Rimac

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 – June 05, 2024

Rimac Automobili Founder Mate Rimac Takes Delivery Of His...

Mate Rimac finally takes delivery of his own hypercar! Being the mastermind behind the hypercar manufacturer that set 23 performance world records in a single day, there's no doubt that Rimac Automobili Founder Mate Rimac has developed the perfect hypercar with the Nevera. With nothing but positive reviews and responses from owners and enthusiasts lucky enough to experience the thrill of 1,914 horsepower, the time has finally come for Mate Rimac to take delivery of his very own Nevera. Now, 15 years later, after starting with only a dream, Rimac Automobili is proud to deliver an incredible Nevera spec to its Founder, Mate Rimac. With its timeless design, the Nevera sports any color combination like a track champion. Mate worked closely with the in-house color and trim team on several bespoke liveries with dual-tone finishes. The chosen configuration was actually Mate's original vision, showcasing a full carbon body tinted in red, bespoke red anodized badging, and natural bare-carbon exterior accents. His inspiration behind the spec comes from the hypercar's natural materials and the need to display them in all their beauty. The Nevera's body features a Carbon 3 finish that layers the fibers in a very specific direction across each body panel to match the car's geometry. Incredibly proud of Rimac Group's home country of Croatia, Mate had Croatian flags hand-painted onto each side mirror, and a custom-designed lightning motif under the rear wing as a nod to Mediterranian storms called "Nevera." Opening the Rimac Nevera's butterfly doors reveals a cabin finished in a combination of Napa leather and Alcantara, offering a modern and elegant mix of timeless styles. Dual-tone sport seats for the driver and passenger are fashioned in a red and black reverse design, with "K8" and "M8" stitched into each headrest. Living the ultimate dream of taking delivery of his very own Rimac Nevera, Mate Rimac expresses his excitement and gratitude by saying, "It's kind of a crazy experience to be a customer of your own company, and I probably wasn't the easiest customer either. Just like with all our customers – there was a process of co-creation; sharing ideas, evolving them and then finally perfecting them until you have a Nevera that stands alone and speaks to you personally. The result not only looks great but it tells an important story for me." The Rimac Nevera's powertrain is nothing short of electrifying. With a whopping 1,914 horsepower generated from its four electric motors, the hypercar rockets from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.85 seconds. The Nevera's performance is mind-blowing, thanks to its advanced torque vectoring system that ensures each wheel gets exactly the right amount of power for optimal handling. Whether he's tearing up the track or cruising city streets, Mate Rimac will most definitely enjoy daily driving his new Nevera hypercar. View all supercars and hypercars for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Supercars & Hypercars For Sale Source: Rimac Automobili

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 28, 2022

Watch Nico Rosberg Rip Through Monaco In His 2,000HP Rima...

With the goal of reaching 0-60mph in under 1.85 seconds, you'll have to watch to see if Nico breaks the Rimac's record. The Rimac Nevera first hit the scene at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, continuing the automaker’s legacy just behind the Concept One predecessor. Four years later, former Formula One driver Nico Rosberg took delivery of his Rimac Nevera with the intention of making content for his popular YouTube channel. In his newest video, Nico takes the 2,000-horsepower Nevera on the ultimate drive through tight and narrow roads of Monaco. The goal of the drive is to experience the feeling of full acceleration while trying to beat Rimac’s official 0-60mph time of 1.85 seconds. MUST-READ: Watch Nico Rosberg Take Delivery Of The First 2000HP Rimac Nevera With CEO Mate Rimac Learning the intuitive system of the Nevera, Nico Rosberg ventures through all the settings to configure the perfect performance setup that will unleash all of the electric-driven power. Although almost everything was taken into consideration when prepping the hypercar for its drive, delay set in as Rosberg accidentally locked the keys in the car after securing it in the start position. Once a second key arrives, the Rimac Nevera sets off through Monaco and completely astonishes the two passengers as it sprints through the city's tunnel. The Rimac really shows off its power, braking, and handling on the twisting roads that lead to the top of Monaco's breathtaking overlook. Watch to see if Nico Rosberg beats Rimac's record with his Nevera by clicking the video link above. Source: Nico Rosberg YouTube

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 04, 2022

Watch Nico Rosberg Take Delivery Of The First 2000HP Rima...

Nico visits RIMAC HQ in Zagreb to pick up the first Nevera customer chassis. Ever since its humble beginnings as small-batch hypercar developer, RIMAC continued to gain traction with the Nevera project and its promises of astonishing performance using state-of-the-art technology. While most of the Nevera’s characteristics stay true to its original sketches, the company itself took on significant changes with the new Bugatti RIMAC name. Additionally, Bugatti RIMAC also happily welcomed outside investors that include Goldman Sachs, Porsche, and SoftBank. After 11 years of engineering behind closed, the RIMAC Nevera is finally proud to be in full production with a long list of 150 excited to clients awaiting delivery day. Bugatti RIMAC is proud to deliver the first customer Nevera chassis to former German-Finnish racing driver Nico Rosberg, who documented his delivery day at the headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia on his YouTube channel. MUST-READ: The Rimac Nevera Formally Opens The New Pelješac Bridge In Croatia To Road Traffic Nico began the day with a facility tour from the CEO of Bugatti Rimac Mate Rimac, discussing the brand's progression, inspiration, and future in the automotive world. Giving Nico the honors of counting down the reveal, all were in attendance to see the showcase of his stealthy all-black Rimac Nevera. As part of the delivery process, Mate and Nico both signed the official Rimac welcome package that also includes the set of keys. Nico takes a seat in the Nevera for a quick tutorial of the interior and some of its unique features, like the foldable display screen, electronic seat settings, and track camera system. Now that Nico Rosberg holds the Rimac Nevera in his possession, we are definitely excited to see some of the new content he creates behind the wheel of the all-new hypercar. Watch Nico Rosberg take delivery of his new Rimac Nevera by clicking on the video link above. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and hypercar news. Source: Nico Rosberg YouTube

By Andrew Nabors – November 20, 2020

Nico Rosberg Builds New Rimac C_Two

From one garage to eight facilities, a lot can happen in 10 years. What began as an idea with friends has grown into a global leader in EV technology, and that is why Nico Rosberg was able to build a new Rimac C_Two. His latest upload is a neat look at what it takes to change the world. To offer a comparison between their latest builds and a "normal" electric car, the crew decided to take a spin in a new Porsche Taycan for sale. Because Mate Rimac builds such potent motors, Porsche purchased over 15% of the company. Rimac motors and batteries are the bases for the Taycan, and they will also be utilized across the Volkswagen lineup. What you might not realize is that Rimac also provides engineering solutions for the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the Koenigsegg Regera. Only 150 examples of the C_Two will be built, but you can experience the same dedication and performance in the Taycan, so click the button below and stay with us for all your Rimac news. Rimac For Sale " width="680">

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