Articles

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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 12, 2016

Here's What the Koenigsegg Staff Team Drives

Working for an exclusive supercar company is a dream come true for car lovers. Working alongside some of the most iconic cars in the business means getting and up-close-and-personal to cars most people will never own or see in person. So what exactly does a person working for one of the coolest car companies drive?(Also Check Out - Five Koenigseggs Take Down Monaco)The staff at Koenigsegg got together and brought out their cars to show off, and it looks like they had a great time. Here's a sampling of what the Koenigsegg staff drives:Definitely looking like the Koenigsegg employees have a nice little compilation of vehicles under their belts. And it's even better knowing that the people who build Koenigseggs seem to be real automotive enthusiasts.Koenigseggs For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 12, 2016

Lotus Evora 400 With Fan Inspired Livery

To celebrate a half-century building cars at their Hethel factory, Lotus turned to social media for inspiration. Fans around the world dug into the history books to resurrect a famous livery of the 1960's. The blue & orange Evora 400 will be a limited run to showcase the abilities of the Lotus Exclusive Programme. Not limited to the exterior, Lotus enthusiasts chose orange contrast stitching for the black leather interior. Black forged wheels along with black calipers are just a few of the additional features of the build. The designers at Lotus offered several cars for inspiration on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and the results speak for themselves. Aside from being the world's first crowd-sourced paint scheme, the Evora 400 is a potent performer. Reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, it makes use of a supercharged & mid-mounted 3.5L V6 . Cosworth worked their magic to produce 400 hp and 302 lb-ft, and given a curb weight of 3,075 lbs it makes for incredible agility. Air conditioning is an option, along with a six-speed automatic transmission. Only 10 cars will be produced with these colors, so let's hope they are all left-hand drive!

By Edward Jones – July 12, 2016

duPont REGISTRY August 2016 Issue Uncovered

Featured In This IssueBRABUS 800 iBusiness and 850 CabrioletBrabus is not one to take tuning lightly and that’s why they’ve upped the ante on the S63 Cabrio, pushing the power all the way up to 850 hp and 1,069 lb-ft of torque from the base version’s 577 hp and 644 lb-ft.On the SUV side of the spectruc, Brabus has taken the Mercedes-Benz G 65 and turned it into a state-of-the-art communications and entertainment center on wheels, and they call it the Brabus 800 iBusiness. What’s more, the 800 iBusiness has the heart of a V12, which produces 800 hp.Learn MoreOrbita & Brown SafeAbove all, a safe’s core function is protection, and this is precisely where Brown Safe dominates. Their watch safe models share security features that stem from 35 years of experience developing high-security safes for military use in high-risk locations. Bristling with the latest means of proven defenses, Brown Safe’s luxury watch safes with Orbita technology boast a protection feature set like no other.AvJet Boeing Business JetAvJet's Boeing Business Jet is the ultimate international VIP aircraft, with seating for up to 16 passengers. It features a large living room, master bedroom, second bedroom/meeting room, three lavatories and a spacious galley. With nearly three times the interior space of other business jets and range of more than 6,000 nautical miles, it allows you to fly farther in comfort.Champion PorscheFounded in 1987, Champion Porsche has been “the” destination for all things Porsche. We’re currently the #1 Porsche Dealer in America, and have been the largest volume Porsche Dealer for the last 29 years. Our factory certified sales team will be able to help your dream of owning a Porsche come true, and the skilled factory trained technicians in our service department will help you maintain that dream. Exotics RacingExotics Racing® is the most exciting attraction in Las Vegas & Los Angeles! Have you ever wanted to drive a supercar on a racetrack? We offer the largest fleet of exotic supercars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi R8, Mercedes-AMG GT S, Corvette Z06, and the Nissan GT-R. Take the wheel of these incredible machines and push their performance to the limit with one-on-one coaching from a professional racing instructor!PXGParsons Xtreme Golf clubs are currently being played on all three major U.S. Tours. PXG’s professional staff includes PGA TOUR Champions Zach Johnson, Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk, Ryan Moore, James Hahn and Charles Howell III, Champions Tour golfer Rocco Mediate, and LPGA players Cristie Kerr, Gerina Piller, Alison Lee, Beatriz Recari and Sadena Parks.Lamborghini MiamiLamborghini Miami is a division of Prestige Imports, and has cemented its reputation as the premier Lamborghini dealership in the nation. Embracing the traditional ideals of Prestige Imports that were established over 35 years ago while incorporating an innovative edge has been the key for success for the dealership ensuring ongoing success for the future.Taggart AutosportTaggart Autosport was born in a modern, high-tech 20,000 square foot facility in beautiful Cary, NC to offer the most exceptional and pristine exotic and off-road extreme vehicles available. Our passion doesn’t stop with our vehicles. We aim to deliver the greatest experience, forge lasting relationships, and exemplify the utmost of respect to our valued clientele.World Record 2015 Underground Racing Lamborghini Huracan For SaleIf you felt like dominating your local drag strip or autocross, the Huracan is capable of taking almost anything. From the factory, the base Huracan arrives with 610 hp and all-wheel drive. If you have a need for speed, Underground Racing has finished development of their latest UR X-Version twin turbo system.BLVD CustomsAvailable at Music City Motor Cars in Nashville, Tennessee is this 1967 VW Bus, which was modified by none other than BLVD Customs. This beauty was dreamt up by Cortland Finnegan, cornerback for the Carolina Panthers. He came to the shop with a shell of a VW Bus, parts and an idea in his mind. BLVD Customs was up to the challenge and went to work.Mercedes-Benz of TampaMercedes-Benz of Tampa in Hillsborough County is an Authorized Mercedes-Benz Sales and Service Center. As a World-Class Dealer of new Mercedes-Benz cars, our commitment to customer satisfaction is second to none. We use only Factory-Trained Mercedes-Benz Certified Technicians to work on your Mercedes-Benz. Our new pristine high technology service center features more than 60 Mercedes-Benz service bays.TutimaTutima USA, Inc. is the exclusive North American distributor for Tutima Glashütte since 1997. Founded in Germany in 1927, TUTIMA continues its rich tradition of creating exceptional instrument watches. Each timepiece clearly demonstrates how this family owned and operated brand is motivated by a passion for innovation, values and a clear conviction to strive for excellence. Buy This Issue Now

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 07, 2016

Electric E-Wazuma Quad Has More Torque Than A BMW M2

Normally, unless an all-electric vehicle bears the Tesla name, not much is said about it in the industry. Electric vehicles rarely catch the attention of speed and power enthusiasts, but all that's changing rapidly.From a small, boutique automaker located in a small French village in Geneva, comes the E-Wazuma. No ordinary quad, this highly advanced electric machine pumps 361-lb-ft of torque, which is more than some well-known cars. We're looking at you Audi A3, BMW M2 and Porsche Boxter S. (Also Check Out - Lazareth LM 847: Maserati Engine-Powered Motorcycle)Surprising as it may sound, the E-Wazuma's impressive specs are the work of Lazareth. The French boutique automaker has never shied away from a challenge and has created some pretty powerful quad vehicles including the Maserati LM 847, which boasts V8 power and 470 horsepower.As for the E-Wazuma which is the result of a collaboration of Lazareth and French company, NTN-SNR, the vehicle is powered by two 30 KW-wheel motors , which are mounted in the rear wheels and a 500-volt electric battery. The motor is responsible for producing a modest 80 horsepower, but the 361 lb-ft torque makes up for it. In their press release, NTN-SNR asserts the E-Wazuma boasts great acceleration and handling. The electric tricycle is a prototype, according to the Lazareth website, so no pricing or release dates are mentioned, but Lazareth doesn't deny this could be a production model at some point.Stay tuned! We'll reveal more info as it comes available.Motorcycles For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 07, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Delivers One Million Cars In Six Months

This week the good news keeps rolling in for popular luxury and exotic car brands. Most recently, Mercedes-Benz is joining the ranks of high-performing brands with over a million cars delivered in the first half of 2016. This is a new record for the company and represents double-digit growth to the tune of 12.1 percent.A total of 1,006,619 vehicles were delivered in the short, six-month period, with 188,444 delivered in June alone. The company attributes much of this year's success to it's SUV line, which has recently undergone much renewal. The SUV sales represent one-third of total sales for the Mercedes-Benz family of vehicles. The success marks record sales months for 40 months in a row for the company. With the recent release of the Mercedes-AMG GT R, the luxury maker is well on it's way to another successful year. June 2016 Change in % Jan.-June 2016 Change in % Mercedes-Benz 188,444 +11.1 1,006,619 +12.1 smart 13,147 +16.0 73,510 +18.3 Mercedes-Benz Cars 201,591 +11.4 1,080,129 +12.5 Mercedes-Benz unit sales in the region/market Europe 86,657 +13.7 444,581 +13.3 - thereof Germany 28,790 +7.4 142,756 +7.8 Asia-Pacific 63,754 +16.4 346,220 +21.7 - thereof Japan 6,356 +0.4 32,120 -1.4 - thereof China 39,462 +21.4 219,999 +33.1 NAFTA 33,245 +2.4 189,512 +0.1 - thereof USA 28,473 +1.5 162,777 -1.3 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles for Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 06, 2016

Lamborghini Sets 2016 Sales Record

The first six months have proven incredibly fruitful for Lamborghini. With a record-breaking 2,013 units sold in the first half of 2016, Lamborghini exceeded it's previous six-month sales, and this was the first time the Italian carmaker saw sales over 2,000 units. This marks a total increase of seven percent.(See Also: Why You Should Buy a Lamborghini Aventador SV)Lamborghini attributes much of its success to the popularity of the Huracan model, which is responsible for 1,370 of the total 2,013 units delivered. In a press release, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, stated, "Thanks to the enlargement of the Huracán family, including introduction of the Spyder and rear-wheel drive version in markets worldwide in spring this year, we were able to deliver an exceptional sales performance in the first six months of 2016."He also noted the Huracan and the V12 Aventador have set up the company to beat previous sales records overall for 2016.Lamborghini Huracans for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 06, 2016

Cadillac Reveals Carbon Black Package for ATS & CTS

Taking inspiration from popular aftermarket upgrades, Cadillac has released a new trim package for their popular sedans. For the ATS sedan and coupe, a black chrome grille and black window moldings along with the rear spoiler from the V series. Taking inspiration from Clapton, the wheel finish is named "After Midnight". The door handles are also finished in body color to eliminate any polished stainless. Inside, the lesser model ATS receives Recaro front seats from the V, along with matte finish carbon fiber trim.ATS-V Carbon Black Lesser models of the CTS also benefit from V series hand-me-downs. For drivers who don't need 640 hp, the Carbon Black CTS will also arrive with the same dark exterior along with Recaro seats & carbon fiber interior. Saving the best upgrades for the top level cars, ATS-V and CTS-V will offer the aforementioned new parts along with a host of aggressive exterior upgrades. A new ground effects package features a wild front splitter, lower rocker panels and a body colored rear spoiler. For more interior grip, the steering wheel and shifter are now offered in suede.CTS-V Carbon Black The Carbon Black edition cars will be offered in Black Raven, Phantom Gray Metallic, Red Obsession Tintcoat, and Crystal White Tricoat, with interiors limited to Jet Black or Light Platinum. Pricing was not included in the press release, but Carbon Black is available for order at your local dealer.ATS-Vs For Sale | CTS-Vs For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 05, 2016

Chris Evans Leaving Top Gear, Who Should Take His Place?

Yesterday, Chris Evans confirmed, via Twitter, he'd be leaving BBC hit series about autos, Top Gear. The internet responded accordingly. Here's the tweet from Evans:https://twitter.com/achrisevans/status/749969917055799296He followed up this initial statement with well wishes for the show, stating he'd loved working with the rest of the cast and crew and would always be a fan of the show. While definitely a sad moment in the show's history, especially after a hyped reboot, it's easy to see how fans are upset about Evans' departure. But we can't help but wonder... who is going to take his place. Even though the team behind Top Gear is probably already toying with some names and faces, we wanted to get your opinion. Who do you think should replace Chris Evans? Matt LeBlanc sound like a good fit? How about Chris Harris? Or do you think the cast works well as is? Let us know by voting below!

By Andrew Nabors – July 01, 2016

Ferrari To Build 350 Special Edition Cars For 70th Annive...

It has been 70 years since Mr. Ferrari founded his empire. To commemorate the anniversary they are planning a massive celebration. Autocar is reporting 350 special edition cars will be built for the anniversary. Management in Maranello dug into the company archives to find 70 of the most significant Ferraris of all time, and this will serve as inspiration for the celebration. Seventy examples of all five current models will be produced, with each one being a unique build.Although Ferrari is a publicly traded company, Sergio Marchionne is still in charge. Last weekend's Ferrari Cavalcade in Venice was the right place to inform 100 lucky owners about the program. At this point we don't know if these cars will be initially offered to new customers or if Ferrari will choose the new owners of each car. What is a given is that buyers will be paying a premium for the right to join in the festivities. The Paris auto show in October will see the first few examples of these anniversary cars. Stay with us for more info as it becomes available.Ferrari For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 29, 2016

McLaren P1 LM Sets New Record at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Hills were made for climbing, records are made to be broken, and McLaren's P1 LM is capable of both. Goodwood is one of the largest automotive gatherings in the world, so it's only fitting that an English car dominated the field. With Indy Car veteran Kenny Brack behind the wheel, the LM made the run in a record-breaking time of 47.07 seconds.(Also Check Out - Two McLaren Flame Throwers In A Tunnel)Goodwood brings together the best drivers from every type of motorsport. Formula1 legends can be seen with NASCAR, rally and Indy winners, because the hill is a great equalizer of man and machine. Every year the Duke of Richmond invites the fastest drivers in their series to show off their talents on the course his Grandfather built in 1948. For unrestricted race cars, the record was set (by McLaren) in 1999 by a MP4/13 Formula1 car. That race ready car ran a 41.6, which makes the street legal P1 LM all the more impressive. Stay with us for more record breaking racing!We had to replay the video to not only see the run, but also to hear Mike Skinner's name from the color commentary.View All McLaren P1s For Sale

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe