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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 Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2019

2019 Hot Rod Power Tour by Chevrolet Performance

Have you ever thought about being part of a road trip with 6,000 of the fastest street-legal cars? Our friends at Hot Rod Magazine started this tradition in 1995 with an epic drive from L.A. to Norwalk, Ohio. I decided to join in 2011 for the first leg: Kennedy Space Center to Valdosta, Georgia. As the Presenting Sponsor for this year's trip, we present you the 2019 Hot Rod Power Tour by Chevrolet Performance. Each night is a different drag strip, and this year they started at the 4-wide Z-Max dragway in Concord, N.C. Days of racing and camaraderie were punctuated by adverse weather and scenic back roads. Everything from classic Cobras to late-model Z06 and ZR1 Corvettes could be seen, and there are always Vipers! The tour is open to all makes and models, so you really should experience at least one leg of the journey. The route for 2020 will be announced soon, so stay with us for all your Hot Rod & Motor Trend news. Browse Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – June 21, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the Car World - 6/21/2019

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 of this weekend's events The Experience Auto Group's New Porsche Macan Launch Where: 185 West Sunrise Highway, Freeport, NY, USAEvent Start: Jun 23 at 12:00PMEvent End: Jun 23 at 4:00PM Learn More Caffeine and Exotics Where: 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA, USAEvent Start: Jun 23 at 9:00AMEvent End: Jun 23 at 3:00PM Learn More Lingenfelter Cars and Coffee Where: 47451 Avante Drive, Wixom, MI, USAEvent Start: Jun 22 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 22 at 10:00AM Learn More Cruise Control Rally V.2 Where: 147 North Kinderkamack Road, Montvale, NJ, USAEvent Start: Jun 22 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 22 at 12:00AM Learn More Celebrity Cars Las Vegas Weekly Car Show Where: 9500 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, USAEvent Start: Jun 22 at 7:00AMEvent End: Jun 22 at 10:00AM Learn More see all of this weekend's events

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the Car World - 6/14/2019

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 of this weekend's events duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee Where: 3051 Tech Dr, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33716, United StatesEvent Start: Jun 15 at 6:00AM Event End: Jun 15 at 9:00AM Learn More Exotics & Espresso @ Prestige Imports Where: 14800 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami, FL, USAEvent Start: Jun 15 at 9:00AMEvent End: Jun 15 at 12:00PM Learn More San Diego GT Where: 11455 Sorrento Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, USAEvent Start: Jun 15 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 15 at 10:00AM Learn More Lingenfelter Cars and Coffee Where: 47451 Avante Drive, Wixom, MI, USAEvent Start: Jun 15 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 15 at 10:00AM Learn More Exotics at Redmond Town Center Where: 7211 166th Avenue Northeast, Redmond, WA, USAEvent Start: Jun 15 at 9:00AMEvent End: Jun 15 at 11:00AM Learn More see all of this weekend's events

By Andrew Nabors – June 10, 2019

Sights & Sounds of Supercar Sunday 2019

One of the best venues for a European supercar gathering is the Assen Motorsports Park in the Netherlands. Last year we reached out to Carspotter Jeroen for his great footage, and he didn't disappoint. This year he sent us the footage before everyone else, so here are the Sights & Sounds of Supercar Sunday 2019. Leading the pack was a Koenigsegg Regera, and following behind were all manner of high-performance rides. From Audi to Zenvo, and Aventador to Zonda, it was a gathering for the ages. Some of the unique participants included a Mercedes-AMG G500 4x4 Squared, classic Porsche 911 Targa, and a VW Golf R. Supercar Sunday 2018: $50 Milion Hypercar Gathering Lamborghini seemed to have the most entries, but we also saw several Corvettes and Panteras. Tell us your favorite from this footage, and stay with us for all your supercar news! Browse Exotic Cars FOr Sale Related: BullFest Miami 2017 Preview: Lamborghini Gathering & Drive Jay Leno's Car Collection

By Edward Jones – May 31, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the Car World - 5/31/2019

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 of this weekend's events Miller Motorcars at the 24th Annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Where: 100 Arch St, Greenwich, CT 06830Event Start: Jun 01 at 7:00AMEvent End: Jun 02 at 4:00PM Learn More High Octane South Jersey Cars and Coffee Where: 550 Fellowship Rd, Mt Laurel Township, NJ 08054Event Start: Jun 01 at 8:30AMEvent End: Jun 01 at 12:00PM Learn More Supercar Saturdays Where: 601 N Martingale Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173Event Start: Jun 01 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 01 at 12:00PM Learn More Portland Cars and Coffee Where: 37490 SW 95th Ave, Wilsonville, OR 97070Event Start: Jun 01 at 8:00AMEvent End: Jun 01 at 11:00AM Learn More Nashville Cars and Coffee Where: 633 Frazier Dr, Franklin, TN 37067Event Start: Jun 01 at 7:30AMEvent End: Jun 01 at 10:30AM Learn More

By Edward Jones – May 23, 2019

Corvettes on the Circle 2019 by Skyway Corvette Club Recap

Article by Skyway Corvette ClubSkyway Corvette Club held their 23 rd annual charity event ”Corvettes on the Circle 2019” at St. Armand’s Circle, Sarasota, Florida on Saturday, May 5, 2019 with a new high in registration of 177 Corvettes. Each generation of Corvette was represented and both owners and spectators had a lot of opportunities to view the cars in a great setting. Every year we have participants coming from across the state including Miami, Tallahassee, and Orlando to name a few. We are proud of the fact that we have in the past sent 18 veterans to Washington, D.C. as part of the Honor Flight program and know we will be able to send more this year with monies raised from this event. We also have made significant contributions to Camp Anokijig, a summer camp for underprivileged children and will again be able to continue our support.

By Andrew Nabors – May 21, 2019

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: May 2019

Unless you are a sovereign citizen, you should have received your Tax Return by now. For car enthusiasts it means an upgrade or a finishing touch to your latest project. For Californians, it translates in to half a tank of gas. Thankfully, this Spring has been cooler than normal, and the perfect weather allowed us to have a great show on Saturday. Our friends from Dimmitt Automotive arrived first. Since they are only a few miles away, their salespeople brought examples from every brand. We were host to new Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, McLaren, & Rolls-Royce models. As our fans arrived, they noticed something hidden under a black cover. Try as they might, nobody had the right answer as to what it was. With the unveiling planned for 7:30, we noticed an abundance of classic GMC Syclones and Typhoons rolling in. Exactly on cue, Dave Hamburger and his father Ed pulled the wraps off of the 2019 GMC Syclone. This 455 horsepower beast is supercharged and ready for AWD launches. Much like the Yenko 1000HP Camaro they unveiled in 2017, our events are the best way to launch a new model. 2019 GMC Syclone Unveiled at duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee Because Sheriff Gaultieri sends his finest officers to keep the peace, there were no burnouts or crashes. What we did have was an abundance of high-dollar exotics. Most notable were three Ford GTs, a new 720S Spider, Huracan Super Trofeo Evo, 488 Pista, Scuderia Spider 16M, AMG GT R, and every version of the Porsche 911 GT2 & GT3. We couldn't do this without all the support from local dealers, so our hats are off to Bert Smith, Reeves, Ferman, Crown, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa, and everyone else that gets up early to make this happen. Tell us your favorite car of the show, and we'll see you in June! https://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/322696711738741/

By Edward Jones – May 17, 2019

What To Do This Weekend in the Car World - 5/17/2019

By Edward Jones – May 13, 2019

WannaGOFAST Florida 1/2 Mile Shoot Out April 2019 Results

The WannaGOFAST Florida 1/2 Mile Shoot Out held April 13 and 14 has happened and the results are in. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes came out to the event, ranging from supercars and sports cars to SUVs and trucks. In the results below, you'll see a few cars that broke the 200 mph mark and a Shelby GT350R that broke the Platform World Record. Check it all out in the results below and get ready for the next event! FLORIDA 1/2 MILE - JUMBOLAIR AIRPORT - SATURDAY WINNERS! SPONSOR DIVISION Overall Domestic & RWD - Vengeance Racing - Dodge Viper - Ned Dunphy - 210.97 Overall Exotic/Import & AWD - TopSpeed Motorsports - Porsche 991 Turbo S - Colbert Shaw - 197.10 4-Door - FS-tuning European Autowerks - 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG - Ray Rivera - 155.81 Manual - Vengeance Racing - C6 Corvette Z06 - Chuck Greer - 191.89 FWD - Fastlane Import Auto Repair - 1992 Hondaghini - John Lomant - 166.85 Heavyweight - VanDrake Racing - 2008 Jeep SRT-8 - 198.06 All Motor - Vengeance Racing - C5 Corvette Z06 - "The" Eddie Blackwell - 193.46 PRIVATEER DIVISION Overall Domestic & RWD - Beau Orton - 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 M2K Motorsports - 200.62 Overall Exotic/Import & AWD - Paul Fruit - 2013 Nissan GTR TopSpeed Motorsports - 196.33 4-Door - Yudel Quiros - 2008 BMW 335i - 153.95 Manual - Joe Trujillo - 2017 Ford Mustang GT350R Fathouse Fabrications- 191.48 FWD - Amber Sotherden - 1998 Honda Civic - 165.80 Heavyweight - Toby Whitehead - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - 187.50 All Motor - David Azari - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 157.83 FLORIDA 1/2 MILE - JUMBOLAIR AIRPORT - SUNDAY WINNERS SPONSOR DIVISION Overall Domestic & RWD - Vengeance Racing - 2014 Dodge Viper TA - Ned Dunphy - 211.86 Overall Exotic/Import & Manual - AIM Performance - Porsche 997.1 Turbo - Joseph Santos - 209.98 FWD - Fastlane Import Auto Repair - 1992 Hondaghini - John Lomant - 171.29 Heavyweight - Vengeance Racing - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - Gary Coyne - 194.38 (Platform World Record!) AWD - AIM Performance - 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S Dave Briegs - 202.06 (Platform World Record!) All Motor - Vengeance Racing - C5 Corvette Z06 - "The Eddie Blackwell - 195.31 PRIVATEER DIVISION Overall Domestic & RWD - Beau Orton - 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 M2K Motorsports - 201.07 Overall Exotic/Import & 4DR - Abid Defalco - 2015 BMW M3 ASR Engineering & Kratos Turbo - 182.77 Manual - Joe Trujillo - 2017 Ford Mustang GT350R Fathouse Fabrications- 193.54 (Platform World Record!) Heavyweight - Toby Whitehead - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 M2K Motorsports - 192.14 AWD - Manuel Garcia - Porsche 991 Turbo S - 180.65 All Motor - Hunter Overton - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 165.01

By Andrew Nabors – April 22, 2019

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: April 2019

Just when we thought Summer was here for good, Good Friday proved to be dark & stormy. A cool front arrived for Easter weekend, and it provoked many serious street machines to join us. At least a dozen McLarens and 10 Porsche 911 GT3 RS' overwhelmed our spectators. Other rarities included 4 Deputy Sheriffs who love cars and turned a blind eye to acceleration shenanigans. Our showroom display featured a Mercedes-AMG S65 next to a G550 4x4 Squared. Both have matching matte gray paint and designo interiors. The LaFerrari took center stage, flanked by another GT3 RS and a Callaway Corvette Z06 being raffled by Ronald McDonald House Charities. GM fans had dozens of Corvettes and Camaros, but the real surprise was the A-Body crowd. We had more Chevelles, Lemans, Skylarks, El Caminos, and GTOs than ever. A few of them were convertible, but the best looking drop top was a 458 Speciale Aperta. Of course we couldn't do this without T&T Coffee Roasters, Dimmitt, Reeves Import Motorcars, Bert Smith BMW, and all our dedicated fans. We have something special planned for next month, so we'll see you then. https://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/603145596821307/

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