Praga

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

Praga Bohema Breaks Production Car Lap Record At Spa-Francorchamps

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 20, 2026

Praga Bohema Breaks Spa Lap Record

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the world’s most celebrated racing venues, with dramatic elevation change, challenging turns, adrenaline-filled high-speed sections, a beautiful setting, and the iconic Eau Rouge. There, some of the most elite cars and drivers on the planet are challenged, and the latest is the Praga Bohema, which comes away from the Belgian circuit with an incredible triumph. Praga’s Bohema supercar combines track-focused engineering with road-legal usability, with ultra-lightweight construction and immense power that’s dedicated to achieving impressive lap times and delivering thrilling race course performance. That’s exactly what the Bohema did at Spa-Francorchamps, and with its 2:21.42 lap time at the track, it unintentionally became the fastest road-legal car on the course yet. The record wasn’t a part of Praga’s plan at Spa, as other cars were on the circuit, and the car was using road tires. Customers and guests were present for a Curbstone track day at the legendary circuit, and the Bohema was present with test driver Aleš Jirásek for what was otherwise a customer driving event. Curious to see just what the Praga Bohema could do, the record-breaking result was more than a pleasant surprise for the team. <- Gallery -> The previous record stood for six years, held by the Pagani Huayra BC Roadster since 2019 with a time of 2:23.08. Besting it by 1.66 seconds, the new record emphasizes the Praga Bohema’s ethos of being a race car that can also drive on the road. About the new record, Aleš Jirásek, the man behind the wheel, said, We weren't at Spa to chase a record. We were there with customers to enjoy driving one of the greatest circuits in the world. After a few sessions, we realised the conditions were good and decided to see what the Bohema could do. It’s incredible how naturally the car delivers this level of performance. We were on road tyres, there was traffic on track, and the car received no special preparation. That speaks volumes about the underlying capability of the Bohema and the engineering behind it.” Combining 700 horsepower and a weight of under 1,000 kilograms, the Praga Bohema is a formidable machine on the track, despite being a road-legal supercar, as well. With its record-breaking lap time at Spa, Praga has yet another piece of veritable proof of that performance. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Praga Cars

Praga Brings Latest Bohema Customer Car & More To Goodwood

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 02, 2026

Praga Brings Bohema Supercar To Goodwood

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is rapidly approaching, and the prestigious, iconic event is going to celebrate the entire automotive industry. Racing icons will be on display, while production cars from manufacturers across the globe will be showcased throughout and even take on the hillclimb. One of those manufacturers is Praga, whose Bohema supercar embodies a race car that is made road-legal with its uncompromising engineering, rather than the other way around. Praga’s presence at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is focused on its engineering, with the innovation behind the Bohema being the main highlight of its displays and dynamic hill runs. Test driver and Praga ambassador Ben Collins will be behind the wheel for the hill runs, and the Praga stand will be located next to the Supercar Paddock, with a display themed around ‘hyper-engineering.’ A pair of Bohema supercars will be on display at the Festival of Speed, finished with all-carbon exteriors. Weighing in at under 1,000 kilograms, and with 700 horsepower, aggressive aerodynamics, and racing-oriented engineering solutions, the Bohema, despite being road-legal, is made to dominate the track, building on the decades of motorsport experience the manufacturer has to its name. The pair consists of a purple carbon customer car handed over right before the festival, and a black carbon car with orange detailing and the lion from the Czech coat of arms. Alongside the cars, visitors to the Praga stand will also be able to enjoy five engineering exhibits. A steering wheel exhibit, The Ultimate Driver Interface, highlights the Bohema’s removable steering wheel, which is inspired by F1. A painstaking three years of testing led to its unique design, which is tailored for perfect hand placement and a natural feeling. It includes shift paddles, an electronic clutch lever, LED shift lights, and a screen to display the most important information to the driver. Several functions are integrated into the steering wheel so the driver doesn’t have to take their hands elsewhere during intense driving. Tailored to the Driver is an exhibit dedicated to the pedal box. Creating a cockpit custom-tailored to every driver, the seat, steering column, and pedal box are all adjustable. With an electronic clutch, the car features a two-pedal layout for easier driving. For longer journeys, a sliding carbon fiber footrest is also incorporated. The headlights of the Bohema supercar are showcased in Machined Engineering, Made Visible. The CNC-machined lights are a typically unsung example of engineering excellence, as they are carved specifically to minimize weight and maximize rigidity. Custom finishes also allow owners to turn the headlights into a moment of craftsmanship and technical engineering at the same time. Mechanical Choreography celebrates the Bohema’s engine decklid. It weighs less than six pounds, but it was created to be exceptionally stiff, while working around the fixed rear wing. Its elegant opening movement is not only a moment of theater, revealing the powertrain, but it also represents an ingenious engineering solution. The Praga Bohema has already secured production car records and begun the delivery of customer cars, and its presence at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will highlight some of the most important parts that make up the magnificent sum. View All Luxury And Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Praga

A black Praga Bohema supercar covered by a cloth is displayed on a stage, with a "Praga" sign and "Welcome Mark and Marcie" message in the background. Several people stand around the car at this US event.

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 05, 2025

The First $1.5M Praga Bohema Supercar In The US Is On Its...

Praga’s racing-focused Bohema supercar is poised for a grand entrance to the States. A Czech manufacturer known for its engineering and racing expertise, Praga shook up the supercar landscape when its Bohema was announced some years ago, an ultra-lightweight high-performance machine made to be a race car that was also road-legal. However, the excitement has continued to build for the $1.5 million masterpiece, with the first example being delivered late last year with racing driver Romain Grosjean present, the Bohema setting a record on the former Top Gear test track for pure combustion-powered cars, and a dynamic debut at the storied Goodwood Festival of Speed. Now, Praga is set to reach another milestone with the launch of the anticipated Bohema, with the first example of the supercar to be in the US making its way Stateside as we speak. The owners, Mark and Marcie Butters of Boca Raton, Florida, took delivery of the car at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with its 700 horsepower and lightweight, racing-focused construction wowing attendees. The delivery was preceded of a three-car unveiling alongside two other customer examples of the Bohema, with the Festival of Speed’s founder, the Duke of Richmond, Tomas Kasparek, the owner of Praga Cars, Mark Harrison, the Marketing Director of Praga Cars UK, and Jan Martinek, the chief engineer of Praga Cars in attendance. The other two cars were a Moldavite Green example destined for the Netherlands, and a Deep Space Purple car for a UK customer. The car coming to the United States, however, is finished in exposed carbon fiber with gold detailing. Once the Butters’ new Praga Bohema reaches the United States, the car is set to take part in car shows around the country to show off the groundbreaking new supercar, whose uncompromising racing-oriented engineering is preserving the excellence of combustion-powered performance cars. With an immense 700 horsepower coming from its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6, and less than 2,300 pounds to move, the new Praga Bohema is a serious high-performance machine that will be making waves in the US very soon. View All Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Praga Cars

A red supercar is parked on the Top Gear Test Track at the starting line, with grass and trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky, ready to chase a new lap record.

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 29, 2025

Praga Bohema Sets Lap Record On Former Top Gear Test Track

Praga’s new supercar is the pinnacle of combustion power at the former Top Gear test track. The iconic former Top Gear test track has seen all manners of vehicles, from economy vehicles to the world’s premier hypercars, test their performance and engineering abilities, many unified by one control to measure their lap time abilities: The Stig. A previously anonymous motorsport driving expert now revealed as Ben Collins played the role of The Stig for a number of years, and now, he’s returned to the former Top Gear track to set an incredible lap time with the new hypercar from Czech manufacturer Praga: the Bohema. Using a combustion powertrain with no electrification, the Praga Bohema is one of only a few remaining supercars that achieve its level of performance without using a hybrid or fully electric powertrain, and the lap time that Collins achieved on the track of 1:09.8 made the Praga Bohema the fastest purely combustion-powered car to lap the track. The record time was achieved on the vehicle’s standard road tires, making use of the supercar's 700-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 and ultra-lightweight construction. After achieving the record on the former Top Gear Test Track, Praga is set to put on a spectacle at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed with the Bohema. Three customer cars are set to be delivered at the prestigious and anticipated event, and Ben Collins is set to take on the legendary hillclimb of the event behind the wheel of the customer Bohema examples. View All Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680"> Image Source: Praga Cars

A sleek, white Praga sports car with aerodynamic design features is parked on a foggy road, exuding the allure of a supercar.

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 09, 2024

Praga Delivers The First $1.5M Bohema Supercar

The anticipated Praga Bohema supercar hits the road. Two years ago, Praga revealed the Bohema, a supercar that combines pure racing focus and on-road driving ability. With a weight of only 2,300 pounds, and over 700 horsepower coming from its twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the Bohema is an incredibly thrilling racing machine coming from the Czech manufacturer. Seven years have passed since the beginning of the new Praga Bohema’s development and testing program, and at long last, the first delivery of a customer example has been made in the Netherlands. Fittingly, the handover was facilitated by renowned racing driver Romain Grosjean, marking the fruition of the Bohema’s incredibly bold ambitions. The car is finished with incredibly detailed carbon fiber bodywork, available gold leaf detailing, and bespoke paint finishes. However, beyond its beauty lies incredible performance. Its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is the product of a collaboration between Praga and UK-based Litchfield Engineering. With over 700 horsepower, the ultra-lightweight racing-focused supercar delivers incredible performance on the track. With a weight of just 2,300 pounds, however, the challenge was in striking the balance between creating a hardcore race car and creating a car that was comfortable to drive on the road, which Praga achieved after painstaking engineering effort in the Bohema. The car features a two-seat configuration, with a removable steering wheel, carbon fiber accents, and upholstery in Alcantara and leather. Marking Praga’s return to manufacturing road cars after 77 years, the Czech manufacturer promises that the Bohema will be an incredibly exclusive racing-ready supercar. Over the next four years, less than 20 cars per year are planned to be manufactured. With each example costing roughly over $1.5 million, the USA will see a maximum of 24 examples. After spending 77 years away from the world of manufacturing road cars, Praga brought its racing expertise back to the road in the thrilling new Bohema, whose supercar legacy is only beginning to be built. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Praga

Praga Bohema chassis at assembly facility

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 16, 2024

Praga's Road-Legal $1.35M Bohema Hypercar Begins Production

Praga has taken a bold step forward with the commencement of production for its road-legal hypercar, the Bohema. Emerging from a age-old,dedicated facility in the Czech Republic, this futurr-forward hypercar marks a historical moment for the brand known for its 117-year legacy. The Praga Bohema was initially introduced as a prototype in late 2022, representing the pinnacle of track-inspired engineering and design. Weighing under 2,204lbs and showcasing a powerful 700 horsepower engine, the all-carbon, aero-driven two-seater is a collector's dream. With its limited production run over the next four years, the Bohema stands out as possibly the final all-new petrol-powered hypercar, adding an element of exclusivity and urgency for collectors looking to add an investment-grade car to the collection. Tomas Kasparek, the driving force behind Praga Cars, highlights the transition from prototype to production within a year as an example of the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. The Bohema’s production phase is marked by meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each build meets and exceeds the high expectations set by its future owners. Recently, the first customers were invited to Praga’s bespoke assembly facility, offering a glimpse into the intricate hand-building process. This experience also included a test drive on the icy Czech roads, providing a preview of the final production specifications of the Bohema. Learn how to sell your supercar. The hypercar’s journey from conception to production is a story of collaboration. Contributions from renowned figures like F1 and IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean, former Stig Ben Collins, and Chief Test Driver Josef Kral have shaped the Bohema into a machine that excels both on the road and on the track. The car has undergone rigorous pre-production development and testing at iconic circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Nürburgring. 2024 promises to be a landmark year for the brand, with the Bohema set to grace the streets and racetracks, fulfilling its designed purpose. Its launch in Europe is just the beginning, with deliveries planned in the UAE and the USA. As the Bohema goes into production, Praga sets a new standard for what a hypercar can be, blending heritage with innovation and luxury with performance. View All Supercars And Hypercars For Sale Source: Praga

By Gabriel Vega – November 23, 2022

Praga Bohema Unveiled As Upcoming Road-Legal $1.31 Millio...

Czech manufacturer Praga is set to embark on an ambitious journey. It announced that it plans to develop what is essentially a road-legal race car to battle the growing hypercar space. It's called the Bohema, which reads like a proper hypercar on paper. For starters, it counts on a modified version of the 3.8-liter V6 that powers the Nissan GT-R, except that Praga targets a power delivery of over 700 hp. That may not sound like much, but according to Praga, it is targeting a weight figure of just 2,164 lb. For context, even a small Porsche 718 Cayman tips the scales at over 3,000 lb, giving the Bohema a ludicrous power-to-weight ratio. However, perhaps the most ambitious claim is that the Bohema will double as both a hypercar that'll target lap times similar to those of a GT3 car with semi-slick tires, but that can still be comfortable enough for road trips. The main goal here is to position the Bohema as a car that you can commute to the track in, set a proper lap time, and drive home in comfort. It counts on a carbon-fiber monocoque combined with enough aero to deliver 1,984 lb of downforce at 155 mph. It's estimated to top out around 186 mph, although Praga has yet to estimate a 0-60 time. Praga is designing its cockpit to comfortably fit two 6.5-ft tall adults to achieve the Bohema's dual personality. Add in the storage pods on either side of the vehicle, and there's even room for luggage. Although Praga is a small manufacturer in the growing hypercar pond, the Bohema is not their first road-going race car. In 2016, it delivered the R1R to a handful of customers. Like the Bohema, it was a road-going race car, except it was also the brand's first road-legal vehicle since 1947. Flash forward to today, and the Czech manufacturer is partnering up with former F1 and current IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean to develop its latest creation. Since it is in development, there's still much we don't know about the Bohema, but we do know that it's scheduled to enter production sometime in 2023. Praga plans to build 10 examples next year, each with a starting price of $1.31 Million. Source: Praga

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 17, 2022

Praga Teases New Street-Legal Supercar That's Coming Very...

This track car manufacturer is ready to hit the streets. Praga Cars is a Czech manufacturer known for its racing and track-focused cars, and while the brand itself has 115 years of history, the Praga R1R was the first road-legal car that the brand had introduced since 1947. However, Praga is back and ready to make an even bigger return to the road, as it has been announced and confirmed that Praga will be launching a new track-focused roadgoing model, which will be revealed on November 23rd at 5pm GMT. With inspiration drawn from the R1’s innovative aerodynamics and immense power-to-weight ratio, the new model promises to be a lightweight vehicle constructed from carbon fiber. It is set to be launched in all major hypercar markets. The car is in its final stages of development, having already clocked in various lap times on the track, and adhered to road-car requirements. However, it will be quite rare, with just 12 cars set to be hand-built in 2023, which will be the first year of production. Praga Cars aims to ensure the exclusivity of the vehicle and strictly limit production numbers, and when it comes to cars like this upcoming model from Praga that are packed with racing prowess, innovation, and engineering, the limited number is no surprise.

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