The Versatile Gent

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/motorcyclist-escapes-certain-death/

Motorcyclist Escapes Certain Death In Insane Crash Footage

A motorcyclist under the Youtube moniker HAMMY MOTO has escaped certain death in one of the most insane pieces of crash footage you’re likely ever to see.

Clearly doing speeds he shouldn’t have been (why else would he have blocked out the speedo), the bike begins to wobble and he can be seen trying to regather it before drifting towards a Semi Trailer in the lane next to him. He then loses control of the bike and hits the deck sliding beneath the back wheels of the truck and the side skirts of the trailer it was towing only to emerge on the other site essentially unscathed.

As a motorbike rider, an incident like this is enough to leave you sick and as any motorist, you can appreciate just how lucky this chap is to be alive.

Check it out below:

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/drakes-ss18-lookbook/

Drake’s SS18 Lookbook Is The Perfect Combination of Style and Nostalgia

In recent years (much to my liking) menswear has become inadvertently more casual and it’s the brands who have, either helped shape this, or recognised it, and convey it through their marketing collateral that will stand the test of time.

Case in point is Drake’s and their Spring Summer 2018 lookbook is an execution to be admired, both a showcase and a story. Casual in the presentation of the product and playful via the publication of imagery, the new lookbook examines the tenets of classic American style, recasting them in a distinctly European context.

“Mid-century Ivy favourites such as Madras and seersucker meet the insouciant flair of Italian tailoring, offering suits and jackets cut in our soft house style. With an irreverent disregard for the distinctions between formal and casual, the collection suggests pairings of jaunty terry cloth polos with refined sport coats; rugged linen overshirts with elegantly tailored trousers.

Landscape shots of the environs of Charleston, South Carolina, provide a suburban mise-en-scène – an idealised look at America through an inquisitive, European lens: a photographic representation of our Spring/Summer collection.”

Superbly described and wonderfully executed. To view Drake’s SS18 lookbook in all of its glory head to their website.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/mclaren-570s-spider-review/

The McLaren 570S Spider Is As Good As Driving Gets

I know I’m prone to exaggeration but I wouldn’t hesitate to say that there’s a serious chance that I’ve spent more time in and around the McLaren brand of late than some of the owners themselves. Fortunately, my enthusiasm for the manufacturer allows me to revel in such experiences, piloting some of the world’s finest supercars around town like a foreign uni student.

The latest of course, was a Yellow McLaren 570S Spider, the very car I attended the local launch in October 2017. The convertible variant sits alongside the Coupe and the GT which I reviewed, and adored, late last year.

Conscious of how much McLaren content had appeared on the website in recent months, I intended to distance my 570S Spider drive but when you get a phone call on a Thursday saying you’re welcome to a car the very next day, and you’ve got a trip to Gerringong planned, it really is impossible to say no.

It’s obscenely arrogant to say but christ I’ve gotten comfortable driving these cars. There’s not a single ounce of hesitation anymore. To be fair there hasn’t been for sometime, but in McLaren’s case I feel so at home, cocooned in the Carbon tub, gripping the perfectly designed steering wheel and squeezing every inch of life out of McLaren’s phenomenal twin turbo V8.

Come on, you didn’t think I was that arrogant did you?

If I defined ‘every inch of life’ to less than half of the car’s capabilities, then perhaps I could boldly say that I’d pushed the 570S Spider it to its limits. Don’t get me wrong, I gave it a red hot poke through a deserted National Park at 7am on a warm sunny Monday morning, but wow I’d like to see it at the hands of Jenson Button, taming the Anglesey Circuit.

As I said with the 570GT, no one needs and more power than what the 419 kW variant of this engine delivers. McLaren offer it, but no one needs it. While I applauded the practicality of the GT, in retractable roof form, the 570 is at its finest. Emotions run hotter than the serving platter sized carbon ceramics as the unperturbed Spider swallows the road in front of you, ducking, diving, bobbing and weaving to the chorus of a pack of ravenous yet expertly groomed German shepherds – enjoyed ten fold with the wind flicking at my receding hairline.

In Sydney, the Yellow 570S Spider turned heads, in sleepy Gerringong, it broke necks. People came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the banana coloured space object sitting in the street. When we took it over the the bowls club, crowds exited the building to gather and admire while Pete and I sat on the balcony, quietly sipping our middies of Reschs as jubilant teens posed for photos and scoured the surrounding area for its owner.

The 570S Spider is nothing short of phenomenal. From spirited squeezes to traipsing around town, there’s not a thing it can’t do well, aside from getting over things. I found it to be the most rewarding and most exciting of the three 570 bodies on offer, I also think it’s the best looking, although I would never get it in Yellow – these cars draw enough attention at it is.

With a price tag of $435,750 ($501,644 as tested) the McLaren 570S Spider commands a serious chunk of your cash but when you sit it next to the Ferrari 488 Spider which commands a $200,000 premium before options, you’re fetching yourself a relative bargain, and putting a far rarer beast into your stable.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/ferrari-portofino-byron-bay/

Ferrari Unveil Stunning New Ferrari Portofino In Byron Bay

Australian media and VIP customers were flown to Byron Bay last week for the local unveiling of the all-new Ferrari Portofino.

No expense was spared for the exclusive launch, with media transported to the recently renovated Elements of Byron Resort via Business Class flights and welcomed with in-room gifts from Ferrari, Tom Ford fragrances and La Prairie cosmetics.

Chosen as Australia’s answer to the famous town from which the Ferrari Portofino Grand Tourer takes its name, guests spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool, coconut margaritas in hand. Later, dressed in white, media gathered amongst the trees for cocktails before being whisked away to the Beach Club for a delicious dinner by the sea followed by a dramatic unveiling of the Ferrari Portofino, introduced by Ferrari Australasia CEO, Herbert Appleroth.

In the flesh, the new Ferrari Portofino is captivating, with a wide and aggressive stance and clear aerodynamic advancements over the outgoing California T. The retractable hardtop roof appears to complement the appearance of the car while up, giving the vehicle a sleek and elegant coupe-like profile, and when hidden, a sporty open-top GT.

In a first for the brand, the Ferrari Portofino features electronically-controlled by-pass valves to both tame and glorify the famous V8 engine note on the way to 100km in just 3.5 seconds. This allows for muted driving in urban areas, appealing to the everyday user, a moderately actuated version and a raw expression of the 441 kW engine, all while drivers take advantage of the Portofino’s stiffer lighter chassis, refined suspension set up and zero turbo lag.

In the shadows on the night of the launch, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the beauty of the Ferrari Portofino cockpit, however, the cockpit’s symmetrical arrangement and the improved rear seat space are distinct improvements on the California T. I also found the Bordeaux interior against the Grey Grigio Titanio paintwork a subtle but striking combination.

Ferrari will roll out three new standalone dealerships in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast in 2018 where the Ferrari Portofino will retail for $398,888 excluding on roads.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/lakeside-refuge/

26 Year Old DJ Builds Sublime Lakeside Retreat In Brazil

I’m trying to remember what I was doing at 26 years old, certainly wasn’t building a stunning lakeside retreat for me and my friends to ‘enjoy good music’, as was the brief to Cadi Arquitetura.

The 26-year-old owner, a prominent local DJ, required a refuge in the middle of nature, perched atop the mountains of Rio Grande do Sul near the city of Imigrante. The 96m² cabin is purpose-built for leisure and thus has no bedrooms, just a living space, bathroom, kitchen and dining facilities which open onto a large courtyard by the lake with decking bench and a floor grill also used as a fireplace.

The surrounding scenery inspired a rustic style with extensive use of wood and Jacarandá stones in their raw state, that is, without mortar between them reminiscent of the existing taipas in the place. The interior features industrial styling, complemented by a 3m wide fireplace and warm wood and leather surfaces that create a relaxed and homely vibe.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/gtr-nismo/

The Nissan GT-R Nismo Is A Road Going Race Car

$300k can get you a lot of car these days. Not only are you well into high-performance territory from the Germans, but you’re also not that far off scooping up something new from the Brits. You might even be swayed by something second hand from the Italians, which is why I have always found the Japanese built Nissan GTR to be such a fascinating proposition, and the GT-R Nismo, absolutely mind-boggling. At the launch of the Nissan Qashqai, I scored the best seat in the house, sitting alongside the brand’s General Manager of Corporate Comms who insisted that I had to try the GT-R Nismo Edition for myself. Months later I was behind the wheel of the most race-bred and aggressively tuned vehicle I’d ever driven, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo is not a car for everyone, in fact, it’s a car for very few. Outside of the fact that it looks like it came straight from the set of 2 Fast 2 Furious, it’s unbelievably uncomfortable to spend any more than a couple of hours in and it costs a staggering $300k plus on roads. But I must say, it is one of the most exhilarating things I’ve ever sat behind the wheel of, delivering stomach-wrenching acceleration, Clag like grip and a driving experience like no other.

This unique experience I’m referencing is not based solely on performance; even though it’s probably the first car I’d pick if I had to navigate a track as quickly as possible, it’s about the Nismo’s characteristics. Never before have I genuinely felt like I was driving a race car on the road. Every part of it has been designed to increase rigidity, aero and air flow. There’s a sense of mechanical rawness about the Nismo, like nothing I’ve driven in the past. It is so stiff, so direct, so poised, a car with only one purpose – to go fast.

On Sydney roads, it is both unnecessary and almost intolerable. Along McPherson St, in Cremorne, you’re almost bounced out of your seat. Brittle is a word that springs to mind, but can’t quite do it justice. I said the Focus RS had a harsh ride; the Nismo makes the RS feel like a Rolls-Royce Phantom. There’s a comfort mode, but you wouldn’t know it. The gearbox groans and clunks as you decelerate, preferring to engage first on its own accord – it’s as if Nismo doesn’t want you to do anything except flog it.

And flog it I did.

Just a week after steering a 570S Spider through the National Park (a drive I thought I’d unlikely top), I returned at dawn with my Hattori Hanzō blade ready to slice my way through some of my favourite roads in the state, and all I could say was WOW.

Suddenly it becomes apparent why the car is the way it is; there’s nothing on your mind except you and the tool you’re wielding. You can feel everything, how responsive the steering is, how sharp the gearchanges are, how flat it is through the corners. The boost, oh my lord – it’s utterly insatiable. How the Nismo can pull so hard from the mid-range in third and even fourth is beyond my comprehension, as is the grip. The rear feels so pinned, clearly benefiting from the monstrous carbon fibre wing perched atop the boot (it actually has quite a practical boot too). There’s no roll and no understeer, it just hunts corner after corner and propels you from each without a care in the world. It’s as enjoyable as driving gets.

And that is why the Nissan GT-R Nismo Edition has a place in any motoring enthusiasts garage. It might not be your first or your second choice, might not be your third, but I can tell you right now, even if you had 100 cars there would be days you’d wake up and say, all I want to do is drive the Nismo today – it would never get lost because it’s such a unique and exhilarating proposition.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/range-rover-sport-phev-dragons-challenge/

The Range Rover Sport PHEV Dragon Challenge Is JLR's Best Stunt Yet

Earlier this month, in my Jaguar E-Pace review, I commented on JLR’s proficiency at conceptualising and completing awe-inspiring stunts with their new cars. Last week, they published their Dragon Challenge clip featuring the new Range Rover Sport PHEV (which I’ll be driving next month) and it might just be their best stunt yet.

Not only does the clip capture the suspense of driving the harrowing stretch of road and up the 999 steps to Heavens Gate, it entertains by introducing additional personalities with their own stories about the famous Tianmen Mountain in China.

Formula E driver Ho-Pin Tung was tasked with the navigating the Range Rover P400e through the seven miles and 99 turns before a nerve-racking ascent up to the Heaven’s Gate rock arch which no vehicle has ever set tire on. Jaguar Experience’s Phil Jones explained that his team had no way of proving that the Sport PHEV could handle the unique challenge. One errant steering or throttle input and the 293kw Range Rover Sport would come tumbling down the treacherous staircase.

For me, the Range Rover Sport PHEV activation was both entertaining and wonderfully shot, and I can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for Defender in 2019!

Check out the epic clip below.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/john-lobb-knighton/

John Lobb Created The Ultimate Slipper

A friend of mine recently purchased a $3000 silk dressing gown and it’s so lavish and ridiculous that it manages to break out of the novelty realm to be appreciated for exactly what it is, the nicest (and most unnecessary) piece of clothing I’ve ever seen. These John Lobb Knighton slippers conjure similar feelings.

No stranger to the pages of TVG, John Lobb are world renowned for their bespoke and ready to wear shoes which you can find in Sydney and Melbourne at Double Monk. In recent years they’ve expanded their portfolio to include sneakers, boat shoes and, as you can see here, slippers.

  These John Lobb Knighton examples are produced in an array of sumptuous Cashmere Suede colours, with reverse Suede detailing. The carefully crafted new last and padded sole has been designed to make this slipper the ultimate travelling & lounging companion. Not only does each individual slipper arrive with a customised bag, the pair also folds away into a neat travel pouch for ultimate portability.

Sure they’re US$654 a pair and only made to order, but when you’ve got your feet up in Cathay Pacific’s First Class seat, there’s really only one pair of shoes worth wearing.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/peroni-firenze-whisky-set/

Peroni Firenze Leather Bound Book Box Reveals Hidden Whisky Decanter Set

Purveyors of the world’s finest footwear, Double Monk, aren’t as well known for retailing exquisite accessories, however, this is likely to change by the end of this article. Recently the team featured this incredible Peroni Firenze whisky box and crystal decanter set and I just had to share it.

For the man who needs a dram more discreet than the bar in a globe, comes the bar in a pile of leather-bound books – what can only be described as the ultimate desk accessory.

The handmade box by Peroni Firenze opens to reveal a space for a crystal decanter and four glasses, “For the man who has everything and will stop at nothing.”

Fratelli Peroni was formed in 1956 by brothers Piero and Roberto Peroni. Both men had a passion for traditional Italian leatherworking and dreamed of producing the very best that their many generations of craftsmanship could offer. Nowadays, Peroni represents the highest expression of the ‘cuoio artistico fiorentino’, with the colouring, shaping and finishing of the leather all done entirely by hand. Anyone with a passion for beautiful handcrafted objects should own a Peroni masterpiece.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/russell-crowe-auction/

Russell Crowe To Auction Personal Watch Collection In Sydney

Maximus Decimus Meridius will shed half his personal watch collection at Sydney memorabilia auction on April 7 this year. News of the auction came from Twitter, with Russell Crowe sharing information about the auction in December.

“This auction I’m having April 7th in Sydney will feature no less than 29 watches!!” the actor tweeted, adding that the number represents “over half my collection.” His tweet included a photo of a Panerai Luminor GMT Automatic; when asked by a follower if the watch was his first Panerai, Crowe confirmed that it was, noting that it was “purchased in Madrid while promoting Proof of Life, just after being nominated for Gladiator.”

In a later tweet, Crowe confirmed that each of the watches sold would come with a signed letter both authenticating the piece and offering a brief anecdote about its origins. An accompanying photo featured an example, with notes about a Rolex Cellini that stated “purchased during the shooting of American Gangster” above his signature.

He went on to confirm that the following brands would be represented in the sale: Panerai, Rolex, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard, Breitling, Omega, IWC, Asprey, Chanel among others.

We’ll update this article with further information on the Russell Crowe memorabilia auction as it lands.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/d-type-continuation/

Jaguar Classic Set to Build 25 D-Type Continuation Models

I made a comment in my recent E-Pace review that JLR can do no wrong at the moment and I think this latest piece of news from the Jaguar Classic department further confirms my thoughts. Yes, my friends, Jaguar is going to revive their iconic Le Mans triumphant D-Type with a run of 25 continuation models making up for the 100 they intended to build, prior to their decision to cease racing in 1957. 

The D-Type continuation follows successful E-Type, XKSS and Land Rover Classic projects and will premiere at Salon Rétromobile in Paris later this week in the form of a 1956 Longnose spec. The 25 cars will be meticulously hand built and ‘period correct’, with clients given the choice of either a 1954-1955 shortnose model or the 1956-1957 longnose spec.

‘The opportunity to continue the D-Type’s success story, by completing its planned production run in Coventry, is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects that our world-class experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic are proud to fulfill.’  – Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director

Just like the three cars that took the chequered flag at Le Mans’, the continuation cars will feature the six-cylinder XK engine and be created to ‘authentic, original specification’ – though each one will be finished to the exacting request of the customer and feature some minor safety enhancements.

The Jaguar D-Type continuation will be priced from £1 million.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/amg-73-badge/

Mercedes-AMG Set To Revive Big Hitter '73' Badge

Forget ’63’ and ’65’, if you were a real hitter in the 1990s you sported the numbers ’73’ at the rear of your MB.

The car was the SL73, and they’re rarer than rare, with only 85 made between 1999 and 2001 and 50 rumoured to have gone directly to the Sultan of Brunei. The SL73 which went on to inspire the SL65 was powered by the Mercedes-Benz M120 7.3 litre V12, producing 525hp (391kW) the engine which went on to power the Pagani Zonda (in case you always wondered!).

Last month rumours circulated that AMG planned to eclipse their current 63 and 65 models with the launch of an SL73 version of the next-gen SL, powered by a V8 hybrid setup potentially delivering 805 horsepower instead of the famous V12. Reports from Motor1 has discovered Mercedes-Benz has, in fact, filed trademarks with the European Union Patent and Trademark Office, which point to more than just a SL73 in the revived 73 series.

The trademark filings include ‘G73’, ‘GLS73’ and ‘S73’, hinting at hot versions of the S-Class, G-Class and GLS. There were also trademark filings that indicate 40 and 50 series models are on the way for AMG’s smaller cars. Curiously there was no “SL73,” but then again it’s likely Mercedes already has the trademark reserved.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/hereditary-trailer/

Hereditary, This Year's Most Horrifying Film Is Rated 100% On Rotten Tomatoes

Hereditary is the first feature-length film from writer-director Ari Aster and has already received an incredible response from its screening at last month’s Sundance Film Festival.

The film, which stars Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne as the parents of a family dealing with grief, received universal praise this year with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many tipping it to be a breakout hit this summer. Not only are critics calling it the scariest movie of the year, many have reported it has the substance to match its scares.

“It gets at something sophisticated: the way that mental and emotional damage becomes part of a family’s spirit, and is therefore passed on as if it were…a spirit. Wherever you stand on the subject of paranormal activity, this is a drama attuned to the ghosts of parent-child communion that live in all of us.” – Owen Gleiberman for Variety.

Check out the trailer below:

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/falcon-heavy/

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Makes Historic Maiden Voyage

In what has been described as the most significant space launch since the first shuttle launch nearly four decades ago, the SpaceX Falcon Heavy completed its maiden flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this morning – accompanied by the sounds of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

Standing 23 stories tall, Falcon Heavy flew unmanned for its demonstration launch with Elon Musk’s own Tesla Roadster on board for the ride. Falcon Heavy rocket is SpaceX’s largest rocket yet and the most powerful booster since NASA’s mighty Saturn V moon rocket. Its first stage is powered by three core boosters based on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, with 27 engines firing in unison to produce about 5 million lbs. of thrust at liftoff – equivalent to eighteen 747’s taking off.

Amazingly all three first-stage core boosters returned to Earth much like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets have in the past. Two boosters touched down perfectly at SpaceX landing sites at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station near KSC with the third arriving on SpaceX’s drone-ship landing pad “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Falcon Heavy’s unique payload, Musk’s own Tesla and its dummy passenger ‘Starman’ riding atop the rocket’s second stage will coast 6 hours through Earth’s Van Allen belts before restarting its engine to send the Roadster and Starman toward Mars.

The launch was the most ambitious yet for Elon Musk’s space company, putting SpaceX at the top of a short list of available heavy-lift rockets. Falcon Heavy is both more powerful and capable of lifting more weight than the biggest rockets offered by either United Launch Alliance (a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture) or Arianespace – at a fraction of the cost.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/reverso-tribute-enamel/

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel: Where Art Meets Art-Deco

Hot off an impressive SIHH showcase, Jaeger-LeCoultre has unveiled an exquisite collection of limited edition Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces, channelling three masters of the art world, Georges Seurat, Xu Beihong and Katsushika Hokusai.

To enhance the art of enamelling and engraving, mastered in the Vallée de Joux workshops, the Grande Maison had the idea of giving its iconic Reverso pieces two faces revealing a work of art. On the front, a finely hand-guillochéd dial, covered in translucent Grand Feu enamel which is in harmony with the back of the watch.

On the reverse, a painstakingly enamelled miniature of a painting with a particular technique paying homage to three styles: pointillism, ink wash painting and Japanese woodblock printing. In order to represent these three techniques, never before applied to enamel in miniature at Jaeger-LeCoultre, three of their greatest masters were selected through one of their works: Georges Seurat, Xu Beihong and Katsushika Hokusai.

For these pieces of art, the Reverso Tribute Enamel, with its iconic Art Deco styling, was chosen. A case in white gold was created especially to host the enamel miniature.

New Post has been published on https://www.theversatilegent.com/etihad-axe-complimentary-spa-treatments/

Etihad Axe Complimentary Treatments In First & Business Lounge

‘Flying Reimagined’ is quickly becoming a tagline Etihad may live to regret, given the score of cost-cutting measures the airline continues to take.

Last year I reported on Etihad selling First Class Lounge access in Abu Dhabi, and last week, news that their Style and Shave Salon would no longer be providing complementary treatments broke the internet. The salon which previously provided First Class passengers with a complimentary wet shave, manicure, blow dry, or beard trim (which I thought was excellent when I reviewed the Business Class) will be closed, with only the Six Senses spa in Terminal 3 remaining open for a 15 min massage.

I’m fascinated that they’ve chosen to axe the Style and Shave salons altogether rather than just extend the nominal fee (which they previously charged Business flyers) to First Class passengers, as it really was a great point of difference.

Style and Shave Salon Abu Dhabi

Fortunately, I can report that the new First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi, even without the salon, is very good, however, this news is a worrying sign for Etihad and Virgin devotees coming off the back of the airline axing Business Class pyjamas and selling them to Economy passengers.

While this may seem fairly inconsequential, perks like this encourage flyers to earn status with the airline so they can access the lounges, which also boosts sales. If there is no longer desire to use the lounges in Abu Dhabi, there is no reason to transit there – it’s a hell hole as it is.

As a trickle on, it also effects Etihad’s partner airlines whose premium flyers may decide not to pursue their status. I for one am transitioning away from Virgin, as I’m more captivated by the offerings at Hong Kong airport with brilliant lounges by Qantas and Cathay Pacific, not to mention Qantas’ new lounge at Heathrow. My personal opinion is that the One World Emerald Lounge selection at HKG is leaps and bounds better than either Etihad or Emirates.