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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 Andrew Nabors – October 23, 2019

Nashville Auto Show 2019 Recap

Halloween is just around the corner, so we decided to scare everyone a little early. We picked the meanest and cleanest cars and trucks in the Cumberland River Valley, so here is the Nashville Auto Show 2019 Recap. First in were three Corvettes. Not exactly full-size, these 2/3rd scale replicas are powered by a 107cc V-Twin and capable of 40 mph. Built by Mini Cars Inc, the pedals are easily adjustable for drivers up to 6'1". Then we heard a beast approaching. Brown Lee Ford sells more Hennessey trucks than anyone else, so the Velociraptor 6X6 was followed by a Harley-Davidson F-150 from Tuscany. Other goodies included a lowered standard cab with a Roushcharger and a Tuscany Black Ops Chevrolet Silverado. Another Brown Lee Ford Exclusive is the 2020 Gulf Edition Mustang. Only 119 cars will be built, and this is the prototype. It has a proprietary supercharger, intake, and exhaust to make 800 horsepower. It was the same car that was on display at our Pebble Beach booth. Taggart Scout travels the world looking for rust-free examples of the International Harvester, and their unbeatable restorations ride on a new 2-door Wrangler chassis with HEMI power. McLaren Philadelphia along with their parent company, RDS Enterprises were proud to show off their collection of Lamborghinis, an Urus and Huracan Performante Spyder were joined by a 720S Spider, McLaren GT, and a 570 GT4. Jaguar/Land Rover of Nashville arrived with a Range Rover SVR, F-Type SVR, F-Pace, and the new all-electric I-Pace. Carlock Motors was happy to display two Aston-Martin Vantages along with an Alfa-Romeo Ghibli and a GranTurismo convertible. Their R8 Spyder looked great nose-2-nose with Velocity Motorcars' R8 Coupe. Other Velocity Motorcars included a Lamborghini Huracan in Blu Achelous, Ferrari 458 Speciale in tri-color matte paint, and a Jack Roush Edition Backdraft Racing Cobra. Mercedes of Music City had 5 new 2020 models on display and BMW of Nashville arrived with 5 M Division and M-Sport models. Audi of Nashville and Porsche of Nashville brought a complete lineup, including a Panamera in bright green. Looking down from our VIP Suite, it was easy to see how the crowds were amazed by our dealer's inventory. A big thanks to Zack & Karrah Yanta, Tanner Mashburn, and the building staff of the Music City Convention Center. https://www.facebook.com/brownleefordtn/videos/2174100342891496/

By Edward Jones – October 18, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the World of Cars

Are you a lover of cars and looking for something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. We’ve selected a few events from the duPont REGISTRY Directory that are happening this weekend to help you make your weekend more enjoyable. Check them out! add your event ANNOUNCEMENT: Our Cars and Coffee Davis Islands event has been canceled due to weather. Thanks, Tropical Storm Nestor. Nashville International Auto Show Oct 18 at 10:00AM - Oct 20 at 5:00PM 201 5th Avenue South, Nashville, TN, USA learn more Festivals of Speed Mission Inn Resort Oct 20 at 10:00AM - Oct 20 at 4:00PM 10400 County Rd 48, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737, USA learn more Atlanta Concours d'Elegance Oct 19 at 12:00AM 315 Deshler Street Southwest, Atlanta, GA, USA learn more Exotics & Espresso @ Prestige Imports Oct 20 at 10:00AM - Oct 20 at 1:00PM 14800 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami, FL, USA learn more Art In Motion at Monticello Motor Club Oct 19 at 8:00AM - Oct 19 at 5:00PM 67 Cantrell Rd, Monticello, NY 12701, United States learn more see all upcoming events

By Edward Jones – October 15, 2019

Overfinch Velocity Debuting at Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

Overfinch, the famous English creator of bespoke Range Rovers, is heading to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with a special surprise. Amongst their three bespoke vehicles that will be on display in the Superyacht Village area will be the new Overfinch Velocity. This marks the US debut for this limited-edition vehicle. The limited-edition Overfinch Velocity is available for either the Range Rover 5.0-liter V8 Autobiography or SVAutobiography. Only ten examples of this bespoke luxury SUV will be created, to it's going to be limited in its numbers. So if you're interested, be ready to contact Overfinch and set aside at least $315,000. So what is the Overfinch Velocity? It features an enhanced styling package that includes crushed carbon fiber and 23-inch Cyclone wheels. Inside is a stunning Lumière interior that consists of a contemporary hexagonal-quilted leather. "Overfinch are excited to be returning to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for the second year," says Kevin Sloane, Chairman and CEO of Overfinch. "We are debuting the Overfinch Velocity in Satin Black which will take pride of place on our display." The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2019 runs from October 30 to November 3 in, you guessed it, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. visit overfinch.com

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By Andrew Nabors – October 15, 2019

4Play Wheels Heading to SEMA 2019 With Special Debut

Presented by 4Play Wheels - Sarasota, Florida is only an hour from our office. It has amazing beaches and perfect weather year-round. Perhaps that is why our friends at 4PLAY Wheels have changed the industry. They began as an aftermarket division of OE Wheels, LLC, who specializes in factory quality replicas for every major manufacturer. Utilizing the same engineering expertise along with attention to detail, 4PLAY offers the strongest, lightest, and most appealing 4WD wheels. visit 4playwheels.com Now, after over a year in development, 4Play Wheels is ready to debut a new set of wheels with the deepest concave profile ever produced. This new forged series of wheels will be given their public debut at SEMA 2019, November 5-9. Not only will you be able to see 4Play Wheels' new forged line, but also their extremely popular G2 Cast Series wheels. If you're attending SEMA 2019, you definitely don't want to miss their booth. You can view the map up above to see right where they're located. Also, if you would like to have a 1-on-1 meeting with them at their booth, you can click here. While you wait for SEMA, you can always visit 4PlayWheels.com by clicking the button or follow their social profiles (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). visit 4playwheels.com " width="680"> Presented by 4PLAY Wheels 4PLAY Wheels is an entity of OE WHEELS, LLC. Based out of Sarasota, FL. 77,000 sq. ft. Established in 2000 55,000 wheels in stock Superior customer service & support OEM level quality & manufacturing

By Edward Jones – October 14, 2019

RM Auctions Hershey 2019 Results

RM Auctions finished up their Hershey 2019 auction on October 11, with sales totaling in at $15,569,594. With this amount, RM Auctions saw 97 percent of their lots being sold. Below are the top 10 sales from the event. What you should notice while looking at the cars is the year they were made. Each and every one of these top 10 lots was created before 1940. 10. 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria - $286,000 9. 1927 Lincoln Model L Imperial Victoria - $297,000 8. 1915 Stutz Model 4F Bearcat - $330,000 7. 1929 Auburn 120 Eight Speedster - $341,000 6. 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Drophead Coupe - $385,000 5. 1908 Oldsmobile Limited Prototype - $423,500 4. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Limousine - $451,000 3. 1911 Oldsmobile Model 28 Autocrat Roadster - $495,000 2. 1931 Marmon Sixteen Coupe - $550,000 1. 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton - $1,221,000

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the World of Cars

Are you a lover of cars and looking for something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. We’ve selected a few events from the duPont REGISTRY Directory that are happening this weekend to help you make your weekend more enjoyable. Check them out! Prestige Imports Performing Art Pop-Up Mon-Fri 11AM-8PM | Sat-Sun 12PM-6PM 3841 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL, USA learn more RAND Luxury Motorcar Auction: Nassau County Museum Oct 12 at 12:00AM One Museum Dr Roslyn NY 11576 United States learn more Supercar Saturdays Florida Oct 12 at 9:00AM 4645 Volunteer Road, Davie, FL, USA learn more Paul Miller Porsche Cars & Croissants/ 911 Launch Oct 13 at 9:00AM 3419 U.S. 46, Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey 07054, USA learn more see all upcoming events Also be sure to check out our Cars & Coffee at Davis Islands next weekend. If you've been to our previous events at Davis Islands, you know this is one you don't want to miss. duPont Registry Cars and Coffee at Davis Islands Oct 19 at 7:00AM 825 Severn Avenue, Tampa, FL, USA learn more

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By Andrew Nabors – October 11, 2019

McLaren Newport Beach Hosts Supercar Show Orange County

Summer is over and Autumn has arrived. That is why our friends at McLaren Newport Beach added a theme to their monthly gathering: "FALL-ing"for supercars. Only a few minutes away was the Anaheim Autoshow, but I was too busy to make the trip. I missed a wild collection of exotics, muscle, and classics. Of course, McLarens are the preferred marque, but spectators were treated to everything. A Fiat Jolly and Autobianchi were chasing each other while a 1965 Lamborghini 330 GT took top honors. " width="680"> Dealer employees endowed several cars with Halloween decorations. Their newest inventory is too nice to defile, as it is comprised of five Aventador SVJ, a McLaren 600LT with MSO roof scoop, Ferraris, Ford GTs, and a Senna ordered by the owner of Giovanna wheels. Browse Inventory Next month's theme will be "Back in Time". And unless you have a time machine you need to register early. Click the button above to view their amazing inventory and be sure to join us Saturday, October 19th at Davis Island at 7AM.

By Andrew Nabors – October 09, 2019

Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019 Recap

Auctions bring out the best inventory from our clients and fans, and Barrett-Jackson is a leader in their field. Their annual appearance in Las Vegas was one for the record books, as it was the first car & automobilia auction without one reserve price. Top 12 Sales: 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition – $1,540,000 2019 Ferrari 488 Spider – $368,500 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider – $330,000 2005 Ford GT – $324,500 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition – $324,500 1953 Chevrolet Corvette 235/150 Convertible – $275,000 1953 Chevrolet Corvette 235/150 Convertible – $220,000 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – $203,500 1957 Dodge Power Wagon Custom Pickup – $203,500 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 Split-Window Fuelie – 187,000 2015 Rolls-Royce Ghost – $176,000 2017 Dodge Viper ACR – $176,000 Without further ado, here is duPont REGISTRY Live at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019. Our booth was located on the main thoroughfare between the stage and the hotel, so we delivered a stunning display of classic & exotic models. First in was Celebrity Cars Las Vegas. Browse Celebrity Cars Inventory Their Ferrari 458 was front and center, flanked by a 1995 Ford GT with only 42 miles. A 1996 Shelby Series 2 was one of 60 Supercharged examples, and only 1 of 6 painted black. Ronald McDonald House is raffling a 2019 Callaway Corvette Z06, with all proceeds going to families in need. Wide Open Baja displayed an improved version of their Baja Challenge car, bringing back memories of Ensenada 2 years ago. Vanderhall displayed new versions of the Carmel and the Venice, both with quick-spooling turbos. The most curious questions regarded the smallest cars in the booth. Near Real Classics offers 2/3rd scale replicas of early Corvettes, and Jeeps. In total, Craig Jackson & company sold 677 cars dor over $33.3 Million, and 352 pieces of Automobilia for $855,000, both record-breaking numbers for Las Vegas. In addition, the charity lots pushed the auction total to $34.8 Million dollars. Above are a few of the more significant lots we thought you might like, so stay with us for all your Barrett-Jackson updates. https://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/2134987130143517/ Related: duPont REGISTRY Live at Orange County 2019 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019 Preview

By Edward Jones – October 04, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the World of Cars

Are you a lover of cars and looking for something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. We’ve selected a few events from the duPont REGISTRY Directory that are happening this weekend to help you make your weekend more enjoyable. Check them out! see all upcoming events Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019 Oct 02 at 8:00AM - Oct 05 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV, USA learn more Orange County International Auto Show Oct 03 - Oct 06 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA, USA learn more The Corpus Christi Old Car Museum Auction by Worldwide Auctioneers Oct 04 - Oct 05 1901 North Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX, USA learn more Audrain’s Newport Concours Oct 06 at 8:30AM - 5:30PM 222 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA learn more

By Edward Jones – October 03, 2019

Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019 Preview

Going on right now is the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction in, you guessed it, Las Vegas, baby. Going across the block during this event is a large number of collector automobiles. In fact, there are over 650 cars going up for auction, and they're all being auctioned with no reserve. duPont REGISTRY Live is on-hand at the event at our massive booth. In our booth are a lot of incredible vehicles. This includes cars from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Valley, Wide Open Baja, Celebrity Car Las Vegas, Vanderhall, Near Real Classics and more. Check them all out down below, as well as cars from around Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2019. To learn more about the event, be sure to click the button below. learn about this event

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