Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury

Who says it is the best in the luxury sector? Is it a media source that get paid advertising?

“They say this is the best yacht, jet, designer”….who says?  When Lorre says it, you know that it is not the advertisers telling you to buy it; instead it is a trusted insider with 2 decades of work and expertise in the luxury sector.  Lorre is the only luxury media personality and has a long success record of working in the luxury field www.WhiteLightConsulting.net .

 

When it comes to the ‘luxury sector’, Lorre White “The Luxury Guru” is untouchable; she’s also the CEO of White Light Consulting an international luxury marketing consulting company helping their clients reach and maintain the wealthiest 2% globally.

 

"Most marketing people I have met do not even know what class marketing is; they cannot even distinguished the difference between blue chip companies and luxury brands.  The UHNW is a very large group when measured in dollar terms, and a very small group when measured by individuals.  These are the taste makers & trend setters and they need a riffled approached instead of a mass market shot gun approach to marketing.  “People with unlimited financial resources are unaffected by traditional approaches to luxury; they must be reached emotionally,... in holistic ways” stated MS White. Lorre is in the unique situation that not only luxury brands listen to Lorre about how to reach this demographic, but the actual UHNW listen to her too! 

 

There are 2 types of Luxury Consumers: The aspirational and the UHNW or as she calls them “the already arrived”.  The aspirational market is much larger in terms of number of people and has multiple demographic break downs with in the aspirational sector.

 

If you know of Martha (Stewart) you are probably part of the 98%....if you know of Lorre (White), you are most likely part of the top 2% financially.

 

 

www.LuxGuru.Typepad.com....a site for the already arrived.

BMW to Launch Plug-in Hybrid Car in China

BMW will unveil a plug-in hybrid model in China at Auto Shanghai. This year’s event, which runs from April 21-28, will likely showcase more environmentally-friendly and luxury vehicles as automakers go after China’s eco-conscious market.

BMW looks to further extend its dominance in China’s rapidly growing luxury auto market with new vehicle categories. First up is the environmentally-friendly vehicle that will appeal to the chauffeur-driven Chinese luxury car buyers with features like long wheelbase, sun blinds, a folding table in the rear seat and an entertainment system.

The plug-in hybrid is a variant of the long-wheelbase 5 Series that BMW introduced exclusively in China last year. The long-wheelbase 5 Series is assembled at the BMW/Brilliance plant in Shenyang in Northern China. The plug-in hybrid model will also be produced in China.

This “new energy” BMW is described as “our e-car from China for China,” according to BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer.  BMW is opening a second facility in Shenyang in 2012, and will assemble the X1 there for the China market. The new plant will boost BMW’s annual production capacity in China to 150,000 units.

Also at Auto Shanghai, General Motors is expected to officially launch the first model by Baojun, its joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC, which is aimed at the budget market with retail price of the Baojun 630 starting at $7,000.


[independent]
photo credit: bmw

 

www.Red-Luxury.com

Green Yachts - Mega Yacht Designer Theodoros Fotiadis Reveals YP Princess Renee Concept

By: Kimberly Fisher,

Mega Yacht designer Theodoros Fotiadis is creating waves with the unveiling of his YP Princess Renee Concept. Both magnificent and seaworthy, the master crafted beauty will utilize energy and eco-friendly ideologies for this the first in a line of sustainable and superior vessels.

It's designed around a Zen philosophy and will make the owner and selected visitors feel like he/she has been transported into another world. Theodoros' designs blend the epitome of luxury with sleek, modern designs. We caught up with the designer at his home in Greece.

Kimberly Fisher: How did you get started designing Mega Yachts?
Theodoros Fotiadis: Since I am driven by feeling and not numbers I cannot say that I went straight to my drafting board and PC to get a design equal to all others. Emotion is what guides me and what I do is to give form into feelings and ideas, solid ideas as I say. So to get the idea was the hard part...to get it done was easy.

KF: How long did it take to design the Princess Renee Concept?
Fotiadis: The project started on February 2008 and was released on June 2010.

KF: What inspires you?
Fotiadis: I am inspired by nature and power, feelings and emotions. When I design I make something surreal and then I am working on it to make it functionable and doable.

KF: Being a yacht designer requires you to be one part visionary, one part artist, one part architect. Which of these do you side with the most?
Fotiadis: I would say that I try to keep the balance between all those. I give 50 percent to vision and art and 50 percent to architecture. It has to be beautiful and inspired but also has to perform.

Princess Renee preliminary specifications:
L.O.A: 170 meters/557.7 feet
Beam: 25 meters/82 feet
Number of decks: 8 (5 hull decks+3 superstructure decks)
Master berth: 1
Guest rooms: 20 VIP+40
Crew cabins: 80
Top Speed: 40-50 knots
Amenities: Gym, entertainment room, ballroom, spa (complete with massage tables, jacuzzi, meditation room), wine cellar, cigar humidor, salon, enclosed swimming pool, fine art gallery, library, convention room, internet room, lounge, helipad, security center, and cleaning facilities.

Via blog.jetsetera.net

Rolls-Royce Develops Electric Test Vehicle

By William Stolerman

Rolls-Royce has developed a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom, the 102EX, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

The test vehicle will tour the world throughout 2011, gathering research for Rolls-Royce as it furthers its understanding of green technologies.

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”

The 102EX - also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE) - will be available to test drive on its world tour. This will give owners the chance to experience an alternative drive-train, while Rolls-Royce will benefit from the drivers’ feedback.

“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” explained Müller-Ötvös. “It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.”

In preparation for the Geneva debut and to fuel wider debate on electric luxury cars, Rolls-Royce has launched the website, electricluxury. The site will also deliver regular updates of the car’s progress while on tour.

Full technical specifications for the 102EX, as well as images and b-roll will be published at on March 1.

www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Switzerland’s first carbon neutral alpine resort

By William Stolerman

Several luxury retreats are being developed in Andermatt, a Swiss Alpine village which is set to become Switzerland’s first carbon neutral alpine resort

Thanks to several quirks of fate, Andermatt remains one of the last great untouched alpine valleys. Until recently the village was occupied by the Swiss Army and it has not been developed at the same rate as its counterparts.

Andermatt is currently being transformed into a high-end destination, and upon completion will comprise six 4* and 5* hotels including the Chedi Andermatt, 25 private villas, 490 apartments, an 18 hole golf course, a sports centre and a modernized ski area with 130km of piste.

Developers Orascom Development Holding have been invited by the Swiss government to transform the valley into a carbon free alpine resort, with over 30 architects employed in its design.

The Chedi Andermatt is scheduled to open in the winter of 2013, while prices for 2 bedroom apartments in the town start from CHF15,500 per sqm.

www.andermatt-swissalps.ch

26-Hour Solar Plane Paves Way For Perpetual Flight

By William Stolerman

A solar-powered plane has completed a record-breaking flight of 26 hours, marking a significant step towards an aircraft that never has to refuel.

The Solar Impulse flies thanks to four propellor engines which are powered by extensive solar panels. So efficient are the panels that not only can they power the craft during the day, but deliver an excess which can be stored and used to power the plane during the night.

After achieving the milestone in Switzerland, engineers who worked on the project (and are planning to fly it over the Atlantic before eventually flying it around the world) said: "We are now on the verge of perpetual flight."

The potential consequences, opening up new routes and changing the way small private aircraft (hitherto limited by fuel capacity) can operate is vast - and that's before you consider the monumental environmental impact.

Conducted out of the Payerne airfield, south-west of Bern, the team's CEO and pilot Andre Borschberg took the plane on the longest (27,900ft/8,500m) and highest flight in the history of solar aviation, reaching a top speed of 75mph.

Former NASA chief pilot Rogers E. Smith, one of the project's flight directors said: "We ended up with perhaps 20 per cent more energy than we in the most optimistic way projected."

The team aims to fly around the world by 2012.

Via [dailymail]

www.solarimpulse.com

GUCCI GOES GREEN

GUCCI GOES GREEN

Italian fashion house Gucci has revealed a series of eco-friendly initiatives with the aim of reducing the company’s impact on the environment. The main focus of the proposals is to cut paper consumption and reduce Carbon dioxide omissions. The Italian luxury brand has redesigned their packaging using only FSC Certified 100 per cent recyclable paper. The new shopping bags will featured a de-bossed logo with both ribbon and garment bags have been changed from polyester to ribbon. In addition the label is to replace all of its mannequins with a new eco-friendly version, and will cut the number of gift boxes sent out to customers. “This project proves that you sacrifice nothing creatively when working with environmentally friendly materials,” said Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. The initiative will be introduced in all of its 284 stores starting this month.

Apart from packaging Gucci is pursuing energy-saving initiatives in their retail stores and also aims to reach the following targets by the end of this year: a reduction of 35 tons of plastic waste; a reduction of 1,400 tons of paper consumption; a reduction of about 10,000 tons of Co2 emissions; and a reduction of about 4 million litres of gas oil consumption.

Apart from packaging, Gucci is pursuing energy-saving initiatives in their retail stores and also aims to reach the following targets by the end of this year: a reduction of 35 tons of plastic waste; a reduction of 1,400 tons of paper consumption. A reduction of 1,400 tons of paper consumption, a reduction of about 10,000 tons of Co2 emissions; and a reduction of about 4 million litres of gas oil consumption.

http://www.theposhreview.com/?p=5140#more-5140

Bugatti Makes Revolutionary 800hp Electric Car

By William Stolerman

Reports are emerging from Volkswagen that Bugatti has produced something revolutionary. They have built a working prototype of an 800hp, all electric supercar.

Based on a Bentley Continental GT chassis, it runs on an advanced lithium-ion battery and two electric motors that can deliver an emphatic 1600 lb-ft of torque.

One unnamed Bugatti insider told Auto Express the car possesses “absolutely unbelievable” acceleration, supposedly miles ahead of what you can expect from typical road vehicles.

Unsurprisingly however, vast amounts of energy are consumed by this savage performance, leaving the problem of how you maintain the charge. According to the high-level source, if the car is run at full whack, the battery becomes depleted in “a matter of minutes”.

It is not yet clear whether the car will ever be displayed to the public. Instead, the suggestion is it's been built to allow engineers to explore the furthest possibilities of the electric car. Let's hope they do

Green Cars

NEWTEON's MyCar in Bordeaux and good opportunities to be seized !!!

NEWTEON's MyCar will be presented in Bordeaux, from June 5th to June 7th, for the "Sustainable Development Festival" which will take place on Place des Quinconces, from 10 a.m. to midnight.  

It will be the opportunity to discover the 100% electric, 2 seats, urban car that has made a lot of "noise" for its official launch on the Monaco Ever show last March.

NEWTEON will be represented by Accus Services.

Moreover, we, at NEWTEON, have second hand vehicles to sell at very attractive prices!

Some Piaggio Porter Blind van with less than 1000 km, to be sold between 13000 and 15500 euros (excluding VAT) instead of 22200 euros (excluding VAT), and a Piaggio Porter Glass van (4 seats) with 2000 km, to be sold at 15000 euros (excluding VAT)  instead of 22400 euros (excluding VAT).

In Micro-Vett's range, we have some second hand  Fiat Doblo cargo all with less than 1000 km, to be sold 29900 euros (excluding VAT) instead of 49000 euros (excluding VAT), and some 5 seats Fiat Doblo  still with less than 1000 km, to be sold 29900 euros (excluding VAT) instead of 50300 euros (excluding VAT).

All these vehicles are equipped with Webasto heating system and are all under warranty!

Launch of the Kosmob electric scooter

Further to several tests, NEWTEON has decided to integrate the Kosmob to its range of products.

It is an electric moped, half way between the scooter and an electric bicycle. This moped is very light but very powerful.

Its strenghts :

The driving comfort of a feather light scooter, the choice to pedal (or not) for your style or for your well being. It is the most economic transportation mean on the market.

Comparative tests with the eSolex have shown that Kosmob is able to climb slopes of more than 10%.

Main characteristics:

Speed : 40 km/h

Autonomy : 40 km

Available colors : Meadow green, Pearl, Iceberg blue, Dark grey

This scooter can be bought on our website