Events

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 – November 14, 2019

Exotics on Las Olas 2019 Recap

Over the weekend, we attended the second Exotics on Las Olas event, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This incredible event hosted 300 of the world's rarest automobiles, drawing 40,000 attendees to check it all out. Not only was this event all about the cars, but proceeds from the event are also set to go to the Wound Veterans Relief Fund. This non-profit organization's mission is to provide emergency financial support to qualified disabled post 9/11 veterans. Gallery and featured Image by Carlile ImageWorks “It was fantastic to see car enthusiasts and the public get up close and personal with this curated collection of cars and that they could interact with car collectors and innovators in auto craftsmanship,” said Floyd Rag, founder, and events director of Exotics on Las Olas. “I’m thrilled with the turnout at Exotics on Las Olas2, where we showcased some of South Florida's rarest vehicles, I can not wait until next year.” VISIT EXOTICSONLASOLAS.COM Below are the duPont REGISTRY Dealer Partners that attended the event. Each of them showed up in a big way, bringing stunning exotic cars for everyone to see. duPont REGISTRY Dealer Partners There are duPont REGISTRY Dealer Partners across the country, from coast to coast. Below are some of our Dealer Partners from the South Florida are that attended Exotics on Las Olas. If you want to see more of our dealer partners, be sure to visit duPontREGISTRY.com. Excell Auto Group Excell Auto Group brought out some serious horsepower to Exotics on Las Olas. There were hypercars and supercars galore in their lineup. You can view it all up above. And if you want to see more, be sure to view their inventory by clicking the button down below. VIEW INVENTORY Ferrari Fort Lauderdale For Ferrari fans, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale had the perfect selection cars-- they even brought out the ultimate LaFerrari out for all to see. What's more, they were serving coffee right out of their trailer. Now that's how you do it at a show. VIEW INVENTORY Fort Lauderdale Collection South Many haven't had the chance to see the incredible car known as the McLaren Senna. Fort Lauderdale Collection South didn't just bring a Senna but also a Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster and more. This is just a small taste of what they have in their showroom, which you can see by clicking the button below. VIEW INVENTORY

By Edward Jones – October 28, 2019

Prestige Imports Halloween Supercar Run 2019: Over 130 Su...

An incredible amount of extraordinary vehicles were on display at the 8th Annual Halloween Supercar Run, which took place this weekend in North Miami Beach, Florida. Prestige Imports owner Brett David was up to his old tricks and had a day full of treats in store for all who attended this year's record-breaking day of activities and events. view prestige imports' inventory In its eighth year, the 2019 Halloween Super Car Run took place this Saturday, October 26th at Prestige Imports Biscayne Boulevard campus (authorized sales and service for Lamborghini/Pagani/ Lotus/Karma). At 1 PM vehicles started arriving and Prestige’s staff began systematically staging vehicles for the day's events. Hundreds of owners and guests, dressed in amazing Halloween costumes along with 132 exotic cars and supercars graced Prestige Imports 10+ acre property. Attendees were treated to a catered lunch followed by a special vehicle announcement and unveiling. Mr. David invited everyone to the Prestige Imports 2.0 showroom for a very unique art vehicle premier. The capacity crowd moved to the Mixed Exotic Auto/Aero showroom for the first look at the 2020 Karma Revero GT Black Tape Project. After the unveiling, the crowd moved back to the dealership's main lot, for the results of the costume contest, and then David explained the rules for the next phase of the day's event, an escorted drive to the Homestead-Miami Speedway, 45 miles south. Escorted by a dozen Miami Beach Police Cruisers, SUV's and motorcylce officers, 132 vehicles filed out one by one and headed south to the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Upon arrival at the speedway, participants were briefed on track etiquette and grouped by driving/track experience, and then allowed to take their supercars on the track for hot laps. Dinner was served in the exclusive speedway ”Victory Lane Cub” as drivers continued to take turns on the raceway. On the track, drivers were able to truly experience the power and performance of their unique vehicles. Drivers were sent out staggered, one at a time, for non-competitive laps where safety and a controlled performance ownership experience were the goals. Brett David punctuated the spirit of the day by donating proceeds of the day's events to his signature charity, Ride2Revive. This charity was started by David and his family, and it's dedicated to lifting the spirits of children undergoing treatment for life-threatening diseases at multiple children's hospitals in the South Florida area. Prestige Imports Annual Halloween Supercar Run is truly a unique event, one that brings out incredible vehicles as well as the inner child in those people fortunate enough to own them. view prestige imports' inventory Image Credit: John Barreto, Jack Wernet

By Andrew Nabors – September 23, 2019

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: September 2019

Autumn is in the air, and as any Floridian can tell you, the drop in humidity is the best part of the season. Our monthly gathering was greeted by perfect weather and a slight breeze. Thanks to the optimal conditions, we had another unprecedented event. Our next-door neighbors at Dimmitt Automotive brought a matte-finish Range Rover, Jaguar E-Pace, and a handful of McLarens. Watching a 600LT Spider shoot flames on command never gets old. If you happen to attend our Cars and Coffee, be sure to stop by Dimmitt afterward for the Cars & Coffee After Party. To beat the morning rush, several attendees chose to arrive on Friday. Not only is it easier on them, but it also gives us a chance to see amazing cars up close & personal. We had heard rumors about carbon fiber Mustangs being spotted in Montana, and they were confirmed on Saturday. Peregrine Automotive has developed a carbon fiber body for late-model Mustangs, and their Revenge GT is 6" wider than a normal Mustang. The roof and doors are the only parts not altered, to keep the passengers safe. Shaving several hundred pounds makes it ride like a dream, and the 345/30/20 rear tires are Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The fronts are 295/35/20 to provide just enough oversteer to keep it predictable. You will never have such a nimble & enjoyable experience, as the supercharger delivers over 800 horsepower to this featherweight Ford. First Home Bank has a pristine Tesla Model 3 that will be raffled next week. Open a new account and receive 30 tickets. Paddock-1 is building Tampa's first Luxury Garage Condos, and they were here with a small-scale representation of your next home. Each of their condos can be customized to their owner's liking and will feature state-of-the-art technology. You can learn more by clicking here. Just as our parking lots reached capacity, something wild turned the corner. A new Pagani Huayra Roadster made everyone stop and stare. The 2-tone carbotanium masterpiece was built to order, and its AMG V12 produced a symphony of tuned turbo exhaust. In addition to several pristine Italians, our guests were treated to a new Gulf Heritage Edition Ford GT. It was parked next to a 2005 GT, certainly a rare opportunity. It coincided with the debut of our 2020 Exotic Car Buyers Guide and our October issue. A new Toyota Supra Launch Edition caught the import crowd by surprise, and a polished Shelby Cobra glistened in the sunrise. We appreciate all the support from our friends and volunteers, and we will see you next month (October 19th) at Peter O Knight Airport on Davis Island.

By Edward Jones – August 29, 2019

Dream Ride Experience 2019: An Automotive Event Like No O...

Dream Ride Experience 2019: The Most Inspiring Automotive Event By Edward Jones I've come across many automotive events in my years, but the Dream Ride Experience in Farmington, Connecticut will stand out as the most inspiring and moving event that I've attended. The Dream Ride Experience 2019 was the 19th annual event and it was unlike anything I've ever attended. While there was an incredible showing of cars, what stood out during the Dream Ride Experience was the amount of heart behind this event. Dream Ride Experience is the signature fundraising event of The Hometown Foundation, Inc, a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation that centers around individuals with intellectual disabilities, individuals with a major illness, animal welfare, emergency response personnel and the military. Dream Riders are special guests of the event who take center stage during the entirety of the weekend. It was all started by Michael Bozzuto, a man with one of the largest hearts I've seen. Just about everyone I had talked to at the event had a story regarding Mr. Bozzuto and how he would drop everything for one of his Dream Riders. His generosity has culminated into the Dream Ride Experience, where everyone attends with an open heart, ready to help. For the Dream Ride Experience, Special Olympic athletes and more were invited out for a weekend that they would never forget as dream riders and the stars of the weekend. From the Dream Cruise to the dancing parties, it was impossible to not find a smiling face. Saturday - Dream Cruise 2019 For the Dream Cruise, Dream Riders are paired up with classic and exotic cars and sat passenger for a 12-mile cruise. Police escorts guided the cruise out of the Farmington Club and onto the 12-mile path ahead. Streets were lined with spectators who were waving to the Dream Riders, cheering them on as they drove off in what I consider to be the largest envoy of exotic, luxury and classic cars I've ever witnessed. Upon arriving back at the Farmington Club, Dream Riders were presented with a red carpet that guided them into a massive tent. This is where the party began. DJ LAZ and Rubix Kube were the musical guests for the night, playing tunes that kept the Dream Riders dancing throughout the night. There may be no shortage of rallies in the United States, but the Dream Cruise is something completely different. Honestly, you have to see it to believe just how special it really is. Sunday - Dream Show 2019 If you thought the East Coast couldn't put on a massive car show, the Dream Show is here to prove you wrong. When I stepped onto the field Sunday morning, I was blown away with the sheer number of cars attending. Local dealerships like Miller Motorcars, Ferrari of New England and McLaren Boston came out in full-force and attendees came in droves with cars of their own. When all cars were parked, there were hundreds of incredible cars parked on the Farmington Club grounds. Cars like the De Tomaso P72, Koenigsegg Jesko, Pininfarina Battista, Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg Agera, McLaren Senna and many others were on display. I think I counted almost 10 Sennas in attendance to give you an idea of just how wild it was. Throughout the day, judges walked around the endless amount of cars to pick winners and guests were voting on the duPont REGISTRY People's Choice Award winner. The winner was actually an incredibly rare 1967 Ford Mustang that was built in Venezuela. After talking to the owner, we learned that his grandfather had purchased it new and it had been imported decades later. Now, the current owner regularly drives the Mustang to car shows, track days and charitable events. To cap off the day, Dream Riders presented The Hometown Foundation, Inc. with a massive $2.4 million check. That's what this is all about. No matter what coast you're on, the Dream Ride Experience is one event that you don't want to miss. There's so much to be seen and so many emotions to be felt at the event that everyone, even those who don't care about the car, will leave with a smile on their face. Next year will be their 20th annual event and Mr. Bozzuto promises it will be the biggest Dream Ride Experience yet. Visit DreamRide.org for More Info

By Edward Jones – March 12, 2019

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2019 Auction Results

The 21st annual RM Sotheby's Amelia Island auction at the Ritz Carlton during the Amelia Island Concours d-Elegance finished up with over $38.1 million in sales and 84 percent of all lots were sold. Coming in as the highest seller was a rare Ferrari that become the most valuable car sold during the Amelia Island auction week. See the top 10 results down below. 10. 2017 Ferrari F12tdf - $967,500 9. 1992 Ferrari F40 - $1,017,000 8. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - $1,187,500 7. 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan - $1,325,000 6. 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet Le Dandy - $1,352,500 5. 2015 McLaren P1 - $1,490,000 4. 2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 'Sang Noir' - $1,650,000 3. 1930 Duesenberg Model J 'Sweep Panel' Dual-Cowl Phaeton - $1,650,000 2. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra - $1,792,500 1. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB - $2,205,000 Images: ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

By Andrew Nabors – March 12, 2019

duPont REGISTRY's Amelia Island Concours 2019 Recap

What began as a small group of classics has evolved into the 2nd largest automotive event. Only Monterey Car Week is larger than the Concours d'Elegance of Amelia Island. Our schedules were full as we hit the ground running on Wednesday. After procuring the supplies for 4 locations, our silver trailer was parked at the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton. A plethora of Porsches gathered at the Werks Reunion Friday morning. The adjacent fairway was being prepped for Festivals of Speed, and we positioned ourselves between our clients. Terradyne brought their latest Gurkha, and Superformance overloaded the crowd with several flavors of the Future GT Forty. This modern interpretation of the GT40 can be had with all the modern conveniences. Also on display were a few stunners from Naples Classic Car. The stunning HYT Skull watch. The Festivals of Speed was 10 am to 4 pm, which directly impinged on our ability to attend the Concours d'Lemons, a show aimed at misfits and odd survivors you forgot about. More importantly, our crew was split between Cars & Coffee, Motor Expo, and a Porsche Parade to downtown Fernandina Beach. We turned in early on Saturday night, in order to be ready for the 24th Annual Amelia Island Concours. We rallied at 7 am, ready to welcome our guests at Motor Expo, the main entrance, and our VIP Suite overlooking the field. The duPont REGISTRY crew rocking Robert Graham. Attendees were dropped off at Motor Expo, where we had a new Tommy Bahama Edition Airstream Interstate on display. Next to it were our friends from Nmoto, fielding their R7-inspired BMW motorcycle. Overfinch brought their latest in bespoke Range Rovers, and their carbon fiber trim caught everyone's eye. We couldn't look this sharp without the attire provided by Robert Graham. Check out their latest styles in the link above! @racecardyl on the NMOTO Nostalgia Project. Superformance brought the Future GT Forty examples with carbureted big-block and supercharged Coyote power. The crowds proceeded to the main gate, with the duPont REGISTRY command center welcoming them to the event. Opening the event was John Oates singing the National Anthem, and it was a wonderful day. The only casualty was a gorgeous Lamborghini Miura SV, whose carburetors flooded on the way to the podium. Valentino Balboni diagnosed the problem and brought it back to life. We'll see you this Saturday at Cars & Coffee, and stay with us for all your exotic car events. Shop Exotic Cars For Sale

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