Benz flies us to Hamburg to witness the birth of the 2014 S-Class
Ok now picture this: You’ve been flown to Hamburg, Germany to witness the reveal of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship vehicle, the hallowed S-Class. They shuttle you to a giant hangar at the Airbus factory, next to where the fuselage of the world’s biggest commuter plane, the A380, is built. Once there the fine craftsmen at Benz ply you with plate after plate of gastronomic delicacies, and then wash it all down with bottles of champagne, Johnny Walker and enough alcohol to stun the entire Florida State campus. Once you’re good and well plied they lead you to a large auditorium where a gorgeous blond begins to recite the many excellences of the Mercedes brand, and then shows on a large screen the guest of honor, the S-Class, arriving to the factory in a massive red and yellow DHL airplane. Sure, it’s all quite opulent — but nothing we haven’t seen before.
And then, suddenly, it happens. The back wall opens up exposing the wide rain-slicked airfield behind it, the backdrop of which is an enormous A380. A SLS AMG sits center, and then begins doing donuts. Before it can finish a 720, a representative of each of the vast Benz fleet rushes from out of view to the tarmac, lead by the S-Class itself. Fireworks start shooting into the sky, lighting up the dark clouds with their plumes of gold. Actual lightning flashes across the skies. It could not have been scripted any better by Punor himself (or as the Norse call him, Thor). Then the S-Class rides onto the stage of the luxury suite, the back door opens, and out walks Alicia Keys. At that very moment, actual thunder boomed.
It was fitting Punor oversaw the festivities, because not only is he the Germanic god of thunder but he’s also the god of hallowing, as in consecrating. And for Mercedes Benz there is no vehicle more holy than the S-Class, their flagship car and the very vehicle on which they pin their long-earned laurel wreath of luxury. The S-Class represents luxury, and the S-Class unlike any other car in their line-up represents Mercedes-Benz.
Hence the bombastic pomposity of the event. This was no time for subtlety, as the Tristar decided to consecrate the evening with all guns blazing. And fireworks shooting into the black clouds.
So Alicia sat down in front of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra (yes, they invited the actual Hamburg Symphony Orchestra) and proceeded to serenade the hall of international auto journalists, executives and guests with “That Girl Is On Fire”, in a voice that sent goosebumps crawling across arms. There are worse fates than to be flown to Germany to witness the unveiling of a world class luxury car, let me tell you.
Hit the Jump to continue reading Debut Of Luxury: Alicia Keys, Hamburg, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Most Technologically Advanced Sedan Ever…
One of the more famed silhouettes in the storied Jordan Brand, the Air Jordan 4, is receiving a re-release with a unique “Stealth” colorway. While the rest of the world celebrates the Air Jordan 5?s 23rd anniversary, Jordan Brand will release this previous high-top with a black and stealth upper and white speckled midsole. No date yet for release, but the Air Jordan 4 “Stealth” should be dropping sometime in June.
Les Forges MDK's homage to the 1980s automotive icon
German artist/illustrator Les Forges MDK has designed these iPhone 5 cases after one of the more enduring icons of both automotive and the 1980s. The DeLorean DMC-12 — and specifically its grill — is used as the inspiration to these cases, and features DeLorean’s logo with the vertical slits of its fascia. No word yet on production, but if Les Forges MDK himself doesn’t produce these, certainly someone had better.
Plenty of android "Random Access Memories" loveliness
Sure, you can watch Episode 8 of Vice’s Collaborators series with Paul Williams below, or you could actually listen to some new Daft Punk — specifically their track with Panda Bear (who was Episode 5 of the Collaborators Series). The Panda Bear track “Doin’ It Right” is definitely up our alley, in our humble opinion much better than the Pharrell Williams track — but I know a lot of people are really feeling that one so who are we to say. Anyway, enjoy the music and video until May 21st when Daft Punk’s latest LP, Random Access Memories will be released — pre-order it now on iTunes.
Listen to “Doin’ It Right” with Panda Bear below and Episode 8 Of “Collaborators” Series With Paul Williams below that…
Taschen's 130 lbs leather-bound tome of exotic photos
Benedikt Taschen and Sebastião Salgado talk in this 5-minute long video below about the 32 destinations visited by the latter — most of which had no roads leading to them except the ones made by human footprints. Salgado also discusses the effects the making of his book Migrationshad on him — how the subject matter he chose to capture in that work (published in 2000) saw him photographing and watching people die. The Migrations project sent Salgado into a depression that made him want to stop photographing all together, a profession which had been his artistic calling since the 1970s. When the Paris-based artist and his wife went on a trip to plant a rain forest, Salgado was so sure that none of the trees he planted would grow. A year later he returned and saw that indeed the trees had grown; it was his saving grace, he realized, “that is where all life is.” He returned to photography and his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, conceived the inspiration for this new book of photographs from Salgado and Taschen: Genesis.
Salgado’s lastest are the truly stunning photographs that resulted from his return to photography — an epic eight-year expedition to rediscover the mountains, deserts and oceans, the animals and peoples (think tribal) that have so far escaped the imprint of modern society. The Collector’s Edition comes with a custom book stand made of cherry wood designed by Tadao Ando. Worldwide there will be 3,000 limited edition numbered and signed sets. The project was edited and designed by Lélia Wanick Salgado and comes in 2 volumes bound in quarter-leather and cloth. Coming in SUMO size (18.4 x 27.6 in.,) included is also a cloth-bound caption book all delivered in a wooden cargo box that weighs a total of 130 lbs. Genesis costs $4,000. Check out the gallery below for a quick look of the Ando stand and a few other details of Genesis.
50th Anniversary single-seater designed by Walter de Silva
Lamborghini continues its self-aggrandizing 50th Anniversary celebrations with what could be its most far-fetched, out of this world vehicle yet. The Egoist concept is thus named because the car can only fit the (self-absorbed) driver, with no room for anyone else in his life. It also features a carbon fiber and aluminum “hybrid” chassis, and is so tight that the steering wheel has to be removed in order to enter or exit. The windshield glass that contains the driver even has anti-radar technology, which will surely be needed anytime the Egoist is fired up (even if you’re not speeding, you think a cop isn’t pulling you over in this?). The car was penned by famed designer Walter de Silva, the current head of Volkswagen Group Design — lord eminent over the Lamborghini brand — who drew inspiration for the car from the Apache helicopter. Just looking over the angular shuriken-like edges of the hypercar you can see why. Although short on details, it is said the Egoist will be powered by the same V10 that powers the Lamborghini Gallardo. As this is only a concept at this point, there is no price for this advanced weapon of asphalt destruction.
