Inhaltsverzeichnis für April 2017 in Robb Report

“I know enough of the world now to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything.” —Charles Dickens IF DICKENS’S GREATEST expectations were never subverted, his novels certainly treated readers to shocking turns of plot that—like Mr. Krook’s demise by spontaneous combustion in Bleak House— were inspired by sensational headlines. This month’s Car of the Year feature (page 87) offers a twist of its own, but the most alarming incident occurred behind the scenes of the event, when social-media director Bailey Barnard test-rode an electric bike on display—an experiment that happily ended in collision rather than combustion. “It was a very fast electric bicycle with a breakneck ‘power’ mode,” Bailey says. “But I will live to drive another day.” ANOTHER STAFFER’S enthusiasm for motors also led to…

Back in February, when in much of the Northern Hemisphere yachting enthusiasts could only dream of days warm enough for an ocean cruise, Miami hosted a pair of shows featuring recent launches from Europe, Asia, and the United States. Yachts Miami Beach (showmanagement.com) and the Miami International Boat Show (miamiboatshow.com) presented some of the best new semicustom motor yachts, superyachts, and tenders. Now, with boating season in sight, we revisit those South Florida showcases and spotlight a few of our favorite models that were on display. —MICHAEL VERDON Wallytender X Starting price: $464,000*. Length: 45 feet. Top speed: 60 knots. Accommodations: 1 cabin. Highlights: This reimagination of the iconic day cruiser can carry three Mercury 400R Verado outboards that together produce 1,200 hp. With sun lounges fore and aft and…

FORD IS PREPARING to relaunch the Bronco, the SUV the company produced from 1966 to 1996. Actually, the Bronco predates the term SUV; it was called an MPV (multipurpose vehicle). The company has said the Bronco will return to the production line for the 2020 model year. But why wait until then when there’s already the Icon BR (icon4x4.com), Jonathan Ward’s $200,000 interpretation of the first-generation Ford Bronco? Ward is the founder of Icon, a Southern California company that restores and customizes a variety of classic 4×4s, trucks, and other vehicles. He is a self-described “engineer geek” as well as a Mikhail Baryshnikov–trained ballet dancer; a former Broadway, TV, and film actor; and an amateur photographer. He sets the standard to which other Bronco-restoration shops aspire. “I do this because…

Hamilton Princess & Beach Club • Bermuda’s 132-year-old grande dame—and the America’s Cup host hotel—emerged from a $100 million renovation last year with redesigned rooms, a 60-berth marina, a restaurant by Marcus Samuelsson, and a world-class art collection featuring works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, and Nelson Mandela. thehamiltonprincess.com Hawkins Island • Richard Branson’s Necker Island is the inspiration for this 26-acre private-island resort, located a 10-minute speedboat ride from Hamilton. The fully staffed exclusive-use property—slated to open in May—will eventually accommodate up to 16 guests in a white-roofed main house and a converted guard tower. Reservations available through events@thewaterfront.bm The Loren at Pink Beach • This contemporary hotel and residence complex, which opened in February on the site of the former Pink Beach Club, strikes a sophisticated tone…

BARCELONA’S Plaça del Duc de Medinaceli has a rich pedigree of important residents, from the ordained brothers who built a Franciscan convent there during the 13th century to the Catalonian aristocrats who constructed elegant manor houses along its perimeter in the 1800s. The palm-tree-lined square welcomed a new generation of VIPs last October, when the 57-room Soho House Barcelona (sohohousebarcelona.com) opened inside a pink-hued 19th-century structure on its northern edge, just steps from the Port Vell marina. The hotel and private member’s club—Soho House’s first in Spain—takes cues from its Catalan architecture, with vintage finds and original art pieces scattered throughout. Soho House stalwarts are also present, including the Cowshed Spa (designed to resemble a 1930s pharmacy) and an outpost of London’s Cecconi’s northern Italian restaurant. Members and guests can…

GREAT GOLF COURSES are once again being built in the United States. Following a precipitous post-2008 drop in new development—and a legitimate but over-hyped decline in golf participation—the top American architects are returning to their home turf, designing some of the most beautiful and challenging courses we’ve seen stateside in years. When in Rome • From Mike Keiser, the man behind Oregon’s now-legendary Bandon Dunes, comes a new golf destination on a sandy site roughly halfway between Chicago and Minneapolis in Rome, Wis. In May, the Sand Valley Golf Resort (sandvalleygolf resort.com) will officially unveil its first course, a Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore “inland links” design with acres of sand and dunes, wide vistas, and firm and fast conditions. A second course, from Keiser’s original Bandon Dunes designer David…

No. 1 HURACÁN SPYDER ENGINE 5.2-liter V-10 POWER 610 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.4 seconds TOP SPEED 201 mph STARTING PRICE $262,450 lamborghini.com 911 TURBO S ENGINE 3.8-liter flat 6 POWER 580 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 2.8 seconds (with Sport Chrono) TOP SPEED 205 mph STARTING PRICE $188,100 porsche.com We go into the Car of the Year contest every year expecting that certain vehicles will impress the judges and that others, when compared to the competition, may underwhelm them. We’re also prepared for surprises, for underdogs to excel and favorites to disappoint. However, this year something happened that we didn’t anticipate. The Aston Martin DB11 got off to a fast start, claiming a substantial lead in the votes cast by the first of seven waves of drivers. But…

No. 5 ENGINE 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 POWER 562 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.2 seconds TOP SPEED 204 mph STARTING PRICE $198,950 mclaren.com The Sport series, as McLaren calls its entry-tier model range, includes the grand-touring, long-distance version of the company’s sportier 570S. The 570GT employs genuine supercar technology—including a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and the latest user-interface systems—and is one of the most beautiful new cars on the planet. Acknowledging the 570GT’s stellar appearance, Candy Bhappu called it a “fun, fast car that would definitely turn heads.” But this car has far more going for it than just good looks. Its attributes begin with the handling, which could come only from a company with deep roots in Formula 1 motorsports. In this era of all-wheel-drive supercars, the 570 series sticks…

No. 8 ENGINE 4.4-liter biturbo V-8 POWER 600 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.6 seconds TOP SPEED 193 mph STARTING PRICE $137,995 bmwusa.com The German tuner Alpina begins with the latest-generation BMW 7 Series and modifies the 4.4-liter biturbo V-8 so that it cranks out 600 hp, thus creating what Ari Rubenstein proclaimed “the ultimate car for the BMW enthusiast.” Mike Davis called the four-wheel-drive Alpina B7 a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and Lisa Clark said, “It’s a shark inside of a whale’s body.” Regardless of one’s preferred wildlife analogy, the car is indeed a different animal from the standard 7 Series. In addition to tuning the engine, Alpina fits the B7 with new front and rear bumpers and gleaming 20-spoke chrome wheels, and it offers a choice of exclusive…

No. 11 ENGINE 3-liter V-6 POWER 400 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH Not available TOP SPEED 130 mph STARTING PRICE $63,075 lincoln.com Lincoln resurrected its flagship sedan and presented it in concept form 2 years ago at the New York Auto Show, and then unveiled it in production form last year in Detroit. One judge thinks it will have a major impact on the luxury-sedan market. “It returns to the market not with a splash, but with an earthquake,” proclaimed Najeeb Thomas. An elegant front grille is a focal point of the new design, and if you look closely you’ll see a repeating pattern of the Lincoln star logo in the car’s jewellike headlamps. Zane Edwards called the car “a Continental for the next decade.” Mike Maples was shocked at…

THE OBEROI PHILAE sails between Luxor and Aswan—with stops at the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Edfu along the way—on 4- and 6-night itineraries. Panoramic river views are assured in all 22 staterooms, but for more space and a private balcony, stay in one of the terrace suites (from $1,463 per night). Onboard diversions include a cigar lounge, a movie theater, a spa, a fitness center, and a top-deck swimming pool and alfresco restaurant. Cuisine at the fine-dining restaurant is a blend of Middle Eastern, Western, and Asian fare. Travelers looking to recover from jet lag before a cruise or regain their land legs after one should head to Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh on the Red Sea coast. The 48-acre all-suite resort offers prime pampering…

Hervé Van der Straeten’s rainbow-hued Pipe Show console may seem an unlikely fit among the marble busts and old-master oil paintings of the venerable European Fine Art Fair (tefaf.com). But according to the French designer—whose limited-edition creation recently made its colorful debut at the annual art show in Maastricht, the Netherlands—that’s the point. “For this edition of TEFAF, I wanted to show a piece that would be highly contrasting to a selection of 18th-century productions,” he says. “I wanted to show a piece that would create a dialogue.” Indeed, Pipe Show (vanderstraeten.fr) is a conversation piece. Composed of brightly colored stainless-steel tubes the artist has carefully stacked, the console is a study in contrasts, blending the strength of its material with the fluidity of its form and the warmth of…

1 Inspired by South Pacific grass skirts, this playful gold-and-diamond bracelet from Tiffany & Co. drips with 225 “fronds” that subtly sway with every turn of the wrist. Paired with a set of earrings, the bracelet will be a highlight among the 100 one-of-a-kind creations in Tiffany’s annual Blue Book collection (800.843.3269), which debuts this month at an invite-only VIP gala event in New York. —JILL NEWMAN 2 Italy’s Tankoa Yachts is debuting the first example of its new S501 model (tankoa.it) this month at the MYBA Charter Show in Barcelona. Equipped with foldout terraces that extend over the ocean, open-air lounges, and an alfresco dining deck, the 164-foot boat is built for sun worshippers—who will soon have the chance to charter it in the Western Mediterranean and Balearic Islands.…

• THE DESIGNERS behind the Lucid Air (lucidmotors.com) are clear about the inspiration for their electric luxury sedan. “We wanted to create an executive-jet experience for the road,” said Peter Rawlinson, Lucid Motors’ chief technology officer, in December. Moments earlier, in a warehouse in Fremont, Calif., he had pulled a black silk cover off the Air, the company’s debut automobile. “We’re using cutting-edge technology to minimize space taken up by components and maximize the space for passengers,” he said. The Air’s speed and cabin design certainly do evoke an executive jet. The car is powered by two electric motors—one each in front and back—that together generate 1,000 hp and enable a zero-to-60-mph time of 2.5 seconds. Though this is a midsize sedan, the rear passenger area is spacious enough for…

It is admittedly obsessive. Chef Kyle Connaughtonwho formerly headed the research and development kitchen for Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck in the United Kingdom and has cooked at restaurants from Spago in Beverly Hills to Michel Bras in Japan—rethought every detail of the dining experience at Single Thread (singlethreadfarms.com), the highly anticipated new restaurant he opened in Healdsburg, Calif., with his wife, Katina. “We’ve been together since we were 15,” Connaughton says, “so it’s been a very long conversation between the two of us, traveling, dining, seeing what we liked.” The traditional Japanese inns called ryokan, and their intense devotion to hospitality and intricate kaiseki menus, inspired the couple the most. But clearly, Single Thread is something entirely new—beginning with the moment before you step through the rustic wood door, when…

Less than a decade ago, meat-and-three, barbecue, and chain restaurants dominated Music City’s culinary oeuvre. But as its population has grown and Southern cuisine has become more celebrated, Nashville has stepped up as a dining destination. “It’s changed more in the last 5 years than in the previous 16,” says chef Julia Sullivan of Henrietta Red. “Nashville has reached a tipping point.” Her business partner, Allie Poindexter, attributes the shift to the city’s deeply creative spirit. While celebrity chefs are only now beginning to make a mark here—New Orleans’s John Besh, of August, is the force behind Marsh House—the gastronomic surge is still largely driven by local chefs graduating from well-regarded kitchens, such as those at Husk, City House, and Pinewood Social, and launching their own eateries. Henrietta Red Chef:…

Bermuda successfully outbid serious competition—including sailing hubs like San Francisco and Newport, R.I.—for the honor of hosting the 35th edition of the America’s Cup (americascup.com). Of the more than 100,000 spectators expected for the monthlong event, which runs from May 26 through June 27 on the island’s Great Sound, the most fortunate will arrive via superyacht. For prime positioning, the marina at the new Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Village offers views over the entire racecourse. Additional berths can be booked at Caroline Bay Marina (carolinebaymarina.com), which opened in March just south of the course. Visitors traveling sans private yacht can also catch the action by chartering a crewed catamaran—complete with a personal captain and gourmet chef—from the Moorings (moorings.com). For a view on dry land, head for the private open-air…

KNOWN FOR ITS extravagant hotels in India and beyond, the Oberoi Group unveiled its first destination spa in March with the debut of Oberoi Sukhvilās Resort & Spa (oberoihotels.com). The soothing retreat sits in the forested foothills of the Himalayas, just outside the modernist northern Indian city of Chandigarh. Its 60 guest rooms, villas, and luxury tents are scattered among 25 acres of manicured lawns and reflecting ponds. The heart of the property is its 12,000-square-foot spa, where the requisite ayurvedic and Western therapies are on offer, as are more comprehensive services like bespoke detox and fitness programs. But it’s not all hot stones and sandalwood at Sukhvilās: The enchanting Siswan Forest Range—a favorite for trekking and rappelling—and the many famous gardens of Chandigarh lie just beyond the resort.…

New York • Creative professionals have been lining up for membership at Spring Place (springplace.com) since the club’s launch last June. Members have access to a restaurant, bar, lounge, screening room, music room, and 11,000-square-foot rooftop. Los Angeles • Soho House will open its third L.A.-area outpost next year when Soho Warehouse (sohohouse.com) debuts in a seven-story structure in the downtown Arts District. Expect all the signature amenities, from a rooftop terrace to a Cowshed Spa. London • The world capital of private clubs has added one more to its long list: Devonshire Club (devonshire.club) opened last June with 68 rooms and suites, a brasserie, a garden room, a gym, a spa, and a yoga studio.…

No. 3 ENGINE 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12 POWER 600 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.9 seconds TOP SPEED 200 mph STARTING PRICE $211,995 astonmartin.com The DB11 is the long-overdue successor to Aston Martin’s DB9, which was unveiled in 2003. (The DB10 was a one-off built in 2015 for the James Bond film Spectre.) From the more pronounced version of the brand’s signature front grille to the highly tapered rear end, the DB11 is fitted with new aerodynamic aids that help it slip faster through the air. These also include gills behind the front wheel arches and a deployable rear spoiler, dubbed the Aero Blade. The design optimizes airflow but, according to our judges, not at the expense of aesthetics. David Itz called the DB11 “a work of art,” and Roy Arnold…

No. 6 ENGINE 5.5-liter biturbo V-8 POWER 577 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.8 seconds TOP SPEED 186 mph STARTING PRICE $176,400 mbusa.com Forty-five years had come and gone since Mercedes-Benz last built a four-door flagship convertible. The 1971 280 SE was a stately drop-top propelled by a 3.5-liter V-8 engine that produced 230 hp—an impressive amount of power for its day. Times, of course, have changed, but the desire for a large, elegant, and high-powered convertible remains. The Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet satisfies. It’s a grown-up car that suits drivers who have achieved success but don’t want to shout about it. Eduard de Guardiola called it the perfect fit for “a Mercedes loyalist looking for an edge.” AMG’s hand-built biturbo V-8 generates 577 hp and 664 ft lbs of torque…

No. 9 ENGINE 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12 POWER 563 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 4.8 seconds TOP SPEED 155 mph (limited) STARTING PRICE $339,850 rolls-roycemotorcars .com While our judges seemed to agree that the convertible Dawn is the most attractive car in the Rolls-Royce lineup, the gorgeous drop-top may have been the most polarizing Car of the Year contestant. Some judges called its opulence tasteful and understated; others felt it attracted too much attention. For Russ Faulk, the Dawn, even with its $340,000 base price, offers a value proposition. “It makes you feel like a million bucks,” he said. Brent Holden, a tall gentleman who owns multiple tight-fitting supercars, appreciated the Dawn’s capacious interior. “It offers a smooth and comfortable ride from any seat,” he said. For Mike Trujillo, that includes…

No. 12 ENGINE 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 POWER 565 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH Not available TOP SPEED Not available STARTING PRICE $109,900 nissanusa.com At least one judge was surprised by the GT-R’s performance, given the brand that builds it. “A Nissan does this? Cool,” said Betty Fix. Yes, Nissan—the company that offers the sensible Sentra sedan and Quest minivan—produces a vehicle that runs in elite supercar company. Powered by a 565 hp 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, the all-wheel-drive GT-R reportedly can dash from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, which is faster than the Lamborghini Huracán Spyder and just a tenth of a second slower than the Porsche 911 Turbo S. “It’s a wannabe Porsche,” said Ari Ruben-stein. “It has more power than the 911 GTS, but it doesn’t control…

During its 46 years, San Francisco’s Berggruen Gallery has presented many a high-profile exhibition, from retrospectives of artists including Chuck Close and Ellsworth Kelly to group shows highlighting works by Ed Ruscha, Damien Hirst, and Jasper Johns. The art space’s latest opening, however, is its own: In January, the new Berggruen Gallery (berggruen.com) made its debut in a three-story brick building on the corner of Hawthorne and Howard Streets, across from the recently reopened San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). According to founder John Berggruen, moving the gallery from Downtown to its new location in the SoMa (south of Market) neighborhood “made sense geographically and architecturally.” Indeed, SoMa has emerged as the City by the Bay’s burgeoning art hub, fueled not only by SFMOMA’s relaunch but also by a…

This past fall, about a year before the scheduled U.S. on-sale date of the Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster (mercedes-amg.com), I was in the Nevada desert on a hot and sunny afternoon riding shotgun in a prototype of the open-air hot rod. Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers was at the wheel. It’s cool and rainy in Moers’s native Germany at that time of year, so he and the car were in the Silver State, where he could personally validate its driving dynamics in convertible-friendly conditions while the onboard logging equipment collected data for the AMG engineers to study. He wanted to ensure that the GT C Roadster sounds, feels, and responds exactly as it’s supposed to when you drop the top and take it for a ride on an open road. The…

• A LEATHER TRUNK and saddlebags are distinguishing features of the Indian Roadmaster Classic (indianmotorcycle.com), a new touring bike derived from the brand’s Roadmaster model. The leather is resistant to water and ultraviolet light, and the trunk and saddlebags together have a 33-gallon capacity. They aren’t lockable, but they detach in seconds. The fairing trim, which evokes the ornamentation of a 1950s-era locomotive, is also unique to the Classic. The Classic is a massive bike, stretching nearly 105 inches and weighing 864 pounds. Indian’s splendid 111 cu in Thunder Stroke V-twin engine provides ample power and emits a mellow rumble. The Classic is equipped with Indian’s Ride Command system, which includes a 7-inch touchscreen for controlling the navigation and audio systems and displaying a variety of vehicle information. Available options…

The newly renovated Timber Cove resort (timbercove resort.com) in Jenner, Calif., overlooking the crashing waves of the Sonoma Coast, has debuted its Hirsch Room, where guests may experience vintages by nearby acclaimed winemaker Hirsch Vineyards. At the Sebastopol seafood spot Handline (handline.com), that old menu brag about “pristine local ingredients” is simply accurate. Hog Island oysters, raw or grilled, taste fresh from the surf, and rockfish ceviche brims with seasonal citrus. Chef Perry Hoffman’s new Let Us Cook! menu (four courses for $83, including wine pairings) at Shed (healdsburgshed.com) changes nightly, depending on what catches his eye—perhaps tender smoked pork loin and belly, scattered with spigarello, mustard flowers, shaved radish, and brussels sprouts, all drizzled with a delectable mustard-caper sauce. In the summer, a new garden dining patio will be…

Bermuda’s dining scene—known mostly for its expensive yet unremarkable Continental-style restaurants—is having a breakthrough, with a recent influx of more casual and creative eateries. Devil’s Isle (devilsislecoffee.bm) was among the first to focus on seasonal cuisine when it opened in 2014, offering largely organic dishes like Scottish salmon with green-tea gremolata and line-caught rockfish with tomato, spicy caper, and olive sauce. Village Pantry followed suit with a similarly local-minded ethos (and the same owners). But it was New York–based chef Marcus Samuelsson who took Bermuda dining to new heights when he opened Marcus’ at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, featuring his masterful takes on island favorites like grilled Bermuda onion and fish-chowder croquettes. Old mainstays, meanwhile, have started taking cues from their newer and cooler counterparts. At Rosewood Tucker’s…

SERVING UP HEALTHY INDULGENCES Within Monaco’s borders, which encompass an area smaller than 1 square mile, an eclectic mix of flavors and cuisine is served up in more than 130 restaurants—six of which have earned a combined nine Michelin stars. Some of the restaurants in the Principality are dedicated to healthy eating and all-natural ingredients. At L’Inattendu(e), for example, chef Sylvain Etiévant creates raw and vegan dishes, such as no-rice risotto, that are reshaping patrons’ perceptions of vegetable-focused cuisine. A little over a mile away, tennis star Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, run Eqvita Restaurant, where guests are treated to organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies packed with numerous superfoods, and gluten-free entrees such as roasted-fennel salad with wild rice. At both establishments, guests will learn that healthy meals can still…

Few meaningful decisions are easy. Yet an inability to decide is a difficult dilemma to be dealt, as the philosopher, physician, and psychologist William James acknowledged when he declared, “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.” With these words, this proponent of the school of pragmatism was diagnosing his own condition as a young man. Born into one of the United States’ most gifted families, he struggled with his destiny. His father was the renowned theologian Henry James Sr.; his younger brother, Henry Jr., had already displayed the literary powers that would make him one of the country’s most influential novelists; and his sister, Alice, was widely admired for her keen intellect and nimble wit. William, however, anguished over career options…

No. 4 ENGINE 5.2-liter V-10 POWER 610 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.2 seconds TOP SPEED 205 mph STARTING PRICE $189,900 audiusa.com The R8 is among the judges’ favorites whenever it makes a Car of the Year appearance. It claimed victory in 2008—its debut year—and second place three times. This year, the V10 Plus variant was edged out of a podium finish by the slimmest of margins. According to John Terlato, “It makes you confident enough not to feel obligated to purchase the Porsche.” The two-seat sports car has been subtly redesigned with a reshaped hexagonal front grille, new LED headlights, and an updated back end that includes a larger rear spoiler. Notably, the carbon-fiber “side blade” that was once a single piece spanning the length of the C pillar…

No. 7 ENGINE 5-liter supercharged V-8 POWER 575 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 3.5 seconds TOP SPEED 200 mph STARTING PRICE $125,950 jaguarusa.com The fastest Jag since the 213 mph XJ220 supercar of the 1990s, the F-Type SVR Coupe probes 200 mph territory and plays hardball in the big-cat league. This is the third F-Type to compete in the Car of the Year contests, and it is certainly the best yet. Roy Arnold, no stranger to fast GTs, called it “the affordable entry point in the high-performance field. It’s a baby supercar.” Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations division spent 2 years developing the SVR. It’s the hardest-edged variant of the F-Type, with 25 hp more than the F-Type R and a special exhaust system made of titanium and Inconel (an alloy…

No. 10 ENGINE 6-liter twin-turbo W-12 POWER 600 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 4 seconds TOP SPEED 187 mph STARTING PRICE $229,100 bentleymotors.com The Bentayga grants the wishes of drivers who have been clamoring for a $300,000 SUV. Its serious off-road capabilities, impressive on-road performance, fastidious fit, and luxurious finish make this the SUV to beat. In typical Bentley fashion, the brand has ladled on opulence with a herd’s worth of quilted leather, handlaid veneer, and sumptuous carpets. “The interior is amazing. It’s a rolling condominium,” said David Saunders. Lewis Gold likened his time in the Bentayga to “riding in a Birkin bag.” Almost everyone agreed that the vehicle’s performance matches its wonderful excess. Equating the Bentayga to a Continental GT on high, Lisa Clark said, “It feels like you’re…

No. 13 ENGINE 3-liter twin-turbo V-6 POWER 404 hp ZERO TO 60 MPH 5 seconds TOP SPEED 150 mph (limited) STARTING PRICE $87,465 cadillac.com The problem with platinum is that without close examination, it’s easily mistaken for stainless steel or some other quotidian material. Such is the challenge faced by Cadillac. Despite a decade of fine offerings, including the CTS-V, the marque suffers from a made-in-Detroit stigma. That’s a shame, because, as a few of our judges recognized, the CT6 Platinum is a really good car. Top-notch performance and amenities and overall excellence usually go hand in hand with a six-figure price tag, but the CT6 delivers these attributes for a lot less. “It’s surprisingly comfortable, with excellent handling and acceleration,” said Nick Nikolov. Some judges damned the car with…

In the beginning, the Philae was simply adequate. Like most riverboats plying the Nile River, it was big and boxy with four decks and a paddlewheel—a Middle Eastern version of a Mississippi cruiser. The rooms were cramped and the hallways dark, and though the lobby’s grand staircase added an Agatha Christie sort of charm, the decor was more timeworn than timeless. By 2011, after 15 years of service, the Philae was clearly past its prime. Then along came India’s Oberoi Group, a luxury hotel chain that had been operating Nile cruises aboard the Oberoi Zahra since 2007. In the Philae, the company saw an opportunity to build a sibling ship that would be the finest Egypt had ever seen. And so, after striking a deal with the Philae’s Saudi owners,…

4VOO, page 147 4voo.com Aston Martin, pages 8-9 astonmartin.com Becker Automotive Design, page 61 beckerautodesign.com Bell & Ross, page 107 bellross.com Benchmark Wine Group, page 77 benchmarkwine.com Bevolo, page 123 bevolo.com BMW of North America, Cover 4 bmwusa.com Bobbie Carlyle Sculpture, page 121 bobbiecarlylesculpture.com Brando, The, page 39 thebrando.com Bruno Magli, page 33 brunomagli.com Carl F. Bucherer, page 86 carl-f-bucherer.com Chanel, page 12 chanel.com Christopher Designs, page 29 christopherdesigns.com Coffin & Trout, page 38 coffinandtrout.com Cowboy Cauldron, page 143 cowboycauldron.com Crystal Aircruises, page 14 crystalaircruises.com Delta Private Jets, page 124 deltaprivatejets.com Domus Design Collection, page 67 ddcnyc.com Flexjet, pages 128-129 , Cover 3 flexjet.com Four Seasons Resort & Residences, Napa…