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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 Jordan Aquistapace – July 06, 2021

Hublot Celebrates Summer With A New Limited-Edition Big B...

Cool off from the summer rays with the new cool blue Hublot Big Bang. With summer in full effect, it's a must for any watch collector or enthusiast to have a go-to summer watch. These are pieces that not only highlight the summer feel through design and color scheme, but also keep up with an adventurous lifestyle during the summer months. Hublot is proud to announce that they are making the decision easier this year with the all-new Big Bang UNICO Summer. The 42-mm case is made of anodized satin-finished and polished aluminum, a modern, lightweight colored material. This technical feat creates a uniform blue; turquoise like the deepest lagoons. The skeletonized dial allows for a closer look at the inner workings of the infamous UNICO movement, which provides a 72-hour power reserve and 100-meter water resistance. The functionality and reliability are what make the Hublot Big Bang UNICO Summer the perfect everyday watch during warm weather days. The transparent back case offers a secondary view of the mechanical operation, while the outer case is engraved to signify the limited 200-piece release. Hublot continues the cool blue colorway into the styling of nylon/leather velcro strap. The all-new Hublot Big Bang UNICO Summer is available online only for $22,000. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_FNxArdEK/ For more Watch news, Check out Makes And Movements: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ x Graham Chronofighter Superlight Carbon

By Roberta Naas – July 02, 2021

'Space Jam: A New Legacy' Now Has A $100,000 Watch In Its...

Who hasn’t heard of, or watched, the now-legendary Space Jam movies with basketball star Michael Jordan playing side by side with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes? Now, just in time for the debut of Space Jam: A New Legacy — the new live action and animated movie — Kross Studio teams with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to release a new Space Jam: A New Legacy watch. The $100,000 luxury watch is an exciting piece that is being sold as a set featuring the high-tech Tourbillon timepiece and an interactive wood and aluminum basketball sculpture that brings the Looney Tunes into full luxury context. The movie, which makes its debut next week on July 16 in theaters and on HBO Max, features basketball champion LeBron James as he embarks on a new epic adventure with the Tunes. The all-star cast of the Malcolm D. Lee film also includes live actors such as Don Cheadle, Khris Davis and others. To honor the groundbreaking movie, Kross Studio once again teams with Warner Bros Consumer Products (the first association was for a Batmobile clock) to create a highly technical complicated watch and an interactive art sculpture that underscore the uniqueness of the Tune Squad spirit and the Space Jam movies. The colorful and alluring the new Space Jam Tourbillon watch by Kross Studios is powered by the brand’s 281-part mechanical hand-wound 3 Hz caliber KS7’000, developed and produced fully in-house by Kross Studio earlier this year. It features a tourbillon cage (that compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity on the wrist when the watch is in certain positions) in the center of the movement on top of the barrel. The constant rotation of the escapement offers a mesmerizing appeal. Additionally, thanks to the skeletonization of the movement, the wearer is treated to a great view inside, where movie-related details reveal themselves. Among them: wheels that are styled like basketballs, an hour hand that turns into a free throw lane or “key” and more. The dial of the watch is just a circular outer ring surrounding all of the mechanical hullaballoo and features the entire Dream Team of Looney Tunes squad engraved on it in white against a rich blue color. The characters are so realistic in their renderings that it is hard to keep focused on the mechanics of the watch. From Bugs Bunny to Daffy Duck, Tweety, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzales, Taz, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and the others, this dial is just plain looney. The 45mm titanium case boasts a domed sapphire crystal for viewing of the mechanics and the Tunes. The case back allows for viewing of the mainplate and barrel bridge that are coated in blue PVD to match the front side Looney Tune dial ring. Devoid of a crown, the winding and setting are accomplished via a D-ring crown on the case back and a time-set pushbutton at 3:00 on the edge of the watch. It is sold with two leather straps, one in blue and one in basketball orange, each of which can be changed by the wearer thanks to an interchangeable quick-release system. About The Art Work That Comprises The Set For Kross Studio Space Jam Tourbillon Watch Bringing the basketball and art concepts further together, Kross Studios developed a wood and aluminum art piece inside which the watch can be stored. The sculpture is shaped like a basketball and features 11 wooden layers affixed to a central pillar and designed to resemble flat basketballs stacked up. The layers open to reveal the inside and the Tune Squad members are detailed on the case stand. Just 10 sets (watch and art) will be made. The art is produced in a limited, numbered edition and the set is sold in a customized wood crate with certificate of authenticity and handling gloves. This is the third venture from the fledgling independent Swiss brand known as Kross Studio since it was founded in 2020. Previous ventures include another venture with Warner Bros. Consumer Products that was the aforementioned Batmobile desk clock and a $150,000 Star Wars Death Star tourbillon watch created earlier this year in a collaboration with Lucasfilms. Image Source: Kross Studio

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 02, 2021

Top Timepieces Released This Week

A quick recap on the luxury watches released this week. Recently, We created duPont REGISTRY Watches as a new Instagram page dedicated to posting the newest and most exclusive luxury timepieces. Today, we have compiled a list of the top watch releases of the week from the best brands in the industry. Click any of the links below for more information on the current watches. Jacob & Co. SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blue https://www.instagram.com/p/CQqiQK4jnwz/ Learn More Franck Muller Vanguard Racing Skeleton Bill Auberlen https://www.instagram.com/p/CQq4TTVsx6O/ Learn More Zenith Chronomaster Original Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtNdJmMMQJ/ Learn More Porsche Design 39mm Sports Chrono Subseconds Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvv6axs9Q9/ Learn More H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Perpetual Calendar Midnight Blue https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwEeNfM2vg/ Learn More Richard Mille RM-032 x Arnaud Jerald https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwR_cUMHh3/ Learn More For more Watch news, Check out The Top 10 Watches To Start Your Watch Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 01, 2021

Discover URWERK's All-New UR-220 SL Asimov

The URWERK designed to catch the eye of any watch collector or enthusiast. The UR-220 Collection by URWERK takes on its own design and styling, focusing on lightweight performance. URWERK is proud to announce its third addition to the collection, the new UR-220 SL Asimov. The UR-220 SL features a 43.8mm case made from lightweight Carbon TPT smoothed down on each edge for a comfortable experience for each owner. The partial open-worked dial allows for a closer look at the inner workings of the UR-220 SL. Underneath the non-traditional dial is the in-house UR-7.20 manually wound movement, which provides a 48-hour power reserve and 30-meter water resistance. URWERK’s inspiration for automotive engineering is incorporated into the back case, where a service countdown indicator is located with engravings to signify the limited-edition release. Finally finishing the stealth-styling of the UR-220 SL, URWERK adds a multilayered nylon strap to ensure reliability and comfort, no matter what situation. The all-new limited-edition URWERK UR-220 SL Asimov is currently available through an authorized dealer starting at $160,000. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwb7HCMgyR/ For more Watch news, Check out Richard Mille Takes The New RM-032 To The Ocean Depths With Free Diver Arnaud Jerald

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 30, 2021

Richard Mille Takes The New RM-032 To The Ocean Depths Wi...

From land to sea, the Richard Mille RM-032 has Arnaud Jerald covered. Brand ambassadors behind Richard Mille are best described as world-class individuals. Each brings an enormous amount of success and respect in the area of expertise. Richard Mille compliments each individual with a timepiece designed to perform at the same level of expertise. Richard Mille is proud to announce its venture to the deepest ocean depths with 25-year old champion free diver Arnaud Jerald. The best tool of choice for Arnaud’s explorations is the new Richard Mille RM-032, a diver-focused timepiece equipped with functions needed to perform under high-pressure situations. The RM-032 offers hours, minutes, seconds, a 12-hour totalizer, and a flyback chronograph, combined with an annual calendar sporting an oversized date at 12 o’clock and a month indicator (with numbers from 1 to 12) between 4 and 5 o’clock. It also possesses a running marker, located at 3 o’clock. Thanks to both its geometry and 2-rpm rotational frequency, it is possible to check the correct functioning of the running movement under stressful, dimly lit conditions. Paired with a functional and comfortable rubber strap, the Richard Mille RM-032 is a versatile option for both land and sea. The new Richard Mille RM-032 is available through an authorized dealer starting at $125,000. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwR_cUMHh3/ For more Watch news, Check out H. Moser & Cie. Releases The New Heritage Perpetual Calendar Midnight Blue Enamel

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 30, 2021

H. Moser & Cie. Releases The New Heritage Perpetual Calen...

A traditionally designed timepiece with modern movement technology. H. Moser & Cie. is known as one of the oldest watchmakers in the industry, pioneering the way for many future models to hold significance with its rich heritage in horology. The Swiss watch manufacturer is celebrating its heritage with new renditions of the references that made the brand what it is today. H. Moser & Cie. is proud to announce its new Heritage Perpetual Calendar presented in Midnight Blue Enamel. The elegantly styled timepiece is featured as a 43mm 18k White Gold case with a contrasting blue dial. The dial is laid out in a minimal design, evenly distributing focus throughout the multitude of functions that the Heritage Perpetual Calendar provides for the owner. Driving the H. Moser & Cie. is the in-house HMC 800 hand-wound caliber, which provides an impressive 7-day power reserve. Finishing the luxurious design of the Heritage Perpetual Calendar, H. Moser & Cie. fit its new addition with a matching blue hand-stitched alligator leather strap and 18k White Gold clasp. The all-new H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Perpetual Calendar Midnight Blue Enamel is limited to 20-pieces and currently available through an authorized dealer. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwEeNfM2vg/ For more Watch news, Check out Porsche Design Announces A New 39mm Sport Chrono Subseconds Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 30, 2021

Porsche Design Announces A New 39mm Sport Chrono Subsecon...

A new size means more options for Porsche Design timepiece enthusiasts. Since its collection release, the Porsche Design Sport Chrono Subsecond continues to lead the way as the German automotive manufacturer’s most popular model. The watch made to take on the design of Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package is bridging the gap between the automotive and watch world. Porsche Design is proud to announce its newest change to the Sport Chrono Subsecond, a smaller 39mm model. The smaller-sized timepiece will join the 42 mm version featuring all the functional and innovative details such as optimum readability, the COSC-certified caliber Porsche Design WERK 03.200, and a genuine Porsche vehicle leather strap. The Porsche Design Sport Chrono Subsecond presenting in its new 39mm size will be available through authorized dealers starting September 2021. Shop all the current timepiece collections from Porsche Design by clicking the link below. Shop Porsche Design Timepieces https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvv6axs9Q9/ For more Watch news, Check Zenith Unveils The New Chronomaster Original Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 29, 2021

Zenith Unveils The New Chronomaster Original Collection

Sport a classic Zenith timepiece in an array of style options. The Chronomaster continues to make its presence as the brand’s most iconic model, while the original A836 was introduced to the watch world in 1969. Since then, Zenith celebrates with commemorative editions like the Chronomaster Sport and Revival. Zenith is proud to announce the release of the A836’s true predecessor, the new Chronomaster Original. The period-correct chronograph is presented using Zenith’s traditional case. The Chronomaster Original’s 38mm case is available in both Stainless-Steel and precious 18k Rose Gold. Alongside the choice for case material, Zenith offers the ability to choose between a white dial or a black dial. Driving the new Zenith Chronomaster Original is the brand’s iconic El Primero movement, capable of holding a 60-hour power reserve and 50-meter water resistance. Zenith completes the retro-styling of the Chronomaster Original with a choice of stainless-steel or 18k rose gold bracelets, as well as an array of traditional bands. The all-new Zenith Chronomaster Original Collection is currently available through an authorized dealer starting at $8,400. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtNdJmMMQJ/ For more Watch news, Check out Franck Muller Releases A Vanguard Racing Collection For Bill Auberlen & BMW Motorsports

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 28, 2021

Franck Muller Releases A Vanguard Racing Collection For B...

The perfect Franck Mueller Vanguard to wear to the race track. Franck Muller Geneve pays tribute to motorsport and one of the greatest drivers of all time with a USA limited edition dedicated to the driver Bill Auberlen and BMW. With redefined lines and a marriage between the world of craftsmanship and the automobile, Franck Muller has developed this unique timepiece filled with passion using an elegant in-house skeletonized movement turned reminiscent of an engine that you can admire through the open back. To date, he has won 63 races and is officially the most successful sports car driver in North American history. With redefined lines and a marriage between the world of craftsmanship and automobile, Franck Muller has developed this unique timepiece filled with passion. A true ambassador of motorsport, Bill Auberlen shares the same values of performance and perfection as Franck Muller. For this US limited Edition, the seconds' indications start from the bottom and not from the top as on a car counter, allowing the seconds to be read at both ends of the hand. To further accentuate the skeletonized design, the date numerals have also been fully skeletonized. Designed for competition, remarkably elegant, and deliberately sporty, the Vanguard™ Racing Skeleton Bill Auberlen line is available in 18-carat Rose gold, Carbon, and Macro Molecular Technologie Bleu. This last material is made from high purity metals and exotic elements that have been deconstructed to the macromolecular level. The new limited-edition Franck Muller Vanguard Racing Collection honoring Bill Auberlen and BMW Motorsport is now available through an authorized dealer https://www.instagram.com/p/CQq4TTVsx6O/ Media/Information Source: Franck Muller For more Watch news, Check out Jacob & Co. Releases A $340K SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blue Dial

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 28, 2021

Jacob & Co. Releases A $340K SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blu...

The only way to make an exclusive timepiece most desirable is by incorporating 104 baguette diamonds. Jacob & Co. highlights its use of premium materials and state-of-the-art movement technology with the SF24 Tourbillon collection, which features a uniquely shaped case design that acts as a blank canvas. Jacob & Co. is proud to announce its release of the new SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blue Dial. The 45mm case is made from 18k Rose Gold, while the horseshoe-shaped bezel is made of 104 baguette-cut diamonds that flow into the dial. The most noticeable function of the new Jacob & Co. SF24 is the groundbreaking split-flap time zone display. The true beauty lies beneath the dial where the in-house self-winding JCAA03 Caliber powers the timepiece, which provides a 42-hour power reserve for owners. Completing the elegant styling of the SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blue Dial is a matching blue large scale alligator leather strap paired with an 18k Rose Gold clasp. The all-new Jacob & Co. SF24 Tourbillon Baguette Blue dial is currently available through an authorized dealer. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQqiQK4jnwz/ For more Watch news, Check out Top Timepieces Released This Week

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