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

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By Edward Jones – August 13, 2021

What To Do at Monterey Car Week 2021

Monterey Car Week 2021 has officially started, bringing thousands of cars and guests to the coastal city in California. During this week, there will be plenty to do and so much to see across the entire city. From car reveals to massive gatherings of exotic cars, there's no doubt in our minds that you'll be able to see something that will make this one of the best ever. If you need help finding out what to do, check the schedule down below of events happening throughout the week, all of which end with the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Be sure to also check out the duPont REGISTRY area in the Concours Village from August 12 to 15. CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA: CARMEL CONCOURS ON THE AVENUETuesday, August 10, 2021, 10am-5pmMore Info GORDON MCCALL'S MOTORWORKS REVIVALWednesday, August 11, 2021, 5pm-10pmMore Info ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION: WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECAThursday, August 12-15, 2021More Info THE QUAIL, A MOTORSPORTS GATHERINGFriday, August 13, 2021, 10am-4pmMore Info LEGENDS OF THE AUTOBAHNFriday, August 13, 2021, 9am-3pmMore Info WERKS REUNION, A PORSCHE GATHERINGFriday, August 13, 2021More Info PACIFIC GROVE CONCOURS AUTO RALLYFriday, August 13, 2021More Info CONCORSO ITALIANO, BLACK HORSE GOLF COURSESaturday, August 14, 2021, 9:30am-4pmMore Info CONCOURS D'LEMONSSaturday, August 14, 2021, 8am-1:30pmMore Info PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCESunday, August 15, 2021, 10:30-5pmMore Info

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 05, 2021

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2021 Welcomes Back Autom...

Get Ready to Start Your Engines! We Are Ready to Welcome You Back to Pebble Beach Automotive Week. As automotive collectors and enthusiasts prepare for Pebble Beach Automotive Week, we are proud to welcome back the crowd for the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours. The infamous week full of priceless new and classic cars is back in full effect for all to enjoy. While following the health and safety guidelines, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is proud to debut the all-new Concours Village. As part of the Concours Village, guests can visit duPont REGISTRY, Meguiar’s, Grundy Insurance, and Zeiss. Located next to the Concours Village, attendees can also check out vehicles from Mercedes-AMG, Blackhawk Museum, Ford, and more. A combination of manufacturer displays and collector examples is sure to fuel any fan of classic and modern automotive excellence. MUST READ: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2019 Recap Alongside the infinite number of museum-grade chassis, duPont REGISTRY will be featuring a display with vendors including Airstream, Creative Bespoke, Desert Power Wagons, International Defense K9, Luxury Auto Collection, The Medford Guy, O’Gara-The Reserve, PXG, Sintor Trucks, Specialty Vehicle Engineering, and Tire Stickers. Make sure to stop by the duPont REGISTRY area to see some amazing vehicles and products, as well as to grab a complimentary September 2021 issue of our magazine. Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

By Edward Jones – August 04, 2021

Mecum Sees $35 Million in Sales at Orlando Summer Special...

80 percent sell-through rate with 850 cars being sold. Mecum Auctions has wrapped up their Orlando Summer Special event and has finalized the numbers. The results are out and they're impressive. In total, 850 cars were sold for a sell-through rate of 80 percent and overall sales reaching $35 million. American cars both classic and modern were hot-ticket items as there were nine in the top ten sales and five of those were Corvettes. In fact, there was one lone European car among the top ten which was a stunning 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose. You can view the top ten sales down below. Be sure to also check out Mecum's upcoming Monterey event which takes place August 12-14. Top 10 Sales 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot F95) at $352,000 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S216) at $352,000 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe (Lot S145) at $324,500 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (Lot S100) at $297,000 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose (Lot S93) at $286,000 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L89 Convertible (Lot S212) at $264,000 2017 Dodge Viper SRT GTC Coupe (Lot F135.1) at $247,500 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback (Lot S192) at $231,000 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak (Lot F139.1) at $209,000 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S109) at $203,500 Source: Mecum Auctions

By Edward Jones – July 23, 2021

duPont REGISTRY July 2021 Cars & Coffee Tampa Bay

To say that our recent July 2021 Cars & Coffee event in Tampa Bay was a success would truly be an understatement. Taking place at Armature Works, the event drew in thousands of guests and hundreds of supercars, luxury cars, classic cars, muscles cars and so much more-- even the JDM community showed up in strength. It seemed as though anyone who enjoyed the automotive world and lived within a 30-mile radius showed up to enjoy the incredible display of vehicles. Joining in on the festivities were our friends from Certified Motors, European Exotic Center, Dimmitt Automotive Group, Ferrari of Tampa Bay, Icon Golf Carts, Motor Enclave, and Reeves Import Motorcars. With so many guests showing up, we had a lot of photographers at the ready to take pictures of the cars on display. Below are galleries from our guests of the event. If you have any pictures you'd like to share, be sure to send them to CarsandCoffee@dupontregistry.com. We also plan on holding our next Cars & Coffee Tampa Bay event this Fall. To stay up-to-date regarding our Cars & Coffee events, be sure to click here and sign up for our dedicated newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Photos by @NMR_Media Photos by @creativecustomsfl Guests Images Photo by Victor Cruz Photo by Victor Cruz Photo by Victor Cruz Photo by Victor Cruz Photo by Steve Boulter Photo by Steve Boulter Photo by @screamin_c7 Photo by @jpn.media Photo by @jpn.media Photo by @jpn.media Photo by @jpn.media Photo by @jpn.media Photo by @jpn.media Photo by Fotoset by James Photo by Fotoset by James Photo by Fotoset by James Photo by Fotoset by James Photo by Baxter Beanie

By Edward Jones – July 15, 2021

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee Tampa Bay July 2021

It's time, once again, for our Cars and Coffee event. On July 17, 2021, duPont REGISTRY's Cars and Coffee Tampa Bay event will be taking over Armature Works in Tampa, Florida. Hundreds of supercars, sports cars, classic cars, muscle cars and so much more will be showing up, and guests will have plenty of time and space to see them all. Because the event is being held at Armature Works, there will be plenty of food and beverages for guests to enjoy during their visit. This month's Cars and Coffee event will be supporting the Hillsborough Educational Foundation. You can help the foundation's efforts to #EraseTheNeed by bringing backpacks and unwrapped school supplies. If you'd like to learn more about the foundation, you can visit EducationFoundation.com for more information or click the button found below. Event Details Where: 1910 N Ola Ave Tampa, FL 33602When: 8 - 11 AMPrice: Free Visit EducationFoundation.com

By Edward Jones – June 18, 2021

Mecum Tulsa Auction Brings In $21 Million in Sales

Mecum’s inaugural Tulsa collector car auction was a resounding success. The results are in for the inaugural Mecum Tulsa and they point to nothing less than it being a success. After the 660 cars crossed the auction block, 539 were sold for an impressive sell-through rate of about 82%. Overall total sales reached $21.2 million, as well. Interestingly enough, the top three sellers were all Ford GTs from 2005 and 2006. Mecum also offered the Elkin Brothers Collection, which consisted of 14 vehicles. This collection had sold for a total of more than $1.14 million. You can view the top 10 sales from the event down below. 2006 Ford GT (Lot S115.1) at $330,000 2005 Ford GT (Lot S105) at $302,500 2006 Ford GT (Lot S130.1) at $280,500 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code (Lot S141) at $203,500 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe (Lot S168) at $176,000 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special Fastback (Lot S141) at $165,000 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van (Lot F168) at $159,500 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S197) at $159,500 2010 Ferrari California Convertible (Lot S38) at $143,000 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda (Lot S117) at $132,000 Source: Mecum Auctions

By Edward Jones – June 16, 2021

RM Sotheby's Milan Auction Results: Famous Ferrari is Top...

RM Sotheby's first-ever Milan auction proves to be a resounding success. The results are now in from RM Sotheby's Milan auction, their first live event in Europe for quite some time. The total in sales from the 19 lot event was a very remarkable €11,635,000 (~$14,000,000). Leading the sales was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis #08641, that was purchased from Roger Vadim in 1966 and eventually owned by his wife, Jane Fonda. Another very notable result was that of a 1988 Lamborghini LM002. This Lamborghini SUV sold for €393,125 (~$473,000), which was a world record price for an LM002. You can view the top 10 results down below. Top 10 Sales Lot 110 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB €2,255,000 (~$2,715,000) Lot 117 2000 Ferrari 550 GT1 €1,805,000 (~$2,173,000) Lot 116 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso €1,478,750 (~$2,715,000) Lot 114 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster €1,051,250 (~$1,780,000) Lot 118 2004 Koenigsegg CCR €798,125 (~$960,900) Lot 119 1996 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI ITC €792,500 (~$954,000) Lot 111 1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d'Este Coupé €640,625 (~$771,000) Lot 113 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé 'Superprofilée' €545,000 (~$656,000) Lot 112 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series III €466,250 (~$561,000) Lot 108 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II €455,000 (~$547,000) Source: RM Sotheby's

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By Edward Jones – June 15, 2021

Caffeine and Octane Partners With Jacksonville Car Culture

An exciting partnership to relaunch the North Florida monthly car show. It has just been announced that Caffeine and Octane, the brand behind North America's largest monthly car show in Dunwoody, Georgia and the "Caffeine and Octane" television show on NBC Sports Network, will be partnering with Jackson Car Culture, host of the Jacksonville Cars & Coffee event. This new partnership will start with the inaugural Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville event on Saturday, July 10th at The Avenues Mall in (10300 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256). This event will celebrate local and national military vehicles with a dedicated parking and display area, similar to Caffeine and Octane's July 2021 event in Georgia. You can learn more about this event by clicking the button below to visit FirstCoastCarCulture.com. Learn More Source: First Coast Car Culture, Featured Image Source: Deremer Studios LLC

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2021

Concorso Ferrari & Friends: Honoring Connecticut Children...

Presented by Concorso Ferrari & Friends - The Farmington Polo Grounds is the perfect venue for Southern New England's signature automobile event in support of Connecticut Children’s. Join us for a 100% open-air car show where spectators can view all makes and models of luxury Italian automobiles and supercars, listen to driver interviews, enjoy delicious food truck fare and cheer on our Healthcare Heroes Parade as they arrive on the grounds. This year's Concorso Ferrari & Friends parade will honor Connecticut Children's Healthcare Heroes who have gone above and beyond to keep our patients safe. Please join us at 10AM to celebrate the arrival of Connecticut Children's Healthcare Heroes. We are excited to honor these individuals, who were nominated by their colleagues, for this first-ever, once-in-a-lifetime experience for team members. Proceeds from this year's celebration will support the Greatest Need Children's Fund at Connecticut Children's. The Greatest Need Children’s Fund ensures children of all ages have the resources they need to get better and get back to the important business of being kids. Learn More About Connecticut Children’s: Connecticut Children’s is a nationally recognized, 187-bed not-for-profit children’s hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, we foster a patient- and family-centered environment with a focus on research, education and advocacy. Connecticut Children’s serves as the primary pediatric teaching hospital for the UConn School of Medicine, has a teaching partnership with the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University and is a research partner of The Jackson Laboratory. Connecticut Children’s welcomes, cares for and protects all children who walk through our doors. We are an institution of acceptance and compassion regardless of nationality or immigration status. History The history of Connecticut Children’s spans more than 100 years. Founded as a 10-bed hospital for children who suffered incurable conditions like cerebral palsy, spina bifida and polio, Connecticut Children’s is now one of only two freestanding children’s hospitals in New England and the only freestanding children’s hospital in Connecticut. Specialties With a medical staff of more than 1,000 practicing in more than 30 specialties, Connecticut Children’s is a tertiary referral center that provides outstanding care to children of all ages affected by a wide range of conditions. Our Not-For-Profit Status Connecticut Children’s is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. As a not-for-profit organization, all of our stakeholders benefit from Connecticut Children’s accomplishments. Children across the state benefit from our support for community initiatives to keep children safer and healthier. Academic medical professionals are supported in their pursuit of discovery through research. Community-based pediatric health care providers receive the guidance and support they need from our multi-specialty experts. All of Connecticut Children’s resources are put towards supporting our mission to improve the physical and emotional health of all children.

By Edward Jones – May 25, 2021

RM Sotheby's Records Over $42 Million in Sales at Amelia ...

Classics reined supreme at the RM Sotheby's 2021 Amelia Island event. The much-anticipated RM Sotheby's 2021 Amelia Island event has come and gone, but not without recording incredible numbers. The single-day auction had sales totaling $42,174,340 with a sell-through rate of an astonishing 95.28 percent. The biggest seller was a beautiful 1929 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Torpedo Convertible Coupe by Murphy that's actually one of two built with polished and brushed bare aluminum coachwork and the sole remaining example in existence. You can view the top 10 sales from the event down below. RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2021 Top Ten Sales 10. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - $923,500 9. 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra - $967,500 8. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - $1,182,000 7. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet SII - $1,490,000 6. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster - $1,600,000 5. 1992 Ferrari F40 - $2,040,000 4. 1971 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 Daytona Spider - $2,452,500 3. 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - $2,810,000 2. 1995 Ferrari F50 - $3,772,500 1. 1929 Model J 'Disappearing Top' Torpedo - $5,725,000 Source: RM Sotheby's " width="680">

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