Maybach Revives the Zeppelin for New Ltd. Edition

Following its revival of the throwback Landaulet, ultra-luxurious auto marque Maybach is resuscitating another lustrous name from the past – the Zeppelin. A model by that name last appeared in the late 1930s and harkens back to Maybach's origins as an airship motor company. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Maybach will show to new limited edition Zeppelin versions of their 57 and 62 models. Their 6.0-liter biturbo V12 engines putting out 640 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque make them the most powerful Maybachs to date.

 

A two-tone Taiga black and Rocky Mountains light brown paint scheme distinguish the Zeppelin models. Other enhancements include an odd-sounding option: an exclusive perfume atomizer. The illuminated Plexiglas sphere sits on the rear center console and slowly distributes fragrance throughout the cabin. Elsewhere the interior features a contrasting California beige and Stromboli black leather scheme, piano lacquer finish trim, a topstitched dash and door panels and lambskin carpets. Base pricing for Zeppelins based on the Maybach 57 will start at €406,000 while those based on the 62 will ring in at €473,200. Only 100 examples will be built in total.

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Navy SEALs Edition

At the recent Salon International de la Haute Horologerie (SIHH) in Geneva, Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a limited edition series of three Master Compressor diving watches developed in collaboration with the US Navy SEALs, the highly-trained special ops forces of the American Navy. The new models are the Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs, the Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs (limited to 1500 pieces each) and the Master Compressor Diving Pro Geographic Navy SEALs (300 pieces).

 

All feature grade 5 titanium cases with unidirectional ceramic bezels and are watertight to 300 metres, meeting the stringent requirements of the SEALs, who are trained in employing unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense and counter-terrorism missions. Each timepiece is engraved with the Navy SEALs emblem and comes with wristbands in one leather, titanium, rubber, or rugged black Cordura. Jaeger-LeCoultre, maker of the legendary swivel-case Reverso, was founded in 1833 in the Vallée de Joux.

 

New BMW Alpina Models Slated for Geneva

At next month’s Geneva Motor Show, leading BMW tuner Alpina will unveil two smoking hot new models, the B6 GT3 (above) and the B7, based on the German marque’s 6-Series coupe and 7-Series sedan respectively. The B6 boasts a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 producing over 520 horsepower and 535 lb.-ft. of torque, capable of 0-60 mph in under 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of over 177 mph. Alpina is returning to motorsport competition after a 20-year hiatus with the B6 GT3.

 

The all-new B7 is Alpina's revamp of the latest F01-generation BMW 7-Series flagship 750i sedan, kicking out 500+ hp from a centrifugal-supercharged 4.4-liter V8. Aside from a new front lip, rear wing and trademark multi-spoke Alpina wheels, not much else is known about this bad boy, but all will be revealed, including the no-doubt-astronomic prices, in Geneva. The cars will be sold through BMW dealerships in late 2009. Meanwhile, check out the Alpinas available on JamesList.

 

Sealine T60 Aura by Studio Conran

UK-based luxury boat builder Sealine have just unveiled their revamped 18-metre flybridge motoryacht, called the T60 Aura, with a crisp, modern interior redesign by London’s Studio Conran. Natural oaks, light finishes, long clean lines and floating, linear forms were employed in the open plan design by Studio Conran, founded by Sir Terence Conran, whose motto is “elegance lies in simplicity”. Details include a teak laid cockpit, an L-shaped leather sofa and hand crafted coffee table in the saloon, and a striking full-width master stateroom with bespoke Japanese Maple wall features and an en-suite bath.

 

Power options for the craft include twin Volvo Penta Diesel D12’s at 775hp apiece for a total of 1550 hp, or twin Caterpillar Diesel C15’s at 865hp apiece for 1730 hp. Designed for comfortable cruising at 25 – 28 knots, it can do 33 knots with the bigger engines. Kitted out by Conran, which has also done interiors for the Concorde, Sealine describes the T60 Aura as a “rare environment in which performance, safety and practicality are equally as important as luxury and aesthetic beauty.”

 

Victory CORE Concept Motorbike

At the New York Motorcycle Show, the Victory Motorcycles Industrial Design team unveiled its CORE concept bike, engineered to show what a performance cruiser of the future could look like. It consists of only the essentials: engine, frame, wheels and front suspension – with no rear suspension at all. The bike’s striking and unique cast aluminum frame was made by pouring molten aluminum into a sand core, which was removed when the casting was complete. The CORE also celebrates Victory’s 10^th anniversary.

 

There is no traditional bodywork; the motorcycle is effectively turned inside-out with its architecture completely exposed. The frame is in effect the body, incorporating fuel, air-box, battery box and the entire electrical system. A contoured mahogany seat provides the only sensualist note. The overall impression is of a thin, low, sharp and purposeful motorcycle that is “elemental and fierce at the same time.” The CORE is built around a Victory Freedom 106/6 Stage 2 1731cc power plant, producing 97 horsepower / 113 ft/lb of torque.

 

Aston Martin to Debut New V12 Vantage in Geneva

At next month’s Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin will present the new V12 Vantage, dubbed the most potent production sports car in the marque's 95-year history. Stemming from a concept first unveiled a year ago and based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 is indisputably the fastest and most agile Vantage ever, employing race-derived technology throughout. The new Vantage will feature a carbon fiber driveshaft, rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, and 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 hp, and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.2 seconds.

 

Benefiting from race-developed materials and components, and featuring lightweight carbon fibre components, performance and agility have been tuned to perfection, while enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widen the car. Interior upgrades include carbon fibre and Kevlar composite sport seats and even carbon fibre door pulls. Production will be limited to between just 300-500 examples per year, with prices to be announced in Geneva. 

 

A look at the Zenith Defy Xtreme Zero-G Tourbillon

This interesting interpretation of a multi-axis tourbillon does something that is seemingly impossible. It takes a tourbillon carriage and sets it in a free-moving gyroscopic styled housing. Basically the bottom of the tourbillon always points down, no matter than position the watch is in. This is done by having a series of conical shaped regulator gears that follow the movement of the tourbillon escapement as it literally dangles around in the watch.

 

With the open window into the Zer0-G escapement, the Zenith Zero-G Tourbillon is a pretty thick watch (17mm thick, and 46mm wide). Aggressive styling which is part of the Zenith Defy Xtreme helps frame the character of this serious mechanical marvel. The watch face itself is actually almost a side thought as it is shifted to the top left in order to allow focus to remain on the tourbillon window. Despite the large proportions of the watch, the case and bracelet are done in black PVD titanium. The watch is a wild luxury, with just a few in existence and a world of complexity for complexities sake. You can call it an oddity, or you can smile at how ridiculous it is. Secretly you want to have one. Watches like this are fun to observe. The retail price for this watch when it was new was $500,000. Big bucks!  How is this for discounts when you talk about prices like this: on JamesList.com the Zenith Defy Xtreme Zero-G Tourbillon is about $370,00 brand new. That is over $100,000 off retail. Where else can you get discounts at amounts that are more than middle American homes?

Edison Marine Electric Classic Cruiser

Oregon, USA-based Edison Marine recently debuted its electric, zero-emissions, 1940s-style mahogany powerboat, combining old world charm and clean running technology. The gorgeous Edison Classic Cruiser, priced at about €95,000, is now available to order for spring delivery . Hand crafted from solid African mahogany, the barrel-back twin-propeller 17-foot powerboat can reach speeds of up to 30 mph. Power for the whisper-quiet twin 85-hp electric motors is generated by high performance 144v AGM batteries.

 

The lightweight boat can cruise for 8-10 hours at hull speed on one charge. The batteries are fully rechargeable using a standard AC/DC 110/220V outlet, with full recharge achieved with 3-4 hours charging time. Options include a full leather interior, and an on board gas generator for remote charging is also available. A 22-foot model equipped with a more powerful 250-hp Steyr Marine hybrid engine is also in the works, and will be priced at about €125,000.

 

The New Panerai P.9000 Series

At the Salon International de la Haute Horologerie (SIHH) in Geneva, Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai unveiled its new P.9000 series of timepieces featuring automatic movements designed and made entirely in-house. Introduced at the Salon were three calibres, dubbed the P.9000, P.9001, and P.9002, fitted to a range of Panerai models including the Luminor Submersible, Luminor GMT and Luminor Marina Automatic.

 

The new P.9000 calibre is fitted with two barrels which ensure a power reserve of 72 hours; the single-piece rotor winds in both directions thanks to an automatic ratchet device; the balance wheel with adjustment screws oscillates at a frequency of 4 Hz; the stop balance wheel device enables the time to be synchronised with a reference time signal. Panerai was founded in Florence in 1860 and became the official supplier to the Marina Militare, i.e. the Royal Italian Navy. The company is credited with perfecting the world's first underwater watches in the 1930s. 

 

Porsche to Unveil New 911 GT3 in Geneva

At the Geneva Auto Show in March Porsche will unveil the new 2010 model 911 GT3, dubbed the most sporting and dynamic normally-aspirated road-going 911 ever. With both increased performance and driving dynamics, it's about as close as you can get to a street-legal version of the Stuttgart marque's track racers. With 435 hp from its 3.8-liter six cylinder, the new GT3 does 0 - 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, and reaches 160 km/h in 8.2 seconds. Top speed is 312 km/h or 194 mph, and the base price will be €98,100 for spring delivery in Europe.

 

Innovations on the GT3 include a particularly sporting variant of PSM Porsche Stability Management, offering the option to deactivate both Stability Control and Traction Control in separate steps, as well as modifications of the car's aerodynamics, significantly increasing down-forces both front and rear. Topping it off is the new PADM (Porsche Active Drivetrain Mount) engine bearings for adaptive driving. Options include ceramic brakes, center lock wheels and a lift system for raising ground clearance.

 

Surface-to-Air Missile: The Samson SkyBike

California-based Samson Motorworks has unveiled a James Bond-worthy motorcycle-airplane hybrid concept dubbed the SkyBike that it hopes to have ready for production in 2010. The enclosed three-wheel vehicle features retractable wheels and wings that deploy at the touch of a button. The flat-panel instrument display changes automatically from flight instruments to ground instruments, and it can take off from and land on any level surface. To refuel, you simply drive it up to the pump.

 

Designer Sam Bousfield was working on a supersonic propeller aircraft when he came up with the concept. Initially he simply bolted wings onto a typical motorcycle, then evolved the enclosed cockpit for comfort while in the air, and the third wheel for ease of landing. Though no speed or performance data has been released, a scale model of the SkyBike is currently in the wind tunnel testing stage. And while we don’t yet have a price either, you can bet that if it works, it’ll be worth it.

 

The New Princess V78 Sport Yacht

Later this month Britain-based Princess Yachts plans to deliver the first of its new V78 sport yachts, the latest addition to its V-Class range, which recently passed its first sea test with flying colors. The 78-ft. craft is the first Princess yacht to benefit from resin-infusion moulding, a highly advanced manufacturing system that reduced the ship’s weight by an estimated three tones. The V78 is a sleek beast with raised bulwarks, a powerful deep-V hull and an enormous cockpit complete with wet bar. Power options range from twin Caterpillar C32 engines at 1675hp each up to C32As putting out 1825hp apiece, good for a maximum speed of about 37 knots.

 

A convertible roof and triple sliding glass doors foster the feeling of an open boat with the flexibility to provide shade at the touch of a button. Underneath the teak decks is an opulent yet clean and contemporary interior. The owner’s stateroom features a large en-suite bathroom with twin sinks, a cavernous shower, and a separate walk-in wardrobe situated to port. Guest quarters include a luxurious VIP stateroom forward and two twin berth cabins forward of the galley.

 

Ducati Limited Edition 1098 R Bayliss

Ducati is coming out out with a limited edition of its 1098 R superbike, described by the company as "the most advanced and powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle ever built," honoring its longtime racing champion Troy Bayliss. The Australian-born Bayliss represented Ducati Corse on the track for the past decade and captured three Superbike World Championships in the process, ending with the 2008 title. Only 1098 R Bayliss bikes will be produced worldwide, at a cost of about €35,000.

 

The Italian beauty features Bayliss' famed number 21 and the red, white and blue colour scheme used during his final race at Portimao in Portugal. The 1089 R Bayliss boasts 188 HP and 102 lb/ft torque from its L-Twin Testastretta Evoluzione engine, as well as a race-ready traction control system. It features an unpainted carbon fiber stripe along the seat unit, carbon lower-fairing finished in red, and a natural carbon fiber aerodynamic recess for the side-stand. A numbered plaque on the top fork clamp is reproduced on a commemorative plaque bearing the engraved signatures of Ducati CEO Gabriele Del Torchio and Troy Bayliss himself.

 

 

Wiesmann 20th Anniversary GT MF4-S

Boutique vintage-inspired German sportscar maker Wiesmann will unveil a 20^th Anniversary edition of its GT MF4, dubbed the GT MF4-S, at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The two-seater from the Dülmen-based marque, founded in 1985 by brothers Martin and Friedhelm Wiesmann, is powered by a 4.8L V8 BMW engine putting out 420hp, available with either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmission.

 

Only 20 examples are being produced, and each will come outfitted with a center console featuring an engraved plaque with the name of the car's owner, the production number and the Wiesmann brothers' signature. Custom istrumentation and embroidery on the saddle leather seats will further distinguish the MF4-S, which bears more than a passing resemblance to a classic Jaguar XK-120. While the price has not been announced, a guesstimate of about €200,000 would not be amiss. 

 

X-Yachts Launches Xc 42 in Dusseldorf

Having proven itself in the performance sphere, Danish boatbuilder X-Yachts is going on a leisurely cruise with its newest model, the Xc 42, being launched at Boot Dusseldorf this week. Comfort is key on the 42 ft. long distance “bluewater” cruiser, designed with smaller crews in mind and a wider and deeper hull shape compared to the rest of the racing orientated boats X-Yachts range. The raked transom gives the Xc 42 a classic, retro-inspired look while concealing a hinged swimming platform, and a range of accommodation layouts can include a workshop or office and up to three cabins.

 

The interior comes fitted with white surfaced structural bulkheads and recessed teak stripes for a paneled look. The furniture joinery, including the galley, Nav, station, sofa fronts, cabinets, shelves, wardrobe and grab rails, are all made of high quality varnished and satin finished teak, executed by X-Yachts’ specialist carpenters. Varnished teak bulkheads are also available for the full-on classic look. As twenty Xc 42s were sold before a single hull was completed, it’s obviously an appealing package.

 

The Rolex President

Today I am going to look at something of an icon for Rolex. This is a version of the Rolex Day-Date (because it displays the day and date), also known as the Rolex President. The reason this watch is known as the President, is because a few American Presidents were known to wear the watch, and thus it garnered the name. You can imagine that Rolex was thrilled about this distinction. Aside from being a "standard" Day-Date, this watch has a case and bracelet that is constructed from platinum. Then you have the applied diamond bezel as well as hour markers. That makers for quite the blingy, yet serious Rolex watch. This is pretty much what you get when you take Rolex and Luxury in a small room and tell them they have a few hours to kill.

Most of you probably get some sense of tingle looking at this watch, I know that I do. While this would not be a daily wear for me, it is just the type of thing any-well-to do man or woman wants in their safe for those special occasions, meriting a wear of the "president," the "platinum president." Retail soars at over $60,000, but this piece is being offered brand new at a scant $37,900 out of Florida.

 

The New Scuderia Ferrari F60

Ferrari’s brand new Formula One racecar, the Scuderia Ferrari F60, pays tribute not only to F1’s 60^th anniversary, but the no less impressive fact that Ferrari is the only team to have competed in each and every season. The F60, which has a carbon fibre and honeycomb composite chassis, is distinguished from past season’s models by a new aerodynamic formula resulting in the most dramatic changes in 25 years, as evidenced by a lower, wider front wing and a much narrower rear aerofoil.

 

Overall the bodywork is more streamlined, while technical upgrades include a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) developed together with Magneti-Marelli; a new carbon-encased seven-speed sequential gearbox with limited slip differential; and Brembo ventilated carbon fibre disc brakes. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari's “Flying Finn”, will be putting the F60 through its paces, but all we can think about is that it’ll make one hell of a collector car some day.

Cirrus SR22 Turbo GTS X Edition

Gulfstreams and Falcons are fine for corporate jet travel, but sometimes a man just wants to fly the damn plane himself. U.S.-based Cirrus Aircraft has made that possible without sacrificing anything in the way of creature comforts with the introduction of its new X Edition package, available on the company's top-of-the-line SR22 Turbo GTS two-seater light sport plane, which costs about €460,000. The X Edition The X edition is nothing short of "the embodiment of bespoke tailoring and fine craftsmanship in a high performance personal aircraft," Cirrus promises.

 

The X Edition beefs up standard features like the the Garmin GFC700 digital autopilot and Synthetic Vision Technology with alluring aesthetic upgrades, including carbon fibre and machine-finished aluminum on the instrument panel and center console, a cabin swathed in leather with tailor-stitched accents, and sports seats finished in supple, durable Alcantara. The net effect is similar to the interior of a BMW 7 Series – which will have to tide you over until Cirrus puts the finishing touches on its long-awaited seven seater Vision SJ50 jet.

 

2010 Honda Fury Chopper Unveiled

At the New York Motorcycle Show Honda just unveiled its long awaited 2010 Fury chopper, which at 1808.5mm boasts the longest wheelbase of any production motorcycle. Powered by a 1312cc fuel-injected and liquid-cooled V-twin with a 5-speed transmission, the attractive bike, which will sell for about €15,000, features a radiator is tucked neatly in between the front frame rails, and uses a shaft drive as opposed to the more traditional belt associated with custom-style motorcycles.

 

A hidden rear shock attached to a 200mm rear tire gives the bike a hardtail look, while a raked-out front end houses a near-anorexic 21-inch front tire framed by sexy bladed spokes. It comes in Blue, Silver, Burgundy and Matte Black, with plenty of chrome scattered about to good effect. Honda intends to offer several accessories for customizing the Fury, and is promoting the tagline, "It's the chopper you would build for yourself - if you had a factory instead of a garage."

Sunseeker Debuts New 30 Metre Superyacht

UK-made Sunseeker yachts, which have featured prominently in the last three James Bond films, just unveiled their latest model, the 30 Metre trideck superyacht, at the London Boat Show. With a dual control flybridge helm, accommodation for up to ten guests and four crew, plus speeds of up to 28 knots and a range at a slow cruising speed of 10 to 12 knots up to 1,000 nautical miles with extended fuel capacity, the Sunseeker 30 turned plenty of heads.

 

The large deck expanse is home to spacious seating areas, dining tables, a sunpad and spa tub, while a four-cabin lower deck arrangement complements a master suite remaining forward on the main deck for panoramic views. Throughout the yacht Sunseeker’s trademark attention to detail is evident in the liberal use of state-of-the-art electronics, rich American walnut furnishings, highly polished teak decks, embossed headlinings, high gloss lacquer bulkheads, richly tanned leather and plush fabrics and carpeting.

 

Sunseeker Yacht 105 on JamesList.com

 

Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Amidst all the trendy and fairly hideous eco-bio-hybrid crap wheeled out at the Detroit Auto Show, Audi displayed something decidedly different: a red-hot version of its already impressive R8 supercar with a 5.2L V10 engine out of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. The R8 5.2 FSI, as it's dubbed, delivers 525hp and 391 lb-ft of torque for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 316 km/h – and so it should for €142,000.

 

The lightweight aluminum bodied, mid-engined rocket, which comes equipped with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system, is finished in a striking red and black color scheme. The front air inlets, which feed air to the coolers, and the lip of the front apron are painted in high-gloss black, while the vertical air scoops, known as the sideblades, more prominent in this model, feature a matte aluminum finish. Nappa leather and a Bang & Olufsen sound system are standard for the interior.

 

Frederick Jouvenot Chronographe Evolution I

Young French-Swiss watchmaker Frederic Jouvenot will debut his first timepiece, the automatic Chronographe Evolution 1, at the Salon International de la Haute Horologerie (SIHH) next week in Geneva. The 31-year-old Juvenot’s major innovation is the first classic chronograph with a fully visible automatic winding mechanism on the face. The watch features a 44mm case in either 18-karat white or rose gold with black gold detailing, and is limited to only 88 pieces in each configuration.

 

Waterproof to a depth of 50m, it has a massive bi-directional gold central winding rotor, 50 hour power reserve and intricate three-dimensional dial with recessed subsidiary seconds and 30-minute subdial. A sapphire exhibition window on the reverse reveals the complex column-wheel controlled mechanism, with its Cotes de Geneve patterns and anglage finishing on the bridges, beveling on the steel chronograph levers, and a polished swan neck adjustment.

 

Silvestris 23 Sports Cabriolet

When designer Maarten de Bruijn decamped from Dutch sportscar marque Spyker a few years back, most people assumed he'd stick with road going vehicles. Wrong. Turns out De Bruijn's new passion is speedboats – with more than a touch of sportscar style. De Bruijn's' new brand, Silvestris Haute Motive Concept, just unveiled its first motoryacht with a tip of the hat to automotive legends: the Silvestris 23' Sports Cabriolet. The result is akin to an ocean-going Porsche.

The "Cabriolet" moniker comes into play as the cabin's rooftop can be opened or closed like in a high end convertible. Two more passenger posts – a rumble seat if you will – are controlled via a remote-operated hatch. Finishing touches include vari-coloured sea-water resistant leather and aluminum body panels riveted and bonded to a tubular space frame. And what's under the hood, you ask? Your choice of two Volvo diesel engines, one Volvo petrol engine, or the top of the line Silvestris 8.1L V8 made by Bones Marine. The latter puts out 560hp (417kW) through its single prop stern drive system, propelling the boat to speeds in excess of 55 knots 100km/h. Yeah, that's the one we'd choose as well.

The 2010 Jaguar XFR

We were a little underwhelmed by the XF, Jaguar's bells-and-whistles big cat which it started shipping last year. The new supercharged, direct-injection V8 XFR, however, just unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, is an altogether sexier beast. Performance-wise, the new version of Jaguar's AJV8 boasts a bigger 5.0 litres of displacement and produces 510 bhp and 460 lb-ft of torque, for a 0-60 mph time of only 4.7 seconds.

 

Exterior upgrades include a new front end with a new bumper design featuring large, chrome trimmed air inlets on both sides, hood vents, new fenders, side sills, a decklid spoiler, and new rear bumper wrapping around four exhaust pipes. It's also given 20-inch Nevis alloy wheels and larger brakes with in-your-face calipers bearing the "R" logo. Inside the XFR is outfitted in new dark mesh aluminum trim, a wicked 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and two-tone sports seats bearing the "R" logo. The car will be available in eight colors and will cost about €50,000.

 

NetJets Falcon 7X by Lord Norman Foster

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster has designed a sleek new fleet of Dassault Falcon 7X planes for NetJets Europe. Foster had originally been commissioned to create luxe interiors for 33 7Xs which will be added to Net Jets fleet over the next eight years, but the architect, who is also a pilot in his own right, set out to make exterior modifications as well. The 37 million 7X combines Dassault's fighter jet prowess with its advanced research capabilities and is the fastest Falcon ever made.

 

The jets feature a crisp blue and white exterior, and inside a cream leather and blond wood design scheme for the passenger areas, and industrial-style black and grey steel and carbon fibre elements for the crew, galley and work spaces. Fiddleback Sycamore wood was used for wall fittings and in a neat finishing touch, Foster also created custom seatbelt buckles in nickel (polished for the cabin and black for the crew). NetJets Europe COO Graeme Weston says Foster was given a free rein for the 1.7 billion project, noting, we placed compete trust in his ability to create something special.

 

 

Pangea Ship Company - Lucid Marine To Build In the U.S.

The Fort Lauderdale-based Lucid Marine Group is launching a new venture to build superyachts in the U.S. Rusty Preston, formerly of Westport Yachts, and Jeffery Ferguson, former vice president of Christensen Yachts, recently joined Lucid with the goal of developing a new line of semi-custom megayachts. The company also created the Pangea Ship Company, a division that will focus on custom yachts 200’ and larger, to be built at Oregon Iron Works’ (OIW) Swan Island Shipyard in Portland. Lucid Marine President Barin Cardenas says the U.S. offers unique opportunities to address the world’s current backlog in very large yacht orders, with technical expertise that an attractive exchange rate makes more affordable to international buyers.

 

After multiple visits to shipyards in the U.S. and abroad, Barin and his partners selected OIW, an industrial shipyard with a commercial marine division, founded 1944. With 300,000 sq. feet of manufacturing space, deep water access and technical expertise that earned OIW contracts for the conversion of the space shuttle launch complex, foundations of the new San Francisco Bay Bridge, and demonstration craft for the U.S. Navy, Barin says the shipyard has a unique way of addressing complex manufacturing processes and a solid engineering expertise that will help make Pangea competitive. OIW manager, who see in this new venture an opportunity to diversify its activities, plan to hire specific staff to handle yacht projects. Barin says they also plan to bring in subcontractors for interiors, not unlike many other shipyards here and abroad, including in the superyacht building meccas of Holland and Germany. The newly formed company has already worked closely with Canada-based Greg Marshall on two projects, Barin says. Two very large yachts are currently under bid. The goal is to build one yacht within three years.

Mansory Vincero Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron is a pretty impressive package straight from the factory, but German-based exotic auto tuner Mansory obviously felt there was still room for improvement. Their conversion, produced in an ultra-exclusive limited edition of three for Abu Dhabi-based Prestige Cars, is dubbed the Vincero, Italian for I will win. With 1,109 hp and 967 lb-ft of torque produced by improved intake and exhaust systems along with Mansorys trademark engine tuning, thats no idle boast.

The high-gloss black and grey version pictured here has chrome accents on the grille, front fenders and doors, and carbon fiber panels on the bonnet, rear engine cover, rear fascia and diffuser. Fully custom forged wheels and LED headlight accents round out the exterior upgrades. Inside youll find two-tone black and white leather, alternating in smooth and woven finishes, ambient cabin lighting and custom F1-style shift paddles on the steering wheel. The Vincero will make its official public debut (including no-doubt-astonishing price announcement) at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

 

 

The New SLR Stirling Moss - Production starts in June 09

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren round out the SLR family with the new SLR Stirling Moss. Productions is slated to start in June 2009, limited to 75 of these amazing cars. Yes it will put a 750 000 € dent in your wallet, and you don't get a roof or a windscreen, But you  do get an amazing body and a supercharged v8 putting down 650 hp.

The car is named for British motor racing legend and Mille Miglia record-holder Stirling Moss, who drove the SLR racers cars from victory to victory during the 1950s.

Two air scoops integrated into the bodywork serve as roll-over bars, zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 350 km/h. 

Danish Design, Insane Horespower - the Zenvo ST1

Zenvo Automotive just announced the ST1. Under the hood is a mid-mounted turbo and supercharged 7.0-liter V8 engine putting out 1,104 horsepower. The plan is for a limited production run of 15 cars in 2009-2010,