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 – 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

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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 24, 2020

Roger Dubuis Unveils Excalibur Diabolus in Machina

Roger Dubuis has chosen to tune its minute repeater to the sound of the tritone, the famous “Diabolus in Musica” chord outlawed in medieval religious music, the secret key to all clever and complex melodic harmony. A sin of pride is to wear a timepiece that combines a devilish flying tourbillon with a highly sought-after minute repeater. It is the first watch to ever have both features in the same calibre. This is only made possible by the expert watchmakers of Roger Dubuis. Caliber: A minute repeater coupled with a flying tourbillon, the RD107 is a blend of haute horlogerie made possible thanks to the highly skilled watchmakers of Roger Dubuis. Three different indicators - functions, all or nothing, chiming - are displayed on the upper side of the calibre. The RD107 is powered by two micro-rotors visible on the back of the calibre. " width="680"> Specifications: Case Size : 45mm Water Resistance : 3bar (30meter) Strap Material : Interchangeable 3D calf leather strap Clasp Material : Interchangeable titanium cover with titanium triple folding buckle Dial Material : Double surface flange with engraved minute track, transfered texts. Polished hour markers filled with SLN. Features: Type: Mechanical, automatic winding Function: Hours, minutes, minute repeater, function indicator, all or nothing indicator, chiming indicator Power reserve: 72 hours Components: 558 Jewels: 54 Diameter: 36.9 mm Thickness: 10 Frequency : 3 Hz (21’600 Alt/H) That last feature is what would make this forbidden in medieval music. Dividing any musical note by 3 was deemed irreverent to the Holy Trinity. The Church forbade triplet tones because they did not conform to the sacrosanct rhythm of hymns or chants. It's time for a change, and you should be the first to experience this innovation in timekeeping. Shop Roger Dubuis

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.

By Edward Jones – January 03, 2020

Airbus and Aston Martin Release New ACH130 Helicopter

Do you want to know what goes perfectly with an Aston Martin sports car? Why, the new Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition helicopter, of course. Both Aston Martin and Airbus Corporate Helicopters have been working together for over a year, combining the abilities of both brands into one helicopter. If you're interested in picking one of these luxury choppers up, you have some options. There are four interior and exterior designs that customers can choose from. Each of the options were created by Aston Martin and mirror the luxury you'd expect in one of their luxury sports cars. Of course, there's a Stirling Green theme, a staple of the British automaker. Other exterior schemes include Xenon Grey, Arizona and Ultramarine Black. Inside the helicopter, customers can select the following color schemes include Pure Black (ultra-suede), and Oxford Tan (leather), Pure Black (leather), Cormorant (leather) and Ivory (leather). If you're seriously interested, information on the Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is available upon request. Expect deliveries to take place Q1 2020. SEE ALL ASTON MARTINS FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – November 22, 2019

Lapland Ice Driving: Up to 125 MPH on Ice

Presented by Lapland Ice Driving - Imagine drifting at more than 200 km/h in total safety on a full-scale F1 circuit reproduced on a frozen lake, behind the wheel of high-powered sports car in the middle of Swedish Lapland. This is the reality with a Lapland Ice Driving experience. visit website They are located in Arjeplog, the European capital of extreme weather car testing, 70 km from the Arctic Circle. For just 14 weeks each winter, Lapland Ice Driving transforms the surface of the frozen Lake Udjaur into an enormous 2,965 acre private drifting area, making it the world’s largest driving centre, still unrivalled. Here you will have the unique chance to try some of the 13 different tracks, including exclusive and officially-licensed, full-scale Formula One reproductions: Yas Marina, Silverstone, Nürburgring, Paul Ricard and Sepang (new this year). Thanks to personalised in-car instruction, whether you are expert or beginner, you will perfect your skills and master drifting by driving up to 250 km per day ! The instructors are all highly qualified, coming from the best driving championships. They use an unparalleled approach to guarantee you maximum pleasure during all your driving sessions. No barriers, no walls, nothing in the way- just fresh snow alongside the track. Everything is designed to allow limitless extreme driving behind the wheel of one of the 30 exceptional cars, each one specially prepared for extreme driving conditions: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi R8, BMW, Subaru... Through tailor-made services, everything is done so that you can personalise your stay down to the smallest details (flights, nordic activities, …). As a registered tour operator and agent, the dedicated Lapland Ice Driving team will take care of all your travel arrangements for you, even if you come from the end of the world and beyond. This is all possible, and they will give you every assistance… and complete peace of mind. The only thing you need to be concerned with is the pleasure of enjoying the extraordinary. You can already book now and be part of the happy few, from January 6 to March 22 only. visit website Contact : Website: www.lapland-ice-driving.com Email: contact@lapland-ice-driving.com Phone: +33 1 60 76 25 25 Presented by Lapland Ice Driving Today, Lapland Ice Driving is unquestionably THE world reference for high-end ice driving services,for private individuals and automotive professionals alike. International media make no mistake about it, since so far more than 30 TV reports and 300 press articles have been dedicated to it.

By Edward Jones – November 01, 2019

Living Vehicle 2020 Model Announced

Presented by Living Vehicle - Only 25 hand-crafted examples to be produced. The Luxury Travel Trailer of the Future Is Already Here Santa Barbara-based luxury travel trailer company Living Vehicle has announced their brand new 2020 model starting at $199,995. With only 25 units to be produced, several have already been spoken for in a private release. visit livingvehicle.com Living Vehicle is the luxuriously sustainable answer to the widespread demand for better quality, more advanced capability and modern design. Designed by award winning LEED accredited architect and mobile space expert Matthew Hofmann, LV challenges everything you thought you knew about travel trailers. The new model boasts unprecedented capabilities and is engineered to be the highest-end luxury trailer available. 2020 represents one step closer to achieving the company’s mission to produce a completely net zero, all-electric travel trailer. Designed to give you ultimate freedom from the grid, LV’s automotive grade energy system can power the unit perpetually off-grid featuring up to 24 kWh lithium batteries and 3,000 watts of solar. Air conditioning is powered by a 58-volt nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium battery system designed to run without having to plug in. No need to choose between mountains, beach, forest or desert, Living Vehicle performs in all 4 seasons with an extensive range from 0 to 110 degrees thanks to the exclusively designed conditioned basement. The thermal envelope has been meticulously designed with rigid closed cell foam and thermal barriers to keep a comfortable temperature inside in both freezing and very hot conditions. Built to withstand the test of time, LV embraces automotive quality starting with a world class all-aluminum chassis, frame, interior and exterior skin, subfloor and cabinetry. Partnering with the most advanced and innovative products from the military, commercial, and marine sectors, LV is undoubtedly the most impressive travel trailer available on the market. It might look too pretty to take off the beaten path, but the 2020 model is built to be off-road capable with a 16-inch ground clearance, high departure angle, and over-engineered structural chassis and frame. Option to add Kevlar tires for added security when traveling over rugged terrain. Proving freedom from everything except luxury, the architecturally stunning LV is designed to feel more like a high end home than trailer, including amenities designed to please the most discerning of travelers, including a fold down enclosed patio, chef-inspired kitchen, spa bathroom and private home theater featuring SONOS audio system. Each unit is custom built and created from a collection of 20 option packages. Reservations can be placed now with deliveries starting in early 2020. Price starts at $199,995. To learn more, please visit livingvehicle.com. visit livingvehicle.com Presented by Living Vehicle Guided by a passion for freedom, Living Vehicle (LV) is the culmination of Matthew and Joanna Hofmann's decade of experience designing and living in mobile spaces.

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2019

CollectionSuites: The Ultimate Investment for the True Co...

Presented by Collection Suites - CollectionSuites combines the best of both worlds: a beautiful space to store your prized collections and a great investment for your portfolio. Envisioned by collector and race car driver, Juan Manuel Fayen, CollectionSuites is a luxury storage space located in the heart of Miami. The complex features 38 suites that merge a gallery-like space to store your Paganis or Picassos, with a living space that boasts top of the line technology and finishes. From exotic cars and rare art to vintage wines, our suites were conceived to store, enjoy and protect your timeless investments while they gain market value. " width="680"> schedule a private tour now CollectionSuites is designed to meet the modern collector’s lifestyle, boasting luxury finishes, high tech features, and extensive security options. Owners also get access to premium amenities like exclusive concierge services and real time, operational control through the CollectionSuites app. More than 30% of the customizable suites, which start at the low $700k mark, have already been sold since entering the market in November 2018. Beyond developing a luxury storage space, the team set out to create an unparalleled community for collectors. For Fayen, the goal was to connect like-minded individuals fueled by a passion for the timeless: “From wine enthusiasts and art procurers to car aficionados, the complex serves as a safe haven for their collections, and the ultimate oasis for the collector.” CollectionSuites hosts a series of inhouse and offsite events including art expos, auto racing, fundraisers, and other curated gatherings for the owners-only community. Visit www.collection-suites.com to schedule a private tour of our suites today! schedule a private tour now

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