Chiron Will Go 0-250-0 mph in Under a MinuteFrom Bugatti: "Just before deliveries of the Chiron start, Bugatti has requested a real champion to give the French luxury brand’s new ultimate super sports car a final test drive. Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, several times World Player of the Year, reigning European Champion, winner of many other awards and a great sports cars fan, got behind the wheel in Madrid to take a close look at the 1,500 PS supercar. His conclusion: approved after comprehensive testing!"Bugatti Chiron For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 02, 2016

Floyd Mayweather Reportedly Buys Bugatti Chiron

We all know that Floyd Mayweather has a very extensive car collection, especially his Las Vegas collection. According to TMZ Sports, his collection just got bigger (and way more expensive) with the addition of his latest car, a Bugatti Chiron.Sources have told TMZ Sports that the champion boxer put down $3.5 million for Bugatti's upcoming hypercar. To make room for his new car, he also reportedly sold one of his Veyrons. Out with the old, in with the new, as they say. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo (A good idea of what the Chiron will look like)And why wouldn't he? The new Chiron's specs are more than impressive. The hypercar is said to deliver up to 1,500 hp, hit a top speed of around 290 mph and accelerate from 0-62 mph in 2.2 seconds.Unfortunately, Mayweather's going to have to wait a little while longer to hop in the seat of his Chiron, as it won't be officially revealed until the Geneva International Motor Show, which starts on March 3. In the meantime, check out the video below of two Chirons spotted with a Bugatti Veyron, Porsche 918 Spyder, Lamborghini Huracan and BMW i8.Bugattis For Sale

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