Cars &amp; Coffee

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 – January 23, 2018

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: January 2018

Our first Cars and Coffee event of the year was an absolute blast. I arrived at the event shortly after it started, just in time for the sun to start rising. It has to be said that an early morning sunrise and exotic cars go together like spaghetti and meatballs. Right when I pulled down our street I noticed that every single possible parking spot was taken. I knew right then that I had some great cars waiting for me at our headquarters parking lot.The first thing I noticed was a massive Bruiser Jeep that was parked ever so neatly on top of a hill in front of our building. Behind that was a supreme collection of exotic cars from local dealers. Comparing in size to something like an SUV was the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, the latest ultra-luxury car that offers massive amounts of style across a massive body. Inside, the new Phantom is just luxurious as you'd expect and was tall enough for a child to stand up in. This car was indeed a star of the show and was the subject of many photos. Next to the Phantom was a McLaren 570S and 720S that were brought over by McLaren Tampa Bay, giving guests a chance to see examples of both the Sports and Super Series McLaren models.Special Thanks to These Participating Businesses: Crown Eurocars Reeves Import Motorcars Dimmit Automotive Group St. Petersburg Grand Prix Bert Smith Automotive Sebring International Raceway Kahwa Coffee Bruiser Conversions Gallery by Bruce Clem Gallery by C12 Production Facebook Live Walkaround

By Andrew Nabors – November 27, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: November 2017

Cooler weather is the signal for our November Cars & Coffee, and it was one for the record books. Our partnership with Motor Trend Auto Shows is now in its 6th year, and last Saturday coincided with the 2nd day of the Tampa Auto Show.Everyone who brought a toy received passes for the Motor Trend Tampa Bay International Auto Show, and now our showroom is packed with goodies that are awaiting the Marine Corps. Our local dealers also participated so we would like to thank Bert Smith Automotive, Dimmitt, McLaren Tampa Bay, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa, Reeves, and Ferrari of Tampa for their steadfast support.Saving the best for last, our friends at Specialty Vehicle Engineering arrived to unveil their latest build. The company was founded by Ed Hamburger as Street Legal Performance back in the late 80's. Transforming the Firebird into the Firehawk, and the Camaro into the SS was how they improved on the factory designs.Now they have resurrected Don Yenko's recipe for horsepower so that the Yenko Supercar can be enjoyed by a new generation of gearheads. Joined by his son David, the SVE team unveiled a supercharged Silverado alongside their Corvette and Camaro builds. You missed a great show, so come see us in December and stay with us for more great Cars & Coffee coverage.Gallery by Bruce Clem

By Bryce Womeldurf – August 24, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee August 2017

Neither the Florida heat nor humidity could hold back the crowd from attending the August Cars & Coffee at duPont REGISTRY. Car enthusiasts showed up to chat about old project cars, newly acquired sport compacts, or the latest exotic supercar while sipping refreshing iced coffee.A charming little Saab 96 greeted attendees at the entrance to duPont REGISTRY along with a new Honda Civic Type-R in iconic Championship White paint. This later model Saab 96 has a slightly longer front end than the earlier inline 3-powered models, to make room for the V4 engine, an uncommon cylinder layout in the automotive world. Local favorite Kahwa Coffee Roasting was on hand with a vintage Citroën H Van to sell hot and cold drinks. Exotic Rides Some of the local supercars in attendance included this McLaren 570S with color-changing paint, and Porsche GT3-RS. These were joined by the new McLaren 720S as well. The Dodge Viper may have recently ended production, but there is still a faithful following for these cars, especially this track star ACR model. This is the top dog Viper, having set lap records at tracks around the world.The hybrid sports car of the future, the BMW i8 was on hand. Both an electric motor and a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine combine to deliver performance without the cost of inefficiency.Speaking of hybrid sports cars, the NSX is back following a 12-year hiatus. It has maintained its experimental nature, but gone from a lightweight sports car to the hybrid turbocharged all-wheel drive car of today. This beautiful Nouvelle Blue Pearl example made an appearance.Hot Weather, Cool Classics As usual, classics made a great showing, including a Land Rover Defender and period-correct early ‘80s Dodge Diplomat Pinellas County police cruiser. This 1964 Volkswagen Microbus sported a lot of character and custom touches, flanked by a clean and period correct Beetle. On the faster side of things was this tubbed Camaro drag car on Weld Racing wheels. Not to mention the one year only split window Corvette Stingray of 1963!For the Ford fans there were some interesting sights such as this 1969 Mustang Mach 1 Cobra Jet 428 fastback and a cab-over-engine pickup from back in the ‘50s. The Boynton Beach-built Backdraft Racing Cobra replica is the best of both worlds. Having the classic looks of the Shelby Cobra and you can drive it without worrying as much about wear and tear. The classic E9 series BMW CS just oozes class with its pillarless coupe body and Karmann styling.Last but not least was this fun little MG MGB GT coupe on classic minilite-style wheels.Luxury and Sport There was no shortage of luxury and sports cars at this meet with the likes of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia as well as the latest Porsche 911 GT3. That Montecarlo Blue Metallic paint really shines in the sun! This 993-era Porsche 911 and late NA-generation Mazda Miata. Opposites on affordability but both focus on fun.This New Edge era “Terminator” Ford Cobra seems to have undergone some power upgrades with the high rise hood and big front mount intercooler.Then there was this wild and wicked street rail, known as “Mike’s Wicked Street Rail” which according to Mike’s website, is powered by a 632 cubic inch Chevy big block V8 pushing just 2,380lbs. Similar to cars like the Ariel Atom, it has no body but is apparently street legal. That does it for the August edition of Cars & Coffee at duPont REGISTRY. See you all next month!All images © 2017 Bryce Womeldurf and duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – July 19, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: July 2017

If you slept in on Saturday, you missed another great show. Clear skies and no competition from other events allowed Cars & Coffee July to be a huge success.Not just in terms of attendance, we were host to two giant trucks. Global Auto Showroom arrived in a black 2008 Chevy Avalanche inspired by Monster Energy. The supercharged 6.0 V8 easily conquered the high ground at the edge of our west lot.Gallery by duPont REGISTRY Second place in the height contest was Sherriff Gualtieri's 5 ton Army truck. Originally built as a 6x6, the rear axle was removed and the bed was shortened. This is called bobbing and it makes the truck much more usable on the street. Our events would not be possible without the support of the Pinellas County Sherriff's Office.Only a few times each year do we see the local Corvette clubs put aside their animosity for a common goal. They all arrived in unison to show support for an upcoming cruise on August 5th. Local dealers such as Reeves, Dimmitt, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa, & Maserati/Alfa Romeo of St. Petersburg brought out their latest inventory.Gallery By Mike Nicholls Among the oldest participants was the vintage Citroen van from Kawha Coffee. Their secret brewing methods and fine French breakfast treats are the best way to start the weekend. Thank you to all our fans for helping us have a fun & safe morning. August will be here at HQ, but remember to bookmark September 16th. We will be returning to Davis Islands for our giant Tampa Cars & Coffee. We will have more details next month, so stay with us for all your local events.

By Andrew Nabors – June 19, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: June 2017

More daylight means more time to enjoy our hobby. As we approach the Summer Solstice, Florida's humidity reaches a saturation point that is unbearable to some. Saturday was no exception, as a small break in the monsoon allowed us to gather with our fans for our monthly Cars & Coffee show.Last week was punctuated by storms every afternoon. This time of year makes us wonder why Meteorologists even give us percentages, as everyone knows the routine.C12 Productions Mike Nicholls With the threat of impending precipitation, some dealers and many of our regulars decided against coming out. But this allowed our main lots to be filled with new friends that would normally be forced to park next door or down the road. Because we have never missed a show due to weather, our photographers knew it would be a unique gathering. Kahwa Coffee arrived in their backup car since their vintage Citroen diesel van gave up the ghost. Normally our lots are full before 6:30, but we didn't turn anyone away before 7:10. Lexus of Tampa Bay arrived with their first LC500 and it was a show stopper.Lynn Bosco The Tesla club arrived with a new Model X equipped with dance mode. A hidden feature in the latest software, the lights and Falcon doors were synchronized to a heavy metal orchestra beat. Sherriff Gaultieri sent a Hummer H1 to occupy the high ground, but we thought our damp grass would give way. Since Hummers have the ability to deflate tires on command, the pressures were lowered to protect our landscaping.Reed Miller The Humane Society brought out a vintage racing motorcycle to promote their local shelters, and the vintage board track racer gave our lobby a fast feel. As always, you're welcome to spend your morning with us on the third Saturday of the month. Stay with us for updates on our fall extravaganza and other local events.Tell us who snapped the best picture in the comments below!Lele Paul-duPont REGISTRY Gabriel Cajar-duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – May 22, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: May 2017

We have gone without much rain this year, so it was nice to have a storm roll through on Friday night. But the consequences of soaked roads were felt the next morning as we arrived for Cars & Coffee. Standing water and tropical humidity kept some of our regulars away, but it allowed us to open the lot for a few wild late-arrivals. This month had a very vintage feel. A trio of old hot rods with big superchargers and a pro-street Chevelle were louder than most everything else combined.Also Check Out: Hot Cars Of The WeekWe're gaining many fans in the import community, as Subarus and modified Hondas are becoming more common at our events. A rare early 80's BMW 7 Series built by Callaway showed up and was met with a lot of attention. The factory turbocharged straight six is what put Reeves Callaway on the map, and the original owner has only driven it 11,000 miles since new. The mini-choppers arrived under our radar, and they look like a blast to ride.Related - Jura J95 Carbon View PriceLocal dealers brought the latest in power and luxury with a new Aston-Martin DB11, McLaren 570, Mercedes G63 and a C63 AMG Convertible. A new Camaro ZL1 with straight pipe exhaust and an aftermarket camshaft decided to light the tires, which prompted a stern response by the Deputy Sheriff. To top it all off, a pair of RAUH-Welt Begriff (RWB) Porsches rolled in turning everyone's heads as they entered. A mint green 993 known as "Kei Kishi" was followed by a black 964 known as "Hi Uma". Now that is not something you see every day. No incidents or accidents this month, and we're glad everyone had fun. Big thanks to Kawha Coffee for the breakfast and brew, and we hope to see everyone next month at Cars & Coffee June.Mike Nicholls Daniel Burke

By Andrew Nabors – April 19, 2017

Cars & Coffee Recap: April 2017

If you were traveling last weekend, you missed a great car show. Cars & Coffee is always held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, and for April it fell between Good Friday and Easter. A time to reflect and be thankful for the year so far, we have been blessed with clear skies and low humidity. Our early crew was in place by 5:30 to make parking safe & orderly. Kahwa Coffee was the 3rd car to arrive, in their bright Citroen van. The diesel powered percolator is not among the fastest commercial vehicles in Tampa Bay, but you can't rush perfection.Brut PhotographySheriff Gualtieri sent one of his officers to keep the peace in a rugged Hummer H1. It easily ascended our southern hill in order to have a line of sight to all three parking lots. But fear not, our local photographers were on hand to show you what you missed. Some of our regulars were traveling for the holiday so we were able to give their spots to a few fresh faces. If you were here, tell us your favorite car and how we could make the event better. Stay with us for more great events, and big Cars & Coffee news in the near future.C12 Productions

By Andrew Nabors – March 21, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: March 2017

Hosting a car show without any incidents or accidents should be the goal of every car magazine, but adversity usually finds a way to disrupt even the best plans. The last Cars & Coffee show of Winter took place on Saturday morning and it was a perfect event.A cold front had settled over Tampa Bay which offered a nice respite from the relentless humidity. I was the first on the scene, which made me responsible for logistics until reinforcements. From the moment our supplies reach the parking lot, every employee becomes part of the show.Mike Nicholls All forms of motorized vehicles are welcome, and we had everything from mini-choppers to the massive Rhino by US Specialty Vehicles. Saturday was also the 12 hours of Sebring, so we lost a few regulars who went to see the race. Our own pit crew was thrown into action when a replica Cobra decided to enter our parking lot on three wheels.Niklas Jacobi Camaros and Corvettes are always first on the scene, but the most anticipated arrival was the 1969 Citroen van owned by Kahwa Coffee. Owner Raphael Perrier converted the delivery van into the "KahWagon" and it was loaded with a tasty assortment of French breakfast pastries. Sheriff Gaultieri sent a vintage Plymouth Fury patrol car along with a new Caprice in black & white to make sure everyone played nicely. Our DJI drone was tasked with regulating the airspace, and it kept lesser drones at bay. As always, we couldn't do this without our sponsors so three cheers for Mercedes-Benz of Tampa, Reeves Import Motorcars, ROUSH, Corsa America Rally, and the Pinellas County Sherrif's Department for getting up early to join us.duPont REGISTRY

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2017

Cars & Coffee Recap: January 2017

Our first Cars & Coffee event of 2017 went off without a hitch, thanks to our awesome staff, beautiful weather and, of course, all of our readers and fans.Bright and early on January 21, cars starting rolling up to our headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens, classics, muscle cars and so many other types of cars parked themselves in our parking lots for all to see. Guests showed up for a cup of coffee as they walked around the hundreds of impressive cars. There were a few stars of the show, including a massive John Deere tractor (seriously, this thing was HUGE), a race car from the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, a McLaren 650S getting a bath from Mynt Detailer and many more.Local dealership showed up with some awesome inventory, including Reeves Import Motorcars, Crown Eurocars and Mercedes-Benz of Tampa Bay. Additionally, LincolnLand brought a recently restored Lincoln.As with all of our Cars & Coffee events, we had quite a few amazing photographers. You can view some of their work in the galleries below.Alex ParisMike Nicholls

By Andrew Nabors – December 20, 2016

Cars & Coffee Recap: December 2016

Our last show of 2016 was one for the ages. We look back on a year filled with cars and camaraderie. Twelve times a year we put in extra effort so you can start your Saturday in the best way possible. It has been a year without accidents or body damage, which is impressive given our two off-site events. The Museum of Fine Arts was our host in January, allowing for a spectacular sunrise over downtown St. Petersburg. In September we headed to Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa for the largest show we've ever had.Saturday was unseasonably warm and damp, and we figured it would keep the finer cars at home. But our regulars began arriving at 5:30 and we were completely full by 6:45. A big thanks to our neighbors at Bic, because we monopolize their parking lot for a few hours each month. One of the primary ways to keep this show going is to have an equal ratio of coffee to cars. But due to the massive turnout, the coffee was depleted by 8 am. Starbucks of Feather Sound came to the rescue with 10 gallons of goodness. Our publisher decided to offer last minute gifts by offering a selection of automotive art at bargain prices. Metro Vacuum sent us the latest in car care appliances in their Master Blaster lineup. By Joe StrunkOf the more notable clubs in attendance was a gang of mini choppers riding the smallest in street legal motorcycles. We couldn't do these shows without our local dealers, so a big shout out goes to: Mercedes-Benz of Tampa, Crown Eurocars, Reeves Import Motorcars and Lincoln Land. Finally, the reason our shows are a safe place to be is due to the tremendous support from Sheriff Gaultieri. His dedicated team maintains a fleet of historic Pinellas County cruisers along with the latest in SWAT transportation. Thank you to all of our fans for spending your time with us, and Merry Christmas from the duPont REGISTRY.Mike Nicholls Zeep McMenamy Bruce Clem

Cars & Coffee

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe