A lot has been said about the Infiniti Q60 Project Black S since it made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, but until now the company has refused to commit from taking it from race-derived concept to reality. But it looks as if this is all about to change as Infiniti has just announced it has enlisted Pirelli to help take the project further.
The Project Black S is, at first glance, an Infiniti Q60 coupé with a more aggressive body kit. However, peel away the spoilers and carbon fiber details and underneath the car boasts genuine Formula 1 technology courtesy of the Renault Sport Formula One team, which, like Infiniti, is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
This includes a hybrid powertrain that captures lost energy from braking and forces it back through the motor to give huge acceleration boosts when most needed.
“[Project Black S] expresses our desire to create cars that are designed to perform, marrying the potency of a high-performance powertrain with a muscular new design,” said the company’s executive design director Alfonso Albaisa. “This project has given us the opportunity to experiment with advanced materials to create a performance-inspired aesthetic that draws on Infiniti’s motorsport ties through the [Renault-Nissan] Alliance.”
Yet, until now, the company has been describing the car as little more than a feasibility study that it’s using to gauge demand if it were to launch a sportier version of its current models in line with German companies like Mercedes and Audi.
However, with Pirelli officially involved and looking for ways to bring motorsport levels of grip and handling to road legal rubber, it can only be a matter of time until the Project Black S gets an official green light. “Having another key Formula One player involved is proof of the interest it generates and will add even more focus on performance delivery,” said Tommaso Volpe, Director, Infiniti Global Motorsport.
Pirelli will be tasked with developing a set of bespoke P Zero tires for the car, as they have done for numerous supercars starting with the Ferrari F40 back in 1987. “Pirelli’s input and knowledge, both motorsport and automotive, will be invaluable. We couldn’t be happier to have them onboard,” Volpe said.
Fashion powerhouse LOEWE takes a step towards another art form: photography. On June 1, the LOEWE Foundation unveiled the first solo exhibition in Spain devoted to legendary American photographer — Minor White. Titled ‘Minor White: metaphors’, the exhibition is taking place at the LOEWE gallery in Gran Via, Madrid.
Known for his ability to manipulate and angle light sources, White’s photography medium focused entirely on black and white prints. His distinctive style enabled a spectrum of black, white and grey hues to bring his portraits to life. Dabbling in subjects from cityscapes to nature shots and portraits, White regularly placed the symbolism of his art form above the reality that it showcased, creating a world of his own. The show is set to feature 40 of White’s original black and white prints, on special loan from the Howard Greenberg gallery and private collections.
LOEWE creative director Jonathan Anderson explains ‘Minor White’s modernity is a natural fit for the house because his photographs function on various levels. At LOEWE, we believe in multivalence.’
Born in 1908, White only became a professional photographer in the late 1930s. He moved to New York in 1945 and worked as a photographer at the Museum of Modern Art, becoming friends with eminent photographers of that time. White also cemented his mark in the photography industry, co-founding the iconic photography magazine Aperture in 1952 and serving as its editor for two decades.
This is LOEWE Foundation’s seventh annual participation in Photo España, and the fourth festival entry organised by curator María Millán. ‘Minor White: metaphors’ will be open from June 1 to August 25 at the LOEWE gallery in Gran Via.
Ralph Lauren stock is sinking. Amidst news of a mishandled CEO transition, Ralph Lauren too announced that it would close its flagship store on Fifth Avenue, New York. A Gatsbyesque throwback to classic elegance, the Fifth Avenue Ralph Lauren flagship was so iconic that it become a tourist destination. Now, as part of US$370 million shakeup, the Ralph Lauren flagship is no more as the quintessential rags-to-riches American retail story is in jeopardy as millennials shop for US$245 jeans discounted at online stores while Lauren figures out how to push the firm in the digital direction of eCommerce.
For close to 50 years, Lauren built the Ralph Lauren story on the back of rising American elites. In pop culture, this mythology was enhanced with the likes of Adam West’s Bruce Wayne sporting a Ralph Lauren blazer with the iconic family crest. When Stefan Larsson joined Ralph Lauren less than two years ago, Ralph Lauren’s new CEO had big ideas for taking one of the world’s most iconic brands into the 21st century. Instead, what happened was a mismatch in direction as Lauren and Larsson clashed on how to modernise Ralph Lauren. Just two months ago, Larsson resigned (his last day with the company is on May 1), leaving Lauren beleaguered and struggling to navigate a retail landscape vastly different from the one he was familiar with when he started selling his iconic over-sized neck ties from the trunk of his car.
Adam West as Bruce Wayne, talking to his Butler Alfred Pennyworth, dressed in Ralph Lauren sportcoat.
The Ralph Lauren flagship has sunk and when bad news follows in chain, stock prices tend to follow consumer confidence (or lack thereof) in a downward direction. At its core, the Ralph Lauren debacle is a reminder of that industry truism that when brand founders (fashion or otherwise) find it difficult to cede control of the business they created, evolving realities render a previously successful business model obsolete. BUT there’s a silver lining to this story.
Ralph Lauren CEO Stefan Larsson with Mr. Ralph Lauren during better days. Image rights: Photo by Jason DeCrow/ Shutterstock (6314641a)
Ralph Lauren Stock (and Flagship Store) has Sunk But Here’s Why You Should Buy
When Stefan Larsson joined, analysts and fans were upbeat on the appointment of the 42 year old to the Chief position at Ralph Lauren. Larsson was credited with revamping Old Navy’s image and putting the brand into positive territory. The symbolism of old school clashing with new world realities were not lost on media outlets as Melania Trump channeled Jacqueline Kennedy dressed in a Ralph Lauren cerulean cashmere overcoat, evoking the ire of left-wing supporters to boycott Ralph Lauren in protest of Trump’s draconian politics.
Ralph Lauren just hurt a lot of women today and we won’t forget. It’s not OK to support oppression. #boycottralphlauren#imwithtomford
Editor’s note: Ralph Lauren also dressed Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama for Trump’s inauguration weekend. It is our view that the brand is not politically aligned.
Ralph Lauren: Most Undervalued Brand In The World?
A financial analyst writing for Seeking Alpha recently looked into the cash positions of the brand and summed that as a brand, Ralph Lauren has incredibly low valuation based on their earnings, earning potential and cash flow.
“Stefan and I share a love and respect for the DNA of this great brand, and we both recognize the need to evolve. However, we have found that we have different views on how to evolve the creative and consumer-facing parts of the business. After many conversations with one another, and our Board of Directors, we have agreed to part ways. – Ralph Lauren
With brand value and cash exceeding Market Cap, the recent self-inflicted drama of a closed flagship store and the high profile departure of Larsson as Chief Executive has led to stock valuation and movement based on sentiment and perception rather than real fundamentals. These factors coupled with a potential deal with investing legend Warren Buffet has the columnist upbeat for a Ralph Lauren turnaround. Meanwhile, Patrice Louvet has been named as Ralph Lauren’s new Chief Executive Officer, he was most recently Group President, Global Beauty at Procter & Gamble (P&G).
Ralph Lauren was built on a foundation of neck ties and preppy outfits for the Ivy League crowd eventually following their young consumers as they transitioned into elite captains of industry.
Why you should buy Ralph Lauren Stock
Ralph Lauren Corporation NYSE is considered a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances across a swath of namesake spin-off brands and others including Club Monaco. Uncertainty and poor performance in the retail sector have contributed to Ralph Lauren’s poor stock performance.
For Fiscal 2016, Ralph Lauren report net revenues in the fourth quarter as having decreased 16% to $1.6 billion excluding the impact of foreign currency and on a 13-week to 13-week basis, revenue was down 12% to last year.
Ralph Lauren’s classically elegant and preppy collections extend beyond men as well.Preppy appeal also extends to women. Ralph Lauren’s tastes are impeccable.
That said, better stock control and a focused, high margin collection strategy executed by reducing SKUs by 20% for Spring and Fall 2017; combined with lowered inventory levels by 30% are expected put Ralph Lauren on a path of recovery. Taking a leaf from fast fashion titans Zara, shortened lead times of 50% on a 9-month lead is expected to remain on track, hitting 90% by end Fiscal 2018.
Even then, Ralph Lauren ended Fiscal 2017 with $1.4 billion in cash and short-term investments and $588 million in total debt, compared to $1.1 billion and $713 million, respectively, at the end of Fiscal 2016. That is to say, the company not only had a net gain in cash but also reduced their debt. Ample liquidity, cash flow and earnings is an incredibly positive position.
That said, founder Ralph Lauren owns 83% of the stock and he could also decide to take the company private and even decide to block a potential Berkshire Hathaway transaction.
Luxuo and Heart Media makes no guarantees as to the investment potential of Ralph Lauren and as editorial policy, is not liable for financial decisions made as a result of this story. Views and perspectives representative of the author and not the company.
Just how different the mid-sized high-sided coupé will be is up to the individual buyer. Mercedes is offering the car with a choice of four engines, ranging from a sensible three-litre V6 turbodiesel right through to the 4.6-litre 455hp V8.
As for the exterior, while all versions will come with a suitably striking bright orange contrast line around the front apron and around the outer edge of each alloy wheel, how much that OrangeArt detail contrasts are also a matter of personal preference. Owners will be able to pick from a choice of six exterior paint finishes — black, polar white, obsidian black, iridium silver, selenite grey or designo diamond white bright.
The orange contrasts are also present inside the car. The black nappa leather seats are finished with orange piping, as are the floor mats. While to give the car a sportier feel — even if specified with a diesel engine — the OrangeArt Edition gets a three-spoke sports steering wheel wrapped in black nappa leather and the pedals are of the brushed stainless steel variety with rubber studding for gripping better to the underside of your foot when jumping from brake to accelerator and back again. The finishing touch is an aluminium treatment on the dashboard fascia and doors where one would usually find a wooden veneer.
Those taken with the OrangeArt Edition will be able to order the car with everything or pick just the external or internal elements of the model. The paint finish, which also includes unique five-spoke alloy wheels, will cost an extra €4165 (roughly $5000) while the interior upgrades add a further €2618 ($3000) to the list price.
young & W!LD, ‘The Bald Soprano’, 2017. Image courtesy W!LD RICE
In an unexpectedly brilliant take on the comedic classic by Romanian-Frenchavant-garde playwright Eugene Ionesco, young & W!LD’s 2017 production charms with a delightfully brazen cast and plenty of wicked charisma.
Running at the National Library’s Drama Centre Black Box Theatre between June 7 and 11, 2017, ’The Bald Soprano’ is, without a doubt, a questionable choice for Singaporean theatre. Originally performed in French, the play is a classic of the absurd genre, making liberal use of repetitions, illogic, and dialogue borrowed from a ‘Learning English 101’ textbook.
young & W!LD, ‘The Bald Soprano’, 2017. Image courtesy W!LD RICE
The play’s synopsis: six characters living in London meet. While it begins with semi-comprehensible — although meaningless — dialogue, the play eventually devolves into a series of non-sequiturs that bear absolutely no resemblance to normal conversation.
It is a testament to the talent of the young cast that such a theoretically unwatchable performance could be made watchable. Absurdist plays tend to be relatively niche in the best of situations; dragged over five decades and two continents from 1950s France into modern-day Singapore, they become downright unlikely.
And yet, amidst the incomprehensible drama, over-the-top performances and an underlying sense of self-conscious cleverness, Singapore-based playwright and director Rodney Oliveiro’s adaptation succeeds at not only being watchable, but in fact thoroughly entertaining.
young & W!LD is a division of W!LD RICE dedicated to training and nurturing Singapore’s most promising young talents. Find at more at W!LD RICE.
young & W!LD, ‘The Bald Soprano’, 2017. Image courtesy W!LD RICE
Gone are the days of you double window, single door, chimney houses. These days, the trick is to perfect the balance between design, functionality, and luxury — the ultimate home experience. From quirky locations to unorthodox shapes, these houses manage to blend both exquisite architecture with a taste of character. We take a look at some of these unique houses and their little quirks below!
Located along 1234 Morningside Way, Venice California is a house with a rather atypical shape. The Wave House bids adieu to your usual angular house designs and instead features a cascading white aluminium skin, emulating the movement of its namesake. Designed by architect Mario Romano, the organic structure is made up of 300 custom cut aluminium pieces, coming together to bring to life the fluid motion of waves. Rising two stories high, the house is 530 square meters, providing ample living space. Adopting an open concept, most of the house’s interior spaces such as the living room opens out towards the outdoor patio and pool. Because of the countless fin like tiles layered atop one another, the shadows cast throughout the day are constantly evolving.
Nestled in the Karuizawa Forest in Nagano, Japan, are two oblong spheres that make up the Shell Residence. Made of reinforced concrete, the two-story shell shaped structure contrasts against the natural environment of the forest. Commissioned by Japanese architect Kotaro Ide, the house was made with the intention to co-exist within the harsh conditions of Karuizawa. Openings in the ceiling allow for natural light to stream in, creating an ambience that is tranquil. Staying true to traditional Japanese design, the interiors are dressed in earthy elements. Deck wood is used for the patio while cherry hardwood flooring lines both levels. Natural light is allowed to filter in through gaps in the ceiling, creating a warm environment for guests to lounge in. In essence, this house is both a contrast, as well as a part of nature, melding elements of nature into its simple aesthetic.
Upon first look, it’s difficult to see where this house starts and ends with sloping ridges and peaks. Built for a pilot and his family, the Flying House in Incheon, South Korea is an aviation themed home designed by IROJE KHM Architects. Painted in white hues, this 195 square meter space is brightened with semi-sheer roof canopies. In addition, each room opens out to the garden, creating an airy sensation throughout the structure. Traditional Korean elements such as the Rumaru pavilion meld into the contemporary design of flowing spaces and climbable terraces, bringing harmony to the space. The minimalistic design coupled with a hint of green throughout the house lifts the house to new heights.
Now, this house is a sight to behold! Constructed on a hill with an inclination of 42 degrees, The House On The Cliff resembles a villain’s lair. The most interesting portion of this house is its zinc roof. Made up of many overlapping zinc tiles, the house is part of an illusion itself. When seen from above, the roof tiles emulate waves of the sea. Yet, when seen below, they resemble the scales of a dragon. Designed by GilBartolome Architects, the two-story house is an architectural feat on its own, having to meld into the face of the cliff whilst still maintaining its status as a luxury abode. The unusual location, however, is a blessing in disguise, gifting guests with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.
One of Australia’s most iconic homes, The Pole House is a spectacular piece of property with an even better view. Perched atop a 132-foot pole along Great Ocean Road, the house overlooks Fairhaven Beach and the ocean. Accessible only by a 76-foot glass balustrades bridge, you will no doubt feel as though you’re walking on air. Many have been awed by the illusion of the floating house, which had been built before the 1970s. Recently refurbished and renovated, the house is now a magnificent holiday home with a gorgeous 360-degree view of the coastline. Two walls of the house face the sea and have been replaced with floor to ceiling high glass panels, making the home the ultimate private paradise for a quiet getaway. A fun fact: The pole and foundation of the home were so strong that the entire base structure survived one of Australia’s worst bushfires in 1983. Talk about being in tip-top shape!
