Super cool movie star Steve McQueen was without a doubt one of the most stylish men of all time. As we've noted in the past, his rugged sportiness, authentic masculinity and innate good taste have inspired countless fashion designers, not to mention scores of other actors who followed in his wake. McQueen fans of all sorts have a lot to celebrate this summer: there are two major new books on the "King of Cool" coming out, as well as a special McQueen tribute edition Ford Mustang, while the star's famous 1970 Porsche, worth an estimated $2 million, is going up for auction.

The first book just went on sale: Steve McQueen: A Life in Pictures edited by Yann Brice Dherbier (Pavilion, $40). The mix of classic and less well-known images of the style icon is artfully put together, but what struck us most about the book was its large format, showing details that you just don't get in smaller versions (see the gallery for a preview). For instance, in this cover image you can clearly see that McQueen is wearing a classic Baracuta jacket from England - which by the way are still sold here at Ben Silver in Charleston, one of the best men's clothiers in the country.

Equally striking and noticeable due to the impressive scale are the identifiable images which have clearly influenced designers like Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors who have built whole collections and ad campaigns around the King of Cool. Lauren in particular is a well-known McQueen fanatic. The index to Michael Gross' brilliant biography of the designer, Genuine Authentic, contains no less than six separate entries for the actor.

Gross writes that Lauren staged shoots based on McQueen's movies - his favorite film is said to be 1968's The Thomas Crown Affair - sometimes with himself in the starring role, and hung photos of the actor in both his houses and stores. If you look closely enough at the photos in Dherbier's book and compare them to Lauren's designs you can see where he copied sweaters, jackets, details on suits, even the carelessly elegant way McQueen always wore his clothes.

The other book, Unforgettable Steve McQueen hasn't been published yet - we'll update you on that when the time comes - but it features a foreword by another McQueen wannabe: Brad Pitt. We'd say he's making a good start at filling the King of Cool's shoes, but he's got a ways to go yet.

On July 26, London auction house Bonhams is staging a sale of Porsche and Lotus motorcars at the Silverstone Classic, one of the UK's premiere motor sport events. Unlike some auctions, the Silverstone sale skews to the more affordable side, without any million-dollar motorcars. In fact, most lots are priced below $100,000, yet there are several beautiful examples of highly collectible classics and contemporaries from the two famous marques.

For instance, the gorgeous 1959 Porsche 356B coupe pictured here, which is estimated at only $36,000 - $40,000 and is in impeccable condition. Also on offer: a legendary 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS touring coupé, est. $220,000 - $260,000; a 1972 Porsche 911 3.0-litre rally car, est. $80,000 - $100,000; a 2007 Lotus Exige Cup 255 coupé, est. $90,000 - $110,000; a 1967 Porsche 911 2-litre coupe, est. $64,000 - $72,000; and a 1973/2006 Lotus Elan +2 Spyder Zetec coupe, est. $40,000 - $50,000. See the gallery for pix.

In the summer months the American Red Cross often struggles to collect much needed blood because many potential donors are on vacation and colleges are not in session. In southern New Hampshire, International Cars, Ltd. and the American Red Cross have a unique solution to this problem. They are offering the Drive of a Lifetime, a summer promotion at the grand opening event for the new Porsche of Stratham and Audi Stratham. The care dealer is raffling off a one-year lease of a new Porsche to presenting blood donors in New Hampshire this summer. Those who donate between now and Sept. 30 will have the opportunity to enter to win. All who donate blood and visit any of International Cars' five New Hampshire locations can get a second entry through a test drive or vehicle service.

[via Fosters]

This is one auction that we're all getting plenty of notice for: the porsche made famous by Steve McQueen in the 70s is going up on the auction block this August.

The 1970 Porsche 908/2 was raced several times by McQueen, including once when he was driving with a duct-taped cast on a broken foot and once when there were cameras attached to the vehicle to collect movie footage. The car has a 3.0 liter 350hp engine and is expected to sell for between $1.5 - $2 million at the auction in Carmel Valley, CA by Bonhams & Butterfields.

On Sunday June 8 London auction house Bonhams will stage its first ever auction in conjunction with the annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in Connecticut. The top-priced lots are rare racing cars prized by automotive historians, such as a 1931 Maserati Tipo 8C-2800 competition two-seater, est. $600,000 - $850,000, and a 1965 McLaren-Elva M1A Sports Racer, est. $250,000- $300,000. However, there are plenty of beautiful and highly collectible cars that one can actually drive on offer as well.

Among our favorites is this perfectly-restored British made 1956 AC Ace, est. $140,000 - 180,000, in British racing green, natch. Other highlights include: a 1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Super 90 Cabriolet, est. $110,000 - 130,000; a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, est. $110,000 - $135,000; a 1974 Jaguar Series III V-12 XK-E Roadster, est. $50,000 - $70,000; a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, est. $100,000 - $150,000; and the steal of the sale, a 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II Saloon, est. only $25,000 - $35,000.

The first scent from Porsche Design Group will debut this fall. The men's scent -- "The Essence by Porsche Design" -- was developed jointly by the Porsche SE subsidiary producing high-end accessories and Groupe Clarins' Parfums Azzaro. As reported in Women's Wear Daily, "It is a name everyone knows; next to 'Porsche' is the word 'design,' which is something modern and in the l'air du temps," said Gérard Delcour, president of Parfums Azzaro and Porsche Design Fragrances.

OK ... but what does it smell like? One molecule -- Artical, from International Flavors & Fragrances -- was the starting point for the scent's "fresh aromatic woody juice." Azzaro executives envisioned an urban, cultured, intelligent, sporty, sensual man in the 25-50 age range as the user (that means you, Luxist reader). In addition to Artical, other top notes are juniper and blueberry. Among heart notes are Russian coriander, black pepper and Siberian pine, and in the base are notes of fir balsam, patchouli and incense. (I'm sure that clears things up for you.)

Around early October, the scent will be introduced in selective distribution, plus Porsche Design sales points and travel-retail locations in Europe, the Middle East and North America. In the United States, the scent will be launched in Bloomingdale's during the first week of October, then in Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom during the first week of November. The second phase, starting in early 2009, will include Latin America, Asia and Africa.

The Porsche Design U.S. collection will include a 1.7-oz. eau de toilette spray for $54, a 2.7-oz. eau de toilette spray for $70, a 6.7-oz. hair and body shampoo for $28, and a 2.5-oz. stick deodorant for $20. A 2.7-oz. "luxury" eau de toilette spray (in black glass, as compared to the blue glass in the rest of the collection) for $80 is scheduled to come out in the U.S. in November. Just in time for the winter holiday gift-giving season, of course!

Think "Porsche Design" and you probably think sleek black accessories, but in a departure from their usual color scheme Porsche is launching the new "White Collection," which is all about crisp whites and shiny silvers. Chosen because it both represents purity and highlights the design of the product, the new white color theme uses all white materials mixed with technical metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. And besides premium materials and craftsmanship, the White Collection also features premium technology -- for example the mobile phone has a patented fingerprint feature and the lighters have a nozzle that makes them safe to use in inclement weather.

Via Goldarths

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).

This winter your kids can totally ride around in (well, at least "on") a Porsche. It's the Porsche Kinderbob bobsled, and although I can't tell you how fast it will go I can tell you it will look awesome flying down a hill of snow. It's red and silver, and comes complete with the Porsche logo painted clearly on the side and a horn for letting those slower bobsledders know they need to get out of the way. And you the parent will have totally earned the right to say "Yeah, I bought little Timmy a Porsche for Christmas this year." All for just $115.


Via Gizmodo

Being in the drivers' seat is so passé. Sitting in the back seat, demanding that your full-time driver "step on it," bolstered by a whopping 750+ ft-lbs. of torque, is the new black.

As heavy as they are (5,000 lbs. plus, in some cases), big luxury sedans like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Maybach 62 S haul ass to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds -- on par with the likes of the Porsche Boxster.

Absent, of course, is the driveability of similarly-priced luxury vehicles -- a 5,000 lb. luxury sedan does not an ultimate driving machine make. Instead, execs with cash are opting for off-the-line speed to get where they're going, fast, saving driving dynamics for their weekends on the track.

On that note, visit BusinessWeek's slide show of the world's fastest luxury cars, sure to get you up to speed in under 6 seconds.

[Source: Businessweek]

Manly men who love to cook: here comes the kitchen of your dreams. That's the idea anyway behind Porsche Design Group and Poggenpohl's new "man's kitchen" (there's no official name yet). It's been created and crafted with the male cook in mind, which apparently means modern and sleek monochromatic stying complete with details like no-handle cabinets, high-tech audiovisual system and aluminum-finished everything. It will be available starting sometime next year.

I think it looks sleek and manly, but what do I know? Guys: did they get it right?

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]

The new black... because that's the only color it comes in, baby. All 777 of them. The special edition coupe is slung 10 mm lower than the standard Cayman S as it sits on 19-inch wheels wrapped in 235/35 ZR 19 tires in front and 265/35 ZR in the rear. The car features interior sport styling in the form of a three-spoke steering wheel and glistening Alcantara upholstery and black leather, accompanied by commemorative accessories -- a black briefcase with the Flat Six Chronograph timepiece, a pocket knife with black blade, sunglasses, a pen, and a key ring.

Not bad for £49,890 ($98,885), particularly since the car also comes with a Porsche Driving Experience course.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Sure, it doesn't do a whole lot that the original Bentley Continental GT couldn't do. It's only a few tenths of a second faster from 0-60 mph (4.3 seconds vs. the original's 4.6) and goes only four miles per hour faster than the original GT... but those four seconds make all the difference in the world.

The 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed goes 202 mph vs. the original car's198, but that puts the Bentley, finally, in the exclusive 200 mph club. Now, the Continental GT can sit among the Ferraris and Ford GTs of the world, and rightfully so.

The other perks GT Speed drivers will enjoy are 20-inch wheels, a low-slung suspension and tinted windows, not to mention the ability to order custom paint and trim.

Sure, it's hard to outdo the original, but why not go all out?

[Source: Automobile Magazine]