Well here’s something i’ve never seen! A luxurious, heavy, Hermes shopping bag-filled, leather wrapped interior Bentley Continental GT being given a rally stage work out by ex-Mini driver Kris Meeke! Fantastic!
Apparently this is being filmed for a future episode of Top Gear featuring James May. Why does this not surprise me?
src: WRC
300hp. 3080 lbs. quattro. beautiful interior. 0-60 in 5.1 s. I AM SOLD. Reserve me a black one with DSG, please.
The 4-door sedan version of this S3 (5-door will likely not be returning to the US market, unfortunately) will be arriving to the US in mid-late 2013. I will be in line for one.
and a promo video:
Since really cutting back on my intake of automobile-related news and interests (more about the details of that at a later time) as of a few months ago, they have been replaced by a burning love for photography and cameras. After recently buying my Leica M8.1, i have been turned on to the magical world of rangefinder cameras. New and old. Eventually I would like to buy a nice Leica M5 and fool around with film photography; however my primary love of cameras is around digital photography. Part of this may be due to the fact that I am impulsive and need to see my photos within 24 hours, but mainly due to the fact that I really don’t have the time to dedicate to film photography. Digital photography, while saturated in this day of iPhone-photographers, can still be beautiful.
Today at Photokina in Cologne, Germany; Leica revealed the new lineup of Leica M cameras. The much anticipated ‘next step’ in the Leica M range is actually going to NOT be called the Leica M10; but instead called simply Leica M.
Bigger screen, video recording (in a Leica??), focus assist (in a Leica??), optional electronic viewfinder, 24mp CMOS full-frame sensor, and a familiar body with likely beautiful construction and materials as all Leicas generally have. The M will cost $6950 in the US.
then there’s the Leica M-E; essentially the same camera as the outgoing Leica M9P, however recoloured in a beautiful anthracite and debadged to be a bit more stealthy! Same exact specs as the prior M9P. Oh and the price has been slashed to $5450.
will these make you a ‘great photographer”? NO. Will this help inspire you to be more creative and understand the fundamentals of photography? probably YES. Well, at least the M8 has done that for me…..now, time to save up for a Leica M-Monochrome (announced as still in production).
Leica M-Monochrome (Leica MM):
src: L-Camera
the past week through my eyes…
tools: Leica M8.1 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 (except for “doorway”, taken by a Leica D-Lux3)
…by my favourite photographer i’ve been recently introduced to the works of: Ray K. Metzker. Thanks to Drew (MCB) for introducing me to his style and work! It is very inspiring. This photo is currently my desktop background.
Lately i’m FAR more interested in modern cars than classics, and my appreciation of living in the now has created this buzz within me. I’ve never owned a VW Golf, however i’ve come very close to by owning a MK1 Audi TT and an Audi A3—both of which share chassis with their respective Golf counterparts. This new MK7 Golf looks SUPERB and has an exciting, crisp, and modern design without all the Korean/Japanese ‘overdesign’ elements flooding the automotive world. What surprises me most, though, is how this MK7 takes cues from older Golfs more than the MK5 or MK6 did. In fact, i see a lot of MK4 in the rear end. Very interesting!
There’s nothing better than a nice, balanced hot hatch in my books. Affordable, fun, and without care of status or pomp. I am really excited about the new A3 and i’m also excited about this new Golf. Here’s waiting for the S/RS and GTI/R versions of these cars!
Globally….it’s probably one of the most important car launches this year. The Golf is truly an international car, and what a great overall car it is.
oh…and it’s 220 pounds lighter than the last generation (!!!).
src: egm
During my massive research spree prior to getting my M8, i spent several weeks reading forums, articles, and watching videos. One of the most entertaining discoveries I made was a series of videos on YouTube by a lad named Kai Wong for DigitalRev.com. Who would have thought that Jeremy Clarkson would have had a young bastard asian child!? That’s pretty much what Kai Wong is—while most of the other camera reviews and videos are about as exciting as lifting the toilet seat up, Kai does something unique. He instills his thrill and enthusiasm into cameras and photography in the same way that Jeremy Clarkson instills his enthusiasm into automobiles.
Since that time, I’ve found myself watching lots of DigitalRev videos hosted by Kai—not because I really want the cameras he is reviewing, but because I find the videos very entertaining. Good on ya, Kai! You may not be entirely original, but you’re doing a great job nonetheless. (BTW, Kai also uses an M8 as one of his primary tools)
This is one of my favourite videos—which played a role (along with people like Drew from MotoringConBrio) in convincing me of the magical powers of rangefinder cameras.
Well this ad is a bit of a farce now, as there are plenty of people who dream about getting a Mitsubishi Evo. Nissan, not so much. If anything this ad is a reminder of how lackluster the 80s/early 90s were for affordable performance cars and how few options people had to finding one. These days, If one cannot afford a new Porsche 911—there are plenty of enjoyable automobiles one can buy to at least enjoy themselves—hell i’d have a Cayman R (as long as it’s PDK) or an Audi TT-RS (as long as it’s DSG) over a 911, so even Porsche realised they could do better.
src: blogAnubis
My Leica M8 is now fully capable, up and running with a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 lens. This is my first time ever owning and using a fully manual camera, and my first time owning and using a Rangefinder. What a machine—-really find it a fascinating piece of equipment. I just put it all together last night, and am still playing around with the settings. Less than 24 hours with it, and these are my favourite photos thus far. Lots more to come in the future, hopefully!
I have no idea what this Chinese cough syrup is made of…but it sure should looks hardcore:
An interesting video. Occasionally borders on cliche, however covers a topic which I often think about. The subtlety by which influencers pass on information to their environment and the people around them is fascinating. This video often deals a bit too much about goods and services, however I feel some of the same principles would apply to philosophical, ideological, and even political ideas.
All types of wonderful. In a sea of beautiful MK1 TTs is this ultra-sweet yellow Audi S3 that’s had a 3.2 V6 transplant and turbocharging.
src: Storm
I’m still really excited about my Leica M8.1, however I always wondered how these cameras are made. Leica always states these are hand assembled, and this fantastic video shows the M8 successor, the M9 in its assembling phases. Very cool attention to detail, and this is part of the reason why their products cost so much. The factory (laboratory?) is also very very german….which is a good thing!
Unfortunately the embedding function does not work on this video (not sure why)…but click through this link to watch: http://vimeo.com/6551861
This painting is by William Roberts and entitled “The Vorticists at The Restaurant De La Tour Eiffel”, from 1915—holding their copy of the Vorticist magazine “Blast” (issue #1).
src: Articles & Texticles
A modern classic. The Audi RS5.
Thanks to Honer (QW) for these pics he took of his new ride.
what kind of state of mind am i in these days? this video does a good job at capturing the atmosphere!
Leica M8.
I don’t even have a lens for it yet, but it is truly a beautiful machine. Can’t wait to get a lens and get clicking!
As i get ready to pick up a new Camera, i’ve been shooting a lot with my Leica D-Lux 3, a fantastic point & shoot camera i’ve had for over 3 years now. It still takes wonderful photos, and is super small. Even after picking up my other camera this weekend (hopefully) i’m still gonna hang onto the D-Lux 3 as my pocket point & shoot.
Not too far away is the beauty of the winter. Find a friend with another Bugatti Veyron and a brisk drive through the winter boulevards and twisties!
This photograph is beautiful and ridiculous at the same time—-but still wonderful!
src: the game gtr
I do love nice watches. These days I am less inclined to want things ‘vintage’ and more inclined to want something totally NEW—inspired by the idea of creating my own legacy and my own vintage rather than buying into somebody else’s. More about this in a later post as well…
I was in search for a truly modern, original, and unique chronograph watch. It had to be automatic, and it had to represent 2012, not 1972. It’s easy to find all sorts of ‘vintage chronographs’ on eBay and to buy into some other history—but I wanted to buy a watch that, in 30 years, someone could look at and appreciate for the time it was made in. This is a small company making low-production watches—with unique features like an ‘external’ watchband bar, chunky beautifully made case, unique dial accenting, and a simply gorgeous transparent rear housing.
Last year, I briefly remember seeing a blip about a London brand called Fitzroy launching a series of Automatic (their own, swiss made automatic movements—again, original) and a modern set of stylish watches which I found thoroughly beautiful and original. You won’t meet anyone else wearing one of these…and furthermore, it is a low-production, interesting, and creative timepiece. Fitzroy Automatic Chronographs start at $880. Their standard Automatic watches start at a touch over $500. They supposedly will have a selection of custom fit designed watchbands available for purchase—however as of yet I have not been able to procure any other bands.
I absolutely love this watch. Appreciation of the modern is the vintage of the future.
IEDEI 