SUV

The Classicist: Seeing Out the Season in Style with the Mercedes-Benz G550

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

While in some parts of the country spring may already have sprung, here on the Eastern Seaboard we're still months away from cherry blossoms and G&Ts. In some ways this is the toughest time of the year – we're worn down from a long winter, yet the snow keeps falling – and it requires some tough gear to get through it in style. A key comfort of course is a vehicle that can not only handle the elements but keep them firmly in their place, while keeping you warm, dry and wrapped in luxurious refinement. We've yet to experience anything that can turn the worst ice storm of the year into a minor inconvenience with as much impressive panache as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Not everyone loves its spartan exterior and sheer tonnage – just shutting the doors requires serious effort – but they're usually the same people who "swear by" their tin can minivans; we saw them stranded on the side of the road as we cruised by in the G550 on our most recent Geländewagen excursion.

Meticulously handcrafted inside and out at a special manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria, the military-derived G-Wagen is the progenitor of every Mercedes-Benz SUV on the road today. Essentially unchanged aside from certain key upgrades since it was first introduced over 30 years ago, it's done everything from winning the famous Paris-Dakar Rally to making sure the Pope gets to his appointments on time. With a starting sticker of $105,000 it's definitely something of an indulgence, but that helps maintain a certain exclusivity which is not without an appeal of its own. Only a few thousand models are sold here every year so you don't often see another one en route; while that means a certain amount of stares directed your way, unless you get one custom-painted bright red – it's only offered in an understated palette of black, grey, silver, white and dark green – those tend to be minimal as it's about as subtle as an SUV this size can get.

To help see out the season in style we have assembled a number of items which complement the G-Wagen's rugged good looks and provide essential assistance before, during and after the journey. For starters we selected a lightweight, trim-fitting down bomber jacket by Ralph Lauren Black Label (above left), made of supple goat suede with a leather throat latch and gunmetal hardware. The most stylish weather defender we've seen all season, it's the G-Wagen of outerwear. On the wrist we sported the new limited edition Breitling Transocean Chronograph (above right), a high-performance, shock-resistant, and damned good-looking watch on a mesh steel strap, while waxed canvas hunting boots from L.L. Bean Signature kept our feet warm and dry.

Gallery: G550 Style

Tags: Balvenie, Breitling, Dunhill, EvolutionMAN, G-Class, G-Wagen, grooming, Ledbury, luxury cars, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, Mercedes-Benz G550, Private Stock, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Black Label, SUV, The Classicist, Thomas Pink

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Land Rover & Range Rover Make the Scene at NY Fashion Week

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Celebrity Shopping

Land Rover & Range Rover Make the Scene at NY Fashion Week

Land Rover and Range Rover added an extra dose of style to two of Fashion Week's hottest shows with a fleet of vehicles for VIPs. The new Land Rover LR4 was the starring attraction at the Rag & Bone show in Soho, sponsored by the famed UK SUV marque, where beauties like model Jessica Stam (above) and Mad Men's Jon Hamm made the scene. And at the presentation by Marchesa, designed by Georgina Chapman, Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports provided luxe transportation for the likes of actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Michele Trachtenberg, musician Eve, socialite and TV personality Olivia Palermo, and model Irina Lazareanu. At both venues the vehicles sported the designer's logos, and when lined up impressively outside got nearly as much attention as the scenesters themselves.

"Land Rover is expanding its marketing profile with, for the first time, supporting a fashion house, Rag & Bone, during New York Fashion Week," noted Stuart Schorr, vice president of communications and public affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America. "The Rag & Bone brand, led by Marcus Wainwright and David Neville, is admired for its refined and versatile aesthetic. Both Land Rover and Rag & Bone were born in England and enjoy massive global appeal. The Land Rover LR4 has evolved a distinct design heritage that is rooted in both authentic luxury and rugged capability. Similarly, through Rag & Bone, Marcus and David have established a legacy through high levels of skill and craftsmanship." Might we dare to hope for a Ltd. Rag & Bone Edition LR4 edition in the near future....?

Gallery: Land Rover & Range Rover at Fashion Week

Tags: celebrity, celebrity cars, fashion shows, Fashion Week, Jaguar, Jessica Stam, Land Rover, Land Rover LR4, Mad Men, Marchesa, models, New York Fashion Week, Olivia Palermo, Rag Bone, Rag and Bone, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, SUV, Vanessa Hudgens

Tesla Electric SUV Coming

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Tesla Motors has started designing the Model X SUV, a sporty crossover model that will be no larger than your typical compact SUV, while offering the interior space of a full-size passenger van, reports Edmunds.com's GreenCarAdvisor.

The electric vehicle company is able to achieve the space, according to the report, because Tesla, unlike traditional automakers, isn't hampered by a large internal combustion engine and most of the most space absorbing systems that accompany it.

The vehicle could launch by 2014.

Tesla, which went public last year and is set to receive hundreds of millions in federal loans if it meets certain milestones, is known for its Tesla Roadster, which costs in excess of $100,000. Actors George Clooney and Brad Pitt ore among its customers.

The company, which counts German automaker Daimler and Toyota among its stake-holders, is supposed to start building a $40,000-$50,000 Model S (pictured) electric vehicle next year at its 5 million square foot factory in Fremont, CA next year.

That car, notes GreenCarAdvisor, is about as big as a BMW 5 Series, but seating for five adults and two children plus cargo.

Tags: Daimler, electric vehicles, SUV, tesla motors, Toyota

The Classicist: Celebrating the Season in Style with Range Rover at Wheatleigh

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for high-res image gallery. Photos exclusive to Luxist.

Winter can be a long, cold interlude verging on a test of endurance in the Northeast, and it's all too easy to get bogged down by the doldrums. Plenty of people either hibernate by their hearths or hit the beach until the mercury makes its ascent, but there are myriad ways to keep warm with style, verve and panache. We recently gathered some of our favorite accessories of the season at Wheatleigh, the majestic mansion-turned-luxury hotel in the heart of the Berkshires' winter wonderland. Getting us there in style and comfort through anything the weather cared to concoct was the 2011 Range Rover Sport, a luxurious way to see the landscape safe in the knowledge that the elements have met their match. The pedigreed SUV's smooth, refined, performance and rugged good looks mark it as a thoroughbred in all respects, a suitably stylish conveyance for arriving at a desirable destination like Wheatleigh. And we had the great new Olympus PEN E-PL1 compact, versatile digital camera on hand to record it all for your vicarious enjoyment.

Wheatleigh, located in Lenox, Mass. next door to Edith Wharton's famed country manor The Mount, is a grand estate based on a 16th century Florentine palazzo built in 1893 by New York financier Henry H. Cook for his daughter who married a Spanish count. Many of the materials and over 150 artisans were brought from Italy to produce intricate carvings and design flourishes for the grand interiors and facades. Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, was responsible for creating "Wheatleigh Park" on the land surrounding the palazzo. Following a four year multimillion dollar renovation it was transformed into one of the most unique luxurious small hotels in the world. The nineteen suites, guest rooms and baths artfully combine antiques and custom furnishings with original museum quality contemporary art. The baths are finished with English limestone, marble and hand-blown glass fixtures, and most rooms feature fireplaces and Bang & Olufsen TVs. Check out the gallery to see the perfect accoutrements for a stylish seasonal sojourn – from books to watches, champagne to cashmere sweaters, and boots to bags – no matter where your journey takes you.

Gallery: Range Rover at Wheatleigh Dec. 2010

Graf & Lantz wool felt Boat Bag, personalized Tumi Alpha wheeled case.

Tumi Alpha case; Dom Perignon Tribute to Andy Warhol edition; Private Stock jeans; Graf & Lantz Quiver wine carrier w/ Robert Mo

Tags: Bang Olufsen, Berkshires, Brooks Brothers, Central Park, champagne, Dom Perignon, Edith Wharton, estates, Frederick Law Olmsted, gardens, Holiday 2010, L.L. Bean, Lenox, luggage, luxury hote, mansion, Massachusetts, mens style, New England, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, palazzo, Persol, Ralph Lauren, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, spirits, stolichnaya, sunglasses, SUV, teNeues, The Mount, Tumi, vodka, Wheatleigh, winter

Dartz's Racy Take on Rolls' 'Spirit of Ecstasy'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Irreverent Russian SUV makers Dartz have already proved themselves masters of mixing the grotesque with the extravagant – you might recall their $1.5 million gold and diamond-trimmed armored truck upholstered in whale penis leather than sent Pamela Anderson into a tizzy. Now Dartz, which also customizes ultra-luxury vehicles from other marques, has come out with a tongue-in-cheek version of Rolls-Royce's famous mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy. The Dartz version, which is gold plated, is dubbed the Spirit of Xtasy and features a copulating couple, the male member of which bears a striking resemblance to nutty Dartz founder Leonard F. Yankelovich. Dartz is mounting the saucy statuettes on Rolls-Royce Phantoms in place of the original, along with other modifications. The folks at Rolls' UK headquarters in Goodwood will no doubt not be amused.

Tags: custom cars, Dartz, gold, luxury cars, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Russia, SUV

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EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Click above for a high-res image gallery and full credit info

Some people look at the colder weather as an excuse to head south for the winter; we like to think of it as an opportunity to wear lots of new clothes and find fun ways of keeping warm. In the spirit of getting ready for the season in style we took the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, some classic country clothing and ruggedly handsome accouterments on a tour through the glorious autumnal landscape of northern New England, documenting our excursion with the cool new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. We let the foliage flaunt the bright colors, keeping the clothing to an elegant, understated palette of greens, grays and earthy tones with rich leather, suede and alligator skin details and subtle tortoiseshells and tartans for contrast. Warm textures of wool, cashmere, tweed, moleskin and waxed cotton combined with equestrian and hunting elements guard against the elements and the hazards of the terrain (and local fauna), handling any activity without sacrificing anything in the way of style.

That's also an apt description of the new Cayenne Turbo, hands-down the sportiest SUV around. For 2011 it gets a sleeker and more aggressive appearance, better performance and fuel economy, garnering it the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title (they noted that "the Cayenne's driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender"). Powered by a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine generating 500 hp, it can do 0–60 mph in just 4.4 seconds if you're so inclined. Equipped with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel-drive system it can do just about anything else. Fitted with Porsche's new eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a luxurious leather interior influenced by the Panamera, it features a state-of-the-art navigation system with real-time traffic updates, a surround sound system with iPod interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, 18-way adaptive sport seats and more – in short, all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a $105,000 SUV with a Porsche pedigree.

Gallery: Rugged Fall Style - Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Grousa sweater jacket by Fjallraven; tumbled leather boots by Ralph Lauren

Moto jacket by LINCS by David Chu; shirt, tie and pants by Ralph Lauren; boots by Hunter

Cashmere sweater by Brooks Brothers; shirt and pants by Ralph Lauren; cap by Locke & Co., London

Gentry Russell boots by Wolverine 1000 Mile; scarf by Hermes

Tags: alligator, Barbour, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, camera, cashmere, cognac, David Chu, equestrian, Fjallraven, Hunter, Hunter boots, hunting, LINCS, mens style, New England, Olympus, Panamera, Panerai, Persol, Pierre Ferrand, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Steve McQueen, SUV, tweed, UK, watches, Wolverine, Wolverine 1000 Mile

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Rugged Fall Style Starring the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo”

Maserati and Lamborghini Planning SUVs in 2012

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Architecture & Design

The rumor mill is going into overdrive with reports that both Lamborghini and Maserati plan to launch an SUV in 2012, aiming to capitalize on the success of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X6. Aston Martin's recent decision to move ahead with its Lagonda SUV concept means that there are no longer any barriers to entering a market that may once have threatened to dilute super-luxury brands. Lamborghini's SUV is expected to be a modern revival of its famed LM002, produced from 1986 – 1993. Dubbed the LM00X and modeled on the Audi Q7 platform (Lamborghini is owned by Audi), it's expected to be fitted with the new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 set to debut in the Audi S7 next year, Auto Express reports. Maserati's SUV meanwhile will be a refined version of the Kubang GT Wagon concept they unveiled in 2003. The new SUV will most likely take its design cues from the Quattroporte, though Russian designer Andrey Trofimchuk Simeonych has come up with an artful rendering (above) of what it could look like. Both the Lamborghini and Maserati SUVs will initially come in a sporty three-door configuration, with the Maserati most likely priced around $100,000 and the Lamborghini in the $150,000 range.

Gallery: Maserati SUV Concept

Tags: Aston Martin, Audi Q7, car design, Lamborghini, luxury cars, Maserati, Porsche Cayenne, SUV

Land Rover Introduces the Range Rover Evoque

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

This is the 2012 Range Rover Evoque – lighter, meaner, even greener... than the usual Range Rover product, at least. The production version of the LRX-inspired luxury SUV wears all of the cues that made us ask them to build it in the first place, and an interior that raises the game for smaller sport-ute offerings.

On the subject of exteriors, there will be three design themes from which to choose: Pure, a minimalistic take with 19-inch wheels outside and natural colors complemented by brushed metal trim inside; Prestige, a "bespoke exterior" treatment with exclusive 19-inch wheels paired "an indulgent interior;" or Dynamic, with 19- or 20-inch wheels a reworked bodykit, and a "premium sports interior" cabin with items like perforated leather seats.

Inside is an interior influenced not only by the Range Rover Sport, but by Jaguar as well. Seriously bolstered seat straddle a center tunnel wherein lies a rotary gear change dial that rises to hand. The four-setting Terrain Response System dial has been replaced with buttons attending an illuminated menu. Controls are mainly managed through an 8-inch touchscreen. Aural enjoyment is provided by the 825-watt, 17-speaker Meridian sound system with additional inputs for other peripherals.

Underneath the Evoque's hood is a 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder provided by Ford engine which should provide plenty of grunt with smaller gas bills. Electric power steering turns the wheels, and an regenerative electrical system captures energy when those wheels are slowed down. Roadgoing is meant to be kept smooth by the MagneRide adaptive dynamics suspension. It goes on sale in the fall of 2011, but we'll see it in person at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Evoque

Tags: evoque, land rover, land rover evoque, paris auto show, paris motor show, range rover, range rover evoque, suv

Sky Hummer: The AVX Flying SUV

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings

The Hummer may be going the way of the dinosaurs but a new, improved version is on the way – and it flies.The AVX Aircraft Company's new airborne SUV, a sort of Hummer with retractable wings, or a helicopter with wheels if you prefer, was originally designed for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AVX (above) does everything a Hummer can do with the addition of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability. The four-person all-terrain vehicle converts from road to flight mode in a mere 60 seconds, has a cruising speed equivalent to a light aircraft and features automated takeoff / landing flight control. With a payload of 1,040 lbs., it has a range of 250 nautical miles on one tank of fuel and can cruise at an altitude of 10,000 ft. fully laden. The AVX can do an impressive 80 mph on the ground and hits 140 mph in the air. We're holding out for the luxury version with a full leather and wood interior.

[via JamesList]

Tags: aircraft, airplane, ATV, AVX, helicopter, Hummer, private jet, SUV

Spare Tire Cover by Damien Hirst

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art

If you're enamored of the idea of an art car, but can't quite extend yourself to the likes of those priceless BMWs and McLarens, Damien Hirst may have the happy median you're looking for. The contemporary British artist has applied his world-renowned talents to a spare tire cover that can be mounted to your luxury sport-utility vehicle.

The "spin" design you see here is applied to the composite dish, mounted to a stainless steel band to cover the spare tire on the back of an SUV. The item is available for £900 ($1,390 USD), which may seem like a lot for a tire cover, but it's a far cry from the $527,000 which Hirst's hand-painted Audi A1 sold for at auction recently. Stop by Other Criteria for a closer look or to place your order.

Source

Tags: art car, damien hirst, hirst, other criteria, spare tire, sport-utility vehicle, suv

Victoria Beckham to Collaborate With Range Rover

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Design

Pneumatic pop star-turned-fashion maven Victoria Beckham has been named the "creative design executive" for Range Rover on the eve of the famed British brand's 40th anniversary. The announcement came during a glamorous fete thrown by British Vogue to celebrate the occasion at London's Kensington Palace. No word yet on what precisely Posh will be doing for Land Rover's luxe SUV marque, though she will probably focus on interiors. "I'm incredibly excited to be collaborating with Range Rover. I like to take on a challenge," Mrs. Beckham declared while wearing a nude silk crepe dress of her own design after Land Rover's new Evoque (formerly the LRX) was lowered from a crane amidst a cloud of dry ice and some sound effects. "This lady knows a lot about fashion and a lot about trends, a lot about luxury products," Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern told Vogue UK. "She's been running her own fashion business for three years and she's incredibly successful."

Tags: David Beckham, Land Rover, London, Range Rover, SUV, Victoria Beckham

Shadow Hawk "Super Terrain Vehicle"

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Part sports car, part race truck, part fighter jet – behold the Shawdow Hawk, a new "Super Terrain Vehicle" or STV from Colorado. The $1 million-plus monster is limited to just 12 examples per year built to order and is available in several fully-customizable configurations for street, desert, battlefield, snow and other applications. The fastest model packs a whopping 1,100 hp engine, does 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, and eats Hummers for breakfast. All feature daylight cameras, active suspension, camber and caster control systems, driver activated ride height control of over 3.5 feet, 46 inch wheel travel and 3/16 inch monocoque construction. Delivery of the first Shadow Hawk, designed to be a high performance road machine and off road vehicle in one with nearly unlimited versatility, is slated for late 2011.

[via JamesList]

Tags: all-terrain, Colorado, Hummer, Shadow Hawk, STV, SUV, truck

ICON 4x4 Introduces the CJ3B

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

ICON 4x4 is known for its meticulously built off-roaders built on Toyota's venerable FJ Landcruiser chassis'. The company has mixed it up for 2010, however, with a new vehicle built on a new chassis: the CJ3B is a hand-worked wonder built on a bespoke chassis of 2"x4" mandrel-bent steel rails and inspired by the Willys Jeeps of yore.

Nicknamed "The Dog" for the likelihood of it being your best friend (in the wild beyond, at least), it is powered by a 260-horsepower GM Ecotec that'll get you 28 miles per gallon, running through a five-speed manual transmission. A coilover suspension with nine inches of wheel travel at both ends supports Jeep Rubicon axles with locking diffs and disc brakes at all four corners, and it's got a 4.10:1 ratio. You can have it perched on 31-inch or 33-inch tires and in seven colors ICON's proprietary Teflon polyester hybrid Cardinal powder coat.

The first ten Dogs will be built on recycled vintage Willys chassis so as to maintain the original title and registration, and be finished with special trim and and unique details. Compared to ICON's other offerings, the Dog is focused on agility and light weight, and low cost (relatively speaking): a turnkey Dog will set you back $50,000 before you begin piling Apocalypse survival gear on it; kits will range from $15,000-$27,000.

Gallery: ICON 4x4 CJ3B

Source

Tags: 4x4, icon, icon 4x4, icon cj3b, jeep, suv, willys, willys jeep

Dartz Unveils $1.5 Million Monaco Red Diamond Armored SUV

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Back in October we first wrote about the $1.5 million Monaco Red Diamond Edition SUV concept from Russia's Dartz, billed as the world's most expensive, luxurious and strongest armored car. A controversy ensued over the kooky company's plan to use genuine whale penis leather for the interior, echoing the upholstery on Aristotle Onassis' famed yacht the Christina O. After Pamela Anderson protested the move, Dartz declared it would spare the whale's private parts. Now the company has finally unveiled the finished product at the Top Marques Monaco show. It features a matte black and ruby red paintjob, gold-plated bulletproof windows, 22′ Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels, tungsten and white gold gauges decorated with diamonds and rubies, an additional outside kevlar coating, and a custom Vertu mobile phone with a panic button. The interior is leather and vinyl made to look like whale skin. It also comes with three bottles of the world's most expensive vodka, RussoBaltique, another Dartz sideline adorned with yet more gold and diamonds.

[via JamesList]

Tags: armored car, bulletproof, Christina O, Dartz, diamonds, gold, precious stones, rubies, Russia, SUV, Top Marques Monaco, whale, white gold

Rent a Dartz Kombat on the French Riviera

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

Getting behind the wheel of a Dartz Kombat, the ridiculous $200,000 Russian grenade-proof luxury SUV, may not be very high on your 'to do' list at the moment, but if you really feel the need head to the Cote d'Azur. Dartz - which earlier announced plans for a $1.5 million version upholstered in whale penis leather, then backed off after Pam Anderson and PETA protested - has partnered with Cannes Car Rental to offer the clownish conveyance for those looking to play the part of an oligarch on-the-go. The rates start at $8,000 per day but you get to choose the color you want and attending bodyguards are also available. Here's Dartz's sales pitch in its inimitable awkward English:

"Dartz Kombat is your soul car. Strong and armored – but friendly and lovely, Your friend car, Your guard car. Car which remember Tzars and Princesses, car which remember wars and rally's, lost's and victory's. Car which were loved by commie Tzars and car which once shocked this world. Dartz Kombat is the most original, luxurious and expensive SUV in the world."

Tags: armored car, ArmoredCar, Cote dAzur, CoteDazur, Dartz, Dartz Kombat, DartzKombat, France, Russia, SUV