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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 Edward Jones – April 01, 2021

April 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered

April 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered For the April 2021 issue, our special 36th Anniversary Issue, the cover truck is the new 2021 Ford Shelby F-250 Super Baja. Built for both daily driving and off-road adventures, this new heavy-duty truck checks off all of the boxes. From the powerful 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo diesel to the exquisite interior, there is a lot to love about the new Shelby F-250 Super Baja. Learn more by clicking the button below or picking up an issue. Learn More Inside the pages of this issue are hundreds of exotic and luxury cars for sale, including Lamborghinis, Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens and a lot more. This issue has quite a few rare cars for sale, including a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, McLaren 620R, Ferrari F40, Lancia 037 Stradale, Porsche Taycans, Bugatti Chirons and a whole lot more. Being duPont REGISTRY, we are more than just a luxury automotive marketplace. Yachts, motorcycles, watches, private aviation and more can be found throughout the pages of our April 2021 issue. After all, it takes more than exotic cars to complete a luxurious lifestyle. To see it all, be sure to pick up your issue today. In The Pages: Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 At Lamborghini Palm Beach XPEL Paint Protection Backdraft Racing Handbuilt Sportscars Ultimate Toys Custom Sprinters Bell 505 Helicopter Metron Garage Custom Designs Previous Issues edit post Uncovered March 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered March 5, 2021 edit post Uncovered February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered February 1, 2021 edit post Features January 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 30, 2020 edit post Brabus December 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 10, 2020 edit post Features November 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered November 2, 2020

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2021

March 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered

March 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered For the March 2021 issue, the cover car is the new Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport. Inspired by customers’ desire for a more compelling driving experience, the bold Chiron Pur Sport achieves just that. The car has been meticulously designed for the driver who appreciates challenging roads with tight turns, corners, and curves. Learn more by clicking the button below or picking up an issue. Experience Bugatti Inside the pages of this issue are hundreds of exotic and luxury cars for sale, including Lamborghinis, Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens and a lot more. This issue has quite a few rare cars for sale, including a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation, Lamborghini Murcielago Versace Edition, Bugatti Veyrons and Chirons, Audi RS6 Avant Rimac Concept One and a whole lot more. Being duPont REGISTRY, we are more than just a luxury automotive marketplace. Yachts, motorcycles, watches, private aviation and more can be found throughout the pages of our Match 2021 issue. After all, it takes more than exotic cars to complete a luxurious lifestyle. To see it all, be sure to pick up your issue today. In The Pages: Porsche Design Custom Watches Bugatti Veyrons For Sale Nicholas Air Denison Yacht Sales Combat Motors 2021 Yenko/SC Camaro Previous Issues edit post Uncovered February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered February 1, 2021 edit post Features February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered January 13, 2021 edit post Features January 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 30, 2020 edit post Brabus December 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 10, 2020 edit post Features November 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered November 2, 2020

By Edward Jones – February 01, 2021

February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered

February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered For the February 2021 issue, the cover stars are the new Porsche 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. This new model from Porsche is a reinterpretation that pays tribute to the roots of the Porsche brand. It's an ultra-modern car with historic details, a pairing that Porsche pulled off in absolute style. From the fabric to the gold-colored logos, the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition has a surprising amount of details that make it both a true collector's item and a perfect homage. Learn about the cover car Inside the pages of this issue are hundreds of exotic and luxury cars for sale, including Lamborghinis, Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens and a lot more. This issue has quite a few rare cars for sale, including a 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT, 2017 Lamborghini LP700-4 Miura Edition, 2017 Ferrari F12tdf, Ferrari F50, McLaren Sennas and a whole lot more. Being duPont REGISTRY, we are more than just a luxury automotive marketplace. Yachts, motorcycles, watches, private aviation and more can be found throughout the pages of our February 2021 issue. After all, it takes more than exotic car to complete a luxurious lifestyle. To see it all, be sure to pick up your issue today. In The Pages: Exotic Car McLaren Sennas For Sale Watches Eberhard & Co. Scafograf 300 MCMLIX Motorcycles Combat Motorcycles Marine Regulator Marine Aftermarket BRABUS 800 WIDESTAR Private Aviation Bell 505 Previous Issues edit post Features February 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered January 13, 2021 edit post Features January 2021 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 30, 2020 edit post Brabus December 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered December 10, 2020 edit post Features November 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered November 2, 2020 edit post Features October 2020 duPont REGISTRY Uncovered October 5, 2020

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2019

duPont REGISTRY December 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY December 2019 Uncovered Out now is the December 2019 issue of duPont REGISTRY. This new issue of our publication is our latest Special holiday edition and features our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Within this Holiday Gift Guide, you will find a wide assortment of luxury goods that would be perfect for this season of giving. As always, the pages in the December 2019 is filled with hundreds of exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale. They range from the latest supercars to concours-ready classic cars. You never know what you're going to find when flipping open an issue of duPont REGISTRY, and this issue is no exception. On the cover of this issue is the new TECHART Porsche 911 (992). TECHART is a company that would never sleep on a new generation of the Porsche 911. In fact, they celebrate each new generation of the 911 with a program that takes the German sports car to the next level. So it is no surprise TECHART just announced their new individualization program for the 2020 992 Porsche 911. Check out a preview of the magazine by scrolling through the pages up above and be sure to pick up your own copy of the magazine. Also Featured In This Issue... Reservoir Lexus Brown Safe NMoto Franck Dubarry Luxury Lease Partners Shooting Range Industries Global K9 Paddock1 Tuscany Ultimate Toys Excell Auto Group Excell Auto Sport and Service Marshall Goldman Motor Sales Prestige Imports McLaren P1 GTR Fort Lauderdale Collection

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2019

duPont REGISTRY November 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY November 2019 Uncovered We're here to present our readers with a preview of our latest issue, duPont REGISTRY November 2019. This limited publication features 140 pages of the world's most exclusive exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale, as well as luxury items that accompany the lifestyle. This issue is available for purchase online and in newsstands right now. It's also heading out to our monthly subscribers and our duPont REGISTRY Live displays across the country. On the cover of the November 2019 issue of duPont REGISTRY resides the new Lamborghini Sian. Lamborghini has introduced this limited model as their first hybrid, as well as their most powerful production creation to date. Check out a preview of the magazine by scrolling through the pages right down below and be sure to pick up your own copy of the magazine. Also Featured In This Issue... Orbita NMoto ONEflight Lapland Ice Driving HYT Watches Lexani Motorcars McLaren Boston Marshall Goldman Motor Sales Excell Auto Group Prestige Imports Boch Exotics Pierre Ford & Harris Ford Ford Lauderdale Collection Fort Lauderdale Collection Franck Dubarry

By Edward Jones – September 09, 2019

duPont REGISTRY October 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY October 2019 Uncovered BUY THIS ISSUE NOW We're here to present our readers with a preview of our latest issue, duPont REGISTRY October 2019. This limited publication features 168 pages of the world's most exclusive exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale, as well as luxury items that accompany the lifestyle. This issue is available for purchase online and in newsstands right now. It's also heading out to our monthly subscribers and our duPont REGISTRY Live displays across the country. For the October 2019 issue of duPont REGISTRY, the Lexus LC 500 is featured on the cover. This stylish and sporty car is a beautiful designed masterpiece that provides its driver with the ultimate automotive experience. Check out a preview of the magazine by scrolling through the pages right down below and be sure to pick up your own copy of the magazine. Also Featured In This Issue... HYT Watches Beechcraft Lexani Motorcars Vanderhall Franck Muller McLaren Boston McLaren Charlotte Marshall Goldman Motor Sales Lamborghini Miami Boch Exotics Porsche Cars North America Excell Auto Group Pierre Ford & Harris Ford Fort Lauderdale Collection Reservoir Watches BUY THIS ISSUE NOW

By Edward Jones – August 07, 2019

duPont REGISTRY September 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY September 2019 Uncovered BUY THIS ISSUE NOW We're here to present our readers with a preview of our latest issue, duPont REGISTRY September 2019. This limited publication features 148 pages of the world's most exclusive exotic, luxury and classic cars for sale, as well as luxury items that accompany the lifestyle. This issue is available for purchase online and in newsstands right now. It's also heading out to our monthly subscribers and our duPont REGISTRY Live displays across the country. For decades, Ferrari’s have been considered the pinnacle of luxury automobiles. From the iconic 250 GTO to the new and groundbreaking LaFerrari hypercar, Ferraris are some of the most sought after vehicles across the globe. But did you know that Ferrari has conquered both land and sea? On the cover of our September issue is a rare Giallo Modena Ferrari LaFerrari and the one-of-a-kind Timossi Arno XI hydroplane racing boat that was created by Ferrari. Learn more by clicking here. Also Featured In This Issue... Delta Private Jets Mitchell Pool Tables Collection Suites Corum Watches BRABUS Lexani Motorcars Wide Open Baja McLaren Boston Marshall Goldman Motor Sales Excell Auto Group Boch Exotics Prestige Imports St. Louis Motorcars Porsche Cars North America Fort Lauderdale Collection Lexus BUY THIS ISSUE NOW

By Edward Jones – July 10, 2019

duPont REGISTRY August 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY August 2019 Uncovered We're proud to present our August 2019 issue of our automotive magazine. Gracing the cover of this issue is the extraordinary BRABUS 700 Widestar SUV, photographed by Johnny "@paid2shoot" Beckett. This rugged and powerful beast was an easy choice for this cover. Within the pages of this issue we have some incredible stuff that we're excited to show off, like: • Incredible watch winders and timepieces from the iconic brands. • The new 2019 Confederate G3 P-51 Combat Fighter motorcycle. • Lexani's brand-new G-77 Sky Master, the world's first executive luxury transporter • Expedition Motor Company's impeccable convertible Mercedes-Benz G-Wagens • New and used cars for sale from the world's most famous automakers. • And much, much more. Want to read this issue now? You can now purchase a digital issue of the duPont REGISTRY through Issuu before it hits newsstands. This can be done through the magazine preview found up above. We also offer digital subscriptions as well! Click here to buy or subscribe through issue. Cover Cars:BRABUS 700 Widestar BRABUS is not in the business of creating anything slow. Whether it’s a sports car or SUV, everything they put their name on is built around power, speed and class. Even their SUVs are absolute powerhouses, packing power figures that are on par with most supercars. One of the finest examples of BRABUS and their craftsmanship is the 700 Widestar, a super-SUV based on the new Mercedes-AMG G63. For this month’s cover, we’re pleased to present Mr. Alex Soltani’s example of the Widestar 700, which was commissioned by Platinum Motorsport. Learn More About This Car Where to Buy This Issue Subscribe Now Get Single Issues From Our Gear Site Pick One Up At Your Local Newstand Past Issues

By Edward Jones – June 07, 2019

duPont REGISTRY July 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY July 2019 Uncovered The month of July in 2019 is here, bringing all sorts of patriotism with it. Why? Because of July Fourth, if you had to ask. For that reason, we have to American monsters on the cover of the issue, both from Specialty Vehicle Engineering. Within the pages of this issue are all of the incredible exotic, classic and luxury cars that you've come to expect from duPont REGISTRY. There are also pages filled with essentials for the luxury lifestyle, including but not limited to extraordinary watches, high-end safes, lavish furniture, motorcycles and more. Issue Preview Previous Next Cover Cars:SVE 1000HP Camaro and Syclone Having built thousands of production-based cars for GM and its dealers until that program ended, Ed and David Hamburger decided to develop a complete line of supercharged late-model muscle cars, full-size trucks and SUVs. In 2015 they were named the exclusive licensee and builder for the current generation of YENKO performance vehicle. For this issue, we have two of their creations gracing the cover. Learn More About These Vehicles Where to Buy This Issue Subscribe Now Get Single Issues From Our Gear Site Pick One Up At Your Local Newstand Past Issues

By Edward Jones – May 14, 2019

duPont REGISTRY June 2019 Uncovered

duPont REGISTRY June 2019 Uncovered Our June 2019 is finally here and that means we're halfway through our magazines for the year. We're not entirely sure where the time has gone, but at least we have a special issue to mark the halfway point. This issue's cover is graced by a very special Ford GT that's unlike any other you'll find-- it's a true one-off automobile. Merkury 4 is heralded as the “favorite signature GT” by Camilo Pardo, the the chief designer of the 2002 concept Ford GT and the 2005 and 2006 production GT. Within the pages of this issue are all of the incredible exotic, classic and luxury cars that you've come to expect from duPont REGISTRY. There are also pages filled with essentials for the luxury lifestyle, including but not limited to extraordinary watches, high-end safes, lavish furniture, motorcycles and more. Issue Preview Previous Next Previous Next Cover Car: The Merkury 4 Merkury 4 is a breathtaking bespoke heritage model. The car started life as a three option, solid red Ford GT, was shipped to Detroit, with every aspect of its customization overseen by Camilo Pardo, the chief designer of the 2002 concept Ford GT and the 2005 and 2006 production GT. Learn More About This Car Where to Buy This Issue Subscribe Now Get Single Issues From Our Gear Site Pick One Up At Your Local Newstand Past Issues

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