germany

Porsche Celebrates 25 Years of Custom Cars

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

25 years ago Porsche became the world's first car manufacturer to create a special customization department at its factory. The program, called Porsche Exclusive, allows customers to get a car from the factory with just about any personal detail and refinement they want – provided that it's technically feasible and won't compromise the vehicle's quality. To celebrate the program's silver anniversary the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is showcasing the Exclusive's special skills and craftsmanship with a 25 years of Porsche Exclusive show running through May 1st.

Visitors will be able to see some of company's most unique and rare special models, including the Porsche 911 Turbo S 3.6, which in 1997 was the first Porsche series production sports car to break the 186 mph (300 km/h) barrier. Also on display is one of only two Porsche 911 Speedsters in the world dating from 1995, as well as a gold-colored Porsche 959 that was extensively modified for a member of an Arab royal family and which features, among other things, gold plated tailpipes. A book is being published in conjunction with the exhibit as well.

Tags: custom cars, Germany, luxury cars, museum, museum exhibit, Porsche, Porsche 911, Porsche 959, Porsche Museum, porsche+cars, porsche+custom, porschecars, porschecustom

The Bugatti of Motorbikes: Mansory Zapico Custom Carbon Fiber

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Bugatti of Motorbikes: Mansory Zapico Custom Carbon Fiber

Here at Luxist we frequently feature the outrageously modified supercars from Mansory, including everything from tricked out Bugatti Veyrons to a Pepto Bismol pink Bentley. Now the German exotic auto tuner has turned their attention to a motorcycle, and of course it's anything but by the book. The Mansory Zapico superbike is a carbon fiber monster developed in collaboration with German motorbike customizer Thomas M. George. It features a 124 cubic inch V2 engine made by America's S&S capable of 160 hp and can do 0 – 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. Most components are custom made by the Mansory factory in the Bavarian town of Brand, and of course the leather saddle is as luxurious as the upholstery in any of Mansory's supercar creations. They haven't revealed the price but "bankrupting" probably comes close.

Tags: auto tuners, carbon fiber, custom motorcycle, Germany, Mansory, motorcycles

Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 Years of Automotive Excellence

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Art

Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 Years of Automotive Excellence

January 29 marks an important milestone in the history of Mercedes-Benz, inventor of the motor car and the world's most famous marque – on that day back in 1886 Carl Benz filed an application in Berlin for a patent on his three-wheeled "horseless carriage". Early critics claimed the contraption had no future; 125 years and over 80,000 patent applications later they couldn't be more wrong. Tomorrow night the company will mark the historic occasion with a gala at Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart featuring German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the guest of honor. "The invention of Daimler and Benz changed the world for the better - and it will continue to do so," states Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "As the inventor we also have the claim to shape the future of mobility: with fascinating brands, green technologies and new business opportunities."

The central anchor point for the celebrations is the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which in 2011 celebrates its 5th anniversary at its new home in the Mercedes-Strasse in Stuttgart. In addition to the museum's incredible collection of classics, an exhibition from the company's collection of modern and contemporary art will be on display from May through September. Many of the works feature the history, models or design of Mercedes-Benz motor cars, such as Andy Warhol's legendary series of paintings CARS, created by the artist 25 years ago on the occasion of the marque's 100th anniversary, along with new work commissioned for this latest milestone. Along with various other events and commemorations meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is donating and planting 125 trees in New Orleans City Park to aid in the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.

Gallery: 125 Years of Mercedes-Benz

Tags: Andy Warhol, Berlin, cars, classic cars, events, Germany, luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Museum, museum, Stuttgart

France, Germany, UK & Switzerland to Battle for Snow Polo Cup in St. Moritz

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK will battle it out for the top prize at the 27th St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow on January 27–30 in the posh Swiss ski resort. Apparently due to some sort of snafu over sponsorship, unlike previous years when teams competed for the world-famous polo trophy on the frozen Lake St. Moritz under famous names like Cartier, Maserati and Brioni, this year's tournament will be a Nations Cup in which each team represents its patron's country of origin. This year's team patrons are Philipp Maeder for Switzerland, Vivek Rawal for Great Britain, Thomas Wolfensberger representing Germany and François Le Barazer, playing for France. The 2011 St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow will be staged as a high-goal polo tournament, ensuring the action is as fast-paced as ever. We're sure the big brand names will be back next year.

Tags: equestrian, France, Germany, horses, polo, ski resort, snow polo, sports, St. Moritz, Switzerland, UK

Miu Miu Boutique Opens In Frankfurt

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Shopping

Miu Miu has opened its latest store, the brand's third German boutique. The store is in Frankfurt on Goethestrasse, the city's most exclusive shopping destination, a street linked with names like Rolex, Vertu, Longchamp, Chanel, Versace, Armani and Miu Miu sister brand, Prada. Like other Miu Miu boutiques, this one was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi and houses the brand's collections of bags, footwear and small leather goods. The entrance is situated between two display windows framed by polished steel fittings with brass studs. The store is clad in brown marble with a Miu Miu logo in polished brass. Inside the walls, ceilings and seating are upholstered in the brand's traditional gold damask, whilst the floor is laid in dark marble and large beige carpets. To celebrate this opening, Miu Miu is presenting a special edition bag that will be available exclusively at Miu Miu's Frankfurt store.

Tags: frankfurt, germany, miu miu, prada

Geffen Edges Out Ellison to Seize Control of World's Sixth Largest Yacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

Music mogul David Geffen is now the sole owner of Rising Sun (above), the world's sixth largest yacht, having seized control from co-owner Larry Ellison. Originally commissioned by the Oracle billionaire from Germany's Lürssen shipyard in 2004, the 456 ft. megayacht cost about $250 million to build. After gaining possession of the craft – the terms of the deal have not been disclosed – Geffen has sent the boat back to Lurssen for some much-needed modifications while Ellison prepares to take delivery of a much smaller 298-ft. superyacht. Considerably bigger than other billionaire boats like Paul Allen's Octopus, the Rising Sun features luxe accommodations for 12 people in addition to 30 crew members and boasts a total of 82 rooms on five decks. Onyx countertops, a gymnasium, spa, sauna, wine cellar, private cinema and basketball court that converts to a helipad are some of the over-the-top touches onboard. Four MTU 20V 8000 M90 diesel engines with a combined output of 50,000 hp move the massive yacht along at up to 28 knots.

[via JamesList]

Tags: billionaire, David Geffen, Germany, Larry Ellison, megayacht, Paul Allen, Rising Sun, superyacht, yacht

J.A. Henckels' Damascus Knives For Williams-Sonoma

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Creating true statement pieces, which will also serve you very well in the kitchen, J.A. Henckels has just released a line of Damascus steel knives, under its Zwilling brand, available exclusively at Williams-Sonoma.

The high-end of a new three-tiered collection, which includes Zwilling Pure and Zwilling Cronidur (made from the same steel NASA uses for Space Shuttle ball bearings), Zwilling Damascus is 160 layers of razor-sharp beauty. Designed by architect Matteo Thun, and hand-forged by a top German blacksmith, each knife receives an acid bath after its creation to reveal the undulating patterns distinctive of Damascus steel. The blade is then mounted to a handle of untreated, oiled grenadill wood. Perfectly balanced, the thumb instantly gravitates towards the generous bolster, which provides an unusual amount of comfort and precise control. At 61 on the Rockwell scale, the knife is incredibly hard (meaning edge retention is excellent) but the blade also possesses the proper amount of limber flexibility.

Currently offering a chef's, bread, pairing and Santoku knife, the line is the first German-made Damascus steel on the market. And since each blade's pattern is unique, the Zwilling Damascus isn't just the one you'll want to reach for, it's the one you'll want everyone to see you reaching for.

Tags: cooking, DamascusSteel, germany, J. A. Henckels, knives, williams-sonoma

$2 Million Bugatti & Three Other Supercars Smashed in Wild Autobahn Weekend

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Crimes and Misdemeanors

A recent weekend in Germany saw the wanton destruction of a small fortune in supercars in a series of unbelievable smashups on the Autobahns. In the space of a mere 48 hours a Bugatti, two Lamborghinis and an Audi R8 were all totaled while traveling at eye-popping speeds. The first two casualties were a rare $2 million Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport (above) and a Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, involved in separate incidents mere hours apart. The Lamborghini was driven by a 32-year-old who lost control of the car in Vaterstetten in lower Franconia but miraculously walked away unharmed. The driver of the Grand Sport lost control while passing another car at 125 mph, causing some $560,000 worth of damage. Then a black Lamborghini LP670-4SV driven by a couple of mechanics who'd just performed an oil change on the vehicle spun out and got pretty badly banged up. And finally a limited edition $200,000 Audi R8 GT, one of only 333 built, burned to cinders after crashing near Denkendorf on the A9.

Tags: Audi R8, Audi R8 GT, Autobahn, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, car crash, Germany, Lamborghini, supercar

Escape to a Fairy Tale Forest This Fall

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Although I'd never before been to the Schwarzwald, or the Black Forest, in Southwestern Germany, it felt immediately, and somewhat eerily familiar. It turns out that these woods were the setting for many of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, and as I drove from Baden Baden to my destination, Traube Tonbach hotel in Baiersbronn, I half expected to see Hansel and Gretel threading their way through the tall pine trees, or Little Red Riding Hood making her way to grandmother's house.

I didn't see any of those characters, but I did find a fantasy of food at Traube Tonbach. It does look a little like Ye Olde Hotel when you pull up to it, and that's because it is. The first lumberjacks were offered sustenance in 1789, and it's been a destination since the 1920s.

While you might not expect to find world-class cuisine in the middle of a fairy tale forest, and in a property that is an antique, albeit elegant and well-maintained, one of the hotel's restaurants Schwarzwaldstube is three star Michelin, and among the best in Germany. Young chefs come to train at the property, so even at the hotel's everyday dining room, you'll find a fresh touch is applied to traditional Swabian dishes, which can be somewhat heavy.

And no matter how sophisticated your palate, it's still something of a thrill to eat Black Forest ham and Black Forest cake in the Black Forest -- without fear of either wicked witches or wolves.

Gallery: Traube Tonbach in Germany's Black Forest

Traube Tonbach, a Resort in Germany's Black Forest

Tags: black forest, germany, michelin

The Ultimate Limited Edition Porsche Book & Photo Print

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art, Books

German luxury publisher teNeues is coming out with the ultimate collector's item for Porsche enthusiasts: a $3,000 limited edition book on the famed sports car marque accompanied by a signed and numbered photographic print. The Porsche Book collector's edition, limited to only 50 copies, features the world's most beautiful Porsche images selected by photographer and graphic designer Frank M. Orel in collaboration with the Porsche Museum team in Stuttgart, Germany. Orel, who produces award-winning calendars for Porsche, is the editor of two other books dedicated to the legendary marque. The enormous volume features 24 chapters containing over 200 incredible full-color photographs. It spans the full measure of Porsche's illustrious history from road cars to rare racers. The signed and numbered photo print is suitable for framing.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: The Porsche Book Collector's Edition

All images courtesy teNeues, copyright Frank M. Orel

Tags: books, coffee table books, Germany, luxury cars, photography, Porsche, Porsche Museum, sports car, teNeues

The 5 Most-Naked, Least-Modest Spa Treatments in the World

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

When you go to a spa, you expect a few nods to modesty -- a private room, for instance, and artful draping of your naughty bits, which are usually Not to Be Touched. And while spas that cater to Westerners around the world do tend to observe these protocols, there are a few entirely legit spa treatments that make these modesty-preserving measures entirely counterproductive.

Here are five spa treatments for which you'll just need to let it all hang out.

1. Turkish Hammam: A Turkish Hammam is sort of a like a communal bath, where you spend time in rooms of varying heat. The highlight is having your skin nearly flayed off with a loofah. (Some people call the resulting ribbons of removed skin "spaghetti".) In a traditional hammam, this scrubbing is administered by a person wearing a bathing suit, and usually within few view of everyone else. My observation has been that people mostly avert their gaze from the scrubee, these are rarely attractive angles for anyone.

There are spas that offer a more modest variation on a hammam treatment. The spa at La Mamounia, for instance, has a shared steam room (which you enter wearing a bathrobe, leave it on or take it off as you wish), and then a private room for the scrub-a-dub, with private shower. The post-hammam moisturizer is applied in a communal relaxation room, so gaze aversion strategies are still a must if you don't want to get an eyeful.

Tags: germany, hammam, India, japan, most naked spa treatments, naked, spa, tokyo

Continue reading “The 5 Most-Naked, Least-Modest Spa Treatments in the World”

Hit the Water in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cigarette Boat for $1.2 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos

Back in February we first told you about plans for the wicked new 46' Cigarette powerboat inspired by the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar. Now the killer craft has hit the water, and you can pick one up via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for a cool $1.2 million. The Cigarette 46' Rider XP is the only powerboat available with the all-new Mercury Racing 1,350 hp 9-litre V8 Twin Turbo engines – altogether almost five times as much power as the SLS AMG that inspired it. Thanks to lightweight composite construction, it can do 95.59 knots with a maximum speed of 117 knots, or 130 mph for you landlubbers. With the same hand-applied silver paint as the SLS AMG that "covers body surfaces like a metallic skin, targeting light reflections to further emphasize exterior character lines and design details", it's a dazzling sight on the water – if it slows down enough for you to get a glimpse. The inside features marine-grade upholstery designed to resemble the two tone Nappa leather in the SLS AMG. Buy one of each, but just remember which one goes in the water.

Gallery: Cigarette 46 Rider XP SLS AMG

Tags: Cigarette boat, Germany, JamesList, leather, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, powerboat, speedboat, supercar, yacht

The Classicist: Made in the Shade - Porsche Design Heritage Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist, Architecture & Design

Unlike some collections whose famous names reflect only lucrative licensing deals, products bearing the Porsche Design label have a pedigree that's strongly linked to the famed sports car marque. The Porsche Design Studio was established in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the iconic Porsche 911 and grandson of the founder of the world-renowned German automaker. Since then Porsche Design has become synonymous with innovative luxury products boasting immaculate craftsmanship, state of the art technology and the absolute highest quality materials, all adhering to the same clear functionality of form. While the product line ranges from cell phones to superyachts these days, sunglasses, one of the first items produced and one with the strongest ties to driving, remain the most appealing.

During the '70s and '80s the coveted sunglasses were the shades of choice for the rich and famous who prized elegant, sporty style. Now Porsche Design Eyewear has come out with a new "Heritage Collection" of aviators celebrating this colorful history. Often copied by others, they remind us that the originals haven't been bettered. The new collection is not just a re-issue of the most notable sunglass designs however, but also an update for the 21st century. Iconic styles that went out of production years ago are back with major upgrades in materials with super lightweight, anti-corrosive titanium frames and lightweight shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses with a multi-layered premium anti-reflective coating. Priced from $250–$409, there are four classic styles in the collection in various color combinations, all variations on the iconic aviator shape and all now available from haute online eyewear boutique Eyegoodies.

Gallery: Porsche Design Heritage Collection

Tags: aviator, aviator sunglasses, aviators, car design, design, Eyegoodies, Eyewear, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, German design, Germany, leather, Porsche 911, Porsche Design, sports car, sunglasses, titanium

Continue reading “The Classicist: Made in the Shade - Porsche Design Heritage Collection”

Porsche 918 Spyder Makes Its Driving Debut [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

This past Thursday, the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid – which could become the world's most expensive production Porsche – made its driving debut on a closed road in Monterey, California, just days prior to its North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. After being shipped over from Germany by private plane, engineers handed the keys of the new 918 Spyder, dubbed the world's first true hybrid supercar, to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car drove superbly under its own power, which comes from the mid-mounted 3.4 liter V8 engine out of the RS Spyder as well as an all electric mode which powers just the front wheels. That's good news for the 2,000 prospective buyers willing to fork out an estimated $630,000 to get their hands on one.

Tags: California, electric car, Germany, hybrid, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Porsche, Porsche 918 Spyder, supercar

Rare Racers at Ferrari Event in Nurburgring

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Sports

An incredible array of Ferrari race cars just converged on Germany's famed Nurburgring circuit for three days of test-driving under the legendary Italian marque's Corse Clienti department. 15 Ferrari 599XX and 4 Enzo-based Ferrari FXXs were joined on the track by 10 rare Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 cars, among the world's most desirable vehicles. Amongst them was the F190 raced by Nigel Mansell in the 1990 Formula 1 Championship; the 412 T1 with which Gerhard Berger won the 1994 German Grand Prix; the F300, which was the 45th car built by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1998 season, driven to six wins by Michael Schumacher; and the F2001, with which the German champion won nine races. Also present was the more recent F2007, which took both World titles for the Scuderia team. The beautiful thoroughbred racers are almost as much fun to look at as to drive.

Gallery: Ferrari Corse Clienti Event at Nurburgring