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Lotus Exige Cup 380: A limited edition track car for the streets

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Lotus Exige Cup 380: A limited edition track car for the streets

Lotus is going through a phase of taking its standard Elise and Exige models and making them even lighter and into vicious track cars for well-heeled gentleman racers. Right after the unveiling of their Lotus Elise Sprint last month, the brand brings an even speedier edition to its Exige collection — the Lotus Exige Cup 380. The limited edition sports car — of which only 60 are up for grabs — is road legal, unlike its counterparts. Fit for both the track and the streets, the Lotus Exige Cup 380 is a level up from the previous Lotus Exige Sport 380.

Well, how fast is it? The Cup 380 can cover the 0-100km/h dashes in 3.6 seconds and will comfortably hit 175mph (280 km/h) before all of the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine’s 375hp and 410Nm of torque are spent. Additional weight saving components make the Cup 380 extremely light, increasing the total aerodynamic downforce on this car to 200kg. The Cup 380 weighs a feather-light 117 pounds, compared to the 2,477-pound Exige Sport 380. This is thanks to the obsessive attention to wind tunnel detailing, meaning that the car could potentially take a bend at 175mph and not lose traction.

Because it is a genuine track car as well as a road car, it comes with adjustable damping and cup tires as standard. As usual, this Lotus is driver friendly, equipped with two-way adjustable shocks and anti-roll bars that can be adjusted to its driver’s needs. Rounding it up is a T45 steel roll-over bar and towing hooks, meaning it can be legally entered into a race. The interior sees handmade visible weave sections, including detailed carbon race seats and door sills as standard. Retaining its aesthetic, the Cup 380 comes in five finishes: Essex Blue, Metallic White, Metallic Silver, Metallic Grey and Metallic Black. For an extra touch, its front panel comes with two unique bold red highlights to define its shape.

For those who want an even more exclusive vehicle, the Lotus Exige Cup 380 can be personalised through the Lotus Exclusive programme. The service offers a variety of customizations up for your choosing. Priced at around $106,000, this Lotus will only be made available in Europe— exclusive in its own right.

“This is something that really can drive to a track, set the fastest lap and take the win, before heading home. It’s supremely usable, yet outrageously fast,” said company CEO Jean-Marc Gales. “Developing the Cup 380 has allowed us to indulge our motorsport ambitions on a car that can be used and enjoyed every single day. This is an Exige that’s not just unbeatable point-to-point but also capable of winning highly competitive races.”

For more information, visit Lotus.

Grand Trianon Palace, Versailles hosts exhibition celebrating 300th anniversary of Russian Tsar Peter the Great’s visit

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Grand Trianon Palace, Versailles hosts exhibition celebrating 300th anniversary of Russian Tsar Peter the Great’s visit
Jean-Marc Nattier, 'Tsar Peter I', 1717. Image courtesy of Musée de l'Ermitage, Saint-Petersbourg, 2017
Jean-Marc Nattier’s ‘Tsar Peter I’, painted in 1717, is one of the exhibiting paintings. The show parallels a slew of others this year that are loosely or closely connected to the centenary of the Russian Revolution. Image courtesy of Musée de l’Ermitage, Saint-Petersbourg, 2017

From May 30 to September 24, 2017, the Grand Trianon Palace in Versailles will commemorate the tercentenary of the Russian ruler Peter the Great’s visit to France, which was a major diplomatic and cultural event of the time.

2017 has seen a growing number of exhibitions marking the centenary of the Russian Revolution — at New York’s MOMA, London’s Tate Modern and Royal Academy, and the Hermitage Amsterdam. Now, the Grand Trianon palace in Versailles is celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great’s visit to France.

Louis Hersent, 'Louis XV visiting Peter the Great at the Hotel de Lesdiguières, May 10, 1717', 1838. Image courtesy of Château de Versailles, Christophe Fouin
Louis Hersent, ‘Louis XV visiting Peter the Great at the Hotel de Lesdiguières, May 10, 1717’, 1838. Image courtesy of Château de Versailles, Christophe Fouin

This new exhibition, ‘Peter the Great, a Tsar in France. 1717’, is a collaborative undertaking by the Château de Versailles and Russia’s famous State Hermitage Museum. Around 150 pieces will be on display, including paintings, sculptures, items of decorative art, medals, maps, books, manuscripts and scientific instruments.

Visitors will be taken step by step through the Russian ruler’s visit from April 21 to June 21, 1717. The son of Tsar Alexis Mikhaïlovitch stayed at the Grand Trianon palace during his time in France. The trip had political and economic objectives, but it was also a source of inspiration for the Tsar who had been introducing modernising reforms in Saint Petersburg since 1703. He intended to take the best aspects of the French kingdom and adapt them to his own empire.

Leather, parchment, bronze, glass and wood items from the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. Image courtesy of Musée de l'Ermitage, Saint-Petersbourg, 2017
Leather, parchment, bronze, glass and wood items from the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. Image courtesy of Musée de l’Ermitage, Saint-Petersbourg, 2017

‘Peter the Great, a Tsar in France. 1717’ will cover Peter the Great’s visit to a young Louis XV and the Regent Philippe d’Orléans. Visitors will discover the Tsar’s interest in French science and techniques, as well as local painters such as Louis Caravaque and Jean-Baptiste Oudry.

The exhibition will also cover the Russian leader’s interest in the gardens at Marly and the Grand Trianon.

Mother’s Day gifts: Guide to the best fashion accessories, beauty products for Mom

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Mother’s Day gifts: Guide to the best fashion accessories, beauty products for Mom

Mother knows best! It’s that time of the year again when we shower our beloved mums with gifts — repentance for the pain we have been throughout the year. Mother’s Day is right around the corner on May 14, so it’s time to start sourcing for the perfect peace offering that may make up for all those moments when she practised a great amount of self-restraint. We know what you’re thinking: How about some fresh blooms? While that will suffice, it never hurts to go above and beyond for the strongest woman in our lives.

You could make it personal by cooking mum breakfast in bed but if like us you are unable to cook a piece of toast without burning it, we say spare the woman that grief and get her something far more useful. We help you sift through the numerous products and specials being rolled out for the special day to find you something that would put a smile on her face. For a busy queen bee, the Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base would keep her looking radiant all day. On the other hand, consider Coach’s Souvenir Embroidery Mercer 24 Satchel. With its whimsical patches, this bag is perfect for a quirky mum. To celebrate a bold female figure that she is, gift her with the Paco Rabanne Olympéa Intense fragrance—made for the adventurous yet elegant woman.

Of course, the greatest gift you could give your mother this Mother’s Day is the gift of time, be it spending time with her— or just letting her sit back to relax and enjoy some peace. Do remember to thank your mum for all her sacrifice and hard work through the years; we wouldn’t have made it this far without their unwavering support. Take a look at our gallery of specially curated gifts for our woman warriors!

Aeromobil and Pal-V debut flying supercars at Top Marques 2017 in Monaco

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Aeromobil and Pal-V debut flying supercars at Top Marques 2017 in Monaco
The Aeromobil, a flying supercar is on display as part of the "Top Marques" show, dedicated to exclusive luxury goods, on April 20, 2017 in Monaco. © Valery Hache / AFP
The Aeromobil, a flying supercar is on display as part of the “Top Marques” show, dedicated to exclusive luxury goods, on April 20, 2017 in Monaco. © Valery Hache / AFP

Flying cars might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but two prototypes were launched Thursday on the French Riviera, at an event showcasing “supercars” in Monaco.

Dutch and Slovak companies unveiled their designs as world premieres in the tiny well-heeled principality, where luxury automakers have gathered until Sunday for the Top Marques showcase event.

Bratislava-based Aeromobil, whose first prototype presented two years ago, as shown in the video below, suffered an accident, is back with a “new generation” of flying vehicle named after the firm which makes it.

“We are taking reservations from today for deliveries expected in 2020, after the process of [regulatory] approvals is completed,” the Slovak firm’s spokesman Stefan Vadocz told AFP.

The Aeromobil vehicle, six metres long and with a fully-deployed span of nine metres, is a normal four-wheeled car which can unfold its wings to transform itself into a plane able to fly two passengers at a cruising speed of 260 kilometres per hour for up to 750 kilometres.

The price? Between 1.2 and 1.5 million euros, depending on options chosen.

Its Dutch rival for the futuristic vehicle type, the Pal-V Liberty, is the brainchild of Robert Dingemanse, whose company is based near Breda in the south of the Netherlands.

His crossover car-plane is more compact, at four metres long, and should be deliverable as early as next year, once official approvals are secured. He is already taking orders for a vehicle which will cost between 299,000 and 499,000 euros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfMNtCPChxo

The Dutch flying car is in fact a gyrocopter with three wheels and a retractable rotor. It can carry two people at a cruising speed of 160 kilometres per hour for between 400 to 500 kilometres.

According to its designers, it is “one of the safest flying machines on the planet”, able to fly “whatever the weather conditions“.

Users of the the Aeromobil and the Pal-V Liberty will require both a driving licence and a pilot’s qualification.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with adjusted self-winding Calibre 2824

Sasiwimon S.
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Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with adjusted self-winding Calibre 2824
The Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with aged leather strap
The Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with aged leather strap

At BaselWorld 2016, Tudor wowed with the Heritage Black Bay Bronze, which I personally gushed about online, and so did plenty of others. For the record, we selected it as a standout at the fair last year. Lost in all that fussing and gushing was the Heritage Black Bay 36, a watch that is literally hidden in the shadow of its 43-millimetre bronze sibling. To be clear, it isn’t that the Black Bay 36 is the lesser watch, just that it is smaller. At 36 millimetres, one might think this is a ladies’ timepiece, but that is not the case. It could really work for anyone, except people with very large wrists who might find it dainty.

According to Tudor (in its press notes, no less) the hope is that this model will help the brand reach out to a wider audience. Of course, size alone can’t achieve this, and Tudor clearly understands that. This watch gained its own traction and following throughout 2016, though of course, official sales figures per model are not available. Although the watch has been scaled down and the unidirectional bezel dropped, Tudor has not abandoned the general lines and characteristics of the Black Bay here. Just take a look the so-called “snowflake” hands dominating the dial, alongside the words “Rotor Self-Winding”. Speaking of that though, this might be the only Heritage Black Bay to sport curved text like this, as the others (including its bronze brethren) all feature text in the normal straight lines.

The Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with additional camouflage fabric strap
The Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36 with additional camouflage fabric strap

Something different here that must be noted is the movement, which is listed as the Tudor Calibre 2824. This likely means that it is derived from the self-winding ETA 2824, especially given that ETA 2824 calibres have a power reserve rating of 38 to 40 hours, which is what we find here. Also, Tudor in-house calibres typically bear the designation “MT” (no prizes for guessing what MT stands for). This is not an uncommon choice in the industry and, whatever its origins, the movement has likely been regulated and adjusted to the best accuracy possible by the brand.

Specifications

Movement Self-winding Calibre 2824
Power Reserve 38-hour
Case 36-millimetre steel
Water Resistance Up to 150 metres
Strap Steel bracelet or aged leather strap with folding clasp; both with additional camouflage fabric strap
Price SGD 3,888 (bracelet); SGD 3,456 (leather)

This article was originally published in WOW.

Michelangelo’s “Sacrifice of Isaac” hidden sketch to exhibit in Rome, Italy

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Michelangelo’s “Sacrifice of Isaac” hidden sketch to exhibit in Rome, Italy
View of Rome from Castel Sant’Angelo, Italy.

A newly-discovered drawing by Renaissance master Michelangelo found during the restoration of his “Sacrifice of Isaac”, is to go on show in Rome, along with another drawing found by restorers 30 years ago. “The discovery of this drawing is a really lovely story,” Italy’s Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said Friday as he unveiled the exhibition in the capital, which runs from Saturday until May 7.

Restorers painstakingly working last year on the “Sacrifice of Isaac”, a biblical drawing executed in black pencil by the Florentine artist in 1530, found a hidden sketch for the same scene on the back.

“Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, (works of art done on) old sheets of paper were protected by sticking a piece of cardboard on the back,” said Pina Ragionieri, head of the Casa Buonarroti foundation.

It was when restorers removed the cardboard that they discovered the secret sketch by the Italian sculptor, painter and architect who was famed perhaps above all for his frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Ragionieri said the artist had made an initial sketch on one side of the sheet, before tracing it on the other with a light red crayon and developing the drawing to include an angel reaching down from heaven to stay Abraham’s hand as he prepares to sacrifice his son.

The discovery followed a similar case in 1988 when restorers found a sketch on the back of the 1535 “Cleopatra”, one of the artist’s most beloved drawings, which Michelangelo made for his lover Tommaso dei Cavalieri.

While the Egyptian ruler celebrated for her beauty and love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony looks regal in the 1535 drawing, the version in the sketch on the back is somewhat grotesque and some experts believe it was Cavalieri that drew it.

In 1562, the Roman nobleman was constrained to donate the drawing to Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, saying in the accompanying letter that losing it pained him as much as losing a child.

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