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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2018

2018 Geneva Motor Show Preview

It's that time of year again. When every European manufacturer decides to throw down and head to Geneva with this year's most anticipated cars. For their 88th year, the Swiss have brought old rivals under the same roof while also embracing newcomers to the industry. We've covered these cars in recent weeks, so click on the links below for all the details. Aston Martin DB11 Volante Aston Martin Vantage GTE BMW M8 Convertible BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe Ferrari 488 Pista Hennessey Venom F5 Italdesign Zerouno Roadster Jaguar I-Pace Lamborghini Aventador SVJ McLaren Senna Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Mercedes-Benz G-Class Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Copyright Motor Trend Porsche 911 GT3 RS Rimac Mystery Supercar Rolls-Royce Cullinan TECHART GrandGT Techrules Ren RS Toyota Supra Tell us which one you think will steal the show, and stay with us for full coverage of this year's Geneva Motor Show.

By Andrew Nabors – February 14, 2018

duPont REGISTRY Live- Baltimore 2018

Last weekend was our 6th visit to the Inner Harbor, and the weather couldn't have been better. This year, we represented Sterling Motorcars. They arrived with a new Lamborghini Aventador S in Baloon Pearl White. When you are trying to maneuver through Mazda, the rear wheel steering makes turning effortless. Visibility is also much improved than earlier models thanks to a revised design of the glass engine cover. The panels are directly in line with the rearview mirror.Next in was a new Rolls Royce Dawn wearing a nice 2-tone silver and gray finish. Blair's Towing of Falls Church used their enclosed transporters to make sure the McLarens were clean, and a blue 570S Spider arrived behind a new 720S. Every year we get a chance to display the best Shelby Series 1 models from Wingard Motorsports. Bob Wingard purchased the remaining chassis & VINs from Shelby, so he is the go-to resource for the Series 1. He also engineered a modern interpretation known as the Fii Roadster. So he brought an original 2004 Shelby (car # 110 of 243). Once that was in place, he unloaded two versions of the Fii Roadster. It is built on the Series 1 chassis, but that is all they have in common.You've probably seen the brushed aluminum car in our booth at Richmond or Amelia Island, but you won't see it again. That's because an unassuming Irishman bought all three cars that Wingard had in our booth. His total wire transfer was just shy of $600,000.While it's not close to our record sales at a show, its nice to see our clients make room for new inventory. It takes 8 months to build each one, so we'll keep you updated on the progress of their secret new project.To keep the booth ready for any offroading, American Expedition Vehicles brought a new JK350. This beast is powered by the SRT8 6.4 liter HEMI. It rolls on 37" tires,and the locking differentials have 4.88 gears.Of course, you can find more images and video on our dR Live Facebook and Instagram pages, so follow along as we are heading to Milwaukee then its time for Amelia Island. Tell us your favorite car from the booth in the comments below.

By Andrew Nabors – December 18, 2017

Cars & Coffee: December 2017

If you missed our final show of the year, it was one for the record books. Normally our December show has a limited attendance because of Holiday traveling. But our friends at Ferrari of Tampa Bay planned their own gathering for 10 AM. The notion of two amazing car shows must have stirred the masses because we ended 2017 with a full house.View Lamborghini Huracan Spyder For SaleLooking back on the year, 2017 saw the first time we've ever canceled a show. Our big plans for Davis Islands were nixed by Hurricane Irma.Our annual December tradition has been to collect Toy for Tots. The Marine Corps will be here on the 19th, and we have a full load of bikes, dolls, and stuffed animals waiting for them. Gallery by C12ProductionsThe great weather invited appearances by Cycle Springs, Jeff's Jeepyard, Vaydor, Reeves, and Moke America. Sheriff Gualtieri sent one of his Hummer H1s to keep the peace, but we still witnessed hijinx on Ulmerton road. We couldn't do this without the support of Kahwa Coffee and our loyal fans. We have some big plans in the works for 2018, so stay tuned for all the updates.

By Andrew Nabors – November 22, 2017

Mecum Auctions Inaugural Las Vegas Event Tops $22 Million

Just when you thought the muscle car frenzy was over, Dana Mecum and Company prove that it's hotter than ever. To prove the power of their brand, this weekend saw 557 cars hammer for a total of $22,000,000. American muscle was out in full force, with Ford and Chevrolet bringing home the top honors. The top 10 list reads like a who's who of domestic power, with rare cars bringing big money. If you missed the action, Mecum is the only auction company to save every minute on their YouTube page.The first and second place cars are both 1968 Camaros modified by Don Yenko Chevrolet. In the old days, GM didn't want the Camaro to have the same fire-breathing engine as the Corvette. Don knew his customers would buy them, so he and his service department removed the 396 engine and replaced them with the beastly 427 big block. Not to be outdone, Ford fans made sure spots 3 to 5 were occupied by the blue oval. Their answer to the 427 Camaro was the Boss 429 Mustang. Other noteworthy finalists include a 1963 Corvette Split Window Fuelie, a 1967 Corvette 427 coupe, and a 1957 Bel Air powered by a supercharged ZR1 engine. Take a look at the results below and tell us your favorite car of the event, and stay with us for all your Mecum updates.

By Andrew Nabors – October 23, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee October 2017

If you missed out on Cars & Coffee last month, we did too. September was planned to be our big fall event at Peter O Knight airport, but Hurricane Irma forced us to cancel the event for the first time. That is probably why we had such a wild show this month. Every inch of our parking lot was filled by 7am.The weather forecast was clear, which made for a starry sky as we opened our doors. Our last event during Daylight Saving Time is not normally packed so early, but the videos speak for themselves. Since we are located on a peninsula, the Pinellas County Sherriff's Office brought out a new tool for aquatic search & rescue. The big dive support truck is loaded with tanks, gear & lighting to assist in aquatic maneuvers.Gallery by duPont REGISTRY Next in was Reeves Import Motorcars & Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. Crown Eurocars, Bert Smith, Global Auto & McLaren Tampa Bay brought out their latest inventory. We heard rumblings of something impressive from Bruiser Conversions and Jeff's Jeep Yard, and they showed up with a mean 6x6 Jeep Wrangler. Powered by an LS3 Corvette engine, it has 3 locking axles and no expenses spared.Gallery by Mike Singsong An aromatic assault of fine coffee was provided by Kahwa Coffee, served up in their vintage Citroen van. Everyone shared stories of the storm and discussed plans for the other Saturday shows. Lake Mirror is a mecca for motoring fans, so many of us were preparing for a long day. We're working on re-scheduling our big show for the spring, so look out for the updates here. Thank you to our fans & dealers who make Cars & Coffee possible, we'll see you next month.

By Andrew Nabors – October 05, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Live At 2017 Orange County Auto Show

In what was once an endless expanse of citrus, the city of Anaheim owes its existence to Mr. Disney and his eponymous theme park. As the perfect setting for an Auto Show, the Anaheim convention center was the site of our first duPont REGISTRY Live event of the fall 2017 season. In our 6th year partnering with Motor Trend, we allowed our fans to see what our dealers are capable of. Building The BoothStill reeling from our 3 day trip from Wide Open Baja, we made it back across the border to build our booth. First in was a new Vanderhall Venice. The nimble 3-wheeler is 50-state legal as a motorcycle and powered by a 1.4 liter Chevrolet turbo-four.Next up was a heavily modded Jeep Wrangler from American Expedition Vehicles. Taking the Wrangler Unlimited to unprecedented levels, it is ready to head off-grid. Wrangler by AEVEveryone loves Eleanor, so an imposing matte-black 68 Mustang Fastback arrived from Fusion Luxury Motors. Their factory in Chatsworth will transform any 67 or 68 Mustang into an exact likeness of the movie car, and this one has a modern driveline. Roush supplied a supercharged version of the 5.0-liter Coyote along with a beefy AOD automatic transmission. Also from Fusion was a 2015 Ferrari Speciale Aperta, 2015 Rolls Royce Wraith, and a 1991 Land Rover Defender. This one really took us by surprise. Instead of the uninspiring TD5 engine, it has Corvette LS3 power and an automatic transmission from an Escalade.Since the booth was mirror-imaged across the aisle, we had ample space for the stars of the show. Pagani Newport Beach and iLusso partnered to deliver a 2015 LaFerrari, 2014 Pagani Huayra, 2015 McLaren P1 and the world's only Transformers-inspired Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.Needless to say, we had several million dollars on display for the citizens of Orange County. If you missed the show, check out our Facebook and Instagram pages and prepare to be amazed. The first show of the season was a smashing success, so get ready to see us in Nashville on November 3-5 and Seattle on November 9-12th. As always, stay with us here on Autofluence for complete coverage of our events.

By Tanner Mashburn – August 24, 2017

Exotics on Cannery Row 2017: Hypercar Heaven

Exotics on Cannery Row has started to become one of the main events during Monterey Car Week. Taking place in downtown Monterey, it is one of the only places in the world where you can see some many ultra rare exotics and not have to pay a penny! Throughout the event, you could hear the sounds of engines revving and crowds cheering. Even Christian Von Koenigsegg himself arrived driving the all new Regera.Top 10 Sales From Mecum Monterey 2017Large groups of Paganis and Koenigseggs rolling in together and offered a great photo opportunity for everyone. Other notable cars included a pair of Lamborghini Centenarios, Mclaren P1 GTR, Bugatti Chiron, Lamborghini Reventon, a pair of new Ford GTs, LaFerrari Aperta, Porsche 918s, Ferrari F50s and so many more. Overall I think it is safe to say this year's show was the best. We can't wait to see what shows up next year!

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2017

Festivals of Speed: St Petersburg 2017 Preview

This Sunday, April 2, join us at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg for Festivals of Speed. The 13th year of this exciting event will be one for the record books, as we are able to invite 50 of our fans to come along with us. So if you think your car is show worthy, please send us a photo and details of your ride.To be selected, email the Yes, Make Model and a Photo of your car to: CarsandCoffee@dupontregistry.comOur Publisher, Tom duPont, is choosing who gets to go, so appeal to his green pants and diverse collection of cars. Take a look at these shots from last year and you will understand why we are going.If you would like to check out the show without entering your car, general admission tickets can be purchased in advance here, or at the gate. Look for our red tent surrounded by a few cars from our inventory. The weather forecast is for our first 90-degree day of the year, so bring your sunscreen and stay hydrated. If your car is selected, you must be in line by 9 am, and the show runs till 4. We hope to see you there.Buy Tickets

By Andrew Nabors – March 14, 2017

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2017

Dealing with adversity is essential to surviving a week of automotive delights. The weather of Amelia Island has more in common with Mid-Atlantic states because it is the northern-most part of Florida. Being a native, I can attest that rain is a way of life during Winter and Spring. duPont REGISTRY has been a sponsor of the Amelia Island Concours d'Eleagance since it began 22 years ago. In those two decades, the main event on Sunday has been host to bad weather, but nothing like what was in the works for last weekend. As the forecast deteriorated, founder and chairman Bill Warner made an unprecedented decision to move the show to Saturday.Saturday is normally host to a large Cars & Coffee show along with Festivals of Speed. Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby's, and Bonham's had planned for a day of auctions and fun as everyone prepared for Sunday. So once the announcement was made, everyone was sent in hopes of making Saturday one for the record books. We are not new to car shows, so with slight adjustments to the itinerary, we spent Friday showcasing the Aston Martin One-77. Taking place next door to us was a Porsche Werks Reunion with more air-cooled goodness than we have ever seen.Due to the accelerated schedule, our publisher decided to place our show cars directly on the field as they arrived. Confederate Motorcycles arrived with the latest P51 Combat Fighter and it has a few nice improvements from the prototype we saw at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. Airstream arrived with a Mobile Lounge version of their Interstate, and it was nice to have seating for nine with Bluetooth on the 1st fairway. Next to it was a pristine Porsche 911L from our collection. While most of Friday was spent getting ready for the show, we still found time to check out the auctions and reconnect with our fans. The sun tried to make an appearance Saturday morning, but the winds of change were blowing.The foreboding weather didn't keep the public away, as this year's show had incredible attendance. We were given a prime location next to the entrance to make sure everyone received our latest issue. By noon the clouds gave way to cool and windy weather, which made for a perfect event. The meteorologists were correct as Sunday was dark & stormy. We were able to think on our feet and make the best of a compressed schedule, and it turned out better than anyone anticipated.

By Edward Jones – March 09, 2017

Breaking: Amelia Island Concours Sunday Events Moved to S...

Due to weather concerns, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will be moved from Sunday to Saturday. The announcement was made early Thursday morning. on their Facebook page. They do note that the Cars & Coffee will still be happening on Saturday morning.Stay with us for more updates regarding the change as they are released.Update: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance has released the following press release regarding the change of events: Amelia Island, FL - Even in the best case scenario, the forecast for Sunday’s scheduled Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance includes rain and lots of it. With a 100% chance of heavy precipitation forecast for Sunday and a sunshine-filled Saturday in the mix, Bill Warner and his team have chosen to move Sunday’s award-winning Concours to Saturday. The Concours show will now coincide with Saturday’s Cars & Coffee at the Concours presented by Heacock Classic Insurance.Tampa Bay Irish Pubs The new schedule is as followsSaturday’s Cars & Coffee at the Concours: 9am until 1pmSaturday’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 9:30am until 5pmOther important changes include moving Saturday’s Legends of the Leaping Car – Jaguar Racing Driver’s Seminar will move to Sunday at 10:30am in the Talbot Ballroom, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Islandhttps://www.facebook.com/ameliaconcours/posts/1345639622150622

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