Concept 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 – March 04, 2020

BMW Concept i4 Revealed: All Electric, All New

The new, and all-electric BMW Concept i4 has finally been unveiled after a long period of teasing. This new concept car shows off a car that's similar to what's expected from the production version of the i4. As you can plainly see, this is a very unique BMW that stands out from the rest of the automaker's models. Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, describes its design as being "dynamic, clean and elegant." The electric drivetrain of the Concept i4 produces up to 530 horsepower. It's 0 to 60 mph time is expected to be around 4 seconds and its top speed at over 124 mph. While this speed may not blow you away, it's other aspects of the driver that should entice you. In the press release detailing the new Concept i4, BMW puts this line in: "The interior of the BMW Concept i4 focuses on those times when the driver chooses to pilot the car themselves." While the press release does not mention autonomous driving, this clearly hints that the new i4 will have the ability to drive itself. Still, this is a concept and the true details of the BMW i4 are yet to come. SEE ALL BMW I8 FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – September 10, 2019

BMW Concept 4 Revealed: A Glimpse Into BMW's Future

The new BMW Concept 4 has been revealed during the IAA Car Show in Frankfurt. This new concept gives us a glimpse of BMW's future style. BMW claims that this concept is a "future-focused interpretation of the BMW Group's enduring DNA that represents the magic of coupe driving at its most exciting." see all bmws for sale The first thing you'll surely notice is the massive kidney grille. BMW says that the design of this grille was inspired by classic cars, such as the BMW 328 and BMW 3.0 CSi. Within the kidney grille, there are some fine details that need to be seen, like the intricate cut on the horizontal trim. An upcoming generation of the 4 Series range may see a front-end similar to this one. "The BMW Concept 4 presents a confident and classy take on this iconic feature," said Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design, in a press release. "At the same time, the BMW Concept 4 offers a look ahead to the expressive face of the 4 Series range."

By Edward Jones – May 17, 2018

BMW Teases New Pure Electric Car

At the recent BMW Annual General Meeting, the German automaker revealed a new concept car called the iNEXT. This vehicle will be a pure-electric model that BMW plans to produce at Plant Dingolfing come 2021. The iNEXT will most likely become the brand's second pure-electric production vehicle, following the i3.More Power Announced in the 2019 BMW M5 Competition“The iNEXT project is our building kit for the future," says Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "It will benefit the entire company and all our brands. For the first time, we are combining all key technologies for future mobility in one vehicle. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected and also offers highly automated driving. Today, we gave our shareholders a very first glimpse of the design of the BMW iNEXT. Later this year, we will be presenting the BMW iNEXT as a Vision Vehicle.”We will report on the BMW iNEXT as more information is produced.Used Sports Cars for Sale

By Edward Jones – May 26, 2017

BMW Concept 8 Series is the Car We've Been Waiting For

“The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” says Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Harald Krüger. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”Also Check Out - The 2018 BMW M4 GT4 Is Ready To RaceYou heard the man, the BMW Concept 8 Series is going to be an extraordinary car by all means. For the exterior, which seemed to be the only thing BMW talked about in the press release, takes the company's styling to a new direction that we really haven't seen before. The front end of the Concept 8 Series, with its massive grille and slim headlights, screams performance car.Also echoing this sentiment are the massive air vents placed directly behind the front wheels. In the rear is a fascia that most definitely more aggressive and sportier than what we've seen in newer BMWs. The massive air vents, sharp exhaust tailpipes and stylish lights are something I could get used to on future models.Unfortunately, BMW only discussed the new concept car's exterior and interior in the revealing press release, and did not touch on the car's performance or engine. However, when we do catch wind of what this car is capable of, you best believe we'll have all of the information here on Autofluence.

By Edward Jones – May 11, 2017

Is BMW Teasing a New 8 Series Supercar?

Just announced today, May 5, 2017, is a new BMW concept car. The announcement comes from Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, during the Annual General Meeting.This new concept car will be a design study that gives insight to what the upcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will look like. This concept car will be unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 26 May 2017. BMW notes that this unnamed concept car will embody "uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe."“The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination,” says Krüger, looking ahead to the new model. “The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”Be sure to check back with us as we draw closer to May 26 for more information on the upcoming 8 Series. Could this finally me we're getting that M8 supercar? I sure hope so.

By Edward Jones – January 05, 2017

BMW Unveils Their Weirdest Car Yet, And It Drives Itself

At this year's CES event, one of the hottest items is most definitely autonomous cars. BMW came to the event with a self-driving car of their own.This new car is what BMW describes as "the latest chapter in a story that began with BMW iDrive." This new car features the new HoloActive Touch technology, which uses the BMW Head-Up Display, BMW gesture control and new touchscreen functionality. This all results in a "free-floating virtual display which is projected in the area above the center console." It all sounds a bit weird, but the video below by BMWBLOG perfectly demonstrates how it all works.Essentially, the car's touchpad has free-floating projections that the user can "touch" in mid-air. When the system detects the driver's fingers near the projections, it counts as a "tap" and haptic feedback is provided via ultrasound. If you listen in the video above, you can hear the ultrasound haptic feedback in action.(Also Check Out - Faraday Future Finally Reveals the FF 91, Faster Than Tesla)Through this system, the driver will be able to pinpoint locations where they want the car to drive them. Once a destination is chosen, a few things can happen: the car will let you know if there are ride-share possibilities (people to pick up, like Uber) and, this is the neat one, it will let you chose a movie or show to watch during your trip that fits the length of the trip.While this car is simply a concept car that will never reach the roads, it at least gives us amazing insight into the future tech that BMW is currently working on.All BMW For Sale

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