Continental

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

A brown Bentley Continental GT Speed is parked on a mountain road at sunset, overlooking snow-covered peaks and a cloudy sky, dreaming of the drive ahead powered by cutting-edge eFuels.

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 22, 2024

Bentley Uses eFuels For New Continental GT Speed

Bentley’s new grand tourer uses sustainable fuel. Since the introduction of its Beyond100 plan, which coincided with the manufacturer’s 100th anniversary, Bentley has been on a journey towards radical sustainability. This includes electrifying its lineup, adopting more sustainable production methods, and exploring other solutions like eFuels. Bentley’s use of eFuels has expanded greatly in recent years and as part of the launch of its new hybrid Bentley Continental GT Speed, the most powerful roadgoing Bentley yet with an incredible 771 horsepower and 738 lb/ft of torque from its Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain. In a recent global media drive to showcase the new grand tourer, using eFuels and renewable electricity reduced emissions throughout the drive by 93 percent, according to Bentley. Another manufacturer invested in developing eFuels, Porsche, helped Bentley source the eFuel from its Haru Oni pilot plant in Chile. Taking on 8000 miles of mountain passes with thrilling performance and sumptuous luxury, the new hybrid Bentley Continental GT Speed demonstrated incredible sustainability and its excellence as a grand tourer thanks to eFuels on its global media drive. View All Bentley Continental GTs For Sale Image Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 12, 2024

Bentley Debuts The New Continental GT Speed At Goodwood

Goodwood sees Bentley’s new GT in action. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is a milestone for the century-old ultra-luxury manufacturer. With its High-Performance Hybrid Powertrain, it combines a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with an electric system to achieve unprecedented levels of power and performance, with an “underwater speed record” achieved in the Ryfylke Tunnel in Norway, where the new flagship grand tourer rocketed to 208 mph. Now, it’s showing off its incredible performance on the surface, making a dynamic debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It shows off its new powertrain, which features more power and torque but less environmental impact than the outgoing W12 engine. It has the best ride comfort, control, and weight distribution, a rear-biased 49:51 the Continental GT has ever had. Inspired by Mulliner coachbuilt masterpieces like the Bacalar and Batur, The new revised design shows off the future of Bentley’s design language, and the new Continental GT Speed is the first mainstream Bentley with single headlamps since the 1950s. Its luxury also evolves with improved seat comfort technology, new quilting, leather textures, and fine materials like dark chrome. In addition to the cars that are running the legendary hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Bentley is also displaying the new Continental GT Speed in a tongue-in-cheek reference to its “underwater speed record,” which is also a twist on the iconic “Toy Box” displays at Bentley’s Crewe, England Dream Factory. Named the “FOShtank,” after the iconic event, the new Continental GT Speed is displayed inside a gigantic, 370-gallon fish tank with 30 fish inside, giving the illusion that the car is underwater. Beginning a new era, Bentley shows off its latest grand touring luxury performance pinnacle at one of the world’s most anticipated and prestigious automotive gatherings. Image Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 09, 2024

Bentley To Debut New Continental GT Speed At Goodwood

Bentley will bring its new grand touring pinnacle to life at Goodwood. After 20 years on the market, the Bentley Continental GT has earned a stellar reputation as a grand tourer that is simultaneously beautiful, luxurious, and capable of compelling performance. However, Bentley retired its W12 engine this year and unveiled the new generation of the Continental GT Speed, a redesigned car with Bentley’s new High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, consisting of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine paired with an electric system for unprecedented power and performance. With 771 horsepower and 736 lb/ft of torque, the new Bentley Continental GT Speed claimed an unofficial “underwater speed record,” hitting its 208-mph top speed in the Ryfylke tunnel in Norway, the longest road tunnel and deepest sub-sea tunnel in the world, at 9 miles in length and 958 feet in depth. After achieving this record, the new Continental GT Speed is set to make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in its Tourmaline Green. It will pay homage to its speed record by being displayed behind a 370-gallon fish tank with 30 fish inside. Humorously named the “FOShtank” after the Goodwood Festival of Speed event, the bespoke display is a twist on Bentley’s glass “Toy Box” displays featured in the manufacturer’s Dream Factory campus in Crewe, England. At the event, Bentley will also play the incredible underwater speed record video on a large LED screen for visitors to see, creating not only a perfect debut for its incredible new grand touring machine but also a perfect addition to this year’s “Horseless to Hybrid” Goodwood Festival of Speed theme. The new Continental GT Speed and the new Continental GTC Speed will also run the famed Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb twice a day from Thursday until Sunday at the event, with fans anticipating what its incredible new hybrid performance will look like in person. View All Bentley Continental GT Speeds For Sale Image Source: Bentley Motors

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 18, 2024

Bentley Teases June 25 Reveal Date For New Continental GT...

Bentley is ready to enter the next era of its grand touring icon. The Bentley Continental GT has been one of the most important staples of the historic ultra-luxury brand for over 20 years. It is known for its elegance, comfort, style, and being a fun-to-drive, luxurious grand tourer. The Speed variant has always taken things up a notch, introducing immense power and formidable performance wrapped in a package that is both sumptuous and performance-oriented for a glamorous and hot-blooded coupe. With the W12 engine that has characterized the Bentley Continental GT Speed for years now discontinued, Bentley is on the verge of introducing the next generation, confirming the date for the official reveal. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed will be unveiled on June 25, at 4:00 pm BST, and will feature Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. This system pairs a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a hybrid system to produce 771 horsepower and 738 lb/ft of torque in total, with 50 miles of electric-only driving range. The new hybrid powertrain aligns with Bentley’s Beyond100 plan, which lays out the historic brand’s near-future journey toward electrification and sustainability. Along with its futuristic high-performance hybrid powertrain, the new Continental GT Speed will feature technology like four-wheel steering, torque vectoring, an electronic limited-slip differential, 48V electric active anti-roll control, and new advanced dual-valve dampers that imbue the grand tourer with supercar-level dynamics. Its styling, a new evolution of Bentley’s design language, has been previewed by coachbulit masterpieces like the ultra-exclusive Bacalar, Batur, and Batur Convertible. In addition, the new Bentley Continental GT Speed has also achieved an unofficial “underwater speed record,” reaching its 208-mph top speed in the world’s deepest tunnel and longest subsea tunnel, the Ryfylke Tunnel in Norway. Bentley will show a video of the incredible feat when the new Continental GT Speed is revealed. The car that ushered in Bentley’s renaissance over 20 years ago is now ready to do the same thing again with the introduction of its anticipated next generation. View All Bentley Continental GT Speeds For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 16, 2024

The New Hybrid Bentley Continental GT Is Coming In June

The next generation of a luxury legend is on the rise. Bentley is undergoing transformative change, originally laying out its ambitious Beyond100 goals when it celebrated its centenary as a manufacturer in 2019, but now that plan is in full swing, with the legendary W12 engine being bittersweetly retired, along with Bentley’s non-hybrid V8 powertrain, and a new high-performance V8 hybrid powertrain is on the cusp of being introduced to the lineup. Along with this anticipated reveal, Bentley has also announced that a new generation of its grand touring icon, the Continental GT, is close to being revealed. Specifically, the fourth-generation model of the Bentley Continental GT is set to be revealed in June. It will feature the new hybrid V8 powertrain, which promises 771 horsepower and 738 lb/ft of torque, with an incredible 50 miles of purely-electric driving range. However, that’s just the beginning of what will make the new Continental GT generation special, with active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, fourt-wheel steering, an electronic limited-slip differential and more. The upcoming introduction of the new generation marks the opening of a new chapter in Bentley history, continuing the story that the Continental GT started in 2002, revolutionizing the Bentley lineup with power, performance, and elegance, while also being inspired by the historical 1952 Bentley R Type Continental, a similarly revolutionary milestone in Bentley’s history 50 years earlier. With incredible power and state-of-the-art technology, the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT is going to change the luxury grand tourer world next month. View All Bentley Continental GTs For Sale Image Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2024

1-of-4 "Sun and Surf" Bentley Continental GTC Azure For Sale

This exclusive open-top grand tourer elicits a desire for summer. Is it too early to look forward to summer? While it’s still January, cold weather and short days leave everyone longing for summer, especially car enthusiasts who want to enjoy sunny, warm weather on a long drive with the top down, and while it might be too early to get ready for those times, this Bentley Continental GTC Azure is the perfect car to do it in. As part of an exclusive, four-car Sun and Surf collection by Mulliner and Bentley San Diego, exclusivity and rarity adds to this convertible cruiser’s appeal. It’s finished in Agean Blue and Imperial Blue, with a configuration that pays homage to the coastal lifestyle and the joy of surfing. One of only four cars like it, the interior is where the exclusivity and luxury of this Bentley convertible truly shine. As part of Bentley’s wellness, relaxation-focused Azure collection, the car boasts features like the Naim audio system, Benltey’s luxurious Rotating Display, and more. Detailed Mulliner craftsmanship and exclusive touches can be seen in the form of surfboards depicted on the fascia, pinstriped trim, palm tree embroidery on the headrests and more. If you’re longing for the joy of summer, this stunning bespoke and rare Bentley masterpiece is the perfect way to get a taste of summer driving fun and prepare for warmer months ahead. It’s available for sale at O’Gara Coach San Diego in La Jolla, California, and if you’re interested, view the listing by clicking below. View Listing Image Source: O'Gara Coach San Diego

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By Tyler Rampersaud – January 04, 2024

1-of-100 Bentley Continental GTC Muillner Number 1 Editio...

Celebrate Bentley’s centenary with this exclusive masterpiece. With its undeniable elegance, opulent luxury, timeless design, and its high performance, the Bentley Continental GTC is one of the most desirable open-top grand touring machines, which made it the perfect car to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic Bentley brand in 2019, marking an entire century since the manufacturer’s genesis in 1919. The special edition that was created to celebrate Bentley’s history was the 2020 Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner Number 1 Edition, and it was inspired by a 90-year-old race car, the 1929 Bentley Blower No. 1. Limited to only 100 examples, matching the years of Bentley’s history at the time, the car featured Bentley’s incredibly powerful twin-turbocharged W12 engine, as well as a stunning bespoke Mulliner configuration featuring iconic colors, special touches, and even 18-karat gold plated accents. With only 100 of these beautiful creations in existence, it’s not easy to find one for sale, but duPont REGISTRY is the best place to look as it’s been the source for supercars since 1985. This 2020 Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner Number 1 Edition is available at Miller Motorcars in Greenwich, Connecticut, and it’s a stunning example of the historic rarity. It features an exterior in Beluga with wheels finished in Cricket Ball, as well as 18-karat gold plated commemorative badging. Matching the wheels, the interior is finished in Cricket Ball leather, along with the same gold accents. With its historic inspiration, exclusive rarity, and timeless, motorsport-inspired design, this car is an incredible addition to any collection. If you’re interested in owning it, view the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing Image Source: Miller Motorcars

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