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 – October 11, 2021

14th Annual St. Michaels Concours D'Elegance on Chesapeak...

Presented by St. Michaels Concours D'Elegance Chesapeake Bay - Out of a field of seventy exceptional automobiles came the Best Of Show, the 1936 Horch 853A Special Roadster owned by Robert Jepson, one of just seven built. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Jaguar XK-E resulted in the 1962 Roadster of James Harris winning Best In Class, while the 1961 Coupe owned by Thomas and Elizabeth Hamann won The Gail and Henry Petronis Trophy for the Most Elegant Closed car. This particular car was one of three 1961 models used by the Jaguar factory to present the new E-Type model to the international media. The oldest entry on the field, and probably the noisiest, was the 1904 Thomas Flyer belonging to the Evergreen Collection, winner of the Pre-War American class. Every major concours should include a Duesenberg, and the Duesy at this year's St. Michaels was the 1930 Model J Convertible Sedan of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum which won the coveted Peoples Choice Award. The red 1954 Dodge Firearrow IV concept car owned by Sonny Abagnale was one of three similar cars that toured the 1954 auto show circuit, and whose design foresaw the Dual Ghia automobile that followed. Visit SMCDE.org

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2021

One Week Before Canossa Events' Fall Rally of New England...

When: October 5 – 8, 2021 Coinciding with the turning of the leaves in the Northeast is Canossa North America's Fall Rally of New England. Taking place along the rugged Atlantic coastline of Maine and through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, this magnificent three-day rally will be an unforgettable experience for those who take part. Canossa North America has carefully curated this event so that it includes the area's most exciting and iconic roads, ensures that drivers enjoy every moment behind the wheel. They have also included exclusive lapping sessions at New Hampshire's Club Motorsport race circuit for high-speed enjoyment during the rally. When participants aren't behind the wheel of their vehicles, they will continue to experience the rally in many ways. Stops at some of New England's most dynamic restaurants are included in the rally, allowing participants to enjoy exquisite cuisine from an array of menus. As for their home during the rally, they will be staying at Maine's Cliff House Resort. This resort rests atop granite cliffs, giving guests a picturesque view of the Atlantic Ocean. The Fall Rally of New England is, of course, a very exclusive event. With room for 20 automobiles of historic and/or exotic provenance, this rally will be a much more intimate event. The all-inclusive fee for participants is $9,900 per automobile with a maximum of two participants. If you're interested in the 2021 Fall Rally of New England or would like more information, be sure to contact Maria Homann by either calling (203)970-8063 or email maria.homann@canossa.com. Additionally, you can view the brochure or sign up by clicking the button below. Visit Canossa.com

By Edward Jones – August 30, 2021

The Lamborghini Festival 2021, Hosted by the Lamborghini ...

Presented by the Lamborghini Club Houston 9TH ANNUAL LAMBORGHINI FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 1-3 2021 / HOUSTON, TX A three-day celebration of all things Lamborghini, a celebration of passion for such an Iconic brand that knows no limits. The Lamborghini Festival has become an international phenomenon and 2021 will be the best one yet. Registration is NOW LIVE! The world-famous Lamborghini Festival is one of the country’s most sought-after activities for exotic car owners across and outside the Country. This is your chance to be part of what will be the largest Lamborghini Festival to date, registration is open to not only Lamborghini owners but owners of other exotic car brands as well. Each year this celebration grows and we see participants from across the states and other places such as Mexico, Canada, and Europe.Registration includes not only the highly coveted Welcome Kit but also gives you access to all three-day activities for you and a guest including for this year's special experience opportunities of Lamborghini Festival! REGISTER NOW Schedule of Events Friday: Kick-Off Pool Party Event at Marriot Marquis Downtown Saturday Day: Bull Run and Lunch at undisclosed location…. Night: Evening Gala benefitting Make-a-Wish Foundation Sunday The Main Event: 2021 Lamborghini Festival LFST09! REGISTRATION COVERS ALL THREE DAYS AND IS OPEN TO LAMBORGHINI AND EXOTIC CAR OWNERS. THE REGISTRATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: Registration additionally includes:-VIP Access -Welcome Kit-VIP Badges-Kick-Off Party Admission-Access to the Drive-Display at the Festival-Bring One Guest-Access VIP Areas-All Meals Included-Special Edition Pin-Other Surprises-Hotel Included-Official Festival T-shirt

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 23, 2021

The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering 2021 Recap

An iconic year for The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering with plenty of rare examples and new debuts. As part of Monterey Car Week, The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering is the talk of the town as a must-do highlight for the week. For eighteen years, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering has provided an unparalleled and exclusive experience for motorsports enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to enjoy rare collections of fine automobiles and motorcycles in a garden-party setting on the rolling greens of Quail Lodge & Golf Club. After a year's pause of Monterey Car Week due to unfortunate circumstances, the event came back in full force for 2021, featuring some of the biggest names in the automotive industry in attendance with their vehicles. Walking through the entrance onto the iconic Quail Lodge & Golf Club, attendees are greeted with a view of the entire field meticulously filled with multi-million dollar vintage, modern, and future chassis. Alongside the vehicles on display, several manufacturers were on-site to debut new additions to its lineup, including Automobili Lamborghini with the all-new Countach LPI 800-4. While The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering is a perfect place for automotive brands to debut and display the supercars and hypercars of the future, a great deal of the event is dedicated to the vehicles that paved the way. Whether it is a pack of vintage air-cooled Porsche examples, pre-war Bentleys, or custom street rods, it gives automotive enthusiasts a chance to learn about all aspects of the industry. Helping to educate all in attendance were individuals like Rimac, Christian Von Koenigsegg, Horacio Pagani, Marc Philipp Gemballa, and many others. The 2021 Quail: A Motorsport Gathering was the perfect event to see every desirable vehicle imaginable while providing the opportunity to meet some of the people who helped shape the automotive industry into what it is today. The celebration of automotive success defines The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering, and we cannot wait to celebrate again in 2022.

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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

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