Art & Design In Gear The
Art & Design In Gear The Black Badge Cullinan can be customised with the Viewing Suite for alfresco enjoyment; the car’s hightech cockpit Electric Avenue A quartet of electrics that will capture the imagination this year PORSCHE TAYCAN With the 911, Porsche skilfully evolved a car that came to symbolise the combustion engine age over five decades. With the Taycan, its first production electric vehicle (EV), it is hoping to do the same for a new era. A technical marvel that makes a strong case for being the most advanced car on the planet while still feeling rooted in the present. porsche.com LOTUS EVIJA Now backed by Chinese auto giant Geely, the plucky British marque has announced plans to launch several new models starting with its flagship Evija – a £2m all-electric hypercar with looks to match its performance; an astonishing 1,972hp will help catapult it from 0-300kph in less than nine seconds. lotuscars.com in 2016 with the Black Badge Edition Wraith, via a dramatic, decidedly overstated launch campaign targeting “those who reject conformity and live on their own terms”. In truth, at the time it felt like more of a risk for Rolls-Royce itself. Why jeopardise its status as the industry standard for ultra-luxury by trying so hard to look edgy? But what the Black Badge editions demonstrate is how quickly the profile of customers in this space is changing and how traditional highend manufacturers like Rolls Royce are having to respond. The average age of a Rolls-Royce customer has dropped from mid-50s to 43 over the past ten years alone. Where once its typical customer was a starch-collared CEO, today’s new customers could just as likely be a 30-year-old tech entrepreneur, who may have primarily experienced the brand through Instagram. A third of its customers are in North America, a quarter are from China and 15 per cent are in the Middle East. New customers may also prefer to drive themselves rather than be chauffeured, while the number of women buying luxury cars, particularly SUVs, is also increasing. Rolls Royce has estimated that 20% of its Cullinan customers are female. Atypical is the new typical. In many ways, as an SUV the Cullinan is the Rolls-Royce model most closely attuned to the Black Badge philosophy. Eight out of ten Cullinan owners are new to the brand, and Rolls-Royce has described this version as its “darkest and most urban statement yet”. The consciously aggressive styling tweaks and details, from the carbon-trim and forged leather interior to the dark chrome effect on the grille, handles and exhaust pipes combines to naturally enhance the car’s already imposing stature. An additional 29hp – now producing 592hp over the standard model’s 563hp – is unlikely to feel game-changing but carries just enough grunt to attract competitive buyers for what has officially been described as “the most potent Rolls-Royce ever”. A base Rolls-Royce Cullinan starts at US5,000, with this Black Badge Edition likely to be priced at 20% on top. Which makes for another compelling reason for introducing Black Badge. Increased revenue, a more diverse customer base and a selfmarketing product that helps widen its brand appeal. Fresh from selling 5,152 cars in 2019, the highest in its 116-year history, Rolls-Royce will hope the Cullinan Black Badge plays its part in 2020. rolls-roycemotorcars.com • FORD MUSTANG MACH-E Ford’s announcement that a new Mach-E model would launch at the end of 2020 produced two surprises – firstly, that this motoring giant was throwing its hat into the electric arena with an upmarket SUV, but also that it was doing so under the badge of its legendary sports coupé, the Mustang. ford.com BMW IX3 When it comes to producing electric versions of its ever-popular SUV models, BMW is coming to the party a little later than its main European rivals, but just like the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC from last year, the iX3 looks set to be a fairly solid version of its petrol equivalent, hoping to persuade existing SUV buyers to make the switch with minimal fuss. bmw.com PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: © ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS (2), © PORSCHE, JOHN WYCHERLEY, © FORD, © BMW 46 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
ANTARCTICA 2020-2022 With lands of pristine beauty and breathtaking wildlife, travelling to Antarctica is a long held dream for many. Plan your adventure to the final frontiers of this southern continent, go further and dream bigger. From our passionate Discovery Team members, to the two on-board helicopters and submarine and a wealth of world-class features, Scenic Eclipse is the new benchmark in ultra-luxury cruising. We invite you on board Scenic Eclipse, where luxury meets discovery. Soar above and beyond Dive deep below Truly All-Inclusive Luxury Only 200 guests Spacious all-verandah suites Butler service 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio Up to 10 dining experiences, from casual to fine dining All meals and premium branded beverages* Specialist Polar Discovery Team Immersive Scenic Discovery excursions Indulgent 550m 2 Senses Spa, gym, yoga and Pilates studio Internal flights, airport transfers and tipping For more information and promotion details, contact your travel consultant or email cruises@scenic.eu * All drinks on board are included, except for a few wines as well as exquisite champagne and spirits. Helicopter and submarine at extra charge and subject to official approval. For the complete General terms and conditions please send us an e-mail: cruises@scenic.eu
