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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

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2020

RM Auctions Palm Beach Event Still Being Held Online

RM Auctions is rolling with the recent punches from COVID-19 and have come up with a great solution to their upcoming Palm Beach event. The prestigious auction company has transitioned their Palm Beach auction to an Online Only offering. This means everyone around the world will still be able to bid on the fantastic cars that were set to be offered at the Palm Beach International Raceway. If you're interested, as you should be, bidding will open on Friday, March 20 via RMSothebys.com. "Please be sure to monitor our website over the coming week for the entire motor-car offering. Each car will be presented with comprehensive photography and detailed, written condition reports and can be viewed and inspected in person by interested bidders at one of several RM Sotheby’s locations in Florida and Indiana."

By Andrew Nabors – March 11, 2020

2020 Cinema Series Shelby Cobra Heading to Barrett-Jackso...

Bigger isn't always better. Having driven small and big-block versions of the iconic Shelby Cobra, I prefer the light & nimble 289 small block. Sure the 427 is a mean machine, but it is a handful in the corners. That's why we're thankful the 289 is poised to return. In the latest press release from Barrett-Jackson, we learned the 2020 Cinema Series Shelby Cobra will be unveiled at their Palm Beach auction. This limited run of continuation Cobras will start with CSX8198. It will be offered at no reserve and as a fitting tribute to Ken Miles. As seen in "Ford vs Ferrari", the car will include a cracked windshield along with the wrench used to crack it. Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach on duPont Registry Directory A modern aluminum 289 block is stroked to 331 cubic inches to offer 450 horsepower through a 5-speed Tremec transmission. Click the button below to find a Cobra for yourself and we'll see you at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach April 16-18. Browse All Shelby Cobra For Sale Related: Shelby 427 Cobra Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – March 11, 2020

2020 New York Auto Show Rescheduled Over Coronavirus Conc...

We knew it would happen, but the news is officially here: the 2020 New York International Auto Show has been rescheduled. This news comes to us from the event's website where a letter was published. The event will now be held August 28 – September 6, 2020 with press days happening August 26 & 27, 2020. “We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus,” said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the organization that owns and operates the New York Auto Show. “For 120 years, ‘the show must go on’ has been heavily embedded in our DNA, and while the decision to move the show dates didn’t come easy, our top priority remains with the health and well-being of all those involved in this historic event. We have already been in communication with many of our exhibitors and partners and are confident that the new dates for the 2020 Show will make for another successful event.” Featured Image via Facebook

By Andrew Nabors – March 10, 2020

2020 Amelia Island Concours Recap

Timing makes all the difference. Bill Warner and his team started a small car show 25 years ago, and a majority of them have fell victim to Florida's erratic weather. It appears as if the curse has been lifted, as we enjoyed perfect weather. With so much to see and do during the weekend, we figured you would like to see a 2020 Amelia Island Concours recap. As a native of Amelia Island, I attended the first show at age 10. Since then, it has attracted several auctions, private unveilings, and a Porsche Werks Reunion. Our focus was on saturating the attendees with our latest issue. For complete coverage, we took the high ground of the 1st fairway. The MotorXpo was the entrance and exit for Saturday's Cars & Coffee show. As the public got a preview of the show field, Roger Penske was giving a seminar on his early racing years. As always, we could not attend this show without the support of our clients. That is why our friends at Specialty Vehicle Engineering stole the show by awakening a new 2020 Yenko 1000 Camaro. It was parked next to their 455 horsepower Syclone truck. A freshly restored 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha from Hummer1.com towered over a Vanderhall Venice. Next to them was a 2018 Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet from World Imports (Lotus of Jacksonville). Luxury Lease Partners offered 0% interest to drive the world's best cars, and Airstream arrived in the all-new 2020 Interstate. After wowing the crowds, we awoke Sunday after losing an hour to Daylight Saving Time. Each one of us had a mission to cover the show's themed presentations. GM brought every mid-engine Corvette prototype to inspire a new generation of owners. McLaren unveiled the 765LT and took our breath away. Iconic Team Penske cars were shown in public for the first time in years. Lotus unveiled the Evija while the De Tomaso P72 roared with Ford ferocity. Apollo's latest IE looked into the future, much like Harley Earl's concepts did for the Greatest Generation. Tell us which car you want to see in person and stay with us for more amazing events. Used Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2020

Amelia Island Concours Weekend 2020 Preview

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is running from March 5-8, 2020 and if you're anywhere near Northern Florida, you don't want to miss this event. There will be events running each day, ranging from the test drives on Friday and Saturday, to the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday. LEARN MORE THIS EVENT On both Saturday and Sunday, the duPont REGISTRY booth will be on display at MotorXpo field from 8am to 6pm. This is located at the first hold of the Golf Club of Amelia Island. Below is what you can expect to see at our booth this year. Luxury Lease Partners Luxury Lease Partners (LLP) was formed to fill a much-needed void in the highline and exotic car markets. They work with over 125 dealer partners across the country who specialize in makes like Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces. You can learn more about what they have to offer at our Amelia Island booth. LEARN MORE Hummer1 HUMMER1 will be displaying a stunning example of one of their Hummer H1 Alphas. Each of these rugged vehicles goes through a complete body-off meticulous restoration. LEARN MORE Airstream The legendary Airstream will be in our booth, showing off just how luxurious and comfortable traveling in one of their Touring Coaches can be. LEARN MORE Vanderhall Three wheels, two seats and plenty of style. Vanderhall Motor Works has three separate models to offer and you'll see just how incredible driving these three-wheel vehicles can be if you stop by our booth in Amelia Island. LEARN MORE Specialty Vehicle Engineering Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) not only knows how to create power, but also how to put power into cars and trucks. SVE will be displaying an example of their upgraded 1000 hp Camaro and new Canyon, but you'll have to stop by to see just how powerful and amazing these American powerhouses are. LEARN MORE World Imports USA/ Lotus of Jacksonville This is, without a doubt, one of the rarest Mercedes models out there. The Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet was produced in a very limited quantity-- only 99 examples were produced. What's more, you can see it in our booth. LEARN MORE

By Andrew Nabors – March 02, 2020

Sarasota Ferrari Drivers Group Celebrates "Driving for th...

Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch, FL – This past weekend, Exotic Car Lovers from around the greater Sarasota area came together to celebrate fine food and exotic automobiles at the Sarasota Ferrari Drivers Group ‘Driving for the Dream’ Gala weekend. Attendees enjoyed a gala dinner and lively silent and live auctions at GROVE restaurant on Friday evening. Then on Saturday morning, some 150 cars flooded into downtown Lakewood Ranch for the group’s fourth annual Exotic Car Show in support of ‘Flight to the North Pole.’ Main Street overflowed with exotic autos from such marques as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Lotus, and Audi. There was also a special Classic Car section featuring vintage British and American cars. The weekend closed with an exhibitors’ drive on Sunday morning, followed by brunch at The Capital Grille. Just remember before getting the car of your dreams to go to https://www.anewdriver.ie/ and get driving lessons to be more prepared when you get your license and avoid any accidents out there. “It was a fantastic weekend,” said co-organizer Joe Brielmann. “The Gala dinner was a big success and the array of exotics on display Saturday was outstanding—the weather was beautiful, and we had great attendance at the show. It’s a fun weekend for car enthusiasts, but at the end of the day, we do all of this for the kids. All the weekend’s proceeds go to support ‘Flight to the North Pole,’ and this year I’m proud to say we exceeded last year’s total.” The Ferrari Drivers Group is very grateful to its 2020 sponsors for their support, including Platinum Sponsor Ferrari of Tampa Bay; Diamond Sponsor Lamborghini Sarasota, Hagerty Insurance and Sage Auto Studios; Gold Sponsor Suncoast Porsche; Dimmitt Automotive Group and Media Sponsors Sarasota Scene and iHeartMEDIA/WSRZ107.9 Stay with us for all your Ferrari events, and we'll see you at the Amelia Island Concours. Browse Sports Cars For Sale All Photos (C) Evan Lewis @Aerial_Automotive)

By Andrew Nabors – February 28, 2020

Geneva Motor Show Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Fears

Yesterday we heard rumors of Asian automakers planning a limited appearance at this year's biggest car show. It is now far worse than we suspected, as Reuters just reported that the 2020 Geneva Motor Show has been canceled over Coronavirus fears. Last year we saw the unveiling of the Bugatti La Voiture Noir and the Koenigsegg Jesko, so we can only guess what we won't see this year. "We regret this situation, but the health of all participants is our and our exhibitors' top priority. This is a case of force majeure and a tremendous loss for the manufacturers who have invested massively in their presence in Geneva. However, we are convinced that they will understand this decision," said Maurice Turrettini, Chairman of the Foundation Board. Browse Sports Cars For Sale Video (C) SellerieCimes

By Edward Jones – February 17, 2020

Cars & Coffee Palm Beach February 2020 Recap

Presented by Cars & Coffee Palm Beach - Cars & Coffee Palm Beach February Edition at Palm Beach Outlets celebrated the love of speed with thousands of custom rides representing hundreds of makes, models, and vintages.-- race cars, jet cars, exotic and luxury vehicles, classics, restomods, bikes, trikes, electric skateboards, electric drifters, and so much more. SEE ALL OF THE HIGHLIGHTS! Cars & Coffee Palm Beach, the world's largest cars and coffee event, is presented each month by Adam's Polishes with support from Off Lease Only, Powersports of Palm Beach, and Blackout Coffee Co. February's show also included special sponsor Vossen Wheels. The monthly event attracts tens of thousands of spectators to enjoy thousands of display vehicles, vendors, stores, giveaways, free coffee, celebrity appearances, and something for everyone. February highlights included: 1. Fastenal Racing brought their #17 Roush Fenway Ford Mustang race car, which is part of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The crowds appreciated the opportunity to see the car up-close, pick up some swag, and learn more about the vehicle and team which were on their way to Daytona 500. (Photo by Ryan Hoffman) 2. Back by popular demand, Resurrection Muscle Cars returned to the Showcase Corner with some of their latest and extremely impressive classic and restomod cars. Their red, white, and blue theme was represented by a variety of builds, all proving that today's technology and old school cool are a perfect match. (Photo by Keith Chisholm) 3. Vossen Wheels also joined the Showcase Corner display area with a jaw-dropping array of exotic cars on their head-turning, innovative, forged wheels. (Photo by Cars Computers Cameras) And Much More! SEE ALL OF THE HIGHLIGHTS! Featured Images by TonyNap CAR-Tography

By Andrew Nabors – February 17, 2020

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee February 2020

Call it a Polar Vortex, cold snap, or lack of warmth, Saturday was a cold morning. Nevertheless, our faithful fans enjoyed the extra power offered by the cold & dense air. It was the first time we have seen a new Ferrari R8 Tributo in person, and it does not disappoint. A new ICON A5 Amphibious plane arrived on a trailer, and it is a marvel of modern aeronautical design. Two pristine deTomaso Panteras were parked across from an original Hurst GTO, and our west lot was filled with new & old domestic power. The east side was filled with air-cooled Porsches of all ages, a pristine Jaguar E-type, and several Ferrari 488 coupes & Spiders. With two commercial coffee pots running wide open, we reached a new record of 14 gallons between 6 and 8:30 A.M. We couldn't do this without our sponsors, so here's to all our friends at: Paddock1.com The Auto Den Ferrari of Tampa Bay European Exotic Center Dimmitt Luxury Cars ICON Aviation St. Petersburg Grand Prix We'll see you all next month Peter O. Knight Airport on Davis Islands. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 14, 2020

Get Ready for Mecum Glendale 2020

Last year was Mecum Auctions' inaugural event at State Farm Stadium. Attracting bidders and consignors from around the country it was an unprecedented success. For an encore performance, get ready for Mecum Glendale 2020. Taking place on March 11-14th, their lineup is loaded with late-model exotics and classic muscle. New for this year, the Sunset Sessions Food & Music Festival will take place after bidding on Saturday. Bidders are anxiously waiting for the action, so here are our favorites: 2019 McLaren Senna View Details 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 View Details 1970 Plymouth HEMI 'Cuda View Details 2017 Ford GT Competition View Details Its going to be a great event, so stay with us for all your Mecum Auctions coverage!

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