BLACKBOOK NEED FOR SPEED
BLACKBOOK NEED FOR SPEED the ultimate one. Firstly, all the drivers own the supercars they drive. Most also have production-model Ferraris at home, but the limited-edition vehicles they drive in the XX and F1 programmes are stateof-the-art machines that are among the most powerfully performing yet created. Mann owns a car that was used in the 2008 F1 season by Kimi Räikkönen. He also has a 599XX, an evolution of the 599 GTB Fiorano that Ferrari’s Enrico Galliera which was introduced earlier this year in very limited numbers, is a development of LaFerrari, a production vehicle with more than 1,000 horsepower that Galliera calls “the most powerful, highest performing car we’ve ever built”. Because of the differences between vehicles – the XX programme has the 599XX, the FXX (based on the Enzo) and the FXX K, while the F1 models differ significantly year by year PROWLING THE STREETS FERRARI 488 GTB Based on insights gleaned from the XX Programme, the engineering in Ferrari’s latest production model, the 488 GTB, makes it one of the most responsive high-performance cars on the globe. Equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre engine, the vehicle – an evolution of the 458 Italia – can zoom from 0 to 100km/h in just three seconds and can reach 200km/h in 8.4 seconds. Variable torque management and the lightning-fast seven-speed transmission ensure breathtaking yet smooth acceleration across the rev range, and the new design includes aerodynamic features that improve downforce and reduce drag. 488gtb.ferrari.com describes as being “louder, faster than the actual Formula One cars”. “Because we don’t have regulations,” he says – meaning the strictures imposed by F1 and similar professional racing circuits on engine size, composition and so on – “we can put the best of our technology to use … we work without limits.” And the XX Programme’s devotion to cutting-edge technology is not just idle interest in speed: “We use these cars to develop our technology for the future.” The latest XX model, the V12-plus-electric FXX K, – owners don’t race each other but themselves at the eight annual events, spread across some of the globe’s most iconic Formula One tracks, complete with trackside Ferrari engineers and mechanics. And the challenge of pushing the machines to their limits, personally coached by former F1 driver Marc Gené, suits them perfectly. “Anybody who likes motor racing has dreamed about Formula One,” says Mann. “How many people can say that they’ve driven a Formula One car?” ferrari.com PHOTOS © FERRARI 34 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
BLACKBOOK FIRST LOOK are the resort’s varied dining options, which range from Yunnan and Cantonese staples (including a a special dim sum lunch) at the elegant Man Yi Xuan restaurant, traditional local brews and snacks at the aptly named Tea House, or Western and Asian dishes made from the freshest ingredients at The Lounge. The six-suite spa, meanwhile, draws upon traditional Chinese medicine, including its signature Tui Na massage, which combines gentle and firm pressures to improve movement and flexibility. Whether you’re taking a dip in the hotel’s peaceful 20m outdoor pool, indulging in a yoga session or reading up on local history at the resort’s comprehensive library, Amandayan is an indulgent base from which to explore the culture-rich surrounds. amanresorts.com CLAUDIA WHITEUS Peak Position Picturesquely located amid some of China’s most spectacular scenery, Aman’s latest project in the country is a homage to both nature and local culture PHOTOS © AMANRESORTS N estled deep within the northwestern reaches of Yunnan province, the fabled city of Lijiang is the remarkable setting for Aman’s third, and perhaps most exciting, China project to date. Unveiled earlier this year, Amandayan rests near the top of majestic Lion Hill overlooking craggy white peaks (including the famed Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) and Lijiang’s UNESCO-protected Old Town, a bustling culture capital of the Nakhi people, and a crucial stop along the Southern Silk Road. Aman’s concept for this striking 35-suite property centres on the area’s historic and natural prowess: its architecture draws from ancient local design elements, incorporating intricate embroidery; meticulous nature-themed wood carvings inspired by the dongba, or Nakhi priests, and stone floors, a nod to the resort’s mountainous surrounds. An attraction in its own right, the nearly 300-year-old Wenchang Palace can also be found on-site, offering guests tradition-infused respite complete with a tree-lined courtyard, colourful artwork and elaborate carvings. Equally befitting its majestic locale Scenes from Yunnan, clockwise from top left: Black Dragon Lake; a house in Baoshan Stone Village; one of Amandayan’s suites; the Jinsha River winding its way through the mountains CONTACT CENTURION SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 35
