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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 – December 20, 2019

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duPont REGISTRY’s Premium Private Sellers Program is dedicated to exotic, luxury and classic cars that are for sale by owner. For 35 years, duPont REGISTRY has been the #1 marketplace when it comes to listing, marketing and selling the world’s most sought-after automobiles. We specialize in makes like Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, and many others. list your car now View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing Stay Up To Date On the Latest FSBO Listings, by Following us on Instagram. Shop All FSBO

By Andrew Nabors – December 13, 2019

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Every day, we're posting up exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale on our Instagram page - @dupontregistry. In this article, you'll see the ten hottest and most reacted-to posts from the previous week on our Instagram, which you can find below. However, don't forget to check out our page to see the countless other impeccable cars that are posted each and every day. Or, if you have something specific in mind, click the button below to browse all exotic cars for sale. visit dupontregistry.com to see more View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing VIEW LISTING View listing View listing There you have it. You picked these, so tell us which one you want in your driveway in the comments below and have a great weekend.

By Andrew Nabors – December 11, 2019

2017 Ford GT Heritage For Sale Honors Bruce McLaren

Presented by Lupo Motors - In 1966, Ford finally pulled off the unthinkable and beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon were determined to be the winners, and their black #2 GT40 became one of the most famous cars in history. Wearing the same black, silver stripes, gold wheels, and #2 as the racing winning car, this 2017 Ford GT Heritage ‘66 was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this victory. Sold as a very limited edition, the Heritage ‘66 is the ultimate Ford GT on the market now. view price and more info Lupo Motors is proud to offer this GT Heritage. The car has been meticulously taken care of and boasts an extremely low 461 miles on the odometer. Featuring a full-body paint protection film on the outside, the gloss black shadow paint, silver stripes, and exposed carbon fiber are well protected from rock chips. The 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels wear the gold satin clear-coat to match the race-winning car The Akrapovic titanium exhaust option was also selected for this GT, as well as titanium lug nuts. Inside, the GT features carbon fiber just about everywhere. Most prominent are the inner door sills that wear the same #2 graphic as the exterior. Ebony leather wraps the carbon-fiber seats, instrument panel, pillars, and headliner. Gold accents include the X-brace on the seats and the very beautiful shift paddles. To complete the tribute to the race car, the seat belts feature a unique blue webbing to mimic the blue racing harnesses in the original race car. Click the button below for all the info, and stay with us for more great finds from Lupo Motors. Do not miss your chance at owning one the Rarest of all the new GT’s!Please contact us for further information, photos, or a shipping quote. view price and more info Presented by Lupo Motors At Lupo Motors, we have three main goals: Provide a streamlined and relaxed environment for true enthusiasts to invest in their dream car Diversify Idaho’s exotic car profile Stand apart, as a unique dealership providing a simple and luxurious experience

By Andrew Nabors – December 06, 2019

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Hottest Cars You Should Buy This Week

Every day, we're posting up exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale on our Instagram page - @dupontregistry. In this article, you'll see the ten hottest and most reacted-to posts from the previous week on our Instagram, which you can find below. However, don't forget to check out our page to see the countless other impeccable cars that are posted each and every day. Or, if you have something specific in mind, click the button below to browse all exotic cars for sale. visit dupontregistry.com to see more View Listing View Listing View Listing View Both Listings View Listing View Listing View Listing VIEW LISTING View listing View listing There you have it. You picked these, so tell us which one you want in your driveway in the comments below and have a great weekend.

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