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 Andrew Nabors – December 11, 2017

300+ Exotics Gather For Toy Rally 2017

This is the time of year to think of those less fortunate. Kids shouldn't go without a Christmas gift, so the Marine Corps does a great job with the Toys for Tots program. In order to make sure South Florida gives its fair share, the Toy Rally completed their 12th annual event. The last 3 years were plagued by bad weather, but the skies were clear for this year's run. Officially known as the "South Florida Exotic Car TOY RALLY", it is made possible by being fully supported by state and local law enforcement.2017 South Florida Exotic Car Toy Rally for Toys for TotsIt is hard to find a meeting space for over 300 exotic cars, so Goodyear opened the doors of Airship Base.Attendees were treated to a nice meal with the backdrop of the big Wingfoot One. It looks like a blimp, but Goodyear partnered with the Zeppelin company to build a new generation of Airship. The starting point was the BB&T Center, which is home to the Florida Panthers. Marines collected $75,000 in cash and cheques, along with 100% of proceeds from the event's auction. At the end of the run, the Corps had a mountain of toys on their hands. We are very blessed to be part of this hobby, so think about the little ones this year and check out the highlights in the video below.

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2017

Festivals of Speed: Mission Inn Recap

If you didn't get a chance to stop by Mission Inn yesterday, you missed a great show. Festivals of Speed is based in Eustis, Florida and Mission Inn is their home field. We were invited to be the presenting sponsor and host of the VIP lounge, so allow us to show you what Festivals of Speed is all about. Weather can change quickly in the "mountains" of Central Florida, but thankfully a nice breeze made for a perfect day. Most of the heavy hitters and the tents were in place by Saturday night, which made move-in go smoothly. A line of show cars was already formed by 7:30 am, and attention to detail placed each car among others in its class. Photos by Dylan Orluck Mission Inn has 36 holes of golf, which makes it a great venue for events like this. Orlando's car culture is incredibly diverse, but the city is plagued by highways designed before the Mouse came to town. The early risers were in place by noon, but a few late arrivals caught everyone's attention. Lamborghinis and Porsches were in abundance, with classic muscle cars and even a few vintage Harleys. Festivals of Speed has a dedicated fanbase that attends each event, so we look forward to spending time with them and our fans this weekend at Festivals of Speed St. Petersburg. Join us Sunday, April 2nd at Vinoy Park for a gathering of Tampa Bay's classics and exotics. And stay with us for more event coverage here on Autofluence. Buy Tickets Photos by Real Deal Steel

By Edward Jones – February 26, 2016

RM Amelia Island: The Ultimate in Performance

The collector car world turns its focus to Amelia Island, Florida next month for the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance weekend. Beyond the concours itself, a highlight of the weekend is RM Sotheby’s annual Amelia Island sale at the Ritz-Carlton—the official auction of the concours—which will celebrate its 18th Anniversary, March 12. Over the years, RM’s Amelia Island auction has been witness to the sale of some of the world’s most important automobiles, and this year’s event will be no exception, lifting the gavel on more than 90 blue-chip automobiles.For those with a penchant for modern performance, we’ve highlighted our “picks” of the catalogue, which is available for viewing in full here.2014 Pagani Huayra Est. $1,900,000 - $2,200,000There’s only one word to describe the Pagani Huayra when it comes to performance, technology, and styling: phenomenal. Powered by a Mercedes-AMG V-12 engine producing a remarkable 720 bhp, the car can sprint from 0–60 in just 3.0 seconds, with a top speed of 238 mph. Delivered new to the United States, the example on offer is striking in Blue Argentina and boasts just over 400 miles. With just 100 examples slated to be built—all of which are spoken for—it’s upcoming sale presents a rare opportunity to join a very exclusive club.View Lot2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Est. $650,000 - $750,000The first Ferrari to utilize the “Gran Turismo Omologato” nomenclature since the 288 GTO and the vaunted 250 GTO before it, the 599 GTO channels the mystique of its ancestors and their place in Ferrari history. At the time, the 599 GTO was the most powerful road car Ferrari had ever built, with 670 bhp on tap, eclipsing even the fabled Enzo. This particular example is differentiated from its peers by a stunning array of options: special-order Rosso Fuoco paint, a seldom-seen full Charcoal Alcantara interior, and a Bose Hifi audio system, just to list a few. Ferrari Classiche certified, it boasts just two owners and less than 7,200 kms from new.View Lot1985 Ford RS200 Evolution Est. $475,000 - $675,000The Group B regulations fostered some of the most powerful and most sophisticated rally cars ever built, including the Ford RS200. Holding the long-standing Guinness record for ‘fastest accelerating car in the world’, it could tear up the tarmac, propelling from 0–60 in just over three seconds. One of only 24 Evolution models built, the example on offer has been upgraded by the factory to 600 brake horsepower and is probably one of the most, if not the most, unused RS200s with less than 450 original miles.View Lot2005 Porsche Carrera GT Est. $750,000 - $850,000Utilizing a carbon-monocoque engine fitted with a naturally aspirated V-10, the Carrera GT was laden with a mesmerizing assortment of advanced lightweight racing-derived components. Originally developed by Porsche for the Footwork Formula One team, the mid-mounted engine would be the first V-10 engine used in a Porsche. It also proved to be the defining feature, providing the car with not only a breathtaking soundtrack but also incredible performance. The example on offer—a one-owner, lifelong Beverly Hills vehicle—shows a mere 1,184 miles and benefits from a fresh clutch and service (performed less than 10 miles ago).View Lot For further information on RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island offering or to register to bid, visit www.rmsothebys.com or call +1 519 352 4575.Learn More

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 19, 2016

Update: James Bond's Aston Martin DB10 Sells for £2.4 Mil...

In January, we reported on the sale of the infamous Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre, the latest installment in the James Bond story. Last night, at Christie's in London, the famed supercar held an audience captive as the auction for the DB10 began.Just a reminder-- this is the only DB10 that was made available for public sale, making it a truly exclusive masterpiece to add to any collection, and one auction attendee now holds the coveted title as the new owner. Last night's auction brought in an incredible final price of £2.4 million for the car, approximately $2.6 million USD.Christie's reported that Aston Martin's CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer, touted the DB10 as "one of the rarest cars ever created." He further specified the only 10 DB10s were fashioned, and those 10 will be the only ones every made. This particular DB10 for auction, will be the only one ever available for public sale.What's more, the over $2.6 million raised in the auction will benefit Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known in the United States as Doctors Without Borders-- a humanitarian organization that provides medical care for those in areas affected by conflict and disasters that wouldn't otherwise have access to such necessities.An amazing sale for a much needed cause. We're happy to see the only DB10 to ever hit the market benefit such an organization.Aston Martins For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 12, 2015

duPont REGISTRY Live at the Nashville International Auto ...

If you were able to catch the Nov. 4 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, it was truly a show for the ages. With all of the glitz and glamour on display in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, something even more substantial was taking place across the street. In cooperation with our local dealers, we were assembling our booth for the Nashville International Auto Show.First to arrive were the Roush Mustangs from Ford of Murfreesboro. The white Stage 2 had a manual transmission and a muscular exhaust note, but the real treat were a pair of Stage 3 models. The gray one was automatic and the white was manual, and both had incredible supercharged power. Their exhausts sounded like open catalytic converters and completely overpowered the audio systems. A trio of trucks rolled in with customized versions of Ford’s 2016 F150, F250 and a wild dually F350.McLaren of Philadelphia arrived with a prototype of the new 570S, and it was wild to see an almost production-ready version of their new model. The most practical McLaren yet, it has conventional door sills and a more user-friendly infotainment system. As always, we needed a mobile office with plush amenities, so Airstream arrived with their Mercedes Sprinter based Interstate model.If you need an exotic car, Velocity Motorcars has an inventory that rivals anyone in the business. They provided us with a classic 1979 Lamborghini Countach that shows only 4 digits of actual mileage. Next in was a sparkling Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta. To our knowledge, this was the only one built with this brilliant paint scheme. A pristine 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago, 2010 Porsche GT3 RS and 2008 Viper ACR made for a well-rounded display.Music City MotorCars is Nashville’s home for new exotics, and they allowed us to showcase a new Rolls-Royce Wraith, Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster and a sinister black Lamborghini Huracan. Porsche and Audi arrived together with almost their entire model lineups. BMW was electrifying with both the i8 and i3, along with a new M4 convertible. Mercedes-Benz was well represented by an S500, CLA45 AMG and two other sedans.For the weekend racer, two heavily modified Porsches from Track One Motorsports were ready to decimate their competition. The white 911 is a true cup car owned by veteran racer Denny Long. He set many track records in the '70s and raced alongside Don Yenko and Sam Posey in the heyday of Trans Am and IMSA.By far, the biggest bang for your buck was on display thanks to our friends at Barrett. Their .50 caliber semi-automatic M107 is accurate to over 2,000 yards, and it was only fitting to have Darth Vader trade in his lightsaber for one.A big thanks to all of our Nashville friends for making this year’s auto show the best one to date. See you next year!Gallery

By Caitlin Duffy – May 07, 2015

duPont REGISTRY & Quantum Leap Farm Participate in Cut fo...

A haircut can make a world of difference, especially when it comes to raising money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and select nonprofit organizations. From March through May, an all-star team of men, women and children shaved their heads for the 6th annual Veredus Hays Cut for a Cure Charity Challenge presented by Carrabba's Italian Grill.duPont REGISTRY’s Publisher Thomas L. duPont and General Manager Bucky Worboys, as well as duPont’s grandsons Tommy and Tyler Thiel and Worboys’ son Myking, all joined forces as members of Quantum Leap Farm’s team for the event.Donate to the Fight Against Pediatric CancerThis unique online fundraiser helps fund an entire Phase 1 Clinical Trial each year for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and enables the foundation to partner with other great charities. It challenges men, women, children and professional athletes to step out of their comfort zone and shave their heads for a good cause. Several head-shaving events took place throughout the campaign, with the main head-shaving event being held at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre in Tampa April 23.Quantum Leap Farm’s team was comprised of 11 two-legged members and one four-legged participant of the equine variety – Ben the horse. So far, their team has raised just over $6,640 of their $10,000 goal. Thomas L. duPont and his hairstylists.“Kids battling cancer help to shave heads and I'm always amazed at the strong bonds that are formed between these children and the participants,” says Nancy Crane, PCF’s Executive Director. “Most of all, I love the laughter and big smiles during each shave.”Team Quantum Leap Farm was just one of 19 teams and 14 individuals who participated this year."Tom duPont has shaved his head for the past three years to support Quantum Leap Farm and PCF,” Crane explains. “We are grateful for his compassion, dedication and leadership. Quantum Leap serves many of our local children who are currently battling cancer or have battled in the past. They love the farm, the horses, and the wonderful caring staff.” Bucky Worboys after his shave.Donations for this year’s fundraiser are still being accepted through May 15, and can be made through the organization’s website at www.PCFcutforacure.org. Be sure to find Quantum Leap Farm’s profile, and help fund the fight against pediatric cancer, or visit Quantum Leap Farm's website at www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.Sponsors included Veredus Hays, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Moffitt Cancer Center, USAmeriBank, Sport Clips Haircuts and WTSP Channel 10 News. These efforts helped raise more than $358,000 this year.Donate to the Fight Against Pediatric CancerGallery (Photos courtesy of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc.)

Events

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe