Celebrity Cars

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 12, 2016

BMW Champ Dustin Johnson and Pros Whip BMWs Around Track

Over the weekend, professional golfers gathered at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana for the 2016 BMW Championship. Taking the overall win was Dustin Johnson, with Paul Casey in second place and Roberto Castro in third.Before the golfers teed off for the championship, BMW invited a few out to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for some high-speed time with a few of their cars. "I enjoyed the M3," said Johnson in a video from BMW Golfsport. "I've owned a couple M3s, I liked 'em. I think they perform the best on the track." But could he drive as well as he golfs? Check out the videos below to see these professional golfers whip about some German sports cars before they hit the green. View All M3s For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 01, 2016

Leicester City Players Get Confused, Have to Wrap BMW i8s

To celebrate their title win, the players of Leicester City were gifted a fleet of BMW i8s. The cars were finished in a blue paint, matching the team's colors. However, when an entire team is driving around the same car and they're each the same color, confusion will arise. And it seems that it has. Source: Twitter/@AC13PREMIERAccording to Mirror.co.uk, some Leicester players have decided to wrap their i8s in different colors in order to make their cars stand apart from the crowd. By doing this, the players with wrapped cars know which one is theirs. According to Mirror, the players who have wrapped their cars include Wes Morgan, Jeffrey Schlupp, Riyad Mahrez and Danny Simpson.If you were on the team, what color would you make yours to make it stand out? Chrome? Rainbow? A basic color? Let me know know in the comments below!View All BMW I8s For Sale Source: Twitter/@AC13PREMIER

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 04, 2016

Elvis' BMW 507 Restored, Making Appearance at Pebble Beach

Relive the Elvis Presley glory days at this year's Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach as his BMW 507, which has been fully restored to its original glory, makes its modern day debut.The BMW 507 was driven by the music legend while he served in the military and was stationed in Germany. At that time, he'd already established himself as a rock and roll success. The BMW 507 mysteriously disappeared and was thought to be lost forever, but after 50 years, the icon's car resurfaced. BMW Group Classic spent an entire two years restoring the BMW to its original specifications and will present the car to the public for the first time at Pebble Beach.The BMW 507 is one of the brand's most exclusive and sought after models, especially for classic car enthusiasts. Only 254 examples were produced, all of which between the years of 1955 and 1959. The car was largely owned by the stars of the time including Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and of course, The King of Rock'n'Roll.According to a company press release, BMW Group Classic rebuilt the 3.2-liter V8 engine from spare parts but made sure it, "was reconditioned precisely in conformity with the original specifications of the BMW 507." Additionally, the car is also finished in a new "Feather White" paint job, which would have been an authentic representation of its glory days.

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2015

Willian and "Driverless" Drifting BMW M3 from Need for Speed

Willian Borges da Silva, known simply as Willian, has been a star of the Chelsea Football Club, especially after his stunning free kick against Dynamo Kyiv. Now, he's taking his skills to the road with the team at Yiannimize, an English automotive aftermarket shop.After the new "Need for Speed" video was released Nov. 3, people have been customizing their virtual cars and racing against competitors across the world. Instead of customizing their car virtually, Willian and Yannimize chose to take a car straight from the video game and create a real-life version of it.The car is a BMW M3 that has been heavily customized, even where you can't see. The exterior is very similar to an M3 featured in "Need for Speed," complete with a massive rear wing.A neat addition that they made for the car is that you can drive it with a controller. In the video included, uploaded to YouTube Nov. 5, you can see Willian drifting the car with just a Playstation 4 controller.Okay, not really, but there is a driver in the back seat, with a separator between him and the front seats. This illusion makes it look like there isn't a driver in the car. And, I must say, Willian does a good job at playing the part of remote remote-control driver.Think you could drive a car from its rear seat? Let us know in the comments below! But don't try it at home. (via YouTube) More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 02, 2015

Griff's BMW 633CSi from "Back to the Future Part II"

There's no denying the fact that the "Back to the Future" movies are one of the most iconic movie series to ever be produced.You're hard pressed to find an American who doesn't know that a DeLorean can travel through time at 88 mph, or that only a bolt of lightning could create 1.21 gigawatts of power. But would they know that the car Griff is driving in 2015 is actually a 1976 model?Jeff Chabotte does. And that's because he owns it.Not just the same model, but the actual car used in the filming of "Back to the Future: Part II."In his latest video, added to YouTube today, Chris Rutkowski of TheAficionAUTO spent a little time with Chabotte and his 1976 BMW 633CSi, which is the exact one used to portray a flying car in the filming of the series' second movie. They sat down at Chabotte's home in Connecticut to learn a little more about the movie car and how it came to be in Chabotte's possession, as well as its restoration process. They even go over just how the directors were able to make it fly for the film - it's a much more simple answer than you might expect.(See Also: 5 Best Winter Driving Academies for 2015-2016)In the film, it belonged to local bully Griff Tannen, resident of Hill Valley, California, in October 2015 and grandson of Biff Tannen from the first movie. We see this car when Marty and Doc arrive 30 years in the future from the time they exist in. That date? Oct. 21, 2015.In honor of the arrival of that date, Rutkowski is releasing a video a week documenting cars from the "Back to the Future" series, so be sure to keep an eye on his channel for more. Or, look back a few months, and check out the time he spent with a replica of the DeLorean from the first film - the one that takes 1.21 gigawatts, created by a plutonium based nuclear reaction, to make a leap.Update 10/05/15 - Those who are interested in owning this piece of movie history can submit their bid at the Oct. 24 Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Celebration Auction in Los Angeles. Learn how to register a bid at bttfbid.com.DeLoreans For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More BMW News

By Caitlin Duffy – May 22, 2015

Andrew Johnston Wins BMW M4 Coupe for Hole-in-One

BMW has long supported athletes and their competitive ventures, with one of their most recongizable awards coming in the form of the BMW Hole In One Prize.In the first round of the BMW PGA Championship May 21, held at Wentworth, the prize of a brand new M4 Coupe was snagged by Andrew "Beef" Johnston, a 26-year-old from England. As a release from the marque issued the same day tells us, he snagged the shot on the par-three 10th hole and immediately jumped for joy. VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Andrew Johnston of England poses with the keys to his new BMW M4 Coupe after his hole-in-one on the 10th hole during day 1 of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 21, 2015 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)"Such was the player’s delight that it sparked what will probably go down as one of the most flamboyant of celebrations seen this year," describes the release of Beef's celebration, which ended with a hearty chest bump with a friend who was in the gallery. You can see his moment of victory in the May 21 YouTube video from European Tour below. The release went on to describe the first hole-in-one Johnston achieved in the professional ranks at the 2014 Scottish Open, where he won 168 bottles of champagne. The $117,000 M4 comes in at a noticeably higher value than the crate of bubbly, making the celebratory air of Johnston, who's currently ranked 68th in the Race to Dubai, all the more understandable. (See Also: BMW 435i ZHP Coupe Introduced) On June 29, 2014, BMW announced James Heath's hole-in-one award, where he received a BMW i8 at the BMW International Open in Cologne, Germany. Which car should be the next hole-in-one prize? Let us know in the comments below, then browse through our exclusive listings of BMWs for sale to find the perfect winner's car. BMWs For Sale (Source: BMW, YouTube) See More BMW News

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