Connoisseur Episode 103

Welcome to Connoisseur. Ladies and gentlemen, restart your engines and buckle up for the next episode. This week we'll be admiring the latest Ferrari, a yacht, and exotic travel destinations. Join us as we delve into art, fashion, watches, and homes in the upcoming weeks. Immerse yourself in the luxury lifestyle and share the Connoisseur experience with your fellow passengers.

911 GT3 RS

The new Porsche 911 (992) GT3 RS features a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine that delivers 525PS* and 386 kW/346 lb-ft of torque. As with every RS the 911 was put on a diet and has lost 245KG over a 911 turbo. This is mostly down to the fact that the RS is rear drive only unlike the Turbo's 4 wheel drive, this diet has taken the power to weight ratio to 362PS per ton, that's 8 PS more than the Turbo, which is maybe why the aero package is so aggressive.

There is no mistaking the RS** with it's level wing and diffusers. Beautiful is isn't, aesthetically speaking at least, but beauty is deeper than the superficial and something that puts function first can be equally as beautiful. So obviously the bodywork is not for show, it is there to make the 10J x 20-inch fronts and 13 J x 21-inch rears stay on track. At 124mph it is capable of producing 409kg of downforce, and 860kg at 177mph.

The new £214,200 GT3 RS managed to clock the Nürburgring with a lap time of 6:49.328 with Jörg Bergmiester at the wheel. This is one of the most track focused Porsches in recent years and that means whilst numbers are not restricted, you will have to have a great relationship with your Porsche dealership to get one of their limited number of allocations.

I can't wait to see this car on the roads, but I feel the track styling may be too much for the streets. Check out some more pics and videos at Porsche below.

*PS stands for PferdStarke (literally, 'horse strength' in German). This is basically metric horsepower as opposed to the imperial or mechanical measure of horsepower denoted by BHP.** RS comes from Rennsport, rennsport means racing in German.

Yayoi Kusama

Who is the 93-year-old Yayoi Kusama, she is known for her immersive installations, which often include elements such as mirrors, lights, and polka dots. These works are meant to create a sense of infinity and blur the boundaries between the artwork and the viewer. She began her career in the 1950s in New York City where she was part of the avant-garde art scene. She became known for her "Infinity Net" paintings.

Most recently Louis Vuitton transformed stores across the globe with a Kusama theme, The image above is the Paris Champs-Élysées store, which features a large inflatable Kusama looking over the roof of the building placing dots that cover the stores frontage. Harrods in England was also "Kasuama-fied" as the Louis Vuitton website says, we call it #brandeverywhere.

In the stores, there is a range of new products Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama have collaborated on, but they also built a series of mini-games for mobile that are extensions of the artist's world and the brands. It's really interesting seeing a brand do something on a large scale like this with external elements, as well as the in-store artwork.

The Line

The Line is a proposed city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that emphasizes sustainability and environmental responsibility. The city is designed to be built along a 170 km line and will feature a hyperloop transportation system connecting all developments.

It will be powered by renewable energy and aims to have a zero-waste, carbon-free environment. The city prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle usage, making it a car-free zone. The goal of The Line is to offer a new way of living that balances the well-being of people, the planet, and overall happiness.

Some architects applaud the city's emphasis on sustainability and its innovative approach to city planning. The idea of a car-free city and the use of hyperloop transportation are seen as steps towards creating a more livable and eco-friendly urban environment.

Others, however, express concern about the feasibility of building a city along a single line and the potential for monotony in the urban environment. They also question the viability of building a completely self-sustaining city, as it is a highly ambitious and complex goal.

The project is very interesting, but one cannot help but see some slice of a sci-fi ending, Logan's Run, Hunger Games, Cloud Atlas...those in The Line, and those outside it.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with completion aimed for 2050.

Bowmore and Aston Martin

The partnership between luxury automobile brand Aston Martin and premium Scotch producer Bowmore has produced some highly sought after releases, including the new Bowmore Aston Martin Masters' Selection 2023. This collaboration combines the intricate design and craftsmanship that define both luxury brands, creating unique and exceptional products.

The partnership has previously resulted in the release of the Bowmore Arc-52, aged over 52 years, and a 22-year Scotch, both of which have gained a reputation for their premium quality and high desirability. The latest release is expected to continue the trend and be highly prized by enthusiasts and collectors of both luxury automobiles and whisky.

The half-century old Arc-52 is quite a luxurious £65k, you don't just get a whisky though, you get a presentation case to die for. There is no doubt that this is the kind of whisky that will never be drunk, it will be a collectors item. And the much more affordable 22 year old at £390 is also seeing collectors/flippers selling theirs for £495.

The Master's Selection, Edition Two, is from the series created by Ron Welsh,the Master Blender and Marek Reichman Chief Creative Officer at Aston Marton. They say it is a single malt 'capturing a harmonising force in both its presence and it character'. Unlike the Arc-52 I can see people actually drinking the 22 year old.Tasting notes supplied by the distillery say to expect notes of peach, honey, tobacco, clove, salinity, and subtle peat smoke.

And for the ultimate in partnerships, Aston Martin have created the Bowmore edition however just 18 special edition Bowmore DBXs will be built before they are delivered to customers at a private lifestyle experience in Scotland.

High Society high in the mountains

After last weeks fantasy flight was to the French Polynesians this week I thought I would flip the temperature and go cold, very cold. We're about to hit peak-ski season here in Europe so because my own snow gear is getting it's annual dust off, I thought we'd visit the best places to ski/snowboard.

#1 - Courchevel, France: This luxury ski resort in the French Alps offers world-class skiing and snowboarding, as well as five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.

#2 - Verbier, Switzerland: Known for its challenging terrain and glamorous winter playground, it attracts wealthy skiers and snowboarders from around the world looking for a challenge.

#3 - Aspen, Colorado: Whilst Europe dominates this list we cannot ignore Aspen, as this is a classic ski destination that continues to draw high society individuals and celebrities with its combination of world-class skiing, luxurious accommodations, and sophisticated cultural offerings.

#4 - St. Moritz, Switzerland: St. Moritz is one of the world's most famous ski destinations, known for its stunning scenery, world-class ski runs, and upscale atmosphere. It is also the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism which started in 1864. It's got heritage!

#5 - Andermatt, Switzerland: is a highly regarded ski destination, known for its picturesque setting, and extensive skiing terrain. Andermatt is also known for its luxury accommodations and high-end amenities, making it a popular choice for discerning ski enthusiasts.

These ski resorts are known for their high-end accommodations, fine dining, luxury shopping, and world-class skiing facilities. They also offer a variety of other activities and entertainment options, making them a popular choice among the wealthy and discerning ski enthusiasts.

Formula One

This week we saw the unveilings from Haas and Red Bull. I'm starting to feel the buzz of the new season starting. Though we are still almost a month away from actual cars on a track at the first test in Bahrain on February 23rd to 25th.

MoneyGram Haas was red, black, and white, as we suspected and the Red Bull was... like any other Red Bull. However we did get the big news that Ford are coming back to F1 in 2026 as the engine partner of Red Bull. Ford have not been in F1 since 2004 when they actually sold the Jaguar F1 Team to Red Bull, so the circle isn't quite complete it is definitely better the devil you know.

As an aside the live presentation streamed on Youtube, from New York, was a tad cringey and one major faux pa was the announcement that Stefano Domenicali was coming on stage, he didn't, after the event we find out he did not want to upstage the Ford announcement. So when Helmut Marco finds who never updated the script, heads will roll. Ooops.

Dates - Teams in order of Appearance 

Haas - January 31 - Online

Red Bull - February 3 - New York

Williams - February 6 - Online

Alfa Romeo - February 7 - Zurich

AlphaTauri - February 11 - New York

Aston Martin - February 13 - Silverstone

McLaren - February 13 - McLaren Technology Centre

Ferrari - February 14 - Maranello

Mercedes - February 15 - Silverstone

Alpine - February 16 - London

Ford F1 History

Ford powered a number of F1 teams between 1989 & 1994 with the Ford Cosworth V8. Customer teams were, McLaren (Senna won six races in '93 with it), Lotus, Footwork, Simtek, Fondmetal, Larrousse and the Benetton-Ford.

From 1987 Benetton had been operating as the works Ford team, a team that achieved a lot even though some questions remained about the ethics of some of its tactics. Michael Schumacher actually won his first title in the B194 featuring the Ford badge on it's nose while running the Ford Zetec-R V.8

The B193 below was up for £1.1m at Bonham's auction last year featuring the Ford Cosworth HB V8 the predecessor to the Zetec-R V8.

Please Share Connoisseurs

  If someone sent you this, you can subscribe here.

The Atlantic Road Trip

Join the Sixty8 team once again for a slice of Scandinavian supercar action for the Atlantic Road Trip of a lifetime. As the flag drops in Stockholm, Sweden’s largest archipelago, the driving drama begins immediately as we embark on a trajectory towards the skies of Åre.

From the mountains above to the crystal waters of the fjords below, you’ll be immersed in natural beauty, 5 star stays and bucket-list moments to enjoy in-between. We visit the Arctic Circle, untouched hidden beaches, you will experience the full spectrum of seasons in pursuit of the breath-taking North Cape, Norway’s best kept secret.

We are looking for other high quality advertisers.