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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 – May 23, 2019

Rolls-Royce Miami Introduces the "Miami Collection, Six o...

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Miami has graced the world with a new collection of cars that were inspired by Miami, Florida. Being a Florida-based company, we at duPont REGISTRY always appreciate any love Florida gets and this collection is no exception. The collection is called "Miami Collection, Six of Six" and it includes three different models, the Dawn, Ghost and Wraith. There are two parts to this collection: 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. In the Miami by Day half of the collection, the cars are reminiscent of a sunny day in Miami. Each car is finished in a two-tone paint scheme of Carrara White over Latte. Inside is Seashell leather with Oatmeal and Dark Spice accents, and Open Pore Royal Walnut woodwork. Altogether, these cars are just as bright and refreshing as a day in South Florida. Rolls-Royce Miami Awarded American Dealer of the Year for 2018 The Miami by Night collection is a different story. Instead of the bright tones, these three cars are finished in a stunning Dark Indigo paint that's as dark as the night sky. Each car has an equally dark cabin that features Sunrise leather with Purple Silk accents and Mimosa Negra Open Pore veneer. All six cars were are marked by a Palm Tree motif that can be found on the in the hand-painted coachline, on the headrests and treadplates. Prices for each of the cars in the Miami Collection vary depending on the model, ranging from $430,000 for the Ghost to $470,000 for the Dawn Miami Night edition. If you're interested in checking them out, they will be on display at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Miami. View Rolls-Royce Miami's Inventory

By Edward Jones – April 24, 2019

The McLaren 600LT: Your Next Daily Driver

Supercars can be more than just fun to drive. In fact, some of them can be the perfect daily driver. Case in point, the McLaren 600LT. While it may look like a rocket, and it is, don't get me wrong, but it's also impeccable when it comes to daily driving. Beau Rogers of McLaren Beverly Hills knows this fact first hand, especially after his most recent outing around the streets of Beverly Hills. book a 600lt test drive today " width="680"> "The bumper to bumper dread is the reality for most Angelinos," wrote Rogers in his write-up on OGaraCoach.com. "Stoplight to stoplight, constant change of lands, bridge a gap - repeat." These kinds of daily annoyances add up, especially when they're a daily occurrence. Thankfully, drivers of the 600LT can drive easily. Rogers notes that it's "nice to know that the 600LT handles that aspect with the best of them." Naturally, most owners of the 600LT know that the new McLaren truly shines when on the track. For that, Rogers took the supercar over to The Thermal Club, a private race track out in the California desert. When Rogers first put the 600LT's pedal to the floor, he was met with a joyous response. "I laughed out loud as I took a few pulls of the right paddle," exclaimed Rogers. He also notes that the 600LT is a rarity in that it's the first road car he's driven where its "cornering limitations are beyond belief. "With the handling mode set to Track, the 600LT is pancake-flat through the sweeping turns." Interested in a McLaren 600LT for yourself? Be sure to contact McLaren Beverly Hills to find out about their current selection of 600LTs. contact mclaren beverly hills

By Edward Jones – April 09, 2019

Rolls-Royce Cullinan Powers Through the Snow of Sun Valley

Rolls-Royces are not known to go off-road. Well, we can't recall many Rolls-Royces going out for adventure before the Cullinan was revealed. Now that there is an SUV in the English luxury automaker's lineup, all of that has changed. Our friends at Rolls-Royce of Beverly Hills recently took a Cullinan out for a trip, taking it across terrain that all the other Rolls-Royce models would not dare cross. Check out the full story and beautiful images below! Article and Photos by Robert Grubbs of O'Gara Coach Sun Valley, Idaho, made famous by the Iconic American author, is home to some of the most beautiful and rugged landscape in the country. Famous for not only its residents past and present, but for its world-class skiing. Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills recently took over the quiet mountain town with a pair of the most luxurious and capable SUV’s ever created: The Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The purpose of our journey was to sponsor the Janss Pro-Am Ski competition with help from Rolls-Royce North America. The fun weekend of competition raises money for over 700 kids who participate in the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Our presence gave locals and visitors alike the ability to drive the Cullinan in locations they would never think possible for a brand like Rolls-Royce. It also gave our photographer the chance to capture content not normally available in Southern California. Below are the highlights of our beautiful journey. Sun Valley, specifically the Lodge, is a well-known residence for celebrities during the peak winter months. For this reason, the locals have seen their fair share of luxury cars, including Rolls-Royces. This vehicle, however, seemed to have quite the effect on the town. During our adventures shooting the Cullinan in and around downtown, every pedestrian and passerby gave the off-road Luxury Vehicle a long stare. For our first two days, we wanted to photograph the Cullinan in a more lifestyle and luxury setting. To help with this we partnered with local Luxury Real Estate professionals, Katherine Rixon and Rob Cronin. The first home felt like a modern mountain hideaway. The stone and rusted accents played as a perfect Backdrop for the Jubilee Silver high bodied vehicle. Once the rain and subsequent snow started it was time to call it a night and get an early start the next morning. For day two, we would focus on the gorgeous Emerald Green Cullinan. For that, we decided to utilize one of the largest estates in all of Sun Valley. Off Greenhorn Road sits a truly unique yet classic estate. Designed to resemble something out of the Old West, this beautiful home gave the Dark Green vehicle the elegant look we were looking for. At over 19,000 square feet, there was no shortage of incredible angles to shoot the car from. We were even lucky enough for the sun to come out as the morning shoot wrapped. That afternoon we decided to bring a bit of Beverly Hills Style and Panache to the snow, and do a lifestyle shoot with our very own Events Director, Nacole Gray. Day three consisted of a late afternoon field trip to the famed Silver Spring Ranch. The picturesque land thirty miles south of Sun Valley where Hemingway was known to hunt, gave us the perfect opportunity to take the capable vehicle off road. Dirt, rock, mud, and snow; we drove through it all in the name of getting the perfect shot. As the sun got lower the drama went up. We finished the day with the Cullinan blasting through knee deep snow to achieve that elusive action shot we had yet to capture. As the stage was set for the championship, the Cullinan greeted the competitors as they crossed the finish line. With its undeniable presence, it was an incredible sight at the base of the famed Warm Springs Mountain. Sun Valley is a very special place and while the end had to come, the journey was something we will never forget. view Rolls-royce beverly hills' inventory

By Edward Jones – March 21, 2019

Excell Auto Group is Selling the World's Most Expensive S...

Excell Auto Group, located in Boca Raton, Florida, is currently housing the only example of the extravagant Karlmann King SUV in the United States. Born out of Italy, the Karlmann King is one of the most exclusive SUVs in the entire world. Additionally, it's the most expensive SUV you'll find in the world. The Karlmann King was inspired by a stealth fighter, an apparent inspiration when you look at the sharp edges and flat surfaces that are found on the exterior. When designing the SUV, the facets of a diamond also served as inspiration which translated into the multiple flat surfaces on the exterior. For those interested in owning such the Karlmann King in the United States, you're in luck. Excell Auto Group is currently taking orders on the SUV, which starts at $1.8 million. When ordering, customers will be able to completely customize their SUV, turning it into a true automotive expression of themselves. Each of the Karlmann King's will be completely unique and handmade, combining exclusivity with craftsmanship. The SUV can also be made with a bulletproof exterior. For more information, click the button below to contact Excell Auto Group. learn more

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2018

O'Gara Announces First McLaren Dealership in San Diego

O'Gara La Jolla has just announced the first McLaren dealership in San Diego.McLaren San Diego is opening up as the O'Gara Coach Co. continues to expand. Just last year, McLaren Beverly Hills was opened up and quickly became the highest volume McLaren dealership in the world. O'Gara Coach Co. is looking to repeat their success with the new San Diego location. "We are very excited to represent McLaren in San Diego," says Tom O’Gara, co-founder of the O’Gara Group. "McLaren ownership takes it a step further through their bespoke division, McLaren Special Operations (MSO). MSO is driven by a passion for perfection and allows owners to create ultra-exclusive, limited edition or one-off models." "We are very excited to represent McLaren in San Diego," says Tom O’Gara, co-founder of the O’Gara Group. "McLaren ownership takes it a step further through their bespoke division, McLaren Special Operations (MSO). MSO is driven by a passion for perfection and allows owners to create ultra-exclusive, limited edition or one-off models." McLaren San Diego's clients will be able to partake in a number of exclusive events, clubs and experiences. The O'Gara Owner's Club, for example, provides its members with exclusive access to events and track days. There's also a driving program that O'Gara will base out of The Thermal Club. O'Gara is actually the only dealership that offers private charter flights to McLaren owners that will take them to the members-only private track. If you're in the San Diego area, you can check out their showroom by making an appointment or by attending one of their events like San Diego GT - Cars & Coffee Reinvented. Related: Dark Blue Metallic Porsche 918 Spyder for Sale at O’Gara La Jolla Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan Compared Lamborghini Urus Delivered in California to O’Gara Coach La Jolla

By Edward Jones – October 31, 2018

The Story of BJ Motors, Vipers and Track Records

When Bernie Katz first saw the Dodge Viper back in 1991, he was immediately in love. At the time, he was building up his own business, so he knew it wasn't the time for him to buy one when they released in the near future. Years later, he found a new passion in the wild Plymouth Prowler and Harley Davidson motorcycles. This passion led him to buy four Prowlers and actually become the President of the Virginia Prowler Club. Bernie Katz Interviewing for the film "7:01 - The Story of Viper's Return to the Green Hell" Still, Katz had the Viper in the back of his mind and his passion for the car grew every time he saw the powerful American monster. Eventually, he pulled the trigger on a 1997 Dodge Viper with 3k miles thanks to a trade that involved one of his Prowlers. Just one week after owning the Viper, he took his Viper to Viper Days, a Viper race venue that gave owners a chance to test their skills behind the wheel of Dodge's insane automotive creation. It took this one event to have Katz hooked on racing his Viper. After that, he began modifying his red Viper, starting with a few upgrades made by Steve Dryer of Autoform. Then came more upgrades, like bigger brakes, headers, exhaust and even the removal of accessories like the stereo. It was all in the name of just going fast. Unfortunately, he smashed his prized Viper into a wall at the Topeka racetrack. This led him to send the car off to Archer racing who would turn it into a full-blown race car. After that? He was awarded the Brian Angen Award for being most promising driver. Knowing his future would be in the automotive field, Katz sold his Food Service management business and started up BJ Motors. The "B" stands for Bernie and the "J" stands for Jon, his partner in the business. In the Winter of 2002, they rented a Chevrolet dealership that had shut down and renovated it for their business. They went through many years until 2008 when the "J" in the business bought himself out. This left Katz and his wife worried about the future of the business. That is until a man called in with a Texas slang looking to buy a GT2 for his collection. The man explained he had caught the "race bug," a bug that Katz was familiar with. The man was Ben Keating. After selling him a GT2 and continuing conversation, they talked about starting a Viper business through Keating's dealership, Tomball Dodge. This led to the creation of ViperExchange. During the partnership between Keating and Katz, they began getting into racing together. Unfortunately, Katz was suffering from back problems and had to live vicariously through his partner. Around 2010, it was rumored that the Viper was going to be discontinued yet again. This led Katz and Keating to order 149 cars from the factory. In 2011, they only had a handful of Vipers left when Chrysler called asking them to provide a few ACR's for one purpose: to run Nurburgring for a new production car lap record. The team headed off to Nurburgring to try and break the record, but the weather held them back from accomplishing their goal. Ten days after they had arrived at the famous track, they were looking to head with no record. That is, until someone thought of asking Ron Howard, who was using the track at the time for shooting a film, if they could use the track during his time on the track. Howard said if they finished in time, they could have at it. Monday was the day when they were given 30 minutes of track time, thanks to Ron Howards' graciousness. After having just 30 minutes to get everything together, including cars and drivers, they were off. Tom Cornell and Dominique Farnbacher were both in the Vipers that were brought over, looking to break the record time of 7:14. Cornell clocked in at 7:12.99 and Farnbacher at 7:12.13. Against all odds, they accomplished their goal. You can view Farnnbacher's lap right below. Since that fateful day, both ViperExchange and BJ motors have merged into one massive dealership. What started off as a little shop in Virginia has grown into the #1 largest new and pre-owned Viper dealer in the world, and a dealer of the world's most exotic cars. They have also continued growing their racing venture. If you're looking to buy a Viper or talk to someone about racing, look no further. View BJ Motors Inventory Inside BJ Motors

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