Celebrity Life

Luxury British motor manufacturer Bentley is taking advantage of the relaxed European travel regulations by making the French resort of St-Tropez the venue for the unveiling of its new, special-edition Continental GT Mulliner Convertible.

An even more extravagant version of the existing GTC rag-top, it’s described by the company as “the luxury pinnacle of the Continental GT family” and is the first in a forthcoming portfolio of Bentleys to be given a thoroughgoing massage by the company’s bespoke coachbuilding and personalising operation, Mulliner.

Distinguished from lesser Contis by its exclusive silver-on-black “double-diamond” front grille, a motif that’s also continued throughout the car’s interior, the Mulliner’s exterior also features headlamps inspired by cut crystal and side vents carrying a similar theme, as well as newly designed 22-inch wheels. Buyers also have a choice of 88 “standard” Mulliner paint colours, though with bespoke finishes available in virtually any shade you like, the sky is more or less the limit.

It’s on the car’s hand-built interior, however, that most of Mulliner’s efforts are concentrated, from the choice of 88 piano-finished wood veneers (with Grand Black Walnut standard) to the diamond-stitched quilting (with some 440,000 stitches to a single car) that appears on the seats, door facings and even the tonneau cover. Moreover, the luxurious leather upholstery is available in a choice of eight three-colour combinations, while the centre console receives a diamond-milled technical finish in addition to an exclusive Breitling clock with a brushed-metallic face and jewelled hour markers.

Among the other cabin features are a standard 18-speaker Naim sound system with twin active bass transducers that’s driven by a 2,000-watt amplifier, a mood-lighting system with seven themes, illuminated Mulliner tread plates and door-mirror-mounted LED welcome lights that project the Bentley logo on to the ground as you enter.

After all that, the availability of two familiar powertrains – 6-litre, twin-turbo V12 or 4-litre twin-blown V8 – seems almost unexceptional, not that anyone’s likely to complain about the Continental Mulliner’s ability to get up and go. W12-powered versions will hit 100km/h from a standstill in just 3.8 seconds and max out at 333, with V8 models just marginally slower. We think, though, that this ultra-posh Conti will be most in its element in the very place that Bentley is launching it, with the Mediterranean sun glazing down on its fortunate occupants as it cruises the boulevards and corniches of southern France.

The post Bentley Unveils its Poshest Continental Yet in St-Tropez appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

It seems like an age since Richard Branson first promised to send paying customers into space, but his Virgin Galactic project took another step toward its maiden flight this week with the unveiling of the cabin interior of the SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Unity. Over 600 people have already signed up for the $250,000 roundtrip to... View Article

The post Virgin Galactic Reveals Futuristic SpaceShipTwo Cabin Interior appeared first on Elite Traveler.

Last week, Heesen was excited to share the news that the hull and superstructure of its landmark Project Cosmos had been successfully married. This is a significant moment in any superyacht construction, but the unique nature of this all-aluminum 262-ft vessel meant this one was a particular cause for celebration. From its conception, Project Cosmos... View Article

The post How Heesen Kept Project Cosmos on Track Through a Pandemic appeared first on Elite Traveler.

Although driving under the radar in a car whose dimensions resemble those of a moderate-sized tank may seem oxymoronic to some, BMW is offering what it calls a Dark Shadow edition of its enormous X7 Sport Activity Vehicle (note the substitution of the word “utility” for something more aspirational) in a limited run of some 500 units worldwide.

And decked out in its special Frozen Arctic Grey metallic paint finish, along with a number of additional features, this big Beemer certainly adds a broodingly mean and moody attitude to its already magnificent dimensions.

The car’s stealth-style demeanour is enhanced by black-chrome High Gloss Shadow Line brightwork, which is used for extensively for the grille, vent and side-window surrounds, B and C columns, exterior mirror bases and roof rails. That’s complemented by 22-inch M wheels in jet-black matte finish and an array of M Sport body modifications, while the M Sport exhaust system – also black chromed at the tailpipe – adds an appropriately dynamic aural edge to the car’s distinctive presence. Moreover, the Dark Shadow package can be ordered with any powertrain package available for the X7.

That crepuscular theme is continued on the interior, which can be optioned with either six or seven seats. Driver and front passenger enjoy the luxury of electrically operated comfort seats with memory function, while an M steering wheel and other unique details testify to the car’s exclusivity. Upholstery is in full Merino leather in two-tone night blue and black, with matching Alcantara roof lining; leather also features on the upper instrument panel, armrest and doors, with Piano Black trim finishes inscribed with a special logo.

Thus equipped, your X7 really is likely to be the stealthiest BMW in town – with the proviso, of course, that decked out like this you’ll be noticed by just about everybody.

The post Aiming Beneath the Radar: The BMW X7 Dark Shadow appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.