expedition

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 Luxury Expedition Vehicle

If you were going on an expedition and wanted to take all your luxuries with you, what would you pick? A Range Rover? Maybe a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen? Neither of these nor any other vehicle can rival the sheer capabilities of the Zetros.

Made by Mercedes' truck division, the Zetros packs a 7.2-liter inline-six diesel engine with 326 horsepower and 960 lb-ft of torque driving all six wheels for a 16-ton cargo capacity and go-anywhere capabilities. But while these vehicles are used by militaries around the world to move cargo, a pair of Mongolian businessmen -- one runs a mining operation and the other a brewery -- have commissioned a pair for their hunting expeditions.

The specially-made models feature full bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom (complete with shower, marble tiles and under-floor heating), 46-inch flatscreen TV monitors, outdoor grilles, Bose sound systems, self-adjusting motorized satellite dishes, wireless internet... the works. Their new owners use them for hunting wolves in the Altai mountains with an eagle.

Tags: altai mountains, expedition, hunting, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz zetros, mongolia

Longines Expéditions Polaires Françaises Missions Paul-Emile Victor Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Swiss watch brands are almost universally against replica watches... unless that is, if they make the watch themselves! For 2010 Longines will offer a special edition re-release replica of a watch used by French scientists during a mission to the Arctic in Greenland. This was back in 1947, and they needed the right watch for the job. Two of the members of the Expéditions Polaires Françaises wore these special Longines watches that were made for the excursion. Unique features at the time included luminant on the watch dials, a centrally mounted seconds hand, as well a shock absorber system in the movement. The French team was led by scientist Paul-Emile Victor, whose name is part of the watch title.

The reissue model is very similar to the original. With some differences that help the new version feel more modern, including an ETA 2892-2 automatic movement, as well as an AR coated sapphire crystal. The hands and hour indexes are now coated with SuperLumiNova. At 38.5mm wide in a steel case, the watch isn't exactly large - or pretty for that matter. It does have a certain nostalgic appeal to it, and it is highly legible, but it isn't going to win and beauty pageants. Just a decent retro looking watch with some interesting heritage, that people will likely mistake for a vintage. If that fits the description of the next watch that you want, them look out for this piece from Longines soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Longines Expeditions Polaires Francaises Missions Paul-Emile Victor Watch back