Celebrity Cars

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 Caitlin Duffy – May 05, 2015

Deadmau5's P1 & 650S for Gumball Spotted Taking Off

Though he waited months for his vibrant blue P1 to arrive, Deadmau5 didn't spend much time with the original paint color. On March 31, the Canadian music producer accepted delivery of the McLaren P1 he ordered in October of last year, and just under a month later, it was sporting a very different look in preparation for the Gumball 3000 Rally. It became the "Ace of Spades" for Team Meowclaren with a new vinyl wrap, and it will be joining his 650S, which is sporting a "Queen of Hearts" wrap. From Stockholm, Sweden, to Las Vegas, Nevada, Deadmau5 and dozens of other celebrities and luxury car enthusiasts will be traveling in their decked out cars starting May 23, but for now, Team Meowclaren is still in Ontario, Canada, and YouTuber Ontario Supercars spotted them at a car event. (See Also: Andy Murray Receives i8 After 2015 BMW Open Victory) Uploaded to YouTube May 3, the video above shows us a quick walk around of the Ace of Spades P1, with the fitting license plate of "DATP1THO," with the Queen of Hearts 650S in the background. It then cuts to a rear-shot of the P1 launching down a straight, tree-lined clear roadway. Check out the video above to get a preview of what this year's Gumball 3000 has in store, and then find yourself the perfect P1 from our exclusive listings below, and start planning your team for Gumball 3000 2016. P1s For Sale (Source: YouTube via Carbuzz) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – April 30, 2015

James Bond's Supercars of Spectre

On Dec. 4, it was announced that Aston Martin was continuing its support of England's greatest fictional spy with the appearance of the DB10 in "Spectre," the upcoming film from the James Bond series.On Feb. 9, Jaguar Land Rover introduced the three cars from the two marques that would be participating in their own action scenes in the film, which is scheduled for release Nov. 6. From Land Rover, the Range Rover Sport SVR and Land Rover Defender Big Foot will be making appearances, and Jaguar's C-X75 will be transporting a character with villainous intentions.A few days later, on Feb. 16, the DB10 was caught on film tearing up the streets behind Blenheim Palace in London, and today, we get to see a few more behind the scenes shots of two of these four impressive vehicles running a few trials and tearing through Rome's streets, with some back story from those creating this action thriller.(See Also: Sir Rod Stewart's 1971 Miura S SV For Sale)Eight bespoke Aston Martins have been created specifically for the film, and you can see a few of them hitting their cues for the camera in the video above. Uploaded to YouTube today by James Bond 007, this video from the set gives us some never before scene looks at one of the car chases to appear in the film.Be sure to give it a watch, and prepare yourself for the upcoming release by finding your own Bond-worthy Aston Martin from our exclusive listings below.See Aston Martins For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

“King James Edition” Kia K900 goes up for auction today to b

By Andrew Nabors – April 28, 2015

Bid On LeBron James' One-of-a-Kind 2015 Kia K900

LeBron James’ car collection changes almost as fast as the weather, and he knows that we are the best resource to find his next ride. But being as dedicated to bettering the world as he is, it’s often that he’ll use these cars to benefit his charity.The LeBron James Family Foundation’s mission is to keep kids and young adults active and healthy with practical education initiatives. To raise money and awareness for the foundation, Mr. James is auctioning his customized Kia K900 through CharityBuzz.com.The “King James Edition” was unveiled at the 2015 NBA All Star game and has several custom features. The wheels and headrests feature his “LBJ” logo, and the Alcantara interior has color contrast stitching. A dash plaque identifies this car as #001. We’re not sure if Kia intends to build a series of these, but as for now this is the only example.(See Also: James May Orders Final 458 Speciale)The auction is live on CharityBuzz, and runs through May 7. As of press time, with 9 days and 15 minutes remaining, the highest bid submitted stands at $89,000, while the estimated value of this vehicle sits at $168,463.If your loyalties are to King James and Cleveland, this 420 hp Kia K900 will help provide a positive force in the lives of inner-city kids and is a solid investment for the future. Bid Online (Source: Kia, CharityBuzz via Autoweek) See More Celebrity Car News

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By Caitlin Duffy – April 27, 2015

French Montana Buys Laraki Epitome

The Laraki Epitome is a thing of pure power and beauty, but we've never been quite sure whether a production model would make it to the United States. Thanks to French Montana, we just might have a shot at seeing one with our own eyes. The Laraki Epitome was first introduced as a concept in August of 2013, when we found out that a 7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 would pump 1,750 hp out to power this boutique supercar. Specially crafted tires were required to handle that much output, and Lexani was put to the task of creating them. The LZ-102 wheels found on the Laraki Epitome are completely custom to the car, with a one-of-a-kind, deep pitch, concave set found on each example. When first introduced at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Epitome was priced at approximately $2 million each, with only nine examples slated for creation. 2.5!!! a gift from Allah!!! #bless .. A photo posted by French Montana (@frenchmontana) on Apr 21, 2015 at 8:30pm PDT And, as we found out April 21 and 22 from his Instagram and Facebook accounts, French Montana is the proud new owner of one of these powerful beasts. The caption of one of his posts leads us to believe that the final price paid rang in around $2.5 million - a good bit more than the initial projected price. (See Also: Deadmau5 & Hodor Coffee Run in The Jeep) Yet Montana, who is rumored to be dating Khloe Kardashian, does not seem to mind the price jump at all. Be sure to check out the photos of this powerful car, courtesy of Montana and Laraki's Facebook pages, in the gallery below, and find your own supercar dream-come-true from our exclusive listings at duPontREGISTRY.com. Browse All Listings Gallery (Source: Facebook, Instagram) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – April 16, 2015

Top 7 NHL Players' Cars

We're here to present you with seven NHL players who have an exquisite taste in cars. These players range from goaltenders to centers and the positions in between. Check out the list below and let us know in the comments if there is anyone with an amazing car that we missed. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars Custom Jeep Wrangler Source Buy Now Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers Matte Black Gallardo Source Buy Now Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins White Cayenne Source Buy Now Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks Frosted Range Rover Source Buy Now Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators Snow-Going Mercedes-Benz Source Buy Now Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning Fisker Karma from Jaguar of Tampa Source Buy Now P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens Bugatti Veyron Source Buy Now

By Edward Jones – April 07, 2015

Jason Statham in his Ferrari F12berlinetta

Yesterday, we wrote about Justin Bieber purchasing a LaFerrari. Today, we are here to show you action movie superstar Jason Statham and his Ferrari F12berlinetta.The "Furious 7" star's newest acquisition was originally posted on Instagram April 3 by Ferrari USA, showing Statham standing with his F12. He was also seen with his Italian supercar in a picture posted to twitter by Ferrari Club Chile today. A photo posted by Ferrari USA (@ferrariusa) on Apr 3, 2015 at 2:22pm PDT The F12berlinetta is a grand tourer 2-door berlinetta model powered by a 6.3-liter V12 engine. This massive engine provides enough power for the car to accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of over 211 mph. Since its launch in 2012, it has won numerous awards, including "The Supercar of the Year 2012" by Top Gear.https://twitter.com/FerrariClubChil/status/585412894059327489/If these pictures don't provide you with enough Statham and automotive exposure for the day, go out and see his latest movie, "Furious 7." Though just released April 3, the seventh installment in the Fast and Furious series has proven immensely popular, and had a record-breaking U.S. opening weekend.Looking for an F12berlinetta of your own? Check out our selection by clicking the button below.View F12s For Sale(Source: Instagram, Twitter) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – February 10, 2015

Bid To Win Warren Buffett's 2006 Cadillac DTS

If you watch economic news, or news in general, odds are you have heard of Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha. Regarded as the most successful investor of the 20th century, Buffett is one of the world's wealthiest people and is the chairman, CEO and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway.While you may not be in the same shoes as Buffett, you now get a chance to be in the same car as him. He recently handed over his Shale 2006 Cadillac DTS to Girls Inc. for them to auction off in order to raise funds for 2015.The winner the auction will get more than just the Cadillac with Buffett's signature on the dashboard. After the auction is complete, the winner will have the opportunity to travel to Omaha, Nebraska to personally receive the keys to their new Cadillac from Buffett himself. This is sure a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.(See Also: Top 10 Cars to Buy This Week: Feb. 9)The auction will take place Feb. 11-19 with an opening bid of $10,000. Click here to learn how to bid on this car.(Source: YouTube, Proxibid) See More Celebrity Cars

By Caitlin Duffy – January 29, 2015

#TBT Elon Musk Accepting Delivery of McLaren F1 in 1999

At only 28 years old, Elon Musk was already venturing into the world of supercar ownership. It was 1999, PayPal was still called X.com and the internet was finally being taken seriously as a thing.At least, that's what this interview with a young Musk tells us. Posted to YouTube by EveryElonMusk Video Oct. 5 of last year, this CNN Perspectives interview watches as he accepts delivery of a McLaren F1, then a $1 million car. The CNN feature follows the culture of Silicon Valley and its overnight billionaires, one of which was Elon Musk.(See Also: Deadmau5's New Jeep Rubicon by Design 1 Customs)At the time of filming, he was engaged to now-ex-wife Justine Wilson, who says she's concerned about losing a sense of perspective because of the new found wealth. Musk then explains the basic plan behind his next business venture, X.com, which became the early version of PayPal, the company that created funding for Tesla to come into existence.We can only imagine that as he drove the F1 around, Musk became inspired to create his own version with a moral twist - an environmentally friendly energy source. Of course, we now know this as the Tesla Model S P85D, which beats the F1's acceleration with a completely electric motor.Check out the video of a young Elon above, and stay with us for more updates from the automotive world.(Source: YouTube via Road & Track) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – January 26, 2015

"Mr. Bean" Star Rowan Atkinson Selling McLaren F1

For those seeking a McLaren for their collection with a story more impressive than its performance figures, perhaps an F1 is in your near future. Photo by: Tim ScottBritish actor Rowan Atkinson of "Mr. Bean" fame has owned his McLaren F1 since it was new, but recently he went on a drive with Andrew Frankel and talked about how it was time for his beloved car to have a new chapter in its life. Despite 41,000 miles on the odometer and two accidents in the 17 years Atkinson has owned it, Frankel still estimates the asking price will be high.(See Also: McLaren Unveils Sneak Peek at Track-Focused 650S)How high? "My very strong suspicion is that it will begin with a ‘1’ and be followed by not six, but seven, digits," he wrote in an article about the experience for Goodwood Road & Racing. He credits this estimate not just with the car's history, or the fact that it has only had one owner, but with the overall rarity of the supercar. Only 107 were ever created, 64 of which were standard road cars like Atkinson's. In addition, a reputable source tells us that the car is listed for £8 million, which is approximately $12 million USD at the current exchange rates. Stay with us for more information on the car's price as it is revealed. Photo by: Tim ScottSurprisingly though, it isn't the F1's performance that Atkinson fell in love with, but the design of the car. Another article from Frankel in the Telegraph's Cars section touched on the more specific qualities that make this car fascinating overall, and surprisingly, going slow was one of his favorite aspects.“What I enjoyed most about it when I first drove it was how lovely it was to drive slowly. To pootle is a pleasure. Of course I’ve gone to a track and done 200mph in it, but for me it was always the vision of its designer Gordon Murray that made the F1 unique," Atkinson told Frankel. Photo by: Tim Scott"Look at a modern supercar of comparable performance and it will be vast, heavy and offer little or no space for your luggage," he continued. "By comparison the F1 is tiny, yet it will seat three, store enough for you all to go on holiday and still finds space for a proper, normally aspirated 6.1-litre V12 engine. And it weighs the same as a shopping car. Nothing has ever been designed before or since with such imagination and clarity of thought."Both articles state that the car is for sale through Taylor & Crawley, a London-based dealer of historic and race cars. As of now, their website does not include the F1 in its inventory, but be sure to stay with us for updates on pricing and how to purchase as it is released.What do you think is a fair price for this F1? Let us know in the comments below.Gallery Photos by: Tim Scott (Website, Instagram) (Source: The Telegraph, Goodwood Road & Racing, Taylor & Crawley, Twitter) See More Celebrity Cars

By Caitlin Duffy – December 19, 2014

Minecraft Creator Outbids Beyonce for Beverly Hills Megam...

It's reportedly the most expensive home ever sold in Beverly Hills, and its sale closed in only six days - a neck-breaking speed for a $70 million listing. But after what seemed to be a high-profile bidding war against contenders Beyonce and Jay-Z, Minecraft Creator Markus "Notch" Persson was able to declare victory.(See Also: duPont REGISTRY Cars and Coffee 2014 Recap)A Dec. 19 press release from the John Aaroe Group, a leading luxury residential brokerage based out of Los Angeles, announced Persson's successful purchase of the property through their brokerage, a deal which included cases of Dom Perignon. Of course, the truly phenomenal part of this home is found in the supercar displays.In both the garage and the basement levels of this home offer viewing areas for the most spectacular vehicles in Persson's collection. A video tour of the property posted to Vimeo by Tri-Blend Media on Aug. 7 shows off the hydraulic lifts of the drive-in garage and the rotating displays in the basement, with an impressive grouping of classic and modern exotics on display. The spinning displays are located next to the candy room and bar filled with priceless and iconic movie memorabilia, all of which was included in the sale of the home."Persson’s purchase included everything in the house from luxury furnishings to exotic electronics such as the automated 54–foot curved glass door in the living room that opens onto an infinity pool with iPad-controlled fountains and spectacular views. Cases of Dom Perignon were part of the deal," described the release.The eight-bedroom, 15 bathroom house is a contemporary design sure to delight the 35-year old Swedish-born billionaire. In September of this year, he sold his company Mojang to Microsoft for a reported $2.5 billion, according to the release. However, for someone who "programmed his father's home computer at the age of seven and created his first game at eight," his immense success with Minecraft and Mojang isn't terribly surprising.If this were your new home, which cars would you choose for the showroom? Let us know in the comments below. See More Celebrity Cars

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