Personal flyers: The Kitty Hawk Flyer, Larry Page’s flying car unveiled an updated version

  Larry Page’s “flying car” project announces major improvements. Google founder Larry Page’s secretive “flying car” project is one step closer to become reality. The updated Flyer is Kitty Hawk’s first personal flying vehicle and the first step to make flying part of everyday life. The all-electric hover- bike is designed to be flown specifically … Read more

The new Byton K-Byte Concept launched at CES Asia 2018 is made for the age of autonomous driving

Byton aspires to build premium intelligent electric vehicles for the future. Byton cars launched the M-Byte concept car at CES 2018 and the K-Byte at CES Asia 2018.Following from Byton’s first model, the BYTON M-Byte Concept, the K-Byte Concept represents a breakthrough in the design of smart connected vehicles. Byton, the automotive company aspiring to … Read more

Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli and Levante – the strong addition to Italy’s high-end car hire offering

  Hertz Italy’s Selezione Italia is a range of iconic cars that are part of the automotive Italian tradition. The collection’s vehicles are backed by Hertz’s “make and model guarantee,” which ensures that customers can reserve and drive away in the specific model they choose. Additionally, as part of Selezione Italia’s “Benvenuto (welcome) Service”, customers … Read more

Sardinia put on her best show: My Song and Savannah took the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta Trophies

The yachts participating in the 2018 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta had to wait a few days, but in the end the typical mistral wind and the Sardinian sunshine made the final day of the 11th edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta unique.

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - Porto Cervo 2018-02
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – Porto Cervo 2018; photos credit: YCCS/ StudioBorlenghi

The 11th edition of Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of Loro Piana, saw My Song triumph in class A and Savannah, on her debut in this regatta, take victory in class B.

As scheduled, at 11.30 a.m. on the waters off Porto Cervo the Race Committee, led by Peter Craig, began the starting sequence starting for the coastal race of about 31 miles around the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. A mistral wind was blowing at 22 knots which fell slightly to 20 knots over the course of the race. The superyachts started from Porto Cervo, circumnavigated the islands of Caprera and La Maddalena to port and left the Secca di Tre Monti to port before leaving the Monaci islets to starboard and returning to Porto Cervo.

at yacht club costasmeralda
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – Porto Cervo 2018; photos credit: YCCS/ StudioBorlenghi

Class B saw a spirited battle, where the “little” Savannah, an elegant Spirit of Tradition yacht of 27 metres, scored a hat-trick, beating the 46-metre Ganesha once again, this time by just 33 seconds. “It’s great to win, it’s a wonderful regatta and the best location in the world.” commented Savannah’s owner, Hugh Morrison. “We had very good breeze today, very good conditions, flatseas and it was really very impressive to see all the other boats catching up with us.” Third place in class B went to Escapade.

Ganesha crossed the finish line first in real time followed by My Song by just 1 minute and 53 seconds, who had started 15 minutes behind Ganesha due to being the fastest boat in the fleet and therefore the final one in the starting sequence.

Class A also saw a hat-trick as My Song notched up her third victory while her direct rivals suffered various problems and equipment failures. The 148-footer Saudade withdrew just minutes from the start due to a problem with her foresails, while Inoui remained in port. Highland Fling, which yesterday collided with a submerged, unmapped rock, sailed for Palma de Mallorca for the necessary assessments.

In class A, My Song was joined on the podium by Marco Vogele’s Inoui and Saudade, owned by Albert Buell. TheSilver Jubilee Trophy, reserved for the top superyacht from both classes over 100 feet long, went to My Song, which also claimed the award for the top placed yacht owned by a YCCS member.

The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2018 ended with the prize giving in Piazza Azzurra attended by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, President of the YCCS and One Ocean Boards of Directors. Yesterday, on World Oceans Day (June 8, 2018), the Princess took part in the YCCS Clean Beach Day, removing refuse from the Tre Monti beach together with schoolchildren from Arzachena and Cannigione.

Pier Luigi Loro Piana, owner of My Song: “Almost paradoxically I’m sad because such a great event has come to anend. Sardinia in this season is always fantastic, and today has made up to everyone present for the uncertainties of the first few days. I’m also sorry for the many owners who were unable to be present for this edition, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite them here for the next one. Finally, I want to thank my crew for the great job they did on tuning the boat, they deserve the credit for this victory. ”

 

The next event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will be the Audi Invitational Team Racing Challenge from 21 to 23 June.

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - Porto Cervo 2018-
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – Porto Cervo 2018; photos credit: YCCS/ StudioBorlenghi
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - Porto Cervo 2018
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – Porto Cervo 2018; photos credit: YCCS/ StudioBorlenghi
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - Porto Cervo 2018-01
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – Porto Cervo 2018; photos credit: YCCS/ StudioBorlenghi

 

 

Bucherer x Harley-Davidson Blue Edition – a handmade motorbike par excellence, which took over 2,500 hours of work to produce

 

Bucherer creates The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition, the world’s most expensive motorbike.

Bucherer x Harley-Davidson unveiled the world’s most expensive motorbike – an exciting combination of custom motorcycle design and the art of jewellery making. A team of eight employees from both companies contributed all of their expertise.

Bucherer creates The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition-
Bucherer x Harley-Davidson Blue Edition photo: bucherer.com

This one-of-a-kind motorcycle is the product of imagination of Bündnerbike, the Swiss custom Harley-Davidson workshop, and Swiss watchmaker and fine jeweller Bucherer. The £1.33 million motorcycle features fine jewellery embellishments paying tribute to Bucherer Blue collection and features a custom-made watch based on the Patravi TravelTec II model. Every metal element found on this one-of-a-kind motorcycle has been produced, welded, beaten, ground and polished by hand.

Based on a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S motorcycle, the motorcycle customised by hand in Maienfeld, is the ultimate in self-expression.

But it is not only the 360 diamonds, gold-plated screws, two safes that are integrated into the tank and contain a one-of-a-kind watch from Carl F. Bucherer as well as rings from Bucherer Fine Jewellery, or the thrilling design of the engine that make this iridescent blue bike – the only one of its kind in the world – a true work of art. At CHF 1.888 million, it is also the most expensive motorcycle in the world.

Never before have a manufacture watch and jewels been integrated in a motorcycle. The Dizzler rotating ring from the Bucherer Fine Jewellery collection was adapted for the Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION to allow it to be mounted on the hand grips. “That was a technical challenge,” says Jürg Ludwig Jr, Managing Director of Bündnerbike. “To ensure that the rings really stay in place, a special method was applied that guarantees a very strong hold. How this works remains a secret of the Bündnerbike blacksmith,” explains Ludwig. A further pair of Dizzler diamond rings can be found on the forks, while a large version of the Dizzler ring is located in the left half of the tank.

Bucherer creates The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition-2018
Bucherer x Harley-Davidson Blue Edition photo: bucherer.com

Underneath a glass dome made from armoured glass, another piece of jewellery of special value can be found in a retractable safe: a six-prong Heaven solitaire ring with a 5.40-carat diamond. This is also a unique feature, as is the watch from Carl F. Bucherer at its side. This special custom-made watch, which is based on the Patravi TravelTec II model, is located in a second safe in the right half of the tank. The dial of this unique piece is adorned by elements of a motorcycle engine. To ensure that the vibrations of the engine do not damage the mechanical movement, the watch
is housed in a cage with an elaborate holder made from silicon rings.

“It was a long road,” said Samir Merdanovic, head of manufacture movements at Carl F. Bucherer, of the development process of the The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition. “The holder, for example, also serves as a watch
winder. The watch is therefore wound regularly and continues to run, even if the motorcycle is not ridden for an
extended period.”

“We are pleased to be able to contribute our long-standing experience and close relationship with our partners inorder to create exclusive and unique watches and products as part of the Bucherer Blue Editions,” said Patrick Graf,CCO at Bucherer. “This allows us to appeal to customers around the world who want to stand out from the crowd andlive the Blue Editions lifestyle.”

The complete frame of the motorcycle is welded seamlessly, and even the rims are custom-made. The rotating camshaft is visible through a window in the camshaft housing, as are the valve control and the gold-plated throttle valves. Heat-resistant LED lights illuminate the scene. The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is thus the world’s first motorcycle to have a motor that is lit up from the inside. Various parts of the motorcycle are also gold-plated. The cowhide saddle has been sewn by hand in Switzerland. A special detail: the iridescent colour. A specific techniquehad to be employed to illuminate the Harley-Davidson in this intense blue. In a first step, the entire motorcycle was silver-plated, before six colour coatings were then applied using a secret coating method.

Bucherer creates The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition
Bucherer x Harley-Davidson Blue Edition photo: bucherer.com

 

The first purely electric Porsche will be known as the Taycan, a “lively young horse”

Porsche’s complete electric offering will be known as the Taycan, a “lively young horse”. The sports car manufacturer is celebrating its anniversary with numerous activities and launches throughout 2018. Porsche plans to invest more than six billion euro in electromobility by 2022, doubling the expenditure that the company had originally planned. The “Mission E” concept … Read more