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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 – December 01, 2021

P1 Groupe Introduces New Online Auto Auction

Presented by P1 Groupe - As P1 Groupe celebrates its 15th-anniversary providing services to the motorsports industry this month, they're excited to announce a brand-new online auto auction, www.P1AutoAuction.com launched on November 23rd, 2021. There are a lot of online auto auction options out there, and P1 Groupe via P1AutoAuction.com aims to change the game! P1AutoAuction.com strives to set itself apart from the competition by providing a solution to online car sales that is easy and accessible. While some sites are taking 90-120 days to get auctions lots listed, they're working on under 10-day turn-around times. Getting the auto listed in that time means the sellers get the funds in their hands that much faster. There are no listing fees for the sellers and they have finance options for approved buyers! Buy and sell with confidence with a known brand in the industry, supported by their well-connected, industry-expert partners that collectively will provide world-class service. P1 Groupe will constantly be innovating and upgrading the services for their users such as Smart Contracts, Payment Processing (including crypto), auto finance options, transport and many more as they move forward! They'll be rolling out of the gates with the personalized service, professional photography/video services, auto finance options, and more. Their Smart Contracts and Payment Processing options will follow shortly in Q1 of 2022. Log onto www.P1AutoAuction.com now to create your account and start listing your vehicles! View P1 Groupe Inventory

By Edward Jones – November 10, 2021

O'Gara Motorsport to Become Exclusive Distributor of TDF-...

The ultimate track experience, brought to you by O'Gara Motorsport and Tour-De-Force. O'Gara Motorsport has announced a partnership with Tour-De-Force that will make them the Official Distributor for the TDF-One program in North America. If you're unfamiliar with the TDF-One, it's a handbuilt track car that offers a drive that's on par with what a Grand Prix driver experiences. In fact, each TDF-One is built around a genuine Formula One chassis that has previously competed in a race. From there, the team at Tour-De-Force adds in a powerplant that can be tuned to produce between 450 to 600 bhp. As far as the exterior goes, gone are the extremely fragile components. Instead, the TDF-One utilizes redesigned parts. Essentially, if you've ever wanted to feel like one of the race drivers you see on TV each Sunday, the TDF-One is your best bet. When ordering a TDF-One, each customer meets up with the experts at O'Gara to go over the bespoke options so that they can create a race car that perfectly fits their needs. If you want a good idea of what they're capable of, the TDF-One you see in this article was the very first customer chassis that was delivered to O'Gara's facility found at The Thermal Club. For more information, be sure to contact O'Gara Motorsport. View O'Gara Coach Beverly Hills Inventory Source: O'Gara Motorsport

By Gabriel Vega – November 08, 2021

Lamborghini Gathers More Than 1,500 Cars for Internationa...

There is no denying that Lamborghini produces some of the most attention-grabbing cars currently on sale. To capitalize on that abundance of attention, the Italian carmaker decided to organize an international rally comprised of more than 1,500 cars for charity. The charity in question is Movember, the world's leading men's health organization. In support of the organization, all vehicles in attendance wore matching mustaches on their front hoods. While this was mainly an international rally, 22 U.S. states participated in total. Since this is the largest rally Lamborghini has ever hosted, I was happy to attend my local route in Los Angeles, overseen by Lamborghini Beverly Hills. The Italian carmaker sent me a 2022 Urus to join the parade, with an accompanying mustache upfront to make this event even sweeter. The day began at Lamborghini Beverly Hills, where all of the participating vehicles gathered, and all of the drivers had a chance to get to know one another. It was great to see Lamborghinis of multiple eras join the run, from an early Gallardo to a brand-new Aventador SVJ Roadster. There was plenty of variety on offer. After escaping the surprising amount of traffic around Los Angeles on a Saturday morning, the run took to Angeles Crest Highway to hit the canyons. While the Urus I drove was far from the loudest car in attendance, the sound of V12s and V10s bouncing off the canyon walls was enough to make even a calm drive an exciting one. Once we got to the middle point in the mountains, everyone stopped for a quick chat and a couple of photos before running down the canyons. Throughout our entire time on the road, the group of Lambos gathered an insane amount of attention, leaving plenty of folks on the streets and other cars asking about the mustaches. The day ended at the Petersen Automotive Museum, where even more cars joined the display. The highlight of the day was that people inside the museum could step out into a multi-million-dollar gathering of mustached supercars. While this day was a blast for those of us in the rally, it's all for a greater purpose. " width="680"> As mentioned earlier, the whole point was to support Movember. This organization brings attention to crucial issues surrounding men's health, such as mental health, suicide prevention, and different cancers such as testicular and prostate. While the rally is over, you can still donate by clicking here. All in, this event shows that flashy supercars can be utilized for a greater good, a win for Movember, Lamborghini, and everyone involved in the rally. Check out these Lamborghini models for sale below so you can join your next local bull run. See All Lamborghinis For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 20, 2021

Prestige Imports Halloween Super Car Run Returns For 2021

It's time for spooky supercars! Prestige Imports has just announced the new 2021 Halloween Super Car Run and we are more than excited. In previous years, aside from 2020 due to the pandemic, Prestige Imports has held the Halloween Super Car Run as an event where cars and drivers alike get dressed up in costume. This year, 80 supercars, exotic cars and luxury cars will be allowed to partake in the event for the sake of track time at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The event will start at 12pm on Saturday, October 23 at Prestige Imports for a BBQ lunch and a costume contest. From there, the group of spooky supercars will be escorted by police from the dealership to the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Once arrived at the track, the participants will be given a driver debrief before they take to the tracks. Prestige Imports also notes that their Lamborghini Miami x TR3 Racing Huracan Supertrofeo cars will be doing a demo session on the track as well. For more information, be sure to contact Prestige Imports. View Prestige Imports' Inventory

By Edward Jones – October 04, 2021

Double Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ Unboxing

Double the Bugatti is always better. Bugatti recently announced that the first eight examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ were ready for delivery and we already have more news regarding the hypercar. Miller Motorcars recently put on an epic double Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ unboxing, and they filmed and photographed the entire happening. The unboxing took place at a secret location where the dealership revealed the hypercar in a stunning fashion. Fireworks, fireballs, and lighting were used to showcase the unboxing. It was truly an epic event for two Bugatti models that deserve nothing less. You can check it out for yourself by clicking play up above. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is a limited edition hypercar that was created to celebrate the automaker's 304 mph world-record run. That sprint would be the first time a production car would break the 300 mph mark. This special edition Chiron Super Sport is limited to just 30 examples and has features that are exclusive to the variant. These touches include the black and jet orange paintwork, reworked body components, lightweight magnesium wheels, Super Sport 300+ badging, new tailpipe configuration, and more. View Miller Motorcars' Inventory Source: Miller Motorcars

By Edward Jones – September 24, 2021

Koenigsegg Regera "Kejsare" On Display at Motorcars of At...

A chance to meet the Emperor. If you happen to find yourself in Atlanta in the near future, you ought to do yourself a favor and visit Motorcars of Atlanta. Not only do they have an incredible collection to browse, but there's a special guest: a Koenigsegg Regera named "Kejsare." This incredible hypercar's name means "Emperor" in Swedish. The name fits perfectly as Regera in Swedish means "to reign," and the Emperor most certainly reigns supreme. With 1,500+ horsepower and 1,475+ lb-ft of torque on tap, Kejsare can rule any street or track it finds itself on. Motorcars of Atlanta is located at 7865 Roswell Rd, Atlanta GA 30350. They're open 9am-7pm on weekdays, 9am-6pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sunday. View Inventory Image Source: @motorcars_of_atlanta/Instagram

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2021

Highline Highlights at O'Gara Coach Beverly Hills

This week on duPont REGISTRY’s Highline Highlight, we are featuring O'Gara Coach Beverly Hills, headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. Down below is just a taste of what they have to offer in their expansive inventory. To see it all, click the "View Entire Inventory". View Entire Inventory 2018 McLaren 720S View Price and Listing 2017 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 View Price and Listing 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS View Price and Listing 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge View Price and Listing 2021 Aston Martin Vantage View Price and Listing 2021 Aston Martin DBX View Price and Listing 2021 McLaren 720S View Price and Listing 2020 McLaren 720S Spider Performance View Price and Listing

By Edward Jones – September 13, 2021

McLaren Newport Beach Presents The Ultimate Series

McLaren's Ultimate Series is quite deserving of the name. Comprised of the McLaren P1, P1 GTR, Senna, Senna GTR, Speedtail, and Elva, this series is absolutely stacked with phenomenal hypercars. To celebrate the series, McLaren Newport Beach is currently publishing posts on their Instagram account that highlights each of the Ultimate Series models featured in the epic photo up above. One model is highlighted each week, starting off with the Speedtail. Be sure to check back each week as we will be updating this article. McLaren Speedtail This example of the Speedtail is finished in Satin Pearl White over a White leather interior. This white-on-white combination is perfectly matched with black and carbon fiber accents. Speaking of carbon fiber, this Speedtail has 1k carbon fiber throughout the entire exterior, while forged carbon fiber can be found in the interior. The cherry-on-top is the platinum badging. McLaren Elva Next up in McLaren Newport Beach's highlight of the Ultimate Series is the Elva, a roadster with power and grace. The example being highlighted by the dealership is a stunning one with Pure Black paint. Contrasting against the deep black paint are the red bespoke pinstripes, red Alcantara seats, red interior piping, and red brake calipers. Basically, the only two tones you'll find on its Elva are either black or red, and it looks perfect. Source: McLaren Newport Beach

By Edward Jones – August 31, 2021

Manhattan Motorcars Stuns with Rooftop Hypercar Showcase

Courtesy of Manhattan Motorcars - With the cancelation of the 2021 New York Auto Show out of Coronavirus concerns, Manhattan Motorcars chose to curate their own Hypercar Showcase on a much more tailored scale. Spanning several floors of their mid-town New York dealership, the week-long event which was open to the public and press was geared towards showing the automotive individuality and the unique aptitude for sourcing exotic and truly one-of-a-kind vehicles. The week had several notable moments including previews of select, specially commissioned vehicles. A pair of Bugattis could be seen early Monday on 11th Avenue in New York City carefully being unloaded from a discrete vehicle transporter, later then staged within the Bugatti Showroom. Not only is the Bugatti Chiron Sport among the most sought after from the manufacturer, but the additional variant of the Chiron SuperSport was the most expensive vehicle on display during the week, with a starting price of $3.9million. Mid-week, Mate Rimac Founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili along with his Head of Sales, Kreso Coric, and Sales Manager, Robert Beber held an intimate discussion for a hand-selected group while they were able to interact and experience both of the brand’s notable models, the Rimac Nevera and Rimac Concept One. The company, which is based in Croatia, has recently achieved the record for the World’s Fasted Accelerating Production Car of 0-60 in just 1.90 seconds by the all-electric Nevera. As a summation of the week’s previews, all custom-commissioned Hypercars were taken by lift to the dealership rooftop, which had been transformed into a club lounge scene. A total of fourteen cars were on display for the Thursday evening event and were illumined against the sunset of the Manhattan skyline as guests entered to the sounds from the DJ booth. Among the displayed cars were the Bugatti SuperSport and Bugatti Chiron Sport, Rimac Nevera and Rimac Concept One, Koenigsegg Gemera and Koenigsegg CCR – which is Christian von Koenigsegg's personal car, Lamborghini STO, McLaren Senna LM, Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner, Bentley Flying Spur, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Polestar 1, and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT. Reportedly, the 400 guests also experienced a premium tasting by The Macallan and a large display from Beretta Gallery. Other event sponsors included FEM, Hagerty Garage + Social, Hugo Boss, Master & Dynamic, The MJS Groupe, Rally Point East, The Baker House 1650, and Stonegate Real Estate. A very large menu was prepared as well and provided by Diane Hendricks. The dealership group which has been known for its bespoke inventory and luxury clientele also has a history of bringing in the most unique brands to market before they become available in any other region, and this showcase is a testament to their continued success and automotive diversity. View Manhattan Motorcars Inventory

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By Edward Jones – August 27, 2021

The Avondale Group Celebrates Their First Anniversary

In North Texas, the Avondale Group is celebrating its one-year anniversary after its rebranding. It's an exciting time for the Avondale Group, whose dealerships represent iconic automotive brands from around the world. Why? Well, it's their one-year anniversary! The Texan dealer group includes dealerships such as Mercedes-Benz and Sprinter of Grapevine, Porsche Grapevine, McLaren Dallas, Rolls-Royce Motors Dallas, Bentley Dallas, Maserati Dallas, Aston Martin Dallas, and Koenigsegg Dallas. As you can tell, they have quite a few showroom floors. However, they have more than showroom floors thanks to Avondale Select, the first Texas app-based, subscription automotive program, and Avondale Collision and Repair. Hesham Elgaghil, president of Avondale Group said, “We are proud of our success and the culture we have created which is supported by our core values.” Avondale’s employees, referred to as members, strive to embody the Avondale ‘Spirit’. Avondale S.P.I.R.I.T. is an acronym that stands for Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Trust. These are the values exemplified daily by its members and how they continue to create lasting relationships with their clients and the community. On top of providing their customers with exceptional cars and equally exceptional service, Avondale's founders continue to support the needs of communities in North Texas. They frequently host fundraising events, take part in community activations and recently refurbished the damaged truck of a Make-A-Wish teen. If you'd like to learn more about the Avondale Group or see what they currently have in their inventory, be sure to click the button below. View Avondale Group Inventory

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