Monthly Archives: March 2011

Tesla Roadster

Tesla sues Top Gear to ‘correct the record’

Tesla Roadster

Luxury electric car maker Tesla has sued BBC television program Top Gear after a protracted disagreement over a review of its Roadster sports car.

The California-based firm, which makes the world’s only serially-produced electric supercar, announced legal proceedings against the BBC March 29 claiming libel and malicious falsehood, after a spat which has lasted over two years.

Tesla’s complaint relates to an episode of the show which featured the show’s host Jeremy Clarkson reviewing its Roadster, before saying the car would run out of power after 55 miles, the motor had overheated and the brakes had failed.
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Ines de la Fressange

Ines de la Fressange: L’Oréal’s New Spokeswoman

Ines de la Fressange

Former Chanel model and Parisienne par excellence Inès de la Fressange is putting the Paris back in L’Oréal with a new partnership announced March 30.

Paradoxically for a youth-obsessed industry, 53-year-old Fressange has rejuvenated fashion brands such as Roger Vivier, but L’Oréal hopes for the La Parisienne author to exude “timeless French chic” as ambassadress for the brand.
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Allure of the Seas wedding

The best cruise ships on which to get married

Allure of the Seas wedding

If you’re planning a wedding on the high seas, some options are better than others, according to one cruise specialist.

Miami-based cruise company Landry & Kling released its top ten ships for group events and business meetings this week, naming vessels from a variety of lines for the suitability of hosting a special event.

The travel agency, which specializes in organizing large events at sea ranging from business meetings to theme cruises and reunions, picked ships with between 56 and 2,700 cabins, including the enormous Allure of the Seas.
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Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche Panamera Turbo S revealed

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche has released details on its new high-power Panamera sedan, set to go on sale this summer.

The new Panamera Turbo S provides a power boost to the Panamera Turbo’s engines, delivering 37 kW more with increased torque from the 4.8 liter, V8 engine, which has been treated to improved turbochargers and modified engine control.

Using the Launch Control feature, it can manage 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 306 km/h, despite a fuel consumption similar to that of the Panamera Turbo — 11.3 l/100km using Michelin tires.
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Showroom Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi

World’s largest Rolls-Royce showroom unveiled

Showroom Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi

The world’s largest Rolls-Royce dealership has opened in Abu Dhabi as the luxury brand continues its expansion in the Middle East.

Spanning a massive 9,687 square feet, the showroom includes just five Rolls-Royce cars, but also houses a coffee bar, “customer configuration lounge,” and is linked to a new on-site Rolls-Royce service facility.

To mark the opening of the new facility, Rolls-Royce launched a Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Drophead Coupé, which forms part of a collection of 100 highly bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom models.
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Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto 2011 watch

Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto 2011

Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto 2011 watch

Serving as Official Timekeeper of the Tour Auto for the sixth year running, Audemars Piguet is launching a limited edition watch to commemorate the event.

With its distinctly retro touch, the 2011 Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto Chronograph masterfully captures the vintage spirit of the Tour Auto race.

The new watch is available with a 47 mm case, fashioned from steel. Its back side is embossed with the Tour Auto logo.
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Dream Symphony Superyacht

World’s Largest Sailing Superyacht in Production

Dream Symphony Superyacht

Turkey-based Dream Ship Victory (DSV) has signed a contract to begin new 141-meter sailing superyacht, destined to become the world’s largest.

Now a construction schedule is slated to begin this summer with a five-year build plan, making for a launch date of 2016.

Naval architects Dykstra & Partners and Ken Freivokh Design collaborated with DSV’s Valeriy Stepanenko on the Art Deco-inspired all-wood yacht.
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Glashutte Senator Perpetual Calendar

Glashütte Original Senator Perpetual Calendar

Glashutte Senator Perpetual Calendar

Glashütte Original released a very nice and legible Perpetual Calendar in its flagship Senator collection.

The reference 100-02-25-05-04 features a red gold case which pairs nicely against the black-dial with white Arabic numerals.

The moon phase disc also fits onto the dial nicely and is adorned with silver stars and a radiant silver moon.
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HMS Ark Royal

Wanna buy an aircraft carrier?

HMS Ark Royal

The British Ministry of Defence has put the aircraft carrier Ark Royal up for sale on an official used-equipment website.

Launched by the Queen in 1981, HMS Ark Royal was taken out of service as part of government budget cuts and is now open to offers.

Proposals for it include turning it into a commercial heliport, a base for security personnel during the London Olympics, or a school and nightclub.
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Karl lagerfeld coca cola light bottles

Karl Lagerfeld redesigns Diet Coke bottle

Diet Coke Karl Lagerfeld 2011

Karl Lagerfeld has teamed up with Coca Cola Light for a second time to put his signature flair on a trio of limited-edition bottles.

Dressed in black and white with fuchsia touches, the bottles also feature Lagerfeld’s trademark, pony-tailed, white-collared silhouette.

Motifs of silver polka dots, black diamonds and bold fuchsia swirls drape the bottles and are topped off with hot pink caps.
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nike colette mont blanc

Nike x colette: The Away Project

nike colette mont blanc

Just a couple of weeks ago Nike presented its new French Away Team Kit, paying homage to the iconic white/navy striped pattern

Colette is celebrating the Away Kit by bringing on collaborators from all sorts of areas, presenting their product also with the “mariniere” striped pattern.

For The Away Project, Chanel, Colorware, Comme des Garçons, Hermès, Ladurée, Longchamp, MontBlanc, Swatch, Trousselier, Yves Saint Laurent, and their iconic products, striped in blue too!
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Steven Spielberg yacht

Steven Spielberg’s Megayacht Available for Charter

Steven Spielberg yacht

Steven Spielberg is offering his new $200 million megayacht as the world’s most expensive yacht charter at an eye-popping rate of $1.3 million per week.

Built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco, the ultra-luxe craft features an elegant and tasteful interior design scheme by Nuvolari & Lenard.

Its most striking feature is an infinity pool with a 15-foot glass wall that doubles as a movie screen so you can watch your latest production while swimming.
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sturgeon

Russia aims to boost caviar exports with fish farms

sturgeon

Once the world’s top exporter of black caviar, Russia is building fish farms to harvest the gourmet delicacy as it aims to bring its sturgeon stocks back from the brink.

In Gamzyuki, a tiny village in the Kaluga region, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Moscow, a fish farm has the ambitious goal of producing 16 tons of the sturgeon eggs per year by 2014.

It is one of dozens of sturgeon farms that have opened in Russia recently, aiming to rebuild the nation’s reputation as the world’s premium exporter of caviar.
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ICC Victoria Harbour Hong kong

Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong Opens

ICC Victoria Harbour Hong kong

The world’s highest hotel opened its doors in Hong Kong on Tuesday, offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbour.

Towering some 490 metres (1,600 feet) above the bustling, chaotic streets of the Southern Chinese city, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel is making a grand comeback after temporarily closing in 2008.

Visitors peered out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre, which houses the hotel, for a 360 degree view of the glitzy financial hub and the South China Sea.
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Wyndhamhotel

Four hotel chains named most ethical

Wyndhamhotel

If you’re looking for an ethical bed for the night, Marriott or Wyndham might be the easiest options, according to a recently-released survey.

The hotel giants were selected among the four most ethical hotel chains in the world, along with two smaller competitors — luxury chain Kimpton and German group Rezidor Hotels (operators of Radisson Blu and Park Inn).

All four were chosen as the leading travel providers among the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere, an international think tank.
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535Li

Plug-in hybrid BMW to be unveiled in China

535Li

BMW is to launch a plug-in hybrid model in China next month, designed specifically for the Chinese market, it has emerged.

The company’s boss Norbert Reithofer said recently that the new “new energy vehicle” model would be based on the 5-Series and unveiled at Auto Shanghai, describing it as “our e-car from China for China.”

It is squarely aimed at China’s rapidly-growing luxury market and is set to feature the same long wheel base as its Chinese-only predecessor, the 535Li, which was designed to add more comfort to those wishing to be chauffeur-driven.
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Harry Winston Opus Eleven

Harry Winston Opus 11

Harry Winston Opus Eleven

Harry Winston has unveiled at Baselworld 2011 the Opus Eleven, created in partnership with Denis Giguet (MCT).

Three overlapping cylinders on three levels are configured to deconstruct time – the main circle is the hour’s domain, flanked by two pavilions.

One sub-circle shows the minutes on a jumping disk for the tens and a running disk for the units; the other shows off the beat of the big titanium balance-wheel.
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Liz #5

Portrait Of Elizabeth Taylor To Sell For $30 Million

Liz #5

A portrait of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol is expected to fetch up to $30m at an auction in New York.

“Liz #5” is owned by hedge-fund manager Steven Cohen. The 1963 silkscreen will be sold at Phillips de Pury at its contemporary art sale on May 12.

The portrait shows the legendary actress smiling and her eyelids covered in blue eye shadow.
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Best in Travel

World Travel Awards launches luxury travel magazine

Best in Travel

The World Travel Awards, an organization tasked with selecting some of the world’s best travel experiences, has launched a luxury magazine to share its knowledge.

The organization officially launched this week’s Best in Travel online and as an Android app March 24, focusing on “the world’s most glamorous travel experiences.”

Unlike competitors such as Conde Nast Traveler and Wanderlust, it won’t be available on newsstands — the publisher says it reflects a shift from print to web as a source of travel information — but that’s led to some compelling features.
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EntranceElevatorLobby

ESPA at the Istanbul Edition Hotel by HBA

EntranceElevatorLobby

The brand new luxury lifestyle Edition Hotel is scheduled to operate and make its European debut in Istanbul in April 2011.

With the extraordinary, 20,000 square foot, three-floor ESPA spa, Istanbul Edition Hotel offers its guests an incomparable spa experience integrating beauty, health, and wellness in a setting of fine design and luxury.

Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) envisioned the luxury state-of-the-art spa design to draw inspiration largely from local Turkish traditions and customs.
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Chanel Makeup Confidential

New interactive Chanel beauty site launches

Chanel Makeup Confidential

Following the release of the highly successful short film Animating Chanel earlier this year, the brand’s beauty director Peter Philips has launched new interactive site, Chanel Makeup Confidential.

Linking back to the luxury house’s main shopping page, the new destination features exclusive video content, backstage beauty looks and tutorials on how to recreate them, interviews with Philips, and of course lots and lots of information on the products, which this season center around Chanel’s signature pearls.
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