At the Genoa Boat Show in Italy this week, BMW Group DesignWorks, a subsidiary of the German automaker, will debut the new high-performance luxury sailing yacht it developed in partnership with bespoke Belgian boat builder Zeydon. The 60-ft. Zeydon Z60 (above) "combines the sailing potential of a performance offshore yacht with the substantial equipment range and unaffected elegance of a modern luxury cruiser."

Available for order this fall, the exterior of the Z60 "presents regatta-oriented functionality, outstanding seaworthiness and a generously designed deck area," while the interior features "an equipment range that is commonly associated with much larger yachts [and] high-grade materials and design with a focus on precision and perfect functionality right down to the smallest detail," the company says. As we reported recently, Porsche also has a new line of luxury yachts in the works.

All connoisseurs of beautiful design and objects, be they motorcycle enthusiasts or not, will appreciate The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence, just out from Motorbooks. There over 100 of them in the stunning volume, as lovingly photographed as any assemblage of supermodels by Henry Von Wartenberg. Though the book covers the whole of the marque's illustrious history - all 85 years - author Peter Gantriis focuses on BMW's incredibly gorgeous pre-World War II models, many from the incomparable Peter Nettesheim Collection, such as the awesome R32 from 1925 (above). These are bikes of almost sculptural beauty - but don't take our word for it, see for yourself in the gallery.

The speedy Hydroptere may have some new competition in the fastest boat race. The100-foot trimaran that BMW-Oracle has built for a potential America's Cup race in 2009 recently had its first sea trials off Washington state this month. So far the boat has been zipping along at speeds close to 30 knots (35 m.p.h.) but as the Detroit Free Press reports that may be just the beginning of what this yacht can do. The yacht has a 90 foot beam and is designed to be light and fast with a 5,000-square-foot mainsail, a 3,500-square-foot jib for upwind sailing and a 7,000-square-foot gennaker, Instead of a fixed keel it has a large daggerboard and hydrofoils that are cranked down from the outboard hulls. When the boat is zipping along the hulls basically lift out of the water on the daggerboard and foils, creating a hovering effect. Makes the once revolutionary Stars and Stripes yachts seem very conventional by comparison.

Liliane Bettencourt (right), daughter of the man who founded cosmetics giant L'Oréal, tops Forbes' just-released list of the richest women in Europe with a fortune of $22.9 billion. That astounding figure also makes her the world's richest woman, the magazine notes. Bettencourt, whose father's reputation has occasionally come under fire, uses her money to fund a charitable foundation which supports medical research, cultural projects and humanitarian relief.

At the No. 2 spot on the Euro list is Swedish citizen Birgit Rausing, a packaging heiress with an estimated fortune of $14 billion, while No. 3 is BMW and pharmaceuticals heiress Susanne Klatten, with $13.2 billion. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling meanwhile is in last place at No. 22, barely making the list with a measly $1 billion. It's worth noting that Germany has the most female billionaires of any European nation, with nine of them living within its borders. You can see a gallery of the loaded ladies here.

On Monday, Bonhams will auction off an astounding collection of vintage motorcycles worth $2 million at the Royal Air Force Museum in London. The sale represents the largest single-owner collection of motorbikes ever to come to auction; all 300 machines are from the Professor Fritz Ehn Motorcycle Museum in Austria. Our favorite lots are two wicked - and wickedly fast - British-made Vincents: the 1955 998cc Black Prince, pictured here, est. $56,000 - $64,000; and a 1952 998cc Black Shadow, the fastest road-going vehicle of its time, est. $44,000 - $56,000.

Also included in the historic sale: a 1935 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp, ak.a. the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" as driven by T. E. Lawrence (the famous Lawrence of Arabia), est. $50,000 - $60,000; a 1927 BMW 500cc R47, est. $36,000 - $44,000; a 1937 Ariel 995cc Square Four Model 4G, est. $20,000 - $24,000; as well as many other examples by Harley Davidson, Ducati, Triumph and more.

The new GINA Light Visionary Model concept by BMW is a whole new kind of convertible that's a shape-shifter of sorts. The body of the car is made up of a flexible fabric that's stretched over a movable metal frame, so the car actually changes it's shape based on what features you activate. For example if you turn the headlights on the front end rearranges itself to expose the them and allow the light to reach the road, but when you're not using the headlights they remain hidden. Same with the doors, you can't see them unless you're using them.

No word on when (or if) this car will go into production, and when (or if) it does what kind of price point we're looking at. But if it does ever come into existence will you be interested in owning one? I kinda would be, as long as all that fabric doesn't start to flap around and make noise when driving at interstate speeds.

Known more for their autos, who knew BMW had hit the cycle circuit? With five distinct styles, plus a design made just for kids, these bicycles have a great look to bring you into the outdoors. Just like their fuel-driven counterparts, these bikes will cost you to bear the BMW name -- between €246 to €4,199 -- but think of all the exercise you will get! Like most BMW's, there is a list of optional additions to fit your ride to your specifications, but currently these are only for sale in Germany. Hopefully you have a friend with a private plane -- jetset for some great beer and get your bike while you're there!

[via Motorbiker]

So the economy has been taking a hit lately, but as a general rule the highest of high end products haven't really been affected -- apparently those with money up to their ears haven't been feeling the pinch, until now.

Numbers are streaming in from luxury car brands reporting serious sales drops this year from 2007 -- Jaguar sales fell by 52% (whoa!), BMW by 27%, Porsche by 13%, and Land Rover by 17%. Even Ferrari (surprisingly) reported a decline for this past January, although they claim the drop from last year was both planned and expected.

It will be interesting to see what the rest of 2008 brings for the luxury car market.

Whether you own one of these luxury vehicles, or wish you could, the key pendants from Imperial Craftwork should be on your wish list. Choose the auto logo you desire from ten options, select sterling silver, sterling with white gold plating, or pure platinum, and add some panache to your keys for $130 and up. The only unfortunate thing is your gift may be on hold for a bit -- the only style in stock was the Audi pendant. Guess there is always Valentine's Day or St. Paddy's! (Any occasion is good for a gift).

Gone are the days when kids played with wooden toys, colored in coloring books and played with Barbie and GI Joe. Today, it seems to be all about hi-tech gadgets. From interactive video game systems and kid friendly cell phones to creating your own world online, anything with batteries or an electrical plug is where it's at. So parents, step up to the challenge and knock your kid's socks off with their very own car. And no, I'm not talking about a Power Wheel, I'm talking about a car. BMW has graciously brought you the M6 Convertible. It's available in two different versions - electric ($450) and pedal ($275). Both versions are single seaters, but the electric features an electric horn and speedometer with a top speed of 3 mph, while the pedal version will go as fast as your little tyke can pedal.

It's truly a thing of beauty. The new X6, BMW's answer to consumers' burgeoning love of crossover utility vehicles (or "sport activity vehicle," as BMW bills it), dresses the part without losing the style and driving dynamics that make it a BMW. As BMW head design honcho Chris Bangle hints, it's higher off the ground but is every bit a sports car as, say, the M3.

Though it's "technically" a concept in this form, we expect to see this in production form as a 2008 model. It is also expected to be BMW's first production hybrid vehicle, upping efficiency by 20% over the gasoline-powered model.

[Via Autoblog]

BMW recently gave Placido Domingo something to sing about -- his very own Hydrogen 7. As part of BMW's Hydrogen 7 Pioneer program, Domingo will use the 7 for his everyday use, serving to educate and inform the masses about hydrogen as an alternative source of energy. Domingo joins many others, including public, entertainment and governmental figures, in the Hydrogen 7 Pioneer program.

The Hydrogen 7 is the world's first production model hydrogen-powered luxury sedan, emitting nothing but water vapor when running in hydrogen mode.

[Source: PRNewswire]

Check out BMW's full press release after the jump.

Auto Trader UK, admittedly not always the most reliable source of information, is batting about the news that BMW plans to revive its Z8 roadster.

At a mere 3,300 lbs., the vehicle would be about 550 lbs. lighter than the competing Mercedes SL, and have BMW handling and high-performance engines to boot. Motor options include BMW's 300 hp 3.0L V6, 400 hp 4.4L V8, 500 hp 5.0L V10 and 600 hp 6.3L V12, the latter two of which could end up in an M version of the roadster.

The last Z8, designed by prolific auto designer Henrik Fisker, was Pierce Brosnan's steed in the 007 movie The World is Not Enough and was ultimately killed off in 2003.

Jaguar's new mid-range XF is on the slate for the Frankfurt Motor Show to take place this September, and boy, is this one important ride for Jaguar to get right. The brand, which Ford might sell off any day now, has come out with hit after hit, including the XK coupe and convertible, and the XF is next in the lineup of new launches.

Likely to be launched as a 2009 model, we're not sure how we feel about it... looks a bit like an XK coupe fathered a child with the Buick LaCrosse. The break from Jaguar styling tradition is interesting given how heavily it's based on its predecessor, the S-Type, including the double-wishbone/coil spring front suspension, multilink rear suspension and wheelbase.

More details on performance and infotainment should be available at the Frankfurt show, so we'll keep you posted. Pricing will also be confirmed, but we're probably looking at $56,000 and up.

[Source: Edmunds InsideLine]

Boutique Dallas hotel ZaZa has probably the best spa package experience ever created for those unique souls who love both a good rev-up and a good rub-down. The Full Throttle Packages, which come in 2,000 and 2,500 horsepower variations, include a half-hour ride in each of five high-powered vehicles through the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the surrounding countryside with a stop for lunch. The 2,500 horsepower version puts drivers in a Ferrari F430A, Ford GT, 2007 Porsche Turbo, Bentley Continental GT and Lamborghini Gallardo Spider, while the 2,000 horsepower variation lets drivers slide in behind the wheel of a Ferrari F360 F1, BMW M6 convertible, Aston Martin Vantage, 2006 Corvette Z06 and Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe.

After either adventure, drivers then return to the hotel for a "Rock Star" massage with heated basalt river stones, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries in one of the hotel's luxury suites, and breakfast in bed or the hotel's gourmet Dragonfly restaurant.

The 2,500 horsepower packages rings up to $4,250 plus tax, while the 2,000 hp package goes for $3,850.

[Source: The Enquirer]