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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 – September 23, 2019

New $1 Million Alfa Romeo Racing Team-Inspired Richard Mi...

During the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, Richard Mille took the time to unveil their new RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen timepiece. This new timepiece not only honors Räikkönen, but also his racing team: Alfa Romeo Racing Team. The RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen features manual winding tourbillon movement. There's also a hours, minutes, split-seconds chronograph, and a 30-minute totalizer. If you're interested, act fast because only 30 pieces are to be produced with a price of $1,063,000. Also Check Out: McLaren Speedtail Takes “Best of Show” at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille McLaren x Richard Mille Watch Revealed Image Source

By Edward Jones – September 19, 2019

Introducing the HYT H2.0 - Mexico

Presented by HYT Watches - Water and time separate HYT’s continent of origin from Mexico. Three unique HYT H20 timepieces are uniting these elements and locations with special appearances at three Mexican exhibitions in September and October 2019 – the EMWA Fest, Berger Fest and SIAR. For HYT, the flow of liquid and time really matters. This is the two-fold inspiration, essence and driver of the H20, with its patented micro-fluidic module incorporating an exclusive APRP movement. A trio of one-off variations allies with the individual colors of the Mexican flag to localize the beautiful motion of time. For a watch capable of defying gravity, distance is just a walk in the park. view the hyt h20 collection Radical perspectives on time The H20 offers radical perspectives on time, through 3D transparency and a shape resembling a smoothed stone, weathered to perfection. It showcases the essential HYT union of art and science, measuring the passage of time mesmerizingly using fluids. In the Mexico-inspired trio, black liquid traces elapsed time, while a see-through counterpart reflects what’s about to come. Pale green C7 Super-LumiNova®, underneath the capillary and on the numerals and hands, supports timekeeping after dark. Like a flourishing river, life does not stand still, so the present floats elegantly at the ever-changing meeting point of the past and future, day and night. The signature of each piece’s uniqueness is a color accent on the bezel in either red, white or green, teasing the enigmatic draw of a black case and strap. The essence of flow A cloche-like sapphire crystal offers an intriguing lateral view of the progress of time. This takes the memory to the pristine equipment of a science laboratory – and the imagination to the protective display of a precious work of art, in this case time. Viewed from the side, the skeleton digits, markers and directive arrows appear to be floating. In its entirety, the H20 is an invitation to discover and explore new dimensions of encountering time and space in context – yours. The angled positioning of the two concertina bellows is the gateway to looking behind the scenes of temporality. A jumping minute hand, crown position indicator and thermal indicator are further elements of this live performance in a meticulously constructed theater of time. The H20 traces and embraces the very essence of flow – even between continents. view the hyt h20 collection

By Edward Jones – July 22, 2019

HYT Soonow: An Intriguing Look At Time's Flow

HYT Watches have a very unique way of telling time. Instead of a constant tick, they provide a more fluid approach that flows just as naturally as time should. For their latest Soonow collection, this fluid flow of time wraps around a skull inspired by Aztecan artifacts. To create the unique way that the Soonow tells time, HYT utilizes their exclusive mechanical movement. Two contrasting layers are pushed through the skull-shaped capillary as time passes. To read the time, a wearer needs to just look at where the two fluids meet and read the printed words founds above the skull's outline. The skull design of the Soonow is made up of 313 18-karat gold pins that stick out through a titanium plate. Each of the skull's eyes tells a different story. The left eye rotates as each second passes, and the words "soon" and "now" can be read on this dial. For the right eye, HYT came up with a brilliant way to display the watch's power reserve. The pupil of this eye peers out from a disc that sits behind the eye's socket, displaying the level of the power reserve. HYT is creating two different editions of the Soonow, each in different colorways. One features blue fluid with red trim on the skull, while the other has green fluid with matching green trim. Only 25 examples are planned for both editions. learn more on hytwatches.com

By Edward Jones – July 17, 2019

MB&F Legacy Machine No.2 Red Gold Blue Edition Announced

MB&F has just announced that the new LM2 Red Gold Blue will be the last example of the Legacy Machine No.2 (LM2) to be crafted in 18K red gold. This new watch comes six years after the first LM2 was unveiled. Only 12 examples of the LM2 Red Gold Blue will be created, making it a very limited piece. The blue dial plate allows this watch to stand apart from other LM2s. Each of the "flying" balance wheels are secured in place by second-generation bridges that made their first appearance in the most recent LM2 editions. Are you considering picking up one of these extremely limited watches? The retail price is set at $156,000, but you better act fast. learn more at mbandf.com

By Edward Jones – June 12, 2019

Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Shepard Fairey Watches Re-Released

In 2018, Hublot announced a partnership with street artist Shepard Fairey. You may know his work from the OBEY brand, which has been popular ever since it came into existence in the early 2000s. The result of the collab was the Meca-10 Shepard Fairey watch. When it was released, Hublot only produced 100 examples of the watch. Now, Hublot is re-releasing the watch with another 100-example run. The Meca-10 Shepard Fairey is a part of the Big Bang Meca-10 lineup, which is a newer addition to Hublot's family. It comes packing a manually-wound skeleton caliber with a 10-day power reserve. On the face, around the 3 o'clock, Hublot included Shepard Fairey's "STAR GEAR" logo. This logo reveals a red dot when the move is almost out of power. The Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Shepard Fairey comes in two different variants: Blue and Grey. Each comes with a $28,300 price tag. Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2019

Roger Dubuis Launches New Excalibur Huracan Performante T...

At the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, there's more than just supercars and hypercar being revealed. Check out this new debut from Roger Dubuis, the Excalibur Huracan Performante timepiece. This stunning timepiece is limited to just 88 pieces, making it truly exclusive. As the name suggests, Roger Dubuis took inspiration from the Lamborghini Huracan Performante supercar. A quick glance at its face will reveal a honeycomb pattern that's just like one found on the grille of the supercar. The strap also features bears Performante Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tire-pattern on the inside. If you're a fan of the Huracan Performante supercar, this timepiece was created for you. For more information on the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Collection, be sure to click the button below. visit rogerdubuis.com

By Roberta Naas – October 16, 2018

Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini: Raging Mechanics

Many of today’s watchmakers align themselves with the world of motorsports, often linking with a car brand, a race or a racing team. Roger Dubuis, however, takes the autosports affiliation to new heights with its Excalibur watches co-created with Lamborghini engineers.This past weekend at the DreamRacing track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, an elite group of invited guests got to enter into a unique experience with Swiss luxury watchmaker, Roger Dubuis. In a “Raging Mechanics” event, over the course of two days, guests not only drove Lamborghini supercars and received lessons on driving on wet surfaces and drifting, but also drove Lamborghini racecars on the track.The exhilarating weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the unique partnership between Roger Dubuis, a brand that “Dares to be Rare,” and Lamborghini. Throughout its “Hit the Grid” days at the track, Roger Dubuis showcased its incredibly bold and daring Aventador S watches designed in cooperation with Lamborghini’s engineers, and “powered by Raging Mechanics.”With its own watchmaking factory in Geneva, where extensive research and development, as well as watchmaking, takes place, Roger Dubuis continually pushes the envelop to find new and unique materials for its timepieces, inventive new calibers and daring designs. During its relatively short lifetime, the brand has already produced 35 in-house-made calibers and created patented world premier mechanics that define it as a leader in out-of-the-box thinking. Such is the case with the newest Lamborghini Aventador S watches.In fact, not only do the Excalibur Aventador S timepieces house raging mechanics, they, along with the Excalibur Spider Pirelli watches, boast something truly unique: straps made using winning Pirelli tire rubber. In fact, it was in early 2017 that Roger Dubuis formed a partnership with Pirelli to create straps using winning tires only for its Spider Pirelli line. The concept was extended to the Aventador S collection when the brand formed a partnership with Lamborghini later that year. Each strap is engraved with the number of the winning tires and comes with a certificate of authenticity, so that the wearer has a piece of history on the wrist. Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador S Blue. $210,000.In fact, during the event this past weekend, Roger Dubuis offered customers who were racing the Lamborghini racecars the option of having their own custom strap made for a Roger Dubuis Excalibur watch of their choosing – using the Pirelli tires on the car they have driven on the track.Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador SAs mentioned, as a result of the collaboration between super watch brand Roger Dubuis and the supercar brand, Lamborghini, Roger Dubuis has created the Aventador S collection, inspired by the lines and the engine of the Aventador S. Because both Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini are known for their abilities to create precision instruments using cutting-edge materials and engineering, the relationship between the brands is incredibly synergistic. Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador S Blue. $210,000.For car lovers and watch lovers, it is difficult to not like the new Excalibur Aventador S watches that are pretty much the embodiment of high-tech, high-mech at its finest.“Fine watchmaking is boring. We didn’t just want a co-partnership agreement where we put a logo on a watch. We have common values and we wanted their engineers to work with our watchmakers to come with new innovation to offer new experiences to the customer,” says Dorothee Henrio, International Marketing Director for Roger Dubuis. “We are a serial innovator. We know Roger Dubuis is not a watch for everyone, and we love that fact. You either fall in love with Roger Dubuis, or you hate us, but at least we are able to create emotion via an extravagant watch.”Not only are watch collectors drawn to Roger Dubuis for its aesthetics and superb mechanics, but also because of the rarity of the brand. Every single watch is created in an edition of either a unique piece, or a series of 8, 28 or 88.The new Aventador S watches feature all-new Roger Dubuis movements. The hand-wound 312-part Duotor mechanical caliber RD103SQ is equipped with highly technical twin double sprung balance wheels (hence the name Duotor) and a stability system. It offers hours, minutes, jumping seconds and 40 hours of power reserveThe collection is barely even a year old, and consists of some pretty impressive pieces, including the Excalibur Aventador S Carbon watch, which, thanks to the C-SMC carbon case (using the same technology as the Lamborghini cars) and skeletonized to movement, is an ultra-light timepiece. Additionally, a host of boldly colored and finished Excalibur Aventador S timepieces are offered, crafted in titanium, black titanium, with multi-layered carbon, or carbon bezels, and more. Every Excalibur Aventador S watch, like all Roger Dubuis watches, carry the coveted Hallmark of Geneva certification attesting to its superb finishings.Even more exciting is the fact that during the event in Las Vegas, Roger Dubuis hinted at an exciting new unveiling relating to the Lamborghini relationship coming soon. We’ll keep you up to speed on that. Roberta Naas, DuPont Registry Watch Editor

By Edward Jones – August 29, 2018

MB&F + L'Epee 1839 Have Created Robot-Clocks

MB&F and L'Epee 1839 have, through their partnership, created the most interesting form of a clock: a robot. Yes, the two brands have created robot clocks that utilize both brands' expertise in both craftsmanship and engineering. Their first robot clock was called Sherman, but they have since given him a bigger brother named Grant. This new creation was named after the American M-3 Grant tank. Just like the tank, this Grant packs firepower in the form of a spinning disk on his left hand and grenade launcher in his right hand. He even has rubber tracks that allow him to roam around.The RESERVOIR Watch: Inspired by Classic Time Instruments Additionally, Grant can change his position from lying flat to crouching to sitting up. No matter what position he's in, his 268-component movement is on display. Only 50 examples of Grant will be created and will be available in either nickel, black or blue. They come with a price tag of around $22,800 USD.Learn More @ MBandF.com

By Andrew Nabors – July 17, 2018

Montblanc Unveils Two New Watches at Goodwood 2018

Timekeeping is essential in racing, so Goodwood Festivals of Speed relies on Montblanc. For their second year of partnership with the historic race, they arrived with two new timepieces. Both are inspired by the Minerva, which is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year. The first watch is the TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph Limited Edition. It has 33 jewels with a power reserve of 46 hours. It operates on 4hz and has a 43mm case of stainless steel. The sapphire lens is scratch proof and production will be limited to only 1,500 pieces. This rare Cappuccino motif won't be recreated, and it was given to the winner of this year's event.Next is the TimeWalker Date Automatic Limited Edition. It has 26 jewels with a power reserve of 38 hours. It also operates on 4hz, and it incorporates a date window at 3 o'clock. Like its brother above, both are water resistant to 100 meters.Also finished in satin stainless steel, it has the same Cappuccino colors. This year's winner was VW driver Romain Dumas, who set a new record in the VW I D R Pike's Peak. It will also be limited to 1,500 examples, so contact your local Montblanc retailer for more information. Stay with us for all things Goodwood. Stay tuned for our annual watch guide in the October issues, or click here to order last year's guide to all the hottest watches.Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 29, 2018

Eberhard Chrono 4 Geant: Indomitable Force of Time

After having revolutionized the reading of time, thanks to the specially patented devicealigning four counters, Eberhard & Co.'s emblem collection has become a “laboratory ofideas”, revealing a maximum expression of compactness, strength and dynamism.This is the definition of a chronograph that creates a strong and decisive impact with every aspect of its design detail. From the imposing 46mm diameter steel case to the rotating bezel with PVD-treated screws, from the screw push-pieces to the crown guard, from the thick, anti-reflective sapphire crystal to the 8 screws of the screw-down case back, ensuring water-resistance to 20atm.A particular characteristic of the CHRONO 4 GÉANT is its meticulous exploration of the three- dimensional and its surprising multi-level implementation of the results. Worth special mention in this context is the subtle circular metal plate mounted on the dial. Its 6 screws, emphasize the four in-line counters, and the combination of screws at intervals around the sides of the case, on the bezel, the case back and finally the flange, challenge the limits of verticality and are complemented by the tachymeter scale expressed in km.Further confirming the distinctly sporty, gutsy character CHRONO 4 GÉANT is its unmistakable red features, namely the central seconds hand and the small numeral references of the counter displays that stand out proudly on the dial. Also, the attractive black rubber strap, vertically sculpted, accentuates the thickness of the material and reinforces those qualities of robustness and compactness, with which Eberhard intended to endow the model.CHRONO 4 GÉANT is thus truly part of the constant evolution of the projects and ideas signed “Eberhard & Co.” that, now more than ever, are coming skilfully and dynamically into focus in a chronograph of indomitable strength.Learn More

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