The refresh of the BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe, which first debuted in Geneva, made its North American arrival at the New York International Auto Show in April. Styling elements distinguishing this car from the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe include trademark Alpina elliptical twin tailpipes, blue brake calipers and door-sill trims with Alpina lettering on the front, and wood trim in Myrtle or Piano lacquer. The coupe also features a subtly changed BMW kidney grill and a more aggressive front spoiler.
The car’…
Is the Aston Martin DBX Concept the Company’s Future Electric Sports Car?
Aston Martin brought a unique combination of luxury and environmentally friendly technology to the recent Geneva International Motor Show, with the Aston Martin DBX concept. The all-electric sports car intends to be an innovative step forward in the high-luxury, grand-touring segment, enhancing the British carmaker’s elegant design language with more family-friendly (and eco-friendly) touches.
Because the DBX concept has no engine compartment—it is powered by electric inboard-of-wheel, lithium-sulphur power…
The Macallan Bottles Some of Its 48-Year-Old Scotch for London’s Savoy Hotel
The legendary Savoy Hotel, located in London’s central Covent Garden district, will celebrate its legacy by giving some of it away. The Savoy 125th Anniversary Single Malt Scotch—a rare sherry-cask-aged, 48-year-old Macallan—comes with a polished piece of the original bar top from the hotel’s famous American Bar. Built in 1893 and renovated in 2010, the American Bar lays claim to the title of the oldest surviving cocktail bar in England. Over the generations, the bar has played host to an array of celebrities,…
The McLaren 570S, McLaren’s New Entry-Level Sports Car, Delivers Supercar Performance
The McLaren 570S is the first model in McLaren’s new entry-level Sport Series. Described by the British carmaker as a sports car, as opposed to a supercar, the $184,900 570S—which debuted at this year’s New York International Auto Show—becomes the most attainable McLaren available in North America. However, it offers performance numbers on par with those of many flagship supercars.
With a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8—which shares most of its components with the power plant used in the $240,000 McLaren 65…
The Largest Hotel Suite in Los Angeles Debuts at the London West Hollywood
Travelers visiting Los Angeles can find plenty of room to relax and entertain guests in the Penthouse Inspired by Vivienne Westwood. The new suite at the London West Hollywood hotel is scheduled to open next month, and it will be the largest in the city at 11,000 square feet. The 10th-floor, bi-level penthouse ($25,000 per night) boasts a bright and open design conceived by the British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood in partnership with Richmond Design and includes many original pieces from her interior-dec…
Oceanco’s 351-Foot Stiletto Hybrid Superyacht Concept Is a Triumph of Form and Function [VIDEO]
Created by the naval architect Ken Freivokh, the 351-foot Stiletto has a futuristic profile and sweeping interior that makes this Oceanco concept yacht one of the most interesting designs of the year. Freivokh’s inspired exterior features several aft terraces—one equipped with a 25-foot-long swimming pool—that provide exceptional views of the water. The enormous forward social area—unusual even for a yacht of this magnitude—has another swimming pool, bar, recliners, and a shading system. The yacht’s helipad si…
Vacuum Tubes Are the (Not So) Secret Ingredient in the Decware Zen Mystery Amp
Despite all the fanfare over the recent resurgence of vinyl, veteran audiophiles have long stood by analog audio and the vacuum-tube-powered equipment that was popular in the 1950s and ’60s. Hidden in the suburbs of Chicago is an artisan company called Decware that produces vacuum-tube audio gear to a level of quality that a Swiss watchmaker would be proud of. Eschewing the current steampunk rage, Decware amplifiers possess a timeless, elegant simplicity and functionality. The company’s owner, Steve Deckert, d…
Restoration of the World’s Second, Currently Operable B-29 Bomber Is Nearly Complete
After 15 years of hard work by hundreds of volunteers, a restored B-29 bomber finally rolled out of its hangar in Wichita, Kans., in late March. Upon its inaugural flight later this year, the big four-engine bomber will become only the second B-29 in the world still in operation. The nonprofit group Doc’s Friends has invested more than 300,000 hours of volunteer labor to rebuild and restore the airframe, install new engines, and get the airplane ready to fly again. Doc was the original name given to the aircra…
Chicago’s Frank Lloyd Wright–Designed Emil Bach House Is Now a Vacation Rental
Perhaps the most notable address in Chicago’s North Side, the Emil Bach House was designed by the iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright—and now anyone can reserve the property for special events and overnight stays. The property is located at 7415 N. Sheridan Road in the Rogers Park neighborhood north of downtown and just a block from the shore of Lake Michigan. Built in 1915, the house was declared a Chicago Landmark in 1977 and was extensively restored in 2013.
Its design departs from the openness …
The 2016 Acura NSX Supercar Is Entering Production
Following a lengthy development process and several significant changes to its engine configuration and styling, the 2016 Acura NSX was unveiled in its final production specification at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new two-seat sports car—the original Acura NSX debuted 25 years ago and was produced between model years 1991 and 2005—represents the notable return of the Japanese carmaker to the realm of ultra-high performance vehicles. In its new form, the NSX challenges the likes o…