New Leica M9 Titanium Is Designed By Automobile Designer Walter de'Silva.

The exclusive special edition Leica M9 "Titanium" is the result of a collaboration with Walter de'Silva (shown above), a prominent automobile designer responsible for groundbreaking models from the Volkswagen Group.




The chief designer and his Audi Design Team have re-interpreted the LEICA M9 and the outcome is a special edition LEICA M9 ‘Titanium', strictly limited to 500 cameras worldwide. It is offered as a set together with a LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens, whose exterior metal components are also manufactured from solid titanium.



Design & Function



Walter de'Silva has given the Leica M camera an ergonomic, precise and logical "look and feel" without changing the intrinsic character of the rangefinder camera. Thus, the compact construction and technical features of the LEICA M9 ‘Titanium' retain the distinctive style of a true Leica M camera.




The LEICA M9 "Titanium" is constructed exclusively with premium quality materials. For instance, all visible metal elements of the camera body are made from solid titanium, a particularly light but extremely strong and durable metal that can only be manufactured with special tools.



In addition, the exposed surfaces are also treated with a hard coating applied by a specialist company in Switzerland. Scratch-resistant, sapphire-crystal glass is employed as a protective cover for the camera monitor and further enhances the exclusive and rugged character of the camera.



The camera's trim, which uses leather typically reserved for the interiors of Audi's premium automobiles, fits perfectly with the body's titanium surface and provides outstanding grip. The grip characteristics are additionally enhanced by a specially designed and embossed diamond pattern.



Walter de'Silva addressed not only the design of the camera, but also focused on its handling and technical specifications. New features include the LED illumination of the bright-line frames in the viewfinder, removing the necessity for a standard illuminating window and making the front aspect of the camera even more balanced.



Furthermore, the Leica logo has been restyled and is elaborately hand-engraved in pure resin, inlaid with white enamel, sealed with clear varnish and then polished and positioned centrally - directly above the lens.

Lens with a new, focused design concept

The LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens supplied with this special edition, also features a new, focussed design concept, in which the essential elements harmonise perfectly with the style of the camera.

Innovative carrying and holding concept


Instead of the traditional strap lugs of standard cameras, the chief designer and Leica engineers developed an innovative camera carrying concept that is reduced to just one single mounting point on the camera body.



Exclusive Equipment


In addition to the camera and lens, the LEICA M9 "Titanium" special-edition set includes a distinctive shoulder holster, a carrying strap and finger loops in two different sizes that are also in the same Audi premium leather as used on the camera body. Also part of the set is a book devoted to the design process leading to the creation of this high quality, special titanium edition and which also includes an interview with designer Walter de'Silva. The unique set is presented in an elaborately handcrafted black presentation case with recesses for the camera and lens lined with Alcantara microsuede in Leica red.

Price is $26,500 USD
Pre-order it here. Or here.

The LEICA M9 'Titanium' will be available starting November 2010. The UK suggested retail price of the LEICA M9 Titanium set is £19,800 including VAT.

Leica

Baddy, The Modern Garden Gnome. Now in 8 Colors.

I've never been a big garden gnome fan, but these "baddies' by JVLT (artist Joe Velluto) for Plust could change all that.




A modern garden gnome in several finishes, “Baddy” is a colored resin sculpture suitable for outdoor and indoor settings. In the luminescent version it acts as a “dwarf guard” thanks to a luminous resin that absorbs light momentarily and then releases it for several hours, making it a small presence in the night.

black, metallic gold and white:

fuschia, acid green, and dull green (ivory not shown):

photoluminescent:

Joe Velluto
Plust

Bold, Even For A Baller. The Fenice Rolls Royce Ghost 'Diva' Has Lots Of 24k Gold.

Had I named this blog If It's Tasteful, It's Here, I wouldn't be able to bring you the news of the Limited Edition Rolls Royce Ghost 'Diva'. If you thought gold packages (the gold-plated trim option on some cars) were ostentatious, they are downright subtle in comparison to these outrageously 24k gold accented versions of the Rolls Royce Ghost, courtesy of Fenice Milan.




The luxury automobiles, available in three colors, are embellished with 24k gold grills*, hoods, window trim, side mirrors, door handles, wheels and fenders on the exterior. Inside, numerous 24k gold inserts and grey oak or teak wood can be found. Various combinations for the three colors are explained (with images) in the following press release. *The 24k gold grills, hoods and fenders are available in chromed bronze for those who, you know, want to save a few bucks.

Before going on, I felt it only fair to Rolls Royce to show you an image of the Ghost as they intended it:


the press release:
'DIVA' FENICE MILANO: ELEGANCE AND RACINESS FOR A CAR WITH A STRONG PERSONALITY



Everlasting synonym of class, elegance and perfect English style, Rolls Royce has become through the years the brand of celebrities and of all major international politicians.

In 2009, to meet the market’s modern request, the renowned English manufacturer launched the Ghost model. The 'baby' Rolls (it is only 540 cm long) has a less formal look compared to her bigger sisters, but it doesn't abandon the typical pride of the flagships boasted with the 'Spirit of Ecstasy', the famous little statue on the front. Moreover its sporty character is supported by the 12V engine 570 Hp that make of her the more powerful Rolls ever built, able to accelerate from 0 to 100 Km/h in only 4.9 seconds.

To begin with the exterior, 'Diva' is proposed in three elegant versions with a bi‐colour livery: from the classic blue-navy, to the delicious bronze and the luxury limited edition white golden pearlescent varnishing that includes particles in 24K gold.



For the navy‐blue version, the bonnet and fender are in white golden pearlescent varnishing and chromed frontal grid; while for the white version the bonnet, fender and grid are in 24K gold.



For the bronze version, instead, three combinations are available: bonnet, fender and grid in 24K gold, or bonnet and fender in white golden pearlescent varnishing and grid in 24K gold or chromed bronze grid.





Inside the console design has been maintained, but a few enhancements are provided, which due to the use of fine materials, make 'Diva' the most exclusive car available on the market. The dashboard and the passenger compartment are in biscuit‐coloured leather and wood (teak or grey oak) and include white or bronze Alcantara profiles and inserts in 24K gold, whose outlines have been hand shaped by Fenice Milano's artisans. The wheel, redesigned starting from the original one, has the crown covered in biscuit‐coloured leather and the central part in 24K gold and wood (teak or grey oak).




Below is the original, unadorned Rolls Royce Ghost driver's side interior:


Also the seats take inspiration from the original ones, but are redesigned following ergonomic principles and realized in white combined with biscuit‐coloured pure leather (alternatively a version with biscuit‐coloured pure leather coupled with bronze Alcantara seats is available), and like in the original car the picnic tables and the integrated minibar with glass holders have been maintained and realized in 24K gold.




As it happens for all Fenice Milano’s project, also for 'Diva' the aesthetic embellishments are coupled with technical interventions, able to improve the performances of the base model. The ECU upgrade, the suspensions adjustment and the optimization of the exhaust and suction system guarantee in fact notably superior performances and even more comfort onboard.

About Fenice Milano - the company bio:

Fenice Milano is a project born in 2008 from the intuition of a young entrepreneur,who decided to invest in the development of an activity in line with the tendencies of the actual market.

Symbol of freedom and independence, the car represents nowadays a mean through which we can express our individuality. In a period in which luxury is not affected by crisis and the quality of high‐end products is considered a main feature, the difference is made by personalization and by the emotions that the product is able to inspire in the person who chooses to buy it.

Strong of a thirty‐years experience in the activity of modeling and realization of special components for private and racing cars, Fenice Milano enters the market of luxury cars customization today, offering its clients the chance to make of their car a concrete realization of their personal spirit. Exactly like one chooses the furnishing for their own living room, it becomes possible to make unique a car that, although already entering the market with a high level of personalization, nonetheless suffers a natural degree of alignment caused by production in series. Trusty to the concept of an automotive 'Sartoria' (tailor in Italian), Fenice Milano doesn't produce cars, but true art oeuvres hand made by its expert artisans and 'sewn' onto the client.

An artisanal reality, where 30‐years experienced professionals work closely with young specialists interested in the new technologies and where all the processes, from the technical and stylistic project to the varnishing and the plumbing, from the disassembly to the replacement of accessories and the finishing are carried out rigorously with a particular attention to details, which make the difference.

The choice to present fine materials like gold and teak, coupled with the most innovative electronic and technical instrumentation matches the request of the markets, above all of middle‐eastern and Russian, that are always looking for products representing the best available on the market. All the projects are studied to offer different solutions that could anticipate the clients' needs, making the car of their dreams even more precious thus maintaining an elegant and refined style, immediately recognizable as Made in Italy.

After the realization of the very first project based on a Ferrari 360 Modena named 'Su Misura F101', Fenice Milano has projected many others to launch. Among these is the model 'La Dolce Vita' Fenice Milano ‐ a restyling of the new Fiat 500C born to answer the request of those who are looking for the maximum exclusivity and elegance in a "fashionable" car ‐ and 'Diva', a touch of Italian elegance and style able to make the original Rolls Royce Ghost a true masterpiece with an even stronger personality.

The 'Diva' by Fenice Milano is produced in a limited quantity (Thank God).