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 – December 17, 2015

$50+ Million Worth of Cars, Including Koenigsegg One:1, S...

Toys for Tots is a great way to help less fortunate kids have something amazing to open on Christmas morning. We can think of no better way to get donations than to showcase some of the world’s most powerful cars.Even though the participants of the South Florida Exotic Car "Toy Rally" dealt with bad weather, they showed up in massive numbers and in some of the world's most amazing cars. Prestige Imports made quite the show and brought the Koenigsegg One:1, Pagani Huayra Project Vulcan, more Paganis and Bugatti Veyrons. Acclaimed videographer David Nickerson of Nue Vue Photography was on hand to film the action for us all to see. You can view these videos below.From the Diplomat Golf Club, the cars were driven to the Goodyear Airship Base in Pompano Beach. Tell us which toy you would drive, and why. As always stay tuned to Autofluence for more exotic car footage. (Source: YouTube)

By Edward Jones – December 15, 2015

Carlisle Events Presents: 2016 Winter Florida AutoFest

The sand (it would be dust in the north) hasn’t even settled yet on Carlisle Events’ first offering, Fall Florida AutoFest at the SUN ‘n FUN complex, and already the team from America’s Automotive Hometown in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is prepping for a return to Lakeland for another large scale event. After 20,000+ guests converged on the Polk County facility in November, nearly double that is expected for Winter Florida AutoFest, February 25-28.Having previously been held in Zephyrhills, the event outgrew its footprint which necessitated the move to Lakeland. Now, with momentum moving forward from the fall show, all of the history, glitz and glamour of what made things at Zephyrhills so grand will be on full display in Lakeland starting February 25.Almost everything that made the fall show so successful returns with some new features, including an orphan car themed car display and other aspects to announced soon. Popular known features include an automotive based swap meet where pieces, parts, merchandise and collectibles are for sale, a car corral that allows for person to person sales of classic and collector cars, plus the two-day collector car auction presented by Carlisle Auctions. The November auction sold out weeks in advance and moved millions of dollars worth of classics. For anyone who loves watching auctions on TV, they can again experience one in person with over 400 classics ready to move!Also returning are a pair of car shows; Cars and Coffee on February 27 sponsored by us, duPont REGISTRY, and a two-day car show powered by Carlisle Events on February 27-28. In addition, the Air & Coach Concours returns for those who enjoy living and traveling in luxury, there are more plane rides, the onsite Aerospace Museum will once again be open and the weekend will even have at least one very special guest!Onsite for three of the four event days will be Tom Wopat, star of stage, screen and TV. Wopat, best known as Luke Duke from TV’s Dukes of Hazzard, will meet with fans of the iconic program Friday, Saturday and Sunday of event weekend. His appearance will be flanked with at least one General Lee orange Dodge Charger and a Hazzard theme is expected for the event. More details about Wopat himself and specifics on his appearance will be made available in the coming weeks.The weekend as a whole is fun for the entire family and the fun comes with acres of FREE parking, a $10 daily admission (kids 12 and under free), great food and the chance to pick up amazing pieces of automotive history. The aforementioned Carlisle Events car show offers awards for participants, access for two for the entire weekend with registration and a chance to hang out with thousands of car crazy folks just like them. There’s even a Manufacturers Midway with top vendors within the industry including Meguiars, Amsoil and Heacock Classic just to name a few.For more information, visit CarlisleEvents.com or CarlisleAuctions.com.More InfoGallery Sponsored by: duPont REGISTRY

By Edward Jones – December 14, 2015

duPont REGISTRY Scottsdale Auction Week After Party at th...

Every year, thousands of automotive enthusiasts and collectors visit Scottsdale, Arizona for the momentous Scottsdale Auction Week. During this week, auction houses from around the world roll some of the world's finest cars across their blocks. These cars range from classics to modern exotic cars, meaning there's something for everyone.To celebrate this week in the desert that we look for every year, we're throwing an afterparty at the luxurious W Scottsdale. The party will be held January 29, 9 pm - 2 am.For reservations, please call (480)970-2121. W Scottsdale 7277 East Camelback Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 W Scottsdale Website

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2015

RM Sotheby's New York City 2015 Top 10 Auction Results

In New York City last night, RM Sotheby's "Driven by Disruption" auction took the city by storm. Classic and modern vehicles were auctioned off, some fetching multi-million dollar results. Overall, the total amount in sales at the event was in excess of $73.5 million.Impressively, their top ten sales each went for over $1 million, with the highest-valued car fetching almost $30 million. 10. Lot 228 - 1934 Delage D8 S Cabriolet (Chassis 38229), $1,430,000 9. Lot 227 - 1954 Siata 208S Spider (Chassis BS 535), $1,650,000 8. Lot 206 - 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC Cabriolet (Chassis 160371), $1,760,000 7. Lot 202 - 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (Chassis 5014), $2,420,000 6. Lot 219 - 2003 Ferrari Enzo (Chassis 135440), $3,300,000 5. Lot 216 - 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe (Chassis 0313 EU), $3,300,000 (post-sale transaction) 4. Lot 214 - 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (Chassis 2575029), $3,740,000 3. Lot 211 - 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I (Chassis 0791GT), $5,720,000 2. Lot 215 - 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT (Chassis DB4GT/0186/R), $14,300,000 1. Lot 221 -1956 Ferrari 290 MM (Chassis 0626), $28,050,000 (Source: RM Sotheby's)

By Edward Jones – December 03, 2015

South Florida Exotic Car Toy Rally for Toys for Tots

On Saturday, December 5, 2015, the South Florida Exotic Car Toy Rally, benefitting Toys for Tots, celebrates its 10 year anniversary. This rally will be taking to the streets as one of the largest processions of exotic cars and one of the most anticipated exotic car events in the country.Hundreds of exotic cars will be driven from the beautiful Diplomat Golf and Tennis Club, up to the amazing Goodyear Airship Base, home of the Goodyear Blimp.To say this will be an amazing sight is an understatement - a caravan of exotic cars stretching over 5 miles long, all driven by their owners to benefit underprivileged children. It will be incredible to see, but even more incredible is the positive impact and difference the Toy Rally makes for the children as a charity event.Last year, the 2014 Toy Rally broke some amazing records, with over $50 million in exotic cars and record attendance. The most important records were the insanely huge mountain of toys - over 21,400 toys. To move them all, they required moving trucks for the United States Marine Corps to collect them all. That also collected $32,000 in cash, which was all donated to Toys for Tots. This equated to a lot of smiles on the faces of kids, and a positive impact on their holidays.This year, the Toy Rally intends to pull off the same, if not bigger numbers. To learn how to donate or be a part, be sure to visit ToyRally.com or click the button below.Learn More Sponsored by the South Florida Exotic Car Toy Rally duPont REGISTRY Exotic Cars

By Christina Avila – December 03, 2015

Ben Levy's Ferrari F430 Challenge Art Car at Art Basel Mi...

Miami’s Art Basel continues with ARTCELERATION, a live automotive painting event hosted by the Macaya Gallery and the Hoerle Guggenheim Art Gallery. Earlier this week we told you about RETNA, the first artist commissioned for the event, who left his signature graffiti on one of the three Ferrari F430s art cars to be used. Next up is Ben Levy, a London-based painter best known for his culturally influenced pop art.According to an article on HYPEBEAST.com, Levy is currently customizing his own version of the Miami Ferrari, already indicative of his trademark colorful style. The final result will be revealed in the heart of the Wynwood Art District at a VIP event tomorrow night and public viewing will be available the following day.All three cars are slated to be auctioned at the end of the week, with part of the proceeds benefitting Miami Children's Health Foundation and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.F430 Challenges For Sale A photo posted by Manuel Maté (@manumat89) on Dec 3, 2015 at 11:01am PST A photo posted by Ben Levy (@benlevyart) on Dec 1, 2015 at 12:01pm PST A photo posted by Lifestyle Miami (@lifestyle_miami) on Dec 2, 2015 at 4:41pm PST (Source: Hypebeast, Instagram)

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By Christina Avila – December 01, 2015

Ferrari F430 Challenge Art Car at Art Basel Miami Beach

World famous Art Basel Miami Beach kicked off yesterday – and it started with a bang. According to an article from ArrestedMotion.com, the Macaya Gallery has teamed up with the Hoerle Guggenheim Art Gallery for a weeklong, exclusive live painting session in the heart of the Wynwood Art District. They call it "ARTCELERATION."The event launched last night with prominent graffiti artist RETNA, who was commissioned to paint a Ferrari F430 Challenge, courtesy of local dealership ASNA Motorcars. Two other participants, London-based pop artist Ben Levy and Miami’s resident painter and sculptor Edouard Duval-Carrie, will be customizing other vehicles as part of the session later this week.Each of these cars are set to go to auction and part of the proceeds will be donated to benefit two worthy causes, the Miami Children’s Health Foundation and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.Stay with us to see what other art cars Art Basel Miami Beach creates.F430 Challenges For Sale (Source: ArrestedMotion.com, Instagram)

By Edward Jones – November 30, 2015

ER W70 World Debut at Cars & Arts Charity Drive in South ...

On Saturday, December 12, 2015 the F355/Brabus Cars & Arts Charity Drive will be displaying the most unique and exotic cars in South Florida to the open public. With over 10 official sponsors, joining forces to put on an unforgettable show to promote the television series “TunerSport” and raise funds for Sheridan House. Presented by Hof1 Films, the event welcomes celebrity Master of Ceremonies J. BishopHosted by Alexandra Bello Productions, this event will take place at Banyan Air Services, Hangar 62, featuring 4 automotive related artists’ such as MagChop (collage artist), Avatar Productions (automotive photography artist), HotShoe Studios (automotive sculptor) and Laurence Gartel (visual artist). The Event Presenter, Bill Hofmann, assures that “during the VIP Meet & Greet, the attendees will have the chance to interact with all of the featured artists and Television Series stars, whom will be signing autographs.” Confirmed professional race drivers include the likes of Ernie Francis and Ernie Francis Jr., from Breathless Racing team, along with famed sports car driver Shane Lewis.Sponsored by F355 Automobile Technic, this charity drive also offers live entertainment throughout the event from the hands of Blu.Line and DJ Viren.Major Sponsors are Ansa Motorcars, Ansa Motorsports, Breathless Racing, Champion Porsche, Champion Motorsport, Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, Nor-Tech Hi Performance Boats and Parkhaus. Each major sponsor will display their latest exotic vehicles to make the evening more interesting for all of our horsepower fans.Supporting Sponsors include duPont REGISTRY, the internationally acclaimed automotive magazine, The Beach Channel, South Florida’s local lifestyle television station, Quiet Storm Ultra Premium Vodka and Vordeaux Winery. VIPs will be able to sample the fine drinks from Quiet Storm and Vordeaux Winery.There are many vendors that will also be part of the event, such as ATW Auto Group, Corsa Autoworks, Emilia Motors, ExoticRides Florida, DV8 Motorsports, Foreign Affairs Motorsport and RENNtech. Select car clubs will also be making an appearance, including The High Performance Driving Experience, Palm Beach International Raceway/Driving Club, Speed Lobbyist and Strasse Wheels.Special presentations will be made including the World Debut unveiling of the new ER W70 exotic car which will be covered by the press, a special announcement by Ansa Motorcars and other surprises that will be revealed at the show.Tickets are currently available through Eventbrite and can be purchased by clicking the link below. Discounted Tickets use Promotional Code TUNER. Free Parking and Valet Available.Buy Tickets Now Sponsored by Used Exotic Cars

By Edward Jones – November 25, 2015

RM Sotheby's New York Auction Set for Multi-Million Dolla...

RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is set to take New York City by storm next month with their creatively-styled Driven by Disruption auction, December 10. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by ScagliettiThe upcoming event follows in the footsteps of the company’s blockbuster 2013 New York sale, the first major collector car auction to hit the city in over a decade. Held at Sotheby’s Manhattan headquarters, that event set a new standard for the industry in terms of its quality and presentation, generating an outstanding $63 million in sales during just two hours of bidding. The upcoming 2015 event, which will again be held at Sotheby’s New York, is set to amplify those results and from a quick look at the catalog, is certainly shaping up as the star auction of the holiday season, if not 2015.As with all RM events, the emphasis is very much on quality over quantity; the catalog features just 31 motor cars, each carefully handpicked by RM specialists to showcase the extremes of motoring history and the molds that were broken by engineers and designers in pushing the automotive envelope. The cars perfectly fit the sale’s theme, each ‘disruptive’ in their own way, whether for their genre, styling or engineering. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Sportabteilung' Gullwing“Whether it be a stunningly beautiful coachbuilt automobile, a wild, untraditional design, or a marvel of high performance engineering, the auction features cars that break with the conventional morals of car design and production,” describes Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. In linking to the event’s December date, Kelleher adds, “We are delighted to showcase this exhibit during a time in New York that is truly magical.”The motor car offering spans more than 70 years of innovative styling and engineering. Among key attractions are the cutting-edge 2006 Lamborghini Concept S (Estimate: $2.4-3 million); the incredibly rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Sportabteilung’ Gullwing, driven by Sir Stirling Moss to an impressive second overall at the 1956 Tour de France (Estimate: $5-7 million); and the ex-works 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, built for and piloted by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. The latter, estimated by RM to bring more than $28 million, is one of the most desirable and valuable cars to ever come to auction.The automobiles will be complemented by a select range of memorabilia. From pint-sized children’s cars to automotive paintings, posters, sculptures and intricate engine models, this group also keeps with the event’s creative theme, with many of the collectibles on offer representing significant disruptions to automotive history in scale form.Combined, the vehicles and memorabilia will no doubt create an automotive display the likes of which New York City has never before seen. If you’d like to see them for yourself, an exclusive six-day public exhibition will open the weekend of December 5 in Sotheby’s 10th floor galleries and continue through until the December 10 evening sale. Below are ten more show-stopping cars on offer at Driven by Disruption that will take your breath away.For full event details, to register to bid, or to view the Driven by Disruption digital catalogue, visit www.rmsothebys.com or click the button below.Learn More 1954 Pegaso Z-102 3.2 Berlinetta by Touring $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto $1,500,000 - $1,900,000 More Info 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pininfarina $6,000,000 - $7,500,000 More Info 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato $15,000,000 - $17,000,000 More Info 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta by Ghia $300,000 - $350,000 More Info 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT by Scaglietti $700,000 - $850,000 More Info 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone $2,200,000 - $2,600,000 More Info 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1981 BMW M1 $800,000 - $1,000,000 More Info 1991 Ferrari Testarossa $400,000 - $500,000 More Info Sponsored by:

By Andrew Nabors – November 24, 2015

Tampa Bay International Auto Show 2016 and duPont REGISTR...

Our partnership with Motor Trend Magazine has led to the sale of some of the world’s most significant supercars. Their show circuit allows us to interact with our devoted fans and show you all just a small glimpse of what our dealers are capable of. While taking duPont REGISTRY on the road is always a rewarding experience, the best and most powerful show in our lineup is our hometown.The duPont REGISTRY was founded in the Tampa Bay area over thirty years ago, so our fans demanded the very best for this year’s Tampa Bay International Auto Show. If you remember all the way back to August, our cover car was a black LaFerrari. Since only 499 were produced, it is one of the cars you never expect to see in person. But, thanks to our friends at Naples Motorsports, we were the main attraction.Thursday night was hot and humid, and the typical Tampa thunderstorms arrived just as Exotic Car Transport’s bright yellow trailer began to unload. First off was a 2016 Lamborghini Aventador SV. I have driven the “base model” Aventador, but the SV is something completely different. With magnetic suspension and an interior devoid of insulation, the driver feels much more connected to the road. Since Tampa’s finest had blocked off the roads to public traffic, the urge to navigate their cones in a spirited manner was present, but the rain put a damper on the activities.Once the Aventador was in place, Ferrari of Tampa Bay arrived with a new California T and FF. If you haven’t driven a turbocharged Cali, the revised suspension and new power make for a great convertible cruiser. The FF is loaded with white carbon fiber throughout the interior and was ordered with almost every available option.Next in was a brilliant white Lexus LFA. Three words can be used to describe the experience: smoothest engine, ever! The V10 reaches 9,000 rpm faster than the tachometer car display, but no vibrations can be felt. One aspect that lets you know it is running is an exhaust note reminiscent of Formula 1 cars. Probably the most practical supercar in the world, all controls and infotainment are in a logical Japanese fashion. This particular car’s first owner was none other than Paris Hilton, making for a unique irony in that we unloaded in the driveway of the Marriott hotel.Last but not least was the main attraction: the LaFerrari. At first I was hesitant to get behind the wheel. Just kidding, I was excited as ever to get behind Ferrari's hypercar. Pressing the "Engine Start" sends voltage to the electric motors and slow speed maneuvering is done silently. Since the battery was on the low side, I was startled when the V12 roared to life. We’re not sure where the mufflers are, because the soundtrack is nothing short of deafening.Once the supercars were placed, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa brought a full lineup of new turbocharged AMGs. If you keep reading that twelve-cylinder power is a thing of the past, the Maybach S600 along with the S65 AMG coupe and sedans beg to differ. Including the big Benz models, along with our supercar showcase, we had six cars with V12 power.Each year we find a way to outdo ourselves, but it would not be possible without our dealers and our loyal fans. Be sure to check our Facebook page for our upcoming show schedule.Happy Thanksgiving from the duPont REGISTRY!Gallery

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