For the first time since its inception in 1967, the annual Consumer Electronics Show—better known as CES—became a virtual event this year. Held in Las Vegas from January 11-14, virtual visitors—there were no physical attendees—could wander the show floor and see everything from the latest in medical electronics to Yukai Engineering’s Petit Qoobo, a furry, cushion-sized robot with a wagging tail and a heartbeat that simplifies the whole therapy-mammal equation. Making a bigger splash were automotive manufacturers who presented new models and dangled concepts for consideration, each underpinned by advances in EV technology, AI and new materials applications. Some are literal flights of fancy, but then, reaching for the sky is what future-thinkers do. Here are the cars that caught our attention.
Audi RS e-Tron GT
Photo: Sagmeister Photography, courtesy of Audi AG.
Audi has always been the quiet guy at the party, but everyone knows those are the ones to watch. From the minute that electric became a viable power-train solution, Audi has embraced the tech and blended it with a gorgeous design that makes you want its cars. Coming later this year, the RS e-Tron GT (the lowercase e—presumably for electron—is so the marketing team can remind you how clever they are) is a kissing cousin of the Porsche Taycan, and is poised to be Audi’s poster-e-car. Its performance nips at the heels of any supercar, with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering that are standard issue for most luxury four-door GTs. Using plenty of feel-good recycled materials, Audi is aiming for a CO2-neutral footprint that makes its go-kart the e-car du jour.
BMW iX
Photo: Courtesy of BMW.
Just as one might recoil from seeing bad cosmetic surgery, it’s easy to blanch upon first seeing the outsized nostrils and squared fenders—like cartoonish calf implants—of BMW’s iX. But beneath its skin, the all-electric Bimmer is the harbinger of things to come, and behind its big faux grille are cameras, radar functions and sensors of every sort that push the iX into the high-tech limelight. It boasts a new iDrive brain that BMW claims to be a “paradigm shift.” Hopefully, that shift is not reminiscent of the optimistic but snake-bitten system ushered in by the 7-Series in the early 2000s. Still, the electric crossover—coming in 2022—should make plenty of friends, with more than 372kW and a 600km range. And after all, it is a BMW.
Cadillac VTOL
Photo: Courtesy of Cadillac.
Like a lot of kids, I believed every story in the magazines promising that we’d all be flying cars before the 20th century came to a close. I’m still waiting, but before the state of California takes my driver’s license away, I want a Cadillac I can be proud to land on my lawn. And the Cadillac VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) drone is it. Conceived to make aero-mobility a reality, the VTOL combines electric power in an autonomous personal transportation vehicle designed to get from a Fortune 100 board meeting to your best pal’s private Fantasy Island in a flash. The flying Fleetwood features a 90 kWh EV motor to power four rotors, and is, without a doubt, the coolest Cadillac we’ve seen since the 1967 El Dorado.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Photo : Courtesy of FCA US LLC.
There are plenty of high-performance, fire-breathing muscle cars with gobs of horsepower and the ability to lay patches of rubber at the drop of a flag, especially Dodge’s SRT Challenger Superstock. With 601kW, it’s the quickest, most powerful series-production muscle car in the world. But until now, we couldn’t name any that offers three rows of seats and can haul a vacation-load of screaming brats, camping gear and a boat hitched to the rear. That midsized SUV anomaly is the Durango SRT Hellcat. Easily identified with the head of a toothy feline on its front fenders—it’s powered by a 6.2-litre Hemi V-8 that delivers 529kW, full-time AWD and a towing capacity of 3720kg.
GMC Hummer EV
Photo: Courtesy of GMC.
What goes around comes around. I remember nearly crawling under a floormat when, at a black-tie reception hosted by GM at Hearst Castle circa 2005, my girlfriend at the time opined—unaware she was speaking to a Hummer executive—that its military-style relic was a gas-guzzling abomination. She was not wrong, but still, I flushed as red as the lobster hors d’oeuvres being passed. A decade-and-a-half later, the tables have turned, and GM’s all-electric pickup, the Hummer EV, redeems itself as an enviro-friendly supertruck that does a zero-to-97km/h sprint in 3 seconds, bristles with 745kW and churns a mind-numbing, combined-axle 15,590nm of electric torque, all with an estimated 560km of range. Smooth on the highway and capable of tackling any terrain, it makes us say, “Please pass the Hummer (“lobster,” of course, in German).” Reservations are now being accepted.
Hyperion XP-1
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperion Motors.
As with production cars that can successfully drive themselves or even take to the sky, hydrogen-powered four-wheelers have long been the stuff of automotive vision boards and unrealised attempts, confronting a fair share of naysayers and roadblocks along the way. Breaking through from vaporware to reality is Hyperion’s XP-1 hypercar based on hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The all-wheel-drive vehicle is propelled by the impressively named Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Power Module that drives permanent magnet electric motors mated to a three-speed transmission. And the target stats are staggering: a zero-to-97km/h time of less than 2.2 seconds, a top speed of more than 355km/h and, wait for it . . . a range of over 1600km, which the company claims can be replenished in five minutes due to innovative hydrogen storage systems. Don’t believe it exists? The Hyperion team took the prototype to Las Vegas, and there are pictures to prove it.
Indy Autonomous Challenge Race Car
Photo: Courtesy of the Indy Autonomous Challenge.
Playing a role in the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology, Energy Systems Network (ESN) and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway presented a race car developed for the Indy Autonomous Challenge, scheduled this year to be held on October 23. The cars, modified Dallara IL-15 racers, are autonomously driven by university teams comprising more than 500 students from 11 countries. Since 2002, Dallara—whose founder was the father of the Lamborghini Miura—has been the sole race-car supplier of the Indy Lights series, and this car is the most advanced, fastest autonomous vehicle ever developed. Sponsors are providing high-tech systems that include radar, lidar, optical cameras and computers. Team goals, apart from winning the US$1 million prize, focus on development of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that enhance safety and move autonomous vehicle research forward.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer Concept
Photo: Courtesy of FCA US LLC.
Whoa! When I was young, these had 3M fake wood side panelling and were only slightly smaller than a Zeppelin hangar—the antithesis of cool and something that the math club president’s parents would drive. But for about a decade now, they have attained near-cult status as the hipster classic among SUVs. So, it stands to reason that the Grand Wagoneer, which was made from 1963 to 1993, was ripe for resurrection. Jeep has been only too happy to oblige, and according to Ralph Gilles, FCA Head of Design, the new Grand Wagoneer is “nothing short of a labour of love . . . meant to be timeless.” Available later this year, it certainly carries on the Grand Wagoneer tradition as a supremely luxurious SUV, and is beautifully styled. “The interior is uniquely American,” adds Gilles, further evidenced by the available premium sound system from McIntosh, a US audio icon founded in 1949.
Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR
Photo: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz AG.
Dr Porsche put four axle-mounted motors in a car about 120 years ago, but it didn’t look as outlandish as the pangolin-like concept vehicle introduced by Mercedes-Benz at this year’s virtual CES. No matter, like the odd, scaled monotreme, the Vision AVTR is a remarkable thing. Capable of driving the front and rear axles simultaneously or in opposite directions, or driving side-to-side, its agility and grace recalls Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly chariot. Notable is its powerful and compact high-voltage battery, developed with graphene-based organic cell chemistry that does not rely on toxic, rare-earth metals. Hand it to Mercedes-Benz to lead the charge—literally—in the advancement of EV technology.
Sicily has seen a White Lotus–fuelled surge in bookings for this summer—a pop-culture fillip to fill up its grandes dames hotels. Skip the gawping crowds at the headline-grabbers, though, and opt instead for an insider-ish alternative: the Grand Hotel des Étrangers, which reopened last summer after a gut renovation.
It sits on the seafront on the tiny island of Ortigia in Syracuse, all cobbled streets and grand buildings, like a Baroque time capsule on Sicily’s southeastern coast.
Survey the entire streetscape here from the all-day rooftop bar-restaurant, Clou, where the fusion menu is a shorthand of Sicily’s pan-Mediterranean history; try the spaghetti with bottarga and wild fennel or the sea bass crusted in anchovies. Idle on the terrace alfresco with a snifter of avola, the rum made nearby.
As for the rooms, they’ve been renovated with Art Deco–inflected interiors—think plenty of parquet and marble—but the main asset is their aspect: the best of them have private balconies and a palm tree-fringed view out over the Ionian Sea. Doubles from around $665; desetranger.com
Over the last few years, watch pundits have predicted the return of the eccentric TAG Heuer Formula 1, in some shape or form. It was all but confirmed when TAG Heuer’s heritage director, Nicholas Biebuyck, teased a slew of vintage models on his Instagram account in the aftermath of last year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva. And when speaking with Frédéric Arnault at last year’s trade fair, the former CEO asked me directly if the brand were to relaunch its legacy Formula 1 collection, loved by collectors globally, how should they go about it?
My answer to the baited entreaty definitely didn’t mention a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg of Kith, one of the world’s biggest streetwear fashion labels. Still, here we are: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is officially back and as colourful as ever.
As the watch industry enters its hype era—in recent years, we’ve seen MoonSwatches, Scuba Fifty Fathoms, and John Mayer G-Shocks—the new Formula 1 x Kith collaboration might be the coolest yet.
Here’s the lowdown: overnight, TAG Heuer, together with Kith, took to socials to unveil a special, limited-edition collection of Formula 1 timepieces, inspired by the original collection from the 1980s. There are 10 new watches, all limited, with some designed on a stainless steel bracelet and some on an upgraded rubber strap; both options nod to the originals.
Seven are exclusive to Kith and its global stores (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, Tokyo, Toronto, and Paris, to be specific), and are made in an abundance of colours. Two are exclusive to TAG Heuer; and one is “shared” between TAG Heuer and Kith—this is a highlight of the collection, in our opinion. A faithful play on the original composite quartz watch from 1986, this model, limited to just 1,350 pieces globally, features the classic black bezel with red accents, a stainless steel bracelet, and that creamy eggshell dial, in all of its vintage-inspired glory. There’s no doubt that this particular model will present as pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember when the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 made its debut.
Of course, throughout the collection, Fieg’s design cues are punctuated: the “TAG” is replaced with “Kith,” forming a contentious new brand name for this specific release, as well as Kith’s slogan, “Just Us.”
Collectors and purists alike will appreciate the dedication to the original Formula 1 collection: features like the 35mm Arnite cases—sourced from the original 80s-era supplier—the form hour hand, a triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock, indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots, and a contrasting minuterie, are all welcomed design specs that make this collaboration so great.
Every TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith timepiece will be presented in an eye-catching box that complements the fun and colour theme of Formula 1 but drives home the premium status of this collaboration. On that note, at $2,200 a piece, this isn’t exactly an approachable quartz watch but reflects the exclusive nature of Fieg’s Kith brand and the pieces he designs (largely limited-edition).
So, what do we think? It’s important not to understate the significance of the arrival of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 in 1986, in what would prove integral in setting up the brand for success throughout the 90’s—it was the very first watch collection to have “TAG Heuer” branding, after all—but also in helping to establish a new generation of watch consumer. Like Fieg, many millennial enthusiasts will recall their sentimental ties with the Formula 1, often their first timepiece in their horological journey.
This is as faithful of a reissue as we’ll get from TAG Heuer right now, and budding watch fans should be pleased with the result. To TAG Heuer’s credit, a great deal of research has gone into perfecting and replicating this iconic collection’s proportions, materials, and aesthetic for the modern-day consumer. Sure, it would have been nice to see a full lume dial, a distinguishing feature on some of the original pieces—why this wasn’t done is lost on me—and perhaps a more approachable price point, but there’s no doubt these will become an instant hit in the days to come.
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The TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith collection will be available on Friday, May 3rd, exclusively in-store at select TAG Heuer and Kith locations in Miami, and available starting Monday, May 6th, at select TAG Heuer boutiques, all Kith shops, and online at Kith.com. To see the full collection, visit tagheuer.com
Aston Martin will forever be associated with James Bond, ever since everyone’s favourite spy took delivery of his signature silver DB5 in the 1964 film Goldfinger. But there’s a lot more to the history of this famed British sports car brand beyond its association with the fictional British Secret Service agent.
Let’s dive into the long and colourful history of Aston Martin.
The origin of the Aston Martin name
The company that would become Aston Martin started out as a car dealership. In 1912, Englishmen Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin partnered to sell cars, but soon after they decided to build their own models. Their first prototype debuted in 1915, named in honour of Martin, a racing driver, and his favourite racing venue, Aston Hills. Thus, the name Aston Martin was born.
A speed-demon co-founder banned from driving
Aston Martin co-founder Lionel Martin wasn’t just a keen racing driver—he was an all-out speed demon. As a student, Martin won numerous gruelling bicycle racing records, including riding nearly the full width of England in one 22-hour stretch. He competed in motorcycle and sidecar races and automotive hillclimb competitions. It seems he also brought that need for speed to the public roadways: In 1909, having neglected to pay a previous speeding fine, Martin was caught driving 41.5 km/ph in London and was banned from driving for two years—during which he set yet another cross-country bicycle record.
A tractor company takes over
The years after World War I were tumultuous for Aston Martin, with financial difficulties and numerous takeovers. In 1947, Aston Martin went up for sale and was purchased by David Brown Limited, a company that specialised in farm tractors and industrial gears. Sir David Brown, grandson of the company’s founder, was a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, having built his own competition cars while working as an engineer at the family company. The first car built by Aston Martin after this takeover was called the DB1, named after the tractor company (and the man) that had saved the carmaker.
An indirect connection to Bentley
Around the same time that Sir David Brown took over Aston Martin, he purchased another struggling British carmaker, Lagonda. The company was developing a revolutionary twin-cam six-cylinder engine called the LB6, and Sir David wanted the engine for his new line of Aston Martin sports cars. The Lagonda engine had been designed by none other than W.O. Bentley—the man who co-founded Bentley Motors, who had long since been pushed out of the company bearing his name.
The history of the DB Series
Aston Martin built seven vehicles named in honour of owner Sir David Brown: The DB1, DB2, DB3, DB4, DB5, DB6, and the combo-breaker DBS all bore Sir David’s initials. In 1972, Sir David sold the car company, and the new owners ended the DB series of vehicles, but the name was revived in 1993 with the DB7 in honour of Sir David—who himself was given an honorary position at the company that same year.
Bond, James Bond
Of course, the most famous Aston Martin of them all is the DB5. Just over 1,000 examples were built between 1963 and 1965, but millions worldwide know this as the James Bond car. In the books, author Ian Fleming had specified an earlier Aston Martin DB Mark III as Bond’s car. Still, the DB5 was introduced in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger, equipped with gadgets including machine guns, smoke screens, oil slicks, an ejector seat, and rotating license plates. Bond has driven several Aston Martin models over the years, including a V8 Vantage, a V12 Vanquish, and two DBS models, but the original DB5 will always be considered the quintessential Bond car.
The angular years
Today, the Aston Martin badge is most closely associated with swooping, evocatively curvy car designs, but in the 1970s the company was obsessed with angular, wedge-shaped designs. The trend began in 1976 with the Aston Martin Lagonda, a shockingly unconventional four-door luxury sedan with “folded-paper” body styling and the world’s first all-digital instrument panel. The Lagonda’s styling was further evolved in 1979 with the Bulldog, a radical concept car with gullwing doors and a sharply pointed nose. The Bulldog was meant to become the fastest road car on earth, but the project was abandoned before production could begin.
For Bond’s eyes only
While most of James Bond’s Aston Martins have been commercially available to anyone who could afford one, the DB10 seen in the 2015 film Spectre was exclusive to 007. As Aston Martin executive Marek Reichman explained to Variety, director Sam Mendes, producer Barbara Broccoli, and Bond star Daniel Craig were touring Aston Martin’s design studios when they saw a concept sketch on the wall. The Bond team insisted that this should be 007’s next car, and Aston Martin spent the next six months furiously working to turn the drawing into a real-world car. The DB10 was unveiled during the launch of the film Spectre, and eight of the 10 examples built were featured in the movie, with the remaining two used for promotional appearances.
Visiting the Floating City just got a bit more expensive.
Venice is officially the first metropolis in the world to start implementing a day-trip fee in an effort to help the Italian hot spot combat overtourism during peak season, The Associated Press reported. The new program, which went into effect, requires travellers to cough up roughly €5 (about $AUD8.50) per person before they can explore the city’s canals and historic sites. Back in January, Venice also announced that starting in June, it would cap the size of tourist groups to 25 people and prohibit loudspeakers in the city centre and the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,’ Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, told AP News. “We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”
During this trial phase, the fee only applies to the 29 days deemed the busiest—between April 25 and July 14—and tickets will remain valid from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors under 14 years of age will be allowed in free of charge in addition to guests with hotel reservations. However, the latter must apply online beforehand to request an exemption. Day-trippers can also pre-pay for tickets online via the city’s official tourism site or snap them up in person at the Santa Lucia train station.
“With courage and great humility, we are introducing this system because we want to give a future to Venice and leave this heritage of humanity to future generations,” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) regarding the city’s much-talked-about entry fee.
Despite the mayor’s backing, it’s apparent that residents weren’t totally pleased with the program. The regulation led to protests and riots outside of the train station, The Independent reported. “We are against this measure because it will do nothing to stop overtourism,” resident Cristina Romieri told the outlet. “Moreover, it is such a complex regulation with so many exceptions that it will also be difficult to enforce it.”
While Venice is the first city to carry out the new day-tripper fee, several other European locales have introduced or raised tourist taxes to fend off large crowds and boost the local economy. Most recently, Barcelona increased its city-wide tourist tax. Similarly, you’ll have to pay an extra “climate crisis resilience” tax if you plan on visiting Greece that will fund the country’s disaster recovery projects.
The starters are on the blocks, and with less than 100 days to go until the Paris 2024 Olympics, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega was bound to release something spectacular to mark its bragging rights as the official timekeeper for the Summer Games. Enter the new 43mm Speedmaster Chronoscope, available in new colourways—gold, black, and white—in line with the colour theme of the Olympic Games in Paris this July.
So, what do we get in this nicely-wrapped, Olympics-inspired package? Technically, there are four new podium-worthy iterations of the iconic Speedmaster.
The new versions present handsomely in stainless steel or 18K Moonshine Gold—the brand’s proprietary yellow gold known for its enduring shine. The steel version has an anodised aluminium bezel and a stainless steel bracelet or vintage-inspired perforated leather strap. The Moonshine Gold iteration boasts a ceramic bezel; it will most likely appease Speedy collectors, particularly those with an affinity for Omega’s long-standing role as stewards of the Olympic Games.
Notably, each watch bears an attractive white opaline dial; the background to three dark grey timing scales in a 1940s “snail” design. Of course, this Speedmaster Chronoscope is special in its own right. For the most part, the overall look of the Speedmaster has remained true to its 1957 origins. This Speedmaster, however, adopts Omega’s Chronoscope design from 2021, including the storied tachymeter scale, along with a telemeter, and pulsometer scale—essentially, three different measurements on the wrist.
While the technical nature of this timepiece won’t interest some, others will revel in its theatrics. Turn over each timepiece, and instead of a transparent crystal caseback, there is a stamped medallion featuring a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, along with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic Rings—a subtle nod to this year’s games.
Powering this Olympiad offering—and ensuring the greatest level of accuracy—is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908 and 9909, certified by METAS.
A Speedmaster to commemorate the Olympic Games was as sure a bet as Mondo Deplantis winning gold in the men’s pole vault—especially after Omega revealed its Olympic-edition Seamaster Diver 300m “Paris 2024” last year—but they delivered a great addition to the legacy collection, without gimmickry.
However, the all-gold Speedmaster is 85K at the top end of the scale, which is a lot of money for a watch of this stature. By comparison, the immaculate Speedmaster Moonshine gold with a sun-brushed green PVD “step” dial is 15K cheaper, albeit without the Chronoscope complications.
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The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope in stainless steel with a leather strap is priced at $15,725; stainless steel with steel bracelet at $16,275; 18k Moonshine Gold on leather strap $54,325; and 18k Moonshine Gold with matching gold bracelet $85,350, available at Omega boutiques now.