Musician, producer and designer Pharrell Williams needs not one but two Rolls-Royces to get around town - when he isn't driving one of his other supercars, that is. The producer of acts including Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Jay-Z bemoans the fact that the Rolls has become too popular with rappers, but says it still preserves some cachet.
"In the early days, the cars were rarities," Williams tells Motor Trend. Now however, "They're kind of ubiquitous. [But] the saving grace is: It's still a Rolls. Every stitch and every tiny detail are brilliant. It's traditional and consistent quality. They spare nothing. Also, you can drive it just how you're feeling. It can be a luxury vehicle or you can really put your foot in it and it darts out like an arrow. I had a Bentley but it wasn't for me. At the end of the day, a Rolls is a Rolls."
He likes 'em so much he has two, a Phantom for being chauffered in - ""I sit in the back and recline with my gold Blackberry, like Richie Rich" - and a Phantom Drophead Coupe for driving himself, in black with a red leather interior. He also has a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and a Ferrari Enzo. As for the latter, "Man, you have to be in the mood to drive that," Williams tells the mag. "It's so fast, it's like being in a spaceship or a stealth bomber. And there's no radio, so I can't have any tunes. I love it but you really have to be in race car mode."
A few days ago I had the privilege of being a guest of American Express at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2008 in NYC. Aside from agonizing over what to wear (and realizing that of course no one was looking at me), it was a fun experience, and one I'd likely never get to have without this invite. As an AmEx guest, I got to go to a special "Skybox" to view the DKNY Spring 2009 show along with about 20 AmEx Platinum Card members, who were there (at the cool price of $700 each) to enjoy the day's events and luxuriate in special amenities as part of AmEx's "By Invitation Only" program. Also on hand were staffers from various companies associated with AmEx, who made sure the guests were comfortable and enjoying themselves. I chatted with one guest, who took advantage of the complimentary hair and makeup services that morning. She did have excellent hair. The room was too dim for me to see her makeup, but I'm sure it was lovely.
AmEx, a major Fashion Week sponsor for the second consecutive year, has long associated itself with fashion icons. On display in the tent's main lobby, front and center, was an AmEx booth that featured three iconic photos, used as part of AmEx's "I'm a Card Member" ads: Sammy Davis Jr., Diane Von Furstenburg and Venus Williams. Word is the photos changed throughout the show. Other sponsors also had booths in the main lobby, from the usual suspects, such as Judith Ripka and the Italian Trade Commission, to unexpected companies, such as Office Max and M&M's.
When Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hits New York City this Friday, the hip downtown hotels will of course be flooded with fashionistas. The ones who value refinement and elegance over mere trendiness however will head to the Upper East Side's Carlyle Hotel, a luxurious landmark since it first opened in 1930 and one of our favorite places to stay in the world.
French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld recently declared that the Carlyle is her favorite hotel as well, and with the addition of a luxe new spa next month, with its "sleek palette of slate, charcoal and black complemented by finishes in nickel, chrome and glass and rich molding," others are sure to follow suit. Not that the Carlyle lacks for high-profile guests; since it opened nearly 80 years ago, the hotel has played host to an endless procession of movie stars, millionaires and high society.
The Art Deco masterpiece was the perfect setting for both stylish philanderer John F. Kennedy, who owned an apartment on the 34th floor, and legendary cabaret singer Bobby Short, who hung his top hat at the swank Café Carlyle for decades (Woody Allen has also been known to hoist a clarinet there on occasion).
On August 2nd, RM Auctions will sell of a stunning selection of classic cars, including a coveted Mercedes-Benz Gullwing (above), at the annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Élegance in Michigan. The event takes place at Meadow Brook Hall, the historic 110-room Tudor Revival mansion built in the 1920s by auto heiress Matilda Dodge Wilson. In May, RM set a world record by selling the 1961 Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn which we wrote about for $11 million.
The Mercedes, a beautiful black 1956 300SL, is estimated at $575,000 - $675,000. We prefer it to the other, slightly more expensive Mercedes on offer, a 1936 500K three-position drophead coupe by Corsica, est. $600,000 - $750,000. Also included in the stunning sale: a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe, est. $475,000 - $575,000; a 1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan by Castagna, similar to the one featured in Sunset Boulevard, est. $400,000 - $600,000; and a 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster, est. $80,000 - $110,000. See the gallery for more.
The annual Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge will kick off at the JetOne Jets Field at the Bridgehampton Polo Club on Saturday, July 19 this year. This season's partners include Coca-Cola, Fiji Water, T-Mobile, Pernod Ricard, Ralph Lauren, Hpnotiq and Zino Platinum Cigars, and the MVP Player Award will be presented by Westin Rinehart. The matches, which will run for six consecutive Saturdays through August 23 this year, are the social mainstay of the Hamptons season and feature some of the world's best polo players competing for one of the sport's most treasured prizes. Anyone can watch from the stands, but the invitation-only V.I.P. tent is the real scene. Celebs in attendance in years previous have included Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham, Howard Stern, Jared Leto, Jay Z, Jessica Alba, Mischa Barton, Natalie Portman and Prince Albert of Monaco, to name a few. All proceeds will go to a good cause, the South Fork Breast Health Coalition.
A one-of-a-kind, oversized 1930s Patek Philippe chronograph that belonged to dashing Italian racecar driver Count Felice Trossi is expected to fetch close to $2 million at Sotheby's in Geneva today. Famed Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli probably copied Trossi's habit of wearing his Patek over his shirt cuff, the better to keep time while winning the Italian Grand Prix, which Trossi did in 1947. These day's Trossi's name lives on mainly for automotive enthusiasts; his legendary one-off 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK, now known as the "Count Trossi", is the star of Ralph Lauren's incredible car collection.
The sale also features several other Pateks including some extremely rare chronographs. Meanwhile, Christie's will stage it's own Important Watch auction in Geneva tomorrow, featuring two of the most important antique one-off Pateks ever to go ion the block: a stainless steel perpetual calendar with phases of the moon, and a platinum perpetual calendar with sweep centre seconds and phases of the moon. Both are estimated at an astounding $1.4 million - $2.4 million.
London auction house Bonhams is staging a Grandes Marques classic car auction in the principality of Monaco today featuring some of the world's most collectible automobiles. The star attraction - i.e. highest-priced lot - is an historic 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport that raced at Le Mans in 1934, which is estimated at about $4 - $5 million. However there are several very beautiful and more modern motorcars being sold for a fraction of that price.
For example, the gorgeous 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Competition Saloon pictured here, est. about $320,000 - $360,000, similar to the DB5 driven by James Bond (Sean Connery) in Goldfinger. Among our other favorites, as featured in the gallery below: A 1962 Bentley S3 Continental 'Flying Spur' Saloon, est. about $280,000 - $320,000; a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'Gullwing' Coupé, est. about $690,000 - $760,000; a 1966 Maserati Mistral 4000 Spyder, est. about $420,000 - $500,000; a 1994 Bugatti EB110GT Coupé, one of only 154 built, est. about $340,000 - $420,000; and a 1971 Ferrari 365GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta, est. about $400,000 - $480,000.
Mercedes-Benz is launching a new emissions-free way to travel: the Folding Bike. It's obviously not their first bike, but it it is a unique bike in that it's designed to fold up all handy and fit in your vehicle's trunk in just two swift moves. Designed to be folded not only quickly but also cleanly (no grease or dirt on your hands!) and measuring just 800x800x220mm, it will not only take up practically no space in your garage but will fit comfortably in the boot of your Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet -- ready for a quick ride anytime. Available in April 2008.
They might be billing it as a concept vehicle, but it looks pretty production-ready to us. And the choice to launch it at the Middle East International Auto Show? All the more suspect -- Maybach could sell every last limited-production one of these at the next OPEC meeting alone.
Witness the closest thing to a production-ready four-door luxury convertible we've seen in a while, the Maybach 62 Landaulet. The Landaulet can thank the 62 S sedan on which it's based for its 612-horsebower biturbo V12 and reclining rear seats, the latter of which are done up in white leather, contrasting the black leather adorning the chauffer's cockpit. That and the electronically-dimmed glass partition aren't all that separates the "haves" from their driver -- while the cockpit is enclosed overhead, the rear passengers enjoy a retractable soft top.
Just to give the sun something to glint off of spectacularly, Maybach also sprang for piano lacquer and gold-flecked granite (yes, granite) inserts.
Check out Daimler's full press release after the jump.
Mercedes-Benz is trying something new, and they're jumping in with both feet. In collaboration with Allison SpA, they've come up with designs for 40 different eyeglass and sunglass frames. They unveiled the new endeavor at the recently concluded Fashion Week in Berlin, and I have to say that I think they've really gotten it right. The designs look hip and modern, but not so trendy that they're not versatile enough for everyday wear. Prices range from $233-$330 for the Mercedes-Benz eyeglass frames and $220-$357 for the sunglasses.
In a recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates it seems that of all car buyers, those who choose luxury brands like their cars best and are the most satisfied. The survey included owners of 35 different car brands within the first 90 days after purchase, and the top 11 spots all went to luxury brands. Porsche claimed the #1 spot, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Lexus rounding out the top 5 in that order.
Jeep came out in last place (35th), with Subaru in second to last place (34th). The most satisfying non-luxury vehicle? The Toyota Scion, coming in 12th.
Do you think premium car owners are more satisfied because their cars are of better quality? Or because they just have the money and resources to buy exactly what they want?
I'm not usually over the moon about the design of a new Mercedes-Benz but the Ocean Drive Concept has me intrigued. It's got a bit of Bentley style with its oversized grille and elegant rear. The car is based on the V12-powered, long-wheelbase S 600 sedan and has a soft top but keeps you warm with the Mercedes Airscarf neck-heating system. The car has LED headlamps and taillights, two-tone paintwork and long side-window opening that is not interrupted by a B-pillar or window frames for a seamless look even when the top is up. The interior is done in leather with bird's eye maple trim panels. Some of Autoblog's commenters pointed out that it looks a bit like a Sebring. Perish the thought.
Why does Samuel L. Jackson look so happy? The actor is basking in the knowledge that he will soon have a shiny new Maybach 57 S in his garage in California. Our siblings at Autoblog report that Jackson, and his wife, La Tanya took the scenic route to getting their new car. They visited the Maybach Centre of Excellence in Stuttgart, Germany to create their personalized vehicle. The car has Mercedes-Benz Designo paintwork in Mocca Black lacquer, a refrigerator, champagne glasses, silver tumblers and folding tables. While other celebs are snapping up hybrids, Mr. Jackson is doing his part to save the environment by putting in a solar roof panel that provides the power required to control the interior temperature while the car is stationary. Oh well, it's a start.
Musician, producer and designer Pharrell Williams needs not one but two Rolls-Royces to get around town - when he isn't driving one of his other supercars, that is. The producer of acts including Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Jay-Z bemoans the fact that the Rolls has become too popular with rappers, but says it still preserves some cachet. 
A one-of-a-kind, oversized 1930s 
