If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

It's Big, It's Bad Ass And It's Still Not Yet Ready. The $1.42 Million Bugatti 16 C Galibier.

Bugatti has been teasing us with their 16 cylinder Galibier sedan for over 2 years now with what is said to be the world's most powerful four door luxury sedan. Still not given the green light for production, the French automaker launched this promotional video (with the most pretentious voiceover I've ever heard) a month ago:

Rumored to have been ready for purchase by 2012, Bugatti head Wolfgang Durheimer was reportedly disappointed with the car’s levels of comfort and performance, forcing engineers to go back to the drawing board. Bloomberg is citing two unidentified sources who say the Galibier will actually be launched in 2013 or 2014 with a base price of approximately 1 million euros ($1.42 million USD).

The most recent photos of the Bugatti Galibier prototype:

The Galibier concept, first unveiled in 2010 at the Geneva Auto Show, is a five-door hatchback with sleek styling and incredibly luxury laden custom interior. It boasts a supercharged 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine which likely produced between 800 PS (588 kW / 789 hp) and 1,000 PS (735 kW / 986 hp).

Concept drawings:

Following the footsteps of the Veyron, the Galibier features a W16 engine displacing 8.0L. However, unlike the Veyron’s quad-turbocharger setup, the Galibier uses two-stage supercharging. The results are essentially the same, though, as the Galibier reportedly produces more than 1,000 horsepower.

Details:

Bugatti says the car’s exterior is inspired by the torpedo-like Type 35, while also evoking cues from the Type 57.

The Galibier is largely constructed of carbon fiber, but some body panels — such as the doors and fenders — are made of aluminum. The interior, which has room for four, makes use of similarly exotic materials, albeit of a different variety. The cabin is adorned with the highest quality wood and leather, juxtaposed with an ultramodern LCD center console.

The interior:

And of course, it comes with a watch and luggage:

Production is expected to run 1,500 units, or about five times as many as the outgoing Veyron.

information courtesy of Bugatti and Left Lane News
images courtesy of Auto Motor Und Sport

Check out the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and the matching safe by Stockinger as well as some of the amazing Bugatti design luxury extras here

Historic Schindler Home In Los Angeles Can Now Be Rented For Short-Term Stays.

The Fitzpatrick-Leland House, perched at the top of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, was designed by architect R.M. Schindler in 1936 and is considered one of the city’s masterworks of Modern architecture.

Its interlocking spaces, spectacularly framed views, seamless flows from indoor to outdoor spaces, and perfect proportions make for a wholly inspiring place to spend time. Set up as a retreat house for artists in residence, it is also available as a short-term rental for $380 US per night.

Recently restored according to the original plans, it's ideal for lovers of historic and mid-century modern architecture.

The private enclave with gate includes 1 bedroom with an office that can be set up as a bedroom, 1.5 baths, a swimming pool, a living room with fireplace and a long dining table, a fully-equipped kitchen, outdoor dining areas, a bbq grill, views of the canyon, laundry, parking, and wifi.

The house is owned by non-profit organization MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House. All proceeds from rental support the MAK Center’s conservation of Modern architecture and its cultural programs in Los Angeles. Free admission to the landmark Schindler House (R.M. Schindler, 1922) in West Hollywood included with rental.

Please note that this house is being made available here for short-term residential use only – any and all photo shoots or film shoots (artistic or commercial), or any private events with more than 6 guests, must be arranged with the MAK Center directly.

Bedrooms 2
Bed Type Full Beds
Kitchen Full Kitchen
Bathrooms 1.5
Accommodate 2-4 Guests
Internet Wi-Fi
Pet friendly No
Rates $380 per night
View City

Amenities: TV, Internet, Heating, Pool, Furnished Kitchen, Parking, Indoor Fireplace, Washer, Dryer

images courtesy of boutique-homes.com , Vladimir Paperny, John Florance and the MAK center

Go here for renting availability and inquiries

Aston Martin's Limited Edition Luxury Road Bike. The Technologically Advanced One-77 Cycle.

Designed by Factor for Aston Martin, the new limited edition luxury super cycle will only be produced in 77 units. Available in 7 sexy color options, the bicycle is equipped with an electronic touchscreen, Tufo Hi-Composite Carbon Tubular tires and a carbon fiber frame and handlebars. Full specs are at the end of this post.

Broken Houses is a series of images of dilapidated and abandoned buildings, destroyed by weather, decay and neglect. Artist Ofra Lapid found photos of these homes and buildings on the web while pursuing an amateur photographer from North Dakota (name not disclosed) who obsessively documents the decaying process of these houses- not unlike these wonderful artists who are also obsessed with decaying and abandoned homes. Ofra then built small scale models of these and photographed them again, omitting the backgrounds and placing them on grey fields.

In celebration of the start of the 2012 NeoCon design exposition and conference, Herman Miller been taking a Community Pulse — a series of thought-provoking questions on work, life, and all the spaces in-between. (Take the survey, here.)

If you've got some serious respect for vinyl, the precision engineered AMG Viella 12 (aka “V12”) turntable may be the next piece of high end audio equipment for you. Of course it'll cost you - at $16,500 with the 12" tonearm and $13,500 without the tonearm.

With all the machining custom done in Munich, precision engineering and classic design are embodied in the first turntable from AMG (Analog Manufaktur Germany, formerly Benz AMG). The AMG turntable line was created by a group of audio industry experts to advance the art of vinyl playback.

Werner Roeschlau, designer and driving force behind AMG, works with his son and other master machinists at their bespoke multi-story Bavarian factory located north of Munich. All machining is done in house, combining the latest Computer Aided Design and CNC machines with “classic analog” tools including custom lathes and drill presses. Their factory has been manufacturing key, precision parts for some of the world's most highly regarded turntables for over a decade. This expertise in the design and manufacture of turntables led to the AMG line, premiering with the Viella 12.

Technical Specifications

Viella Turntable Plinth:
CNC machined in house using 25mm aircraft grade aluminum
3 adjustable and retractable steel-copper spikes in aluminum feet
Built-in spirit level
Optional hardwood trim

Viella Turntable Platter Bearing:
Hardened 16mm axle bearing, CNC machined, ground and lapped Two sealed, hydro-dynamically lubricated radial bearings with axial bearings featuring static lubrication.
Stainless steel sub-platter interfaces with 24.25 lbs (11Kg) platter

Viella Turntable Platter:
Decoupled spindle, 2 piece construction
CNC machined in house using aircraft grade aluminum
Weighted rim for enhanced flywheel effect
12.5 “ (318mm) diameter, 24.25 lbs (11Kg) weight

Viella Turntable Platter Clamp:
True reflex style, anodized aluminum, inverted threaded attachment to decoupled spindle

Viella Turntable Tonearm Board:
Detachable high mass tonearm board, pre-drilled for AMG and Graham tonearms

Viella Turntable Motor:
Lorenzi 2 pulse, low-speed brushless, precision 24v DC motor with auxiliary reluctance moment; sintered bronze bearings; cured and polished axis; and heavy flywheel. Motor housing acoustically decoupled from plinth via 5 rubber/metal mounts.

33.3, 45, and 78 speeds with electronic on/off, speed change, and speed fine adjust.

Outboard Motor Power Supply with specific transformer for appropriate mains voltage and detachable IEC power cord

Viella Turntable Belt Drive:
Stainless steel weighted and polished drive-belt pulley.
Precision made rubber belt.

Viella 12” tonearm

BEARING: Dual-pivot design replaces the standard gimbaled bearing. Vertical bearing, similar to technique used in the rotor heads of helicopters, uses two 0.5mm thick “spring steel wires”, allowing fine azimuth adjustment while eliminating play. Horizontal axle is hardened tool steel, precision ground to a backlash-free fit with a needle roller bearing. It is extremely precise, maintenance free, and never requiring adjustment.

ARMWAND: Aircraft quality, anodized aluminum tube for resonance control, 12 gram effective mass

COUNTERWEIGHT: Two piece with Teflon decoupled sleeve

COPPER INTERNAL WIRING: Multiple gauges of high quality copper

MAGNETIC ANTI-SKATING: decoupled via a ring magnet and 2 bar magnets. Magnetic fields isolated in our patented bearing housing.

VTA: precision locking system allowing easy adjustment during play.