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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 27, 2019

Gumball 3000 to Announce 2020 North America Route at Pres...

The Gumball 3000 is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Yes, that's right, it's been 20 years since the first Gumball 3000 took place across Europe. The event had many celebrities attendance, including Kate Moss, Johnny Knoxville and Jay Kay of Jamiroquai. Since then, the event has traveled the world and this year's event is going from Mykonos to Ibiza. But what about 2020? For that, the team from Gumball 3000 will be traveling to Miami to announce the 2020 North American route. Specifically speaking, they will be holding the announcement at Prestige Imports. The announcement is being held during their Exotics & Espresso event on Saturday, March 30th from 10am-1pm. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and see where the Gumball 3000 will be heading next year! view prestige imports' inventory

By Edward Jones – February 15, 2019

Take Part in the McLaren Thermal Track Experience 2019

Want to take part in an exclusive automotive event filled with English supercars? Of course you do! For that, we'd like to introduce you to McLaren Beverly Hills upcoming McLaren Thermal Track Experience. On February 18, 2019, from 8am-4:30pm, the dealership will be taking over the track for a high-speed event. The Thermal Club is a private world-class motorsports resort in California that many manufacturers use to test their automobiles. For this one day, guests will take it over and get a chance to test the limits of their McLaren. To RSVP, click the button below. rsvp now " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 19, 2018

Excell Auto Group's Halloween Party Raises Big Money for ...

For Halloween, Excell Auto Group and Self Love Foundation put on the inaugural "Slash Back to the 80's" party to raise money for current foster children in the state of Florida. Held in Excell Auto Group's showroom, the party included a performance by Nytro Men Group, LovestruckRobot, Graffiti Artistry on Tequila Patrón bottles, silent auction items, rollerbladers, fun-themed cocktails and more. When the party was all said and done, they had raised over $100,000 to benefit fotser children in Florida. “Ed and I are so grateful for the overwhelming support at our first annual Slashback to the 80’s party!” shared AshleyBrown, CEO & Founder of Selfless Love Foundation. “Due to the selfless support of our sponsors and guests, the entire night was underwritten and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to improving the lives of foster youth.” Selfless Love Foundation will also host their Second Annual Gala on April 27, 2019, at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida. For more information, click here.

By Andrew Nabors – September 26, 2018

Excell Auto Group Track Day at Palm Beach International R...

What began as a small meet & greet has turned into a quarterly gathering of South Florida supercars. Our friends at Excell Auto Group held their latest track day and drag race last Thursday. Their clients and guests were treated to catered meals while enjoying the action. Over 70 people and 40+ cars were in attendance. A few of the rarer examples included a W Motors Fenyr Supersport, a few McLaren 720S', Ferrari 812 Superfast and the latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Professional racers were on hand for driving lessons, and those who didn't want to race were offered rides in Excell's Ferrari F430 Challenge. The quickest run of the evening was a modified 720S. It went down the quarter-mile in only 9.6 seconds. In comparison, a USSV Rhino accomplished the run in 24 seconds. It was clocked at a blistering 57 mph, which isn't bad for an armored vehicle. If you want the inside scoop on their next event, click the link below to browse their inventory and stay with us for more exclusive Excell events.View Their Inventory

By Edward Jones – April 17, 2018

Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Hosts Tony Kanaan and More

As part of the spring sales season, a special event was held at Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables to highlight the top of the line in automotive excellence – the AMG series from Mercedes-Benz. Special guest Tony Kanaan, a one-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar series, was in attendance to help show off several models including the Green AMG GTR (priced at $200,000) and the SLS GT3 racecar (a one-time $500,000 vehicle, but no longer being produced). In addition to Mr. Kanaan, more than 250 people were in attendance including local AMG enthusiasts, members of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and executives John Sands and Kari Lang from Mercedes-Benz USA.“While AMG is the highline version of Mercedes-Benz and only a fraction of our business, it’s fun to show off the absolute best of what our brand has to offer,” said Juan Gonzalez, AMG Brand sales manager. “The race cars were the highlight of the night, but we have several other AMG models ranging from sedans to SUVs that are suitable for just about anyone. You wouldn’t have to wear a helmet to get behind the wheel, but you certainly can since every AMG sold/leased vehicle includes an AMG Driving Academy day at a racetrack with professionals showing you what these cars can do."View Dealer Inventory

By Edward Jones – February 19, 2018

Lamborghini Urus Shines in Florida Unveiling

Lamborghini Miami was recently home to a rare unveiling of the new Urus SUV from the Italian automaker. The private event was indeed a spectacle, giving guests a chance to see what Lamborghini has in store. Joining the Urus during its unveiling was an ordering kit that customers can peruse through in order to decide how they will order their Super SUV. The different exterior and interior colors are on display within this kit, as are the different types of trim materials and more. Ordering a Lamborghini is definitely unlike any other car buying experience. Then & Now: The Last Lamborghini Countach As for the star attraction of the event, the Urus sat pretty although it wants nothing more than to be unleashed. Powering the Urus is a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine capable of 650 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough ‘oomph’ for a 0-62 mph run to be completed in 3.6 seconds and 0-124 mph in 12.8 seconds. Doling out the power is an eight-speed automatic transmission that powers the four-wheel drive system. Paired with the transmission are a few extras that make the Urus more compatible with off-road terrains. Be sure to stay with us for more information regarding the Lamborghini Urus For Sale as it's released. View Dealer Inventory

By Edward Jones – January 10, 2018

San Diego GT: O'Gara La Jolla Reinvents the Cars and Coffee

In California O'Gara La Jolla is reinventing how epic Cars and Coffee events can be. Dubbed the "San Diego GT," this new event is aiming to be the shining star in a sky full of exotic car shows. Their inaugural event proves that their aim is true and the future shows will not disappoint.For the first San Diego GT, O'Gara La Jolla worked around the clock for weeks to ensure the show was a smash hit. After figuring out the logistics and vendors, they went looking for a collection that would knock the socks off of every guest. Thanks to their extensive and remarkable list of customers, it only took a couple of calls before they locked down a collection that they knew would be talked about at shows across the country.On the morning of the show, their parking lot was filled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens. Then, surprise guests in the form of a Lamborghini Centenario and a Bugatti Chiron nicknamed "HellBee."Then, it was time to reveal the showstopping collection. Behind five paddock doors were five incredible hypercars that were literally revving to be released. One-by-one the doors opened to reveal a blue Porsche 918 Spyder, street-legal McLaren P1 GTR, Rosso Fuoco Ferrari LaFerrari, full-carbon fiber Pagani Huayra and a never-before-seen Bugatti Chiron. The crowd's socks were officially knocked off.An estimated 1,200-1,500 guests showed up to the inaugural San Diego GT event, making it a smashing success. Now, O'Gara La Jolla is looking to their next show in January, and I'm sure there'll be a few surprises for those that show up. For more information click here.

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2017

Lamborghini Newport Beach's Supercar Show - 200 MPH Editi...

On October 7, in the parking lot of Lamborghini Newport Beach, supercars and hypercars gathered for the dealership's latest edition of their Supercar Show - 200 MPH Edition.It was in this parking lot that crowds were greeted with some of the world's rarest and fastest cars. And when I say the fastest, I mean it. The Koenigsegg Agera RS showed up to the event, which is the same car that has broken the record for the fastest car from 0-249-0 mph. That record run beat out the Bugatti Chiron's record, a hypercar that was also attending the event. A few other notable cars in attendance were the McLaren 720S, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Lamborghini Aventador SV, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder and so many others.Check out the video below to see all of the action for yourself.View Inventory

By Edward Jones – October 31, 2016

Recap: Prestige Imports Halloween Super Car Run 2016

On October 29th, Prestige Imports held their Halloween Super Car Run. During this run, they traveled from their dealership down to Homestead-Miami Speedway. Participants were dressed in their best costumes, including CEO Brett David dressed as The Joker from the recent "Suicide Squad" movie.At the speedway, the envoy was able to race their cars, mix and mingle, enjoy a buffet dinner and see who won the costume contest held by the dealership.If you're interested in attending next year's event, be sure to stay with us because we'll be posting the registration as soon as it becomes available.Prestige Imports Inventory The Prestige Imports Miami Halloween Supercar Rally was straight Mayhem! Check out this preview and stay tuned to for the video.Posted by duPont REGISTRY on Monday, October 31, 2016

By Edward Jones – October 26, 2016

Prestige Imports Halloween Super Car Run 2016

What's more fun that dressing up for Halloween? How about dressing up for Halloween and driving around in supercars. Yeah, I'd say that's a lot better than trick-or-treating.On October 29th, Prestige Imports will be putting on their Halloween Super Car Run. During this run, they will travel from their dealership down to Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, this envoy won't look like a normal supercar run, because everyone will be wearing costumes of their choice. Here's the breakdown of the event:2.00 pm - Meet & Greet and BBQ Picnic Lunch4:00 pm - Driver's Meeting4:15 pm - Departure with police escort to Homestead-Miami Speedway6.00 pm until 10.00 pm - Buffet Dinner, Costume Contest & Time on the Track Lamborghini For SaleWhen the run arrives at the speedway, they'll be given the chance to race their cars, mix and mingle, enjoy a buffet dinner and see who won the costume contest. The event will end at 10 pm.If you're interested, click the button below to register. I should also point out that only the first 100 cars to sign up will be allowed to participate so sign up as quickly as possible.Register Now

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