Lifestyle

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 – July 28, 2021

What You Need to Know About the World’s Rarest Precious M...

Presented by Osmium-Institute – Last month, we offered a first look at Osmium, the last precious metal to be introduced to the market. This month, we are taking a closer look at Osmium’s unique crystalline structure, and why it is so much more than just a beautiful aesthetic feature. Let’s recap: Osmium is a precious metal just like gold or silver. Unlike gold, which is relatively malleable, Osmium is the densest element on the periodic table. It is over 1,500 times rarer than gold, and much more valuable: whereas one ounce of gold currently sells for just under $1,800 at the time of writing, one ounce of Osmium would fetch a whopping $52,520. What you need to know about Osmium is that its crystalline structure is revolutionary. This is not just a figure of speech: It is truly changing the way we see precious metals as both a stunning luxury collectible and as a tangible investment asset. The structure of every single piece of Osmium introduced to the market is unique, just like a human fingerprint. And like all human fingerprints, these structures can be scanned and archived. Two unique codes are issued: One assigned to the Osmium piece, and a second that identifies an individual buyer as its official owner. Because both are needed to resell a piece of Osmium, a thief would never be able to profit from a stolen piece. Any piece of Osmium could be returned to an Osmium-Institute to be scanned and identified. And if that wasn’t enough, Osmium’s natural density makes it is impossible to counterfeit: One could never fill an Osmium bar with a metal of similar density, the way that false gold bars have been discovered to contain tungsten. Osmium combines security with splendor, magnificent with mystique, performance with potential. That is what you need to know. Visit Buy-Osmium.com

By Edward Jones – May 25, 2021

KryptAll Keeps Your Calls Private When You Have Something...

Presented by KryptAll - We are experiencing an explosion of covert gathering of our phone records and calls. To keep your calls private, KryptAll provides a secure communication solution that guarantees your privacy. Now you can drive in your exotic car and communicate securely! KryptAll provides secure AES256 voice and calling data encryption for calls to anyone, anywhere in the world, without generating a record of the call. The user’s call cannot be intercepted or traced with the freedom to call anyone. KryptAll starts with a factory unlocked iPhone that is hardened with encryption firmware and secure network access software and sealed to resist and identify tampering making it a K iPhone. Depending upon your unique level of required security, standard Smartphone functions can be accessed and you can continue with your existing cellular network carrier to receive and make regular calls; however, when you select to call from KryptAll, the entire transaction is encrypted and unrecognizable to anyone trying to intercept the information. KryptAll employs an Apple unlocked iPhone platform that can be used around the world on any GSM cellular data network without a carrier contract. It is also possible to use KryptAll over broadband WiFi without any cellular carrier. You can call any phone from KryptAll and be secure when the calling party using KryptAll is the target of interception. When both parties use KryptAll it will provide 100% phone to phone encryption. The quality and clarity of the KryptAll communication is outstanding. KryptAll is mentioned in Jack Carr’s latest bestselling book The Devil’s Hand! Jack a former Navy SEAL has KryptAll also listed on his website of gear that is used in his book. Visit KryptAll.com

By Edward Jones – May 13, 2021

International Defense K9: Elite Family-Friendly Protectio...

Presented by International Defense K9 - International Defense K9 is known worldwide for its elite family-friendly protection dogs. Each dog is trained in the owner's home, allowing them to be adapted to a home environment and family situations. They are also trained using the most advanced training techniques that allow dogs to fit into any social setting. With over 20 years of experience with police and military canine training as well as tactical deployment of K9s. International Defense K9 has also trained the trainers in those arenas. However, their true passion is in applying that experience toward providing personal canine bodyguards for individuals and families in need. This is what truly brings International Defense K9 the most fulfillment. If you're looking for peace of mind or a better night's sleep, they can help. International Defense K9 offers a chance to own a once in a lifetime dog by utilizing their highly refined selection raising/training program. They will find the perfect dog to meet and exceed your expectations. Their dogs have the perfect temperament and stunning physical beauty that is the ideal standard of your chosen breed. International Defense K9 provides their experience and expertise to help match perfectly the breed and specialized training program that best fits to your lifestyle. If this sounds interesting to you or if you'd like to learn more about the best protection dogs around, be sure to click the button below. View Website

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2021

Revolution Race Cars: Starting a Revolution

Presented by Revolution Race Cars - Revolution is the British race car company making an impact on the world stage. Just two years ago, Revolution’s A-One sports prototype made its debut in the UK Sports Prototype Cup and one year later, nineteen drivers took to the grid at the Portuguese F1 Grand Prix support race. But that was just the start. Already, six Revolution A-Ones have been imported into the USA, creating a storm on the track day scene and a North American championship is on the cards later this year. Visit Website Revolution may be a new name, but it has an experienced team led by Radical Sportscars founder Phil Abbott. “Since our first F1 support race, our customer enquiries have increased four-fold,” said Abbott. “Everybody who has ever bought a sports-racing car in America seems to have contacted us recently. The interest has gone global because we’ve put ourselves on the right stage.” A new type of track car - for amateur fun or serious racing. The A-One is a prototype sports racer designed to fill the gap between traditional spaceframe chassis cars and the costly, full-blooded LMP machinery of the IMSA series. The A-One features a carbon tub, carbon floor and bodywork, weighs just 795kg and boasts a 427 hp 3.7-liter V6 with a six-speed paddle shift gearbox at its heart. The result is a fulsome 512 bhp per tonne. “Instead of trying to make a new Radical or something similar, we’ve created an LMP-type car at half an LMP3 price,” explains Abbott. “For owners of older tech spaceframe cars, it’s a huge step to move up to something like an LMP chassis, and there are always customers wanting to step into something faster, safer, more progressive.” Driving forward in North America. With two dealers already appointed in the USA, (Revolution RSR in San Diego and Esses Racing in Austin), Revolution is well placed to grow. This year, more agents will be appointed in the USA. A partnership with duPont Registry has been established to showcase the A-One at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach and the Barrett Jackson events in Scottsdale and Las Vegas. To discover more and to register your interest in a Revolution test drive go to www.RevolutionRaceCars.com. Visit Website

By Edward Jones – February 02, 2021

NICHOLAS AIR: Two Decades of Providing the Best Private A...

Presented by NICHOLAS AIR - There’s a level of authenticity here at NICHOLAS AIR— we know who we are, and we’ve been committed to our Members’ missions since day one and complete those missions with aircraft that are Owned and Operated by NICHOLAS AIR. No identity crisis, no changing business plans every six months, no relying on another’s brand to help build ours. We’ve kept private travel simple— skipping the 30-page contracts and spending more time doing what you wanted- enjoying the best of private aviation experiences. After 23 years, our mission is still the same: provide the world’s most refined set of private flyers with the best aircraft the industry has to offer. Since the beginning, our Members come to us because they want a company that is committed to safety, to cleanliness, and to creating the most comfortable onboard experience possible. That commitment matters even more today, where our pilots and crews clean and detail each airplane prior to every mission, and as a company, we have reassured our passengers that no stone was left unturned to provide them with a clean, meticulously detailed aircraft with each trip. Our Members come to us because they want authenticity and reliability, and for over two decades, they’ve found it right here, at NICHOLAS AIR. Visit NICHOLASAIR.com

By Edward Jones – December 09, 2020

The New Bell 505 is Taking Owners to New Heights

Presented by Bell - Discovering a whole new world with through the ownership of a helicopter offers unlimited accessibility. Access to places, views and experiences you have never dreamed of reaching before, and Cyrus Sigari proves this notion with every flight he takes in a Bell 505. As a lifelong aviator and co-founder of jetAVIVA, Cyrus has plenty of experiences navigating the world from the air. But his purchase of the Bell 505 has unlocked more opportunities, both educational and adventurous. “I bought a 505 because I’ve always had an interest, curiosity and passion for helicopters,” said Cyrus. “It’s helped me with learning and experiencing the world in a different way that I never understood until I got out there to do it.” From flying fixed-wing for more than 27 years, Cyrus believes mastering rotorcraft has turned him into a better pilot, overall. And the views aren’t terrible either. “Once you go down to 500 feet, there’s a whole new world down there. There’s not a minute that goes by where you’re not thinking ‘This is incredible!’” Watch Cyrus’ climb to new heights in the Bell 505. See The Testimonials " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 30, 2020

BIG Holiday Discounts, 10% OFF at Skip Barber Racing Sch...

Presented by Skip Barber Racing School - The green flag is waving at Skip Barber Racing School with an incredible 10% discount on all 2021 Racing and Driving Schools and Gift Certificates. From the Hagerty Driving Academy through the 2 Day Advanced Racing School and everything in between. From teen drivers learning to handle the everyday challenges of driving to serious competitors who want to learn from the racing school that has trained champions in every major racing series, we have a program for you. Experience the thrill of the most iconic racetracks in North America, including Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock Park, and the only Formula 1 track in the United States, Circuit of the Americas. Close the gap! Make your move! Deep discounts on Gift Certificates and Schools from Skip Barber Racing School are only available from Tuesday, November 24 to Monday, November 30. That’s it! Accelerate! This is the gift they’ll value every day, every mile, every turn. Use code “HOLIDAY20” to redeem this once-a-year discount! Visit SkipBarber.com

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2020

Metron Garage: Unique Garage Structures for the Discernin...

Cars are meant to be unrestrained. This is the dream behind luxury and sport vehicles. Yet many of us return home to a cramped, dark garage, needing to dust off the hood every time we want to drive. METRON Garage aims to change that. We combine our passion for cars with nearly three decades of construction experience to design the perfect home for your cars. As dedicated car guys, our goal is to provide a sleek, luxury space that encompasses everything you love about your automobiles. Modernity and speed are the driving inspirations behind our designs. Pairing our signature heavy, commercial-grade powder coated steel frame system with smooth, classy finishes like aluminum, carbon, and zinc cladding creates something truly grand - a garage you'll only want to leave when you're ready to hit the road. METRON also offers interior design packages including tool cabinetry, decorative and functional interior wall paneling, custom artwork, and more to bring life to your space and make it unmistakably yours. Using BIM modeling software, our design team can create a fully 3D representation of your METRON Garage, to ensure you get the high quality, custom experience we built our brand with. The professional-quality renderings we create are made specifically to help you visualize your new structure from the inside out. If you're ready to treat your car collection with the bespoke life it deserves, contact us at metrongarage@gmail.com or call 800-511-7208 today! We'll give you the keys, you only have to hit the gas. Visit MetronGarage.com

By Andrew Nabors – April 20, 2020

Cabot Guns Offers Hand Built Perfection

You have many choices when shopping for a 1911. The common denominator among them is that no matter what you choose, it is one of many identical examples made by that shop. That is where Cabot Guns has chosen an unprecedented business model. Their specialty is in small batches, each one with a unique theme and inspiration. By limiting production to small groups assembled by the same Gunsmith, Cabot Guns offers hand-built perfection. Sure there are other companies that build pistols by hand, but even a skilled master can become complacent if they build the same gun. Groundhog day becomes real if your career is spent in repetition. At Cabot, they are not afraid to use unique alloys, custom wood finishes, and other unseen details to make their guns one of a kind. A quick glance at their website and you will fall down the rabbit hole of amazing firearms. Among my favorites are a pair made from extraterrestrial iron. Meteorites have some of the purest iron ever found. The Gibeon meteorite dates back to the dinosaur age, and it was discovered in Namibia in 1838. After carving a 77-pound chunk out of it, Cabot Guns built the "Big Bang Set". Mass-produced guns are made using high-speed CNC mills. Because Cabot Guns are often commissioned in hardened alloys, each one is carefully crafted using tools your grandfather would know well. Other popular models include Damascus Steel, each one requires hundreds of hours by a blacksmith who forges and folds the steel hundreds of times. Cabot Guns only builds these in limited runs, as their business is catered to one-off collector's items. If you need the strongest and most alluring 45 on the market, click the button below to learn more. Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – February 03, 2020

CollectionSuites: The Exclusive Destination for True Coll...

Presented by CollectionSuites - A few years back, avid car collector and real estate entrepreneur, Juan Manuel Fayen, had the vision of creating a private space for collectors to store and enjoy their assets. He understood the demand for a place like this, which suited a distinct lifestyle and created a sense of community with those who share a passion for the timeless. VISIT COLLECTION-SUITES.COM When conceiving CollectionSuites, Fayen knew what the place needed to be, what it should look like and what it should offer. But there was one key element that would help make this groundbreaking project successful, and this was its location in South Florida. Many things were taken into consideration when determining where to build CollectionSuites: safety, proximity to areas of interest, real estate appreciation, access to main highways and airports, weather, infrastructure and much more. City of Doral became the place to house this revolutionary project. Doral is a relatively small but economically advanced city located in the center of South Florida. It is located inside Miami-Dade County, only one mile away from Miami International Airport, and 13 miles from Downtown Miami, making it central and accessible for both the local and international audience. This is also one of the cities with the lowest crime rates in the US, making it ideal to safely store your exotic car collection and exclusive art pieces. Besides, it’s situated far from the coastal line, which also helps protect your assets from corrosive saline water and saltpeter found in the air. South Florida is a renowned international hub for business and entertainment, home to Art Basel, food and wine festivals, car and boat shows and many more. As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with real estate properties appreciating at a rapid rate, Doral has become an attractive playground to investors all over the world. On top of all the perks and benefits that come with being a CollectionSuites owner, when you invest in your luxury storage suite, you capitalize on a growing city with unlimited potential; a city that matches the lifestyle of the modern collector and the smart investor. Click here to learn more about CollectionSuites or schedule your private tour of our premises! VISIT COLLECTION-SUITES.COM Presented by Collection Suites Our goal was to offer collectors an exclusive space where they could store and admire their most prized collection.

Lifestyle

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe