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 – August 26, 2016

The DeNovo Swiss Porsche Adventure

DeNovo watches, a new Italian-designed Swiss-made watch brand, is celebrating its launch in an epic convoy of 20 Porsche Carrera Convertible 911s through the heart of classic Europe.The self-driving journey, in collaboration with Porsche Travel, will start in Germany and continue into Switzerland, Italy and Austria. For 4 days and 3 nights the participating drivers will enjoy the world renowned Autobahns and drive through some of the most gorgeous passes, taking in the breathtaking views of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Each day of the adventure will be filled with world class driving, and in the evenings the drivers will relax and dine in gourmet restaurants and luxurious hotels.This unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime journey was custom-tailored for DeNovo by Porsche Travel. Their professional team planned and will lead the convoy through the breathtaking routes and will provide all the required logistics assistance to the guest-drivers and their cars.DeNovo invites you to explore the DeNovo Swiss watch line and learn more about this exciting DeNovo-Porsche launch, which will take place in September. To learn more or sign up, click the button below or visit DeNovoSwiss.com. Join the Adventure

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By Andrew Nabors – August 25, 2016

RM Sotheby's Top 10 Monterey 2016 Auction Results

Of all the happenings around Monterey last week, RM Sotheby's auction at the Portola Hotel was one for the record books. Quality over quantity is their strategy, with only 100 lots between the two day event. A smaller selection was due to construction at the event venue, as last year's auction presented 150 cars. Still, the event was considered a great success, as the weekend posted a strong $117.9 million in sales with 82 percent of all lots sold.(Related: Mecum's Top 10 Monterey Sales: Multiple Multi-Million Dollar Sales) Top 10 Sales Lot 114 - 1955 Jaguar D-Type (CHASSIS NO. XKD 501) $21,780,000 Lot 234 - 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider (CHASSIS NO. 412041) $19,800,000 Lot 117 - 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra "CSX 2000" (CHASSIS NO. CSX 2000) $13,750,000 Lot 232 - 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione 'Tour de France' (CHASSIS NO. 0507 GT) $5,720,000 Lot 127 - 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider (CHASSIS NO. 0510 M) $5,225,000 Lot 125 - 1966 Ford GT40 "P/1057" (CHASSIS NO. P/1057) $2,900,000 Lot 243 - 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I (CHASSIS NO. 5985) $2,750,000 Lot 229 - 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider (CHASSIS NO. 16847) $2,365,000 Lot 224 - 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso (CHASSIS NO. 4415) $2,090,000 Lot 145 - 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon (CHASSIS NO. BC66LC) $1,870,000 The numbers are definitely impressive, but the cars offered were equally as stunning. Congratulations to RM Sotheby's on a successful auction!

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2016

Monterey Car Week is Underway

The famed Monterey Car Week is just underway and already the town has become a supercar haven.So far, cars have been found at the Concours on the Avenue (a free event in Ocean Avenue), Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival and more. We've been roaming around California spotting cars all over and have some terrific photos to share with you all. Cars include the Pagani Huayra BC, Koenigsegg Regera, W Motors Lykan Hypersport and more.Also on hand at this week's event is TheStradman, who drove his Lamborghini Gallardo into to town for the event. What's great about him is that he's not staying in a hotel. No, he's set up camp, literally, in a camping site with his Gallardo resting right next to his tent. Check out the video below to see his setup and everything he's spotted so far at the event.If you happen to be at the event, be sure to look out for us and say hello!

By Edward Jones – August 16, 2016

2016 Concorso Italiano Preview

Concorso Italiano, now in its 31st year, will present a plethora of features, celebrations, and new announcements. Through our strategic partnerships with manufacturers, and strategic dealers, Concorso has once again shown it has grown into the preeminent place to be during Automotive Week for true automotive enthusiasts. With expanded lifestyle elements, featured art plaza and special displays, Saturday August 20 will be filled than ever with more to see and accomplish.Click Here For Used Ferrari 458's Concorso Italiano 2015For 2016 Concorso Italiano is featuring several 50th Anniversaries including the iconic Alfa Romeo Duetto, the Fiat 124 spider, the groundbreaking Lamborghini Miura, and of course the Ferrari 330 GTC and GTS. Mattioli Automotive Group is bringing the newest icons from the Modena and Maranello, enabling us to see the newest Ferrari California T Handling Speciale and Maserati Levante SUV. This will complement the display of Scuderia Corsa race car and rarely seen exotic Ferrari selections.The lifestyle elements include a dramatically expanded CI Club with an exclusive Friday evening preview reception, early admission with hot breakfast, and all day dedicated club facilities, lunch and special gifts. Also new for 2016 is the aptly named Piazza d’Arte with fine artists not only displaying their craft, but engaged in creating works of art as well. Don’t miss the Art School College of Design students with their creative ideas for supercars of the future, and meet alumni who have designed many of the cars you will see at Concorso such as Ken Okuyama’s latest creating at the Podio Concorso display and Frank Stephenson’s McLaren P1 GTR. Concorso Italiano 2015Fans of racing will be pleased to have the opportunity to view winning race cars that will be on display at several sponsor pavilions, and also meet several iconic race car drivers from Kevin Buckler, Justin Bell, and Dominic Dobson. There will be up and coming driver Andrew Evans, and of course the Scuderia Corsa podium winners Townsend Bell, Jeff Segal and Bill Sweedler at the Mattioli pavilion still fresh from capturing victory in the GTE -AM class at the biggest race in the world – the 24 Hours of Le Mans and showing their Le Mans trophies.With the sea of red Ferraris on the green grass fairways of Black Horse Golf Course overlooking the majestic Monterey Bay, Concorso for 2016 will once again be the best way to “Celebrate Italian Style”. Join the fun and festivities on Saturday. Advance tickets are available at http://concorso.com/tickets-registration/buy-tickets/ and tickets are available at the door.Buy Tickets Concorso Italiano 2015

By Edward Jones – August 11, 2016

Diamond 9 2016 Brings Over 170 Supercars Together For Epi...

The Supercar Driver recently put on one heck of a show for the sake of charity and supercars. The event, called Diamond 9, is an invite-only event that brought over 170 Supercar Drivers members together to enjoy supercars and the legendary RAF Red Arrows.Sportscars For SaleJoining in on the festivities were cars like the Ferrari FXX, Enzo, F40 & 488 Spider, Porsche 918 Spyder, Pagani Huayra, Bugatti Veyron, Ford GT, McLaren SLR & 675LT, Jaguar Project 7, a trio of Lamborghini Aventador SV's, Aston Martin GT12 & DB5, BMW Z8 and many more.Check out the video below to see the event for yourself.

By Edward Jones – August 11, 2016

Excellerate Exclusive Cocktail Reception and I-295 Exotic...

The Excellerate Exclusive Cocktail Reception and I-295 Exotic Car Drive returns for its second year to Jacksonville, Florida. In this one-of-a-kind police escorted ride with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, high-end cars take a speed limit lap around the 61-mile beltway in the name of charity. Jacksonville’s most unique fundraiser kicks off with the Reception on Friday, October 21st, then powers into the Exotic Car Drive on Saturday, October 22nd.The public can get in on the all the action at the Excellerate Exclusive Cocktail Reception at Malone’s Air Charter at Craig Municipal Airport. Guests will enjoy great food and spirits, see the cars, meet the drivers, tour world-class private jets, and most importantly, support at-risk city youth by benefitting the Jacksonville Police Athletic League (JaxPAL).This is an event you will definitely want to be a part of. Reserve your spot today. Tickets sales and car registration are now open at ExcellerateJax.com. Registered cars must be approved to participate. Learn More

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2016

Third Annual Taste of Speed in Atlanta

We are excited to announce that the 3rd Annual Taste of Speed will be held on Saturday, September 24 inside a 10,000 square foot hangar at Peachtree DeKalb Airport. This signature fundraiser event will benefit one Atlanta Children’s Charity.Presented by the duPont Registry, Taste of Speed is most exclusive Jet Set Lifestyle event in Atlanta and attended by hundreds of tastemakers, high profile executives, entrepreneurs, and elite society members from around the Southeast.During the festivities, guests will indulge in luxury branded activations, get to preview showcases that feature upscale, high-end products and services such as private jets, exotic cars, a couture fashion show, concierge services, specialty retail products, and more. Other highlights of the events include food prepared by celebrity chefs, high-quality spirits, live music entertainment, and a runway fashion show by Image Rock Live.The 2016 Taste of Speed is sponsored by the AC Hotel Buckhead, Tesla Motors, Tint World, Patron Spirits, Engel & Volkers Real Estate, Topper’s Rhum, Digital Xpress Printing, Dimensional Designs and Epic Lifestyle Events just to name a few.Buy Tickets Now

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 05, 2016

MotorCity Rally: Driving Cars Like They Were Meant to be ...

Founded in 2012, MotorCity Rally was just a basic little car gathering meant to be a local Michigan event. It spread to Indiana, but remained small. In 2015 though, the event garnered enough popularity to become a multi-state event. The 2015 event spanned from Detroit to New York City at first, but was pushed to cover the southern states as well. Creator of the event, Waseem Qureshi realized there was a demand for the event, and decided to take it full throttle.Not just a regular rally, Qureshi wanted to mesh together the rally lifestyle with the gearhead aficionados. His goal was to find like-minded enthusiasts that aren't afraid to drive, hit the tracks and go hard on the trail. MotorCity Rally caters to the motorsport enthusiasts.The event covers a total of 1,200 miles and tracks are rented along the route for the drivers. The general theme is to "party like rockstars," and participants definitely get their fill.The rally is exciting from start to finish and the participants are enthusiastic, bonding over their love for pushing cars to the limit, "as they are meant to be driven," states Qureshi.The event start time is 8:00 AM on Wednesday, August 3. There, Qureshi and his team go over the flags on the track and racing etiquette. The M1 team will be there to help the drivers. Hot laps, for fun. Don’t want anyone to wreck cars before it starts! The event is limited to 65 cars to ensure quality on track, making it one of the most exclusive experiences of its kind. Qureshi's goal is less about money and more about cultivating a family of people having fun driving cars.Teams compete in scavenger hunts. Team with the most points will get their entry fee back, and get to come back the next year free of charge. Second prize is credit towards next year.The rally will start at the new M1 Concourse in Michigan, which was built on the old GM facility. It will then travel down to Louisville, KY, stopping at Fort Wayne Automotive (Dream Makers Automotive) for a catered lunch. Day two will take drivers to Margaritaville Island Resort in Pigeon Forge. There, drivers can head to Tail of the Dragon as well as a local drag strip. Day three is all about Nashville, starting at the Nashville Omni Hotel right next to Broadway. Participants will be treated to a Honkey Tonk party that night, and by Day four, they'll stop by Velocity Motors for breakfast before heading to the Nashville Cars & Coffee. From there, participants will head to the Atlanta Motorsports Park, where the entire track has been rented out. This part of the event is sponsored by GM. After that, it's off to Loews hotel in Atlanta, where the event will end with a ceremony, dinner and announcement of winners.To learn more about this incredible rally, be sure to visit MotorCityRally.com or click the button below.Learn More

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 21, 2016

First Ever Green Carbon Fiber McLaren P1 Available to the...

The 2014 McLaren P1 Hybrid represents the next chapter in the supercar realm, marrying tried and true Formula 1 technologies with the innovation and promise of the hybrid engine. The result is a culmination of distinguished and powerful design forged of carbon fiber construction and wrought with superior force and power. The P1 provides the ultimate track experience without compromising the beauty and intricacy of hand-crafted design. The specs of this incredible track car, though intriguing and exceptional, aren't the only highlight of McLaren P1 number 2. This particular example marks the first ever P1 available to the public. Additionally, this P1 was meticulously cared for by one owner and is only 576 miles from new.The P1 engineers combined twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engines with a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor. The two engines come together to produce a combined 904 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque. The power produced by the hybrid engine propels the supercar from 0-60 in a mere 2.7 seconds. Borrowed from the F1 are exotic silicon-carbide-coated carbon-ceramic disc brakes, which bring the supercar to a dead stop from 120 mph in just 380 feet.One would say driving the P1 is truly the only way to understand it's superior power. With several drive modes available, he who is behind the wheel can customize their driving experience. E-mode engages the electric motor only while Race mode offers a fully-immersed, dynamic adventure.Rather than painting over the hand-crafted exterior, a translucent coat of green-lacquer showcases the fine detail of P1 number two. This intricate finish is complemented by 19-inch front and 20-inch back Pirelli P-Zero-shod wheels. Extended to the interior, the color scheme is continued with green carbon fiber accents and seat stitching, which covers black leather seats. Included is a Meridian sound system, climate control and navigation.The exclusivity of the P1 coupled with the fact that this is the first ever example available to the public, makes it a truly unique example, adding a rarity unlike any other to one's collection.The McLaren P1 serial no. 2 is offered by Mecum Auctions and will be available at the Monterey event located at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in gorgeous Monterey, California on August 18-20, 2016 at Lot R503. Click here to learn more.Learn more

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 19, 2016

Cars & Coffee Heads to Davis Islands for September Event

Picturesque Davis Islands in Tampa Bay lends itself to one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, gorgeous homes and the iconic Peter O. Knight Airport. Full of history, the Peter O. Knight Airport served as Tampa Bay’s main airport from 1935 to 1945. Home to many special events, Peter O. Knight Airport is still a vibrant and integral part of the Tampa Bay Community.A few times a year, duPont REGISTRY’s famed Cars & Coffee event heads out on the town and is hosted by an area landmark. Most recently, Cars & Coffee teamed up with the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL., for a fun filled, morning of exotics, luxury vehicles, classics, electric cars and more. This September, duPont REGISTRY’s Cars & Coffee event will be taking over the Peter O. Knight Airport.On Saturday, September 17th, join the duPont REGISTRY™ for Cars & Coffee from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Free admission for participants and spectators. Drive your car out to beautiful Davis Islands and park it on the airport tarmac alongside some amazing planes. Out for display will be a series of classic and vintage planes, stunt planes and even a fighter jet. This is truly a unique experience. Not only will you have the opportunity to see these planes in person, but you’ll also have the opportunity to join in a little flight school if it suits you. Additionally, a raffle for a scenic flight will be offered by Atlas Aviation.As always, Cars & Coffee is a free event for both the general public and show participants. We’re thankful to the September sponsors, BMO Harris, Atlas Aviation, and Ferrari Tampa Bay for making the event possible. Our raffle drawing will commence at 11:00 AM. Buddy Brew will be selling coffee and breakfast sandwiches. We can’t wait to see you there! Presenting Sponsor Additional Sponsors

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