Lifestyle

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 Jordan Aquistapace – September 27, 2023

Bentley Unveils The Hand-Drawn "Belonging Bentayga" By Ar...

Bentley Motors showcases the 'Belonging Bentayga,' featuring artwork from Stephen Wiltshire. Bentley Motors has seamlessly integrated art into its automotive lineup, serving as a driving force for creative collaborations that elevate social consciousness. Bentley is taking a significant stride toward its diversity goals with the introduction of the 'Belonging Bentayga,' a hand-painted Alpine Green Bentayga Hybrid. The luxury Bentayga SUV showcases skylines from iconic cities like New York, London, and Tokyo, celebrating diversity through art and automotive design. Conceived in Bentley's Crewe factory, the rolling art piece highlights the incredible talents of Stephen Wiltshire MBE, an architectural artist with autism, known for his ability to draw landscapes from memory. The Bentayga embodies Bentley's commitment to diversity, further reinforced by Wiltshire's personal journey. Diagnosed with autism at a young age, Wiltshire has overcome challenges to become a renowned artist, making the 'Belonging Bentayga' a compelling story of resilience. The hand-drawn design also features illustrations of people from diverse nationalities, marking it as Bentley's third art piece dedicated to diversity. Previous works include the 'Unifying Spur' and a rainbow-inspired Continental GT V8 Convertible. These initiatives are part of Bentley's five-step strategy to enhance diversity and inclusion at its Crewe-based factory. With its 'Belonging Bentayga,' Bentley is crafting a unique narrative that connects luxury, art, and social values. View all Bentley Bentayga models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Bentley Bentayga For Sale Source: Bentley Motors

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 23, 2023

Bentley Unveils Black Edition Fragrance, Inspired By The ...

Bentley presents its Black Edition fragrance, capturing the elegance of its Blackline specification.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 07, 2023

Bentley Adds Magnetic Amber To Its Luxury Fragrance Colle...

Bentley Fragrances introduces a new addition to the BEYOND The Collection that explores extraordinary landscapes through vast voyages.

Bentley Home Atelier Milan 2022 Collection 6 1

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 14, 2022

Bentley Reveals Its First-Ever Furniture Collection At Mi...

Bentley incorporates automotive influence into luxury furniture design. With an eye for high-quality design, Bentley Motors establishes its reputation as a luxury powerhouse through its fleet of vehicles that perfectly balance comfort and performance. The creative team at Bentley prides itself on taking the same approach to other ventures, expanding its diverse portfolio of special edition products. Bentley Motors’ designers and craftspeople at Bentley Home are proud to present two exquisite furniture collections at the brand’s new home atelier in Milan during Design Week 2022. The first-ever collection release features furniture designed for outdoor and indoor use, incorporating materials, motifs, and shapes found in Bentley cars. Bentley Motors The Solstice Collection began at the hands of Bentley Home designer Carlo Colombo, who uses natural light as the setting for an elegant look and feel. The luxury furniture line utilizes weather-proof materials that include a broad choice of fabrics specially treated for outdoor use. Bentley showcases its innovative personality by introducing other exclusive materials like MARM/MORE fabric (made from marble dust) and hemp. A key design feature of the collection is the ‘super-mirror’ steel detail that is inspired by the front matrix grille of Bentley’s modern car line-up, including the Continental, Bentayga, and Flying Spur ranges. The outdoor lineup presents a Solstice Sofa, Armchair, Pouf, Coffee Table, Side Table, and Sunbed. Bentley Motors Alongside stunning additions to any home’s exterior, Bentley showcases its new indoor furniture to bring a luxury automotive design to the living room. The 2022 Collection is an exciting blend of precious materials, high-quality finishes, and other personalized options. The Galloway Sofa, Bench, and Chaise Longue are named after the landscape that overlooks the Irish Sea. Also joining the release is the Helston Coffee Table, a unique construction with dynamic lines that comes available in two sizes. The indoor release also includes the Ryde Ottoman, Havergate Cabinet and Sideboard, Ramsey Lighting, and Stirling Mirror. The all-new Bentley Motors x Bentley Homes 2022 Furniture Collection is currently available, with an option for custom personalization, by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and Bentley news. Learn More Source: Bentley Motors

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 04, 2022

Bentley Motors Partners With Bomber Skis On a New Ski Col...

A Bentley in a ski. Bentley Motors prides itself on offering a true luxury driving experience through its fleet of vehicles while applying the same forward-thinking and creativity into a collection of lifestyle products. In the automotive brand’s newest venture with the professionals at Bomber Skis, Bentley is heading to the slopes to test its performance capabilities with two new ski models. The limited-edition Bentley x Bomber Ski Collection blends style and performance, incorporating subtle features that tie into vehicle design and production. MUST-READ: Bentley Celebrates the British Countryside with New Bentayga Mulliner Collection Each ski is crafted with Bomber’s signature wooden core, ABS sidewalls, and a gloss carbon steel finish. Along with industry-leading performance features from Bomber, the ski collection includes bold details like the 3-D diamond-shaped inserts that mimic the leather upholstery layout on Bentley’s EXP 100 GT concept car. Available in two unique designs, the Black Diamond 84 and Centenary Edition 84 will be offered in a limited-edition 300-piece release. The all-new Bentley x Bomber Ski Collection is currently available starting at $2,750 by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and releases. Shop Bentley x Bomber Skis Source: Bomber Skis

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 06, 2021

Bentley Fragrances Release Momentum Unbreakable Eau De Pa...

That new Bentley smell for at home A trend that we have been covering since its start are the lifestyle collections released by luxury automobile manufacturers. The products and accessories created, use the quality and design that each new luxury receives before rolling off the production floor. It’s the same focus that Bentley puts into its newest Lifestyle Collection release, the Bentley Momentum Unbreakable Eau De Parfum. The new Bentley fragrance blends new, high-tech ingredients with age-old perfumery traditions, to create an unbeatable new fragrance. Variations in color, pattern, and texture on the stone-plated bottle, ensure that no two are ever the same, just like the stone veneers available as a custom option within Bentley’s cars. The new Bentley Momentum Unbreakable Eau De Parfum is currently available by clicking the link below. Shop Now Bentley For more Lifestyle news, Check out The GearBox: AMG E63 S Wagon Wardrobe

01_Bentley Home_SDM18_Buxton kitchen design Carlo Colombo

By Andrew Nabors – April 17, 2018

Your New Kitchen: From Bentley Home

The latest Bentley Continental GT makes use of the world's finest materials. Their expertise might be centered around building automobiles, but they have a few ideas for your home also. In the latest offering from Bentley Home, designer Carlo Columbo used the interior of the Continental GT as inspiration. Have you ever thought about remodeling a little your house. You probably have lived in the same place for years or you just bought a house but you really want to change something about it or add something new, well that's where Home Renovations Do It All Contracting showed us with the best quality experts. As Bentley's centerpiece of the upcoming Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the Buxton Kitchen will be on display in Milan. The most prominent feature is the marble island. It has sliding panels that reveal the cooking hardware and sink. When closed, this hand-crafted obelisk makes use of Bentley's latest design DNA. It is accented by chairs and an ottoman, perfect for a contemporary dining atmosphere. The show opens today in Milan and runs through the 22nd. Pricing for the set and the pieces have yet to be released, so when it is, you will see it here on Autofluence. Browse Bentley Continental GT For Sale

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By Caitlin Duffy – November 02, 2015

Bentley Curates Lifestyle Collection for Christmas

With November starting and Daylight Savings Time coming to an end, Christmas shopping season has officially kicked off, and Bentley has a few suggestions.More than 300 items have been added to Bentley's collection since September, and in a press release today, the marque pulled together their top 10 recommendations from those 300. They've compiled the "top ten gift ideas for customers, brand connoisseurs and luxury motoring enthusiasts," including those who are still too young to drive a Bentley for themselves.For the younger fans of Bentley, they suggest the Sequin Blue or Magenta ride-on Continental GT, complete with functional steering wheel, horn and music selection. These are best for the enthusiast between the ages of two and four, up to a weight of 50 pounds.(See Also: Bentley Bentayga to Debut at Power on Ice 2016)For the enthusiasts who are able to drive a Bentley, there's a wide variety of beautiful items, ranging from blankets, candles and picture frames to scarves, fountain pens and handbags. Every item embodies the quality Bentley is known for and design cues inspired by the original Bentley Boys of the 1920s. The Heritage Race backpack embodies that look back toward history with the number "9," the number featured on Tim Birkin's 4.5-liter "Blower" driven during 1930 Le Mans race.Check out the items from their top 10 suggestions in the gallery below, and visit shop.bentleymotors.com to see the full collection. If the Bentley lifestyle items aren't quite enough, you can always consider an actual Bentley as your gift - just find the perfect one from our exclusive listings.Bentleys For SaleGallery (via Bentley) See More Bentley News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 08, 2015

Bentley Lifestyle Collection to be Introduced at Frankfurt

In addition to the official launch of the Bentayga, Bentley is unveiling the newest additions to their lifestyle collection at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), which kicks off Sept. 17.Stunning designs, rich leathers and bright colors define the latest collection updates, and a press release from the marque shares a few details about these new options. Briefcases and travel bags for men and women, scarves, blankets and more expand the existing ways Bentley quality can follow you throughout your day, but it's the 1:43 scale model becoming available that's especially noteworthy.A total of 2,250 1:43 scale models of the Bentley Bentayga will be created, each in one of three colors that will be available on the production model. There will be 1,000 sporting Dark Sapphire, 1,000 in Glacier White and 250 in Bentayga Bronze, a new color that will be found on the launch model at the IAA.We have yet to see the Bentayga in its final production form, and this comes as the first official statement that it will be unveiled just a little more than a week from today. It's also the first mention of the colors that will be available for the model, giving us a better idea of what we might see on the streets once deliveries begin. However, no images of the scale replicas were released, leaving our imaginations to determine just what those paints will look like.The 1:43 models will be on display next to the actual Bentayga, and available for purchase at the Bentley stand or online beginning Oct. 1. An additional run of 1,000 1:18 models of the Bentayga will be made available for purchase in November, each sporting Extreme Silver paint.The Home collection is expanded with the addition of a cashmere equestrian blanket, a handmade desk clock from Breitling in Piano Black and a Portland leather and chrome photo frame, "a stylish addition to any room," as well as a vintage leather scented candle.Browse the gallery below to see some of the other additions to the Bentley collection, all of which will be available at Bentley dealers or online at www.BentleyCollection.com beginning Oct. 1, and find the perfect Bentley for your collection from our exclusive listings.Bentleys For SaleGallery (Source: Bentley) See More Bentley News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 31, 2015

Bentley Lodge Opens in Kitzbühel, Austria

Tucked away in the Central Eastern Alps, in the section of Austria nestled between the borders of Germany and Italy, is the newest way to indulge in the full Bentley experience: the Bentley Lodge.Available to customers and friends of the brand, the new Bentley Lodge in Kitzbühel offers an exclusive experience designed to bring the Bentley lifestyle to a full vacation experience. A press release from the marque today announced the opening of the lodge, which can sleep up to eight guests at a time and be rented for either three consecutive days or a full week."Every Bentley motor car is created, not merely assembled," said Robert Engstler, Regional Director Europe at Bentley Motors, in the release. "The interior of each car is trimmed with the finest supple leather, hand-finished wood veneers, gleaming metals and deep-pile carpets and at the Bentley Lodge Kitzbühel we give our customers the opportunity to experience these materials first hand and commission their very own Bentley."Guests of the lodge will have access to one of the latest Bentley models throughout the entirety of their stay, as well as the full host of amenities at the nearby Kitzbühel Country Club. The release also tells us that bespoke experiences are available to guests, including fishing, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, tennis, golf and spa treatments. The center of town is just 500 meters, or 1,640 feet, from the lodge, meaning world class restaurants, shopping, entertainment and annual events are just a few steps away.(See Also: The Cars Bentley's Bringing to Pebble Beach 2015)Pricing for a stay at the lodge varies by season, and ranges from €780 ($875 USD*) to €1,480 ($1,661 USD*) per night. Learn more about booking your stay at the exclusive Bentley Lodge at their website, www.BentleyMotorsLodge.com. Find your own Bentley to continue the experience after you return home from our exclusive listings below.Bentleys For Sale Gallery (Source: Bentley) See More Bentley News

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