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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 – September 20, 2019

Dealer Details: BJ Motors in Texas

Presented by BJ Motors - BJ Motors, located in Tomball, Texas, has built their business around their racing DNA and love for the exotic car. Bernie Katz, of BJ Motors, has spent years in the racing world, building connections and garnering a vast amount of knowledge on the world's fastest cars. He was even part of a new production car lap record at Nurburgring, which involved two incredible Dodge Viper ACRs. view bj motors' inventory This experience and knowledge have allowed BJ Motors to not only flourish, but also maintain a revolving inventory of the world's most exotic cars. Each car that comes into their showroom is heavily scrutinized, as they only select the finest examples for their customers. Cars you can expect to find at BJ Motors includes McLaren Sennas, Ferrari Pistas, Lamborghini Huracan Performantes, all types of exotic cars, muscle cars, modified cars, race cars and, of course, Dodge Vipers. Let's review some of their amazing cars down below and be sure to click the button to see their entire inventory of incredible cars. 2019 McLaren Senna view this car's listing now 2018 VLK Automotive Force 1 V10 view this car's listing now 2018 Lamborghini Huracan Performante view this car's listing now 1970 Plymouth Cuda 440 Six Pack view this car's listing now 2012 Dodge Viper GTS-R Race Car #91 view this car's listing now 1993 Acura NSX Formerly Owned by Wesley Snipes view this car's listing now 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye view this car's listing now Presented by BJ Motors BJ Motors is one of the largest providers of performance and exotic vehicles in all of Texas. We proudly serve the Houston area right from Tomball, Texas. At BJ Motors we specialize in Dodge Vipers, but that is by no means where our inventory stops.

By Edward Jones – September 19, 2019

Pair of Striking MSO McLaren 600LTs For Sale at McLaren S...

Not all 600LTs are created equal. The carbon roof scoop or snorkel has been an iconic feature on McLarens, dating back to the original McLaren F1. Functionally, the roof scoop provides increased cooling to the 592hp mid-engine V8. There is also an added sense of aural drama when you drive a car with a roof scoop. As you run through the gears on the 7sp dual-clutch transmission, you can hear the air “whooshing” directly over your head into the engine bay. It’s truly a sound you’ll never get tired of hearing. Did we mention that it looks freaking awesome?! You’ll be the envy of any track day or car show when you show up with a roof scoop McLaren. Very few 600LTs were specced with this ultra-desirable option, and both of these cars are currently available for sale at McLaren San Diego. view this car's price and listing Finished in Silica White with red-tinted exterior carbon fiber. MSO bespoke interior with Senna seats and red Alcantara inserts. Headrests with bespoke MSO embroidery. Color-matched keys. view this car's price and listing Exterior finished in Fistral Blue. MSO bespoke interior with Senna seats and McLaren Orange leather seat inserts. Headrests with bespoke MSO embroidery. Bespoke painted switches in McLaren Orange. Color-matched keys.

By Edward Jones – September 17, 2019

2020 Porsche 911 (992) Models Arrive at Porsche West Palm...

Our friends at Porsche West Palm Beach have begun receiving their examples of the new 2020 Porsche 911 (992 Gen) models. While we all may not live in the West Palm Beach area, we can still view these new Porsche thanks to a series of videos they uploaded to their YouTube Channel. This includes an overview video (found above) and two that revolve around specific models. Check them all out and be sure to see their entire inventory by clicking the button down below. view porsche west palm beach's inventory 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe in GT Silver " width="680"> 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe in Gentian Blue " width="680">

By Edward Jones – September 08, 2019

The Collection Hurricane Dorian Bahamas Relief on Amazon

Over the past week, those in the Bahamas have been spending their days trying to recover what they lost during Hurricane Dorian. This storm sat still over the islands for just about a day, wreaking havoc. We knew the aftermath would be bad, but what we've seen is utter destruction. Now, more than ever, the Bahamas need our help. Our friends at The Collection in South Florida are doing their part to help those in need in the Bahamas. They have put together an Amazon wishlist that includes a long list of necessities, like soap, paper plates, water filters, tents, pet food and more. When buying from this list, the distribution of the supplies will be coordinated with The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Bahamas. The Collection is also accepting donations that are dropped off at their dealership. The address can be found below. They will help spread the items to where the need is greatest. They will be accepting donations through September 14. view the amazon wishlist The Collection - 200 Bird Road, Coral Gables, Florida 33142 https://www.instagram.com/p/B2EpHLwgxzm/

By Andrew Nabors – August 11, 2019

Vantage Motorworks: 45 Years of Success & Still Going

Loyalty in the automotive business is worth its weight in gold. When our first issue was coming together in 1985, we asked dealers and private sellers to take a leap of faith and advertise with us. At that time Richard Gorman had a small garage in North Miami, Florida specializing in high-quality imported cars. He took a chance in our new magazine and the rest is history. Other dealers have come and gone but we are proud to say that Vantage Motorworks has never missed a month in our magazine. They evolved from a small shop to a world-class authority for Rolls-Royce and Bentley sales and restorations. As their technicians tackled more involved projects, Richard decided to go all-in. Instead of outsourcing interior or woodwork, he hired his own talented crew of trimmers, carpenters, body and paint craftsmen. Along with a crew of experienced mechanics all the work is performed in the same location under his watchful eye in his facility. Many Vantage employees have worked there for 25 years or more so they are not intimidated by a diamond in the rough. After restoration, many of their projects often result in Concours trophies for their clients. Work In Progress These proprietary methods are why Vantage Motorworks pays good money for English classics. Many seasoned employees have worked there over 25 years, so they are not scared of a diamond in the rough. After the restoration, it will emerge to outshine the Crown Jewels. Located 30 minutes from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale airports, the Vantage inventory is worth a South Florida vacation. Examples of their restorations can often be seen at the finest automotive events worldwide. Judges and enthusiasts often say “You can always tell a Vantage car!” "Winning" If your collection needs a centerpiece – click the link below or give us a call. You won’t be disappointed. 305-940-1161 Click Here To Visit Vantage Motorworks " width="680">

By Edward Jones – August 05, 2019

McLaren Newport Beach Puts on Debut Party for "Hobbs & Shaw"

McLaren Newport Beach does a fantastic job at putting on private events for their family of customers. That's a fact. Their most recent event was a private early screening of the new "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" film. This exclusive event took place at the Regal Edwards Big Newport & RPX where guests were presented with a night filled with everything McLaren. A new 2020 McLaren720S Spider was on display that was spec'd out in the same configuration as the 720S Coupe in "Hobbs & Shaw": Saros with Black Interior. Of course, the guests brought their own McLarens turning the theater parking lot into a mini McLaren show. Inside, the guests received their movie passes and some lite bites before the film started. Pietro Frigerio, the Dealer Principal, welcomed the guests inside the screening room, thanking them for their love for the McLaren brand and for taking time to experience the new film with then. When the lights came down and it was time to enjoy the show, the guests sat back and enjoyed while munching on M&M's that featured McLaren logo on each one. Now that's flawless execution when it comes to details. Looking to join the McLaren Newport Beach family? Be sure to click the button below to pick out your next supercar! view mclaren newport beach's inventory

By Edward Jones – July 18, 2019

New Video Showcases Rolls-Royce Miami's “Miami Collection...

Rolls-Royce Miami has created a very special collection of cars that honor the town they reside in. The “Miami Collection, Six of Six” includes Dawn, Ghost and Wraith. Within the collection are two different vibes: Miami by Day and Miami by Night. Both parts of the collection have one of each model in them, but each carries completely different vibes. Rolls-Royce Miami has released a new video showing off the collection in their natural habit: Miami. The ultra-luxury cars can be seen cruising through the streets of the famous Floridian city, putting on a dazzling show. Check it out for yourself down below and be sure to click the button to see everything Rolls-Royce Miami has to offer. browse rolls-royce miami's cars for sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – July 11, 2019

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Bottle Cap Challenge

The bottle cap challenge has taken the internet by storm, for some reason. If you're unsure as to what this challenge is, it started with roundhouse kicking a bottle cap off of a bottle. Sounds simple, but in reality, it's pretty tough. Now that this viral challenge has been on our social timelines for a while, it's taken on some new forms. One form of the bottle cap challenge that's relevant to us is one that involves exotic cars. Porsche West Palm Beach recently uploaded their take on the challenge, which involves a 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. How does a challenge that started with kicking turn into something that can involve a Porsche? Well, click play up above to find out. What is your favorite version of the bottle cap challenge? Let us know in the comments below! view porsche west palm beach's inventory

By Edward Jones – July 01, 2019

Bentley Beverly Hills Takes Over Rodeo Drive

The Rodeo Drive Concours has been going on for 26 years and it shows no signs of slowing down. Our friends at Bentley Beverly Hills, an O'Gara Coach dealership, have been ever-present at this event and this year they pulled out all the stops to celebrate Bentley's 100th anniversary. For the event, Bentley Beverly Hills ensured that the English automaker's creations were seen by everyone. How did they do this? By taking over the entire first block of Rodeo Drive. On display were Bentleys from past and present. This included a vintage Flying SPur, Bentayga Hybrid and many others. Bentley Beverly Hills also took over the front of the Beverly Wilshire with a test drive experience. Guests were able to take a spin in the new Continental GT Convertible, Bentayga Speed and V8 Bentayga. This year was a huge success for Bentley Beverly Hills at the Rodeo Drive Concours. We can't wait to see what's in store for next year's event. view bentley beverly hills' inventory

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2019

McLaren GT Now Available for Order at McLaren Beverly Hills

The new McLaren GT is the English automaker's true Grand Touring automobile. With power, elegance and plenty of room, it checks off all of the boxes. Since it was revealed, many have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on the new GT. For that, we can now say that McLaren Beverly Hills is currently taking orders on the new McLaren GT and they even have one on their showroom floor. To announce the opening of their order book for the McLaren Grand Tourer, McLaren Beverly Hills released a new video, found below. In the video, we see the driver/owner of a McLaren GT getting back into his car only to find a note. On the note, the mystery person (Jenny) remarks on how much they love the car (McLaren GT) and leaves a number. He then throws the note on top of a pile of similar notes. I can imagine the McLaren GT will definitely get a lot of complements when deliveries start. For more information on how you can get your McLaren GT, click the button below. visit mclaren beverly hills' website

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