Wally//One

Wally//One

GDC Members on Wallypower73 as part of our Ultimate Grantour

Wally has released the first official pictures of its new luxury day boat, Wally//One, coinciding with its Monaco Yacht Show debut. Gentleman Drivers Club members were fortunate enough to sample a Wallypower73 Wally yacht on our recent Ultimate Grantour – and we can vouch for the exquisite detailing of these craft.

The Wally//One has been designed to deliver superior performance, technology, comfort and space and is the successor to the Wally//Tender.

Speaking in Monaco, Wally founder and president, Luca Bassani Antivari, said, “There has been strong interest in Wally//One on the first day of the show; a smart evolution of the tender, with a greater emphasis on fun, the flexible seating, increased sunbed space and luxuries that are included have really appealed to our customers.”

Full technical specifications follow. Wally//One is priced from €580,000.

Wally//One can be seen at the Monaco Yacht Show until 24 September at Quai Chicane stand QC9.

Bill Amberg luggage set for Cygnet

Aston Martin’s new high spec city car ‘the Cygnet’ was released earlier this year and the Bill Amberg team  have played their part in adding a touch of class for new owners by creating a set of luxury accessories.

“If James Bond was after a city car I’m sure he would be delighted to swap his DBS for an Aston Martin Cygnet and there would be a smile on his face when he realised he could select a Bill Amberg 5 piece luggage set for his trips away.” said Bill Amberg.

The Cygnet was premiered earlier this year and offers the ideal vehicle for small car buyers who want to be driving a nimble head turning car around town – with ample budget!  Bill’s 5 piece luggage set includes a glove box bag, removable door pocket bag, holdall, garment bag and collapsible tote bag. For me the Cygnet is still a cynical marketing exercise too far, but I’d love the Bill Amberg luggage!

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Aston Martin will unveil the stunning new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D’Este Concours tomorrow.

Reviving a collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world, the partnership takes inspiration from the past, to create a modern descendent of classics such as the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato based on Aston Martin’s ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range: the V12 Vantage.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: “The Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise. After 50 years of the two companies being associated with each other the partnership has produced some of the world’s most iconic cars.

“Of course, fifty years ago Italian design houses were widely seen as leading the way with new designs but now and supported by our independency, Aston Martin has its own in-house design ability so this new venture with Zagato is more collaborative than it perhaps would have been in the past.

“The task for us has been to create a concept that is a natural successor to those iconic cars that have gone before. Matching the technology of the age with the traditional skills vital to deliver such a bespoke and exclusive sports car will lead to a strictly limited run of road going V12 Zagatos.”

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Work began in 2010 with initial meetings between Aston Martin and Zagato where sketches incorporating the design DNA of both companies were discussed and a decision was made to proceed with the project.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman added: “The Design team at Gaydon spent time refining the concept using a mixture of the latest computer based modelling techniques along with crafting traditional clay models to give a real world idea of proportion, stance and detail.”

“The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car’s racing credentials.”

Working alongside the initial design team was a dedicated group of Aston Martin engineers led by Chris Porritt – previously responsible for the engineering of the One-77. With the skills and knowledge gained from such specialised projects this team has worked to bring the unique design of the V12 Zagato to reality in a very short period of time.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Featuring a new handcrafted aluminium body, the V12 Zagato delivers a beautiful and  muscular design not possible using pre-formed panel techniques. Using the influences and skill of nearly 100 years of heritage in the craft, every aluminium panel was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks.  Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminium, combined and then hand finished to give one flowing form.  Another iconic Zagato design cue is the double bubble roof created in this case from five  separate pieces illustrating further the intensity of craftsmanship involved in the construction of the V12 Zagato.

Designed for the focused driver, the V12 Zagato has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. The V12 Zagato combines Aston Martin’s most dynamic bonded aluminium platform with the power of the 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

The V12 Vantage which forms the basis of the V12 Zagato has been proven on the race track as early as 2009 with a class win in its debut race at the 24 hour race at Nürburgring in close to production specification. In 2011 the car has gone on to form the basis of the new Aston Martin GT3 race car unveiled last month.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

The first DB4GT Zagato shown to the public in late 1960 spent much of its life as a racing car after launch. Later perhaps the two most famous DB4GT Zagatos, registered ‘1 VEV’ and ‘2 VEV’ were raced with success by such names as Jim Clark and Roy Salvadori. The fascinating story of these cars and the nature of high performance and low weight which drove the Zagato projects gave the inspiration for the first two V12 Zagatos to be created as endurance race cars.

The racing debut of the V12 Zagato will be at the 53. ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN round at the Nürburgring on 28^th May with a view to two cars racing at the 24 hour race on 25/26 June.  The cars will be driven by an experienced driver team, led for the sixth year by Chief Executive Dr. Ulrich Bez.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be shown for the first time at the Villa D’Este Concours on Saturday 21^st May 2011 and we will be there tweeting images from the event. This car will also be the cover feature on our NEW iPad magazine which launches after the Ultimate Grantour in July. With one of our members due to get one of the first UK cars too, this is a rather special car for us – well done Aston Martin.

Stunning Jaguar C-X75

Jaguar can today confirm that it will launch the remarkable C-X75 concept car as an exclusive hybrid supercar.

Jaguar C-X75 will become the British marque’s most advanced model to date. It will offer performance on a par with the fastest production cars on the market, while adopting cutting-edge technology that offers remarkably economical running. Jaguar expects this hybrid supercar to deliver incredibly low CO2 emissions of less than 99g/km while being able to achieve in excess of 200mph.

“People expect Jaguar to be innovators – that is when Jaguar is at its best,” said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Brand Director. “The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. We’ve been building on that momentum and there is a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar’s renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this.”

Project C-X75 will be the ultimate expression of Jaguar design and engineering innovation. This high-performance hybrid supercar will stay true to the initial concept design study that made its debut at the 2010 Paris motor show, while fulfilling requirements that allow it to be homologated for road use.

“We were always determined that the Jaguar C-X75 would be as striking on the road as it was in concept form,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Cars. “This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever produced. Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful.”

In an unprecedented move, Jaguar C-X75 will be developed in association with Williams F1 who will provide their engineering expertise in areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies. This association will be at the leading edge of British automotive engineering and innovation.

“Confirmation of this project today signposts Jaguar Land Rover’s continued determination to embrace new technologies,” said Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr Ralf Speth. “A supercar like the C-X75 is the logical choice to showcase cutting-edge design, intelligent use of new environmental technologies and motorsport-inspired performance.”

It also marks a new milestone in both company’s histories as Jaguar Land Rover and Williams collaborate for the first time to produce one of the world’s highest performance and environmentally sustainable supercars. The production of Jaguar C-X75 will create more than one hundred highly-skilled jobs in the UK.

A direct technology transfer between elite motorsport and road-going production cars is key to C-X75’s success. The supercar’s chassis will be made of carbon-fibre to create an incredibly lightweight, yet rigidly strong structure.

Aiding the transition from concept to production vehicle is the choice of powertrain. Jaguar continues to develop the use of the micro-turbine technology that was showcased in the original concept C-X75. Jaguar’s parent company Tata has taken a significant stake in Bladon Jets, and will develop this very advanced technology as a medium-term aspiration that will play a part in Jaguars of the future.

To bring Project C-X75 to showroom reality within the timescales of a conventional model programme, an equally innovative powertrain had to be developed. The road-going supercar will use a state-of-the-art, small-capacity, highly-boosted internal combustion engine with one powerful electric motor at each axle.

“The engine’s compact size allows it to be mounted low in the car for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept’s stunning silhouette. This will make the Jaguar C-X75 a bona fide hybrid supercar capable of silent electric running with an extensive EV range in excess of 50km,” explained Bob Joyce, Group Engineering Director, Jaguar Land Rover.

When C-X75’s motors and combustion engine combine, it will be one of the 
fastest production cars in the world, with a sub-three second 0-60mph time and a top speed in excess of 200mph. Crucially, this performance will be generated alongside incredibly low emissions, with a target of less than 99g/km CO2, thanks to Project C-X75’s lightweight construction and cutting-edge powertrain technology.

Williams F1 has been at the forefront of motorsport engineering for three decades. The project engagement on Jaguar C-X75 is testament to the team’s ambitions and will bring together two leading lights of the UK motoring industry.

“Our new association with Jaguar Land Rover provides us with an exciting opportunity to work with one of the motoring world’s most famous and iconic brands,” said Sir Frank Williams, Co-Founder and Team Principal of Williams F1. “Williams has always considered itself an engineering company and so this project will allow us to combine our technical expertise to create something truly exceptional.”

Jaguar C-X75 will redefine the customer experience, and will set new standards in sales and after-sales services that will be recreated across the range in the future. Only 250 examples will be built, each costing between £700,000 – £900,000 depending on market and local taxes.

“Never before has the company launched such an ambitious, world-beating vehicle programme,” said Carl-Peter Forster, CEO Tata Motors. “This is the Jaguar of the future. The opportunity for innovation like this in the UK is part of the reason Tata Motors invested in Jaguar, and it’s fantastic that products like the C-X75 can become reality.”

Official Ferrari Opus

Whether behind the scenes with the workers at the factory in Maranello, at the races with the team or in the cockpit with the drivers, The Official Ferrari Opus offers an unprecedented insight into the magic of Ferrari. In-depth interviews with key personalities, exclusive features interspersed with spectacular new photo shoots and rare archive images displayed on a monumental scale bring to life the past, present and future of Ferrari and all it stands for to millions of devoted fans around the world.

The cast of Ferrari legends featured includes Luca di Montezemolo, Enzo Ferrari, Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and many, many more.

The Official Ferrari Opus is available in three editions: Enzo (€23,500), Cavallino Rampante (€4,375) and Classic (€2,350). Yes, it is expensive, but this is quite an incredible publication. The scale, both in terms of physical size and depth of content, is incredible. If you are a fan of Ferrari, then it’s a must have item.

• Extent: 852 pages
• Weight: 37kg (including clamshell case)
• Cover: 50 x 50cm
• 200,000 specially-commissioned words
• 2,000+ colour and b&w images, each individually varnished
• Two gatefolds each measuring 200 x 50cm
• Five-colour processing
• Printed on high-spec Matt Art paper
• Leather-bound and hand-stitched
• Each edition personally signed by Ferrari legends
• Presented in a customised clamshell case (60 x 60 x 14cm)

Vertu Ascent Ferrari GT

Vertu and Ferrari have extended their partnership with their latest phone, the Ascent Ferrari GT. The new phone is based on their latest Ascent and was inspired by Ferrari car interiors.

The phone is made of forged titanium with a matte black PVD finish with red and black hand sewn leather of the same source as Ferrari’s interiors. The side of the phone features an enameled representation of Ferrari’s iconic engine block whilst the battery cover is ceramic. Only two thousand and eleven phones will be made and are exclusively available from Vertu.

Hasselblad H4D Ferrari LE

Hasselblad H4D Ferrari LE

Hasselblad make some of the worlds finest cameras, and the H4D is one of their finest. They have now collaborated with Ferrari (who don’t they collaborate with now?) to create a Limited Edition special edition – limited to just 499 units.

Finished in Ferrari’s unique colour, ‘Rosso Fuoco’ and bears the legendary Scuderia shield. The camera comes with a 80mm lens, it’s presented in an exclusively designed  and engineered box with a glass top. It has dual layers – one for the camera body, one for the lens and accessories. Each layer is lined in soft material to protect your investment. The glass top hints at this cameras usual purpose – to display and probably not use very often.

Dr. Larry Hansen, chairman and CEO of Hasselblad: “I am proud of the company’s achievements since the introduction of the newest generation of Hasselblad cameras, the H4 series, and feel very honored to be able to celebrate our success together with such a precious brand.”

I’m a big fan of Hasselblad, but I cannot really see the point of buying one with a Ferrari logo on it I’m afraid. However, if you’re a collector of all things Ferrari, you may want to get some more information from the website: http://www.hasselblad.co.uk/ferrari

Price: £18,999 ex. VAT
Limited number series 1 to 499.

Montante Maserati 8CTF

Italian car makers Maserati have released in collaboration with Montante Cicli a unique two wheeled masterpiece in tribute to their legendary racing car the Maserati 8CTF. The new Montante Maserati 8CTF features a frame which is painted in the same wine red color as the winning car in 1940 on the Indianapolis track.

The bicycle is painted mainly in wine red with the extensive use of chrome and includes added leather on the saddle, handlebars and loops of the pedals to resemble the exact experience of the driver in the original racing car. Only two hundred examples will be produced which can be customized to have the number of the owner along with the name and is exclusively available from Montante Cicli and Maserati dealerships.

Aquariva Gucci

Riva celebrates the beginning of the 2010/2011 nautical year by launching an exclusive model which will undoubtedly impress its clients: Aquariva Gucci.  An impressive new partnership between two of the most luxurious Italian brands to create a boat that will look impressive in the harbour and out on the open water.

The new model was presented as a preview to clients and the international press on 7^th September, with an event held in the spectacular setting of La Croisette, located in front of the Palais des Festivals and the jetty of the Hotel Majestic.

The presentation was organised in partnership with the iconic brand of Italian fashion, Gucci. Aquariva Gucci will be produced as a limited edition and be the leading figure at a number of other international presentations over the next few months. Aquariva Gucci will be displayed at a stand devoted to her opposite the staircase of the Palais des Festivals, just outside the boat show, for the entire duration of the Festival de la Plaisance in Cannes.

No news on its price yet, but if you have to ask…

Tibaldi Bentley Supersports Pen

Tibaldi have created a new pen as part of its collaboration with Bentley, inspired by the Bentley Supersports.

The barrel of the Supersports pen is made of carbon fibre just like the interior of the Bentley Supersports with a knurled sterling silver end. The cap features the iconic Bentley ‘B’ enamelled into the top. Only six hundred and thirty pens will be made and will be available exclusively from Tibaldi and Bentley dealerships in both fountain pen and rollerball configuration.