Journal

A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.

2017 Volvo V90 Estate Also Headed to U.S. Shores

We'll believe it when we see it...

Estate cars are now considered a 'niche' market here in the U.S.

While the 'Estate' platform is extremely popular in Scandinavia, its American 'wagon' counterpart is an otherwise stigmatized form factor that harkened back to the 60's and malaise-era 70's, and has had a hard time penetrating the seemingly unstoppable SUV market.  With a community predominantly located in the northeast, estate or 'wagon' owners tend to be an eclectic bunch and typically march to the sound of a different drum.

Volvo returns with the V90 that is a study in taste, style and elegance that may attract a part of the luxury SUV segment looking for more comfort, usability, stability, better emissions and consumption.  Taut exterior shapes and pale yet finely finished interior features make this a very strong package to consider; suffice it to say you may not see yourself at the traffic light. 

With a reported 410 bhp and 31-mile electric-only mode, the V90's capability only adds to the 'stealth' appeal of the luxury estate.

DONDOLO by Enrico Marone Cinzano

As he continues on his passionate mission of sustainability through art and design, designer Enrico Marone-Cinzano has created a clever "complication" in the form of "Dondolo" (Italian for rocking chair).  This piece, composed of car parts and various mechanisms that translate into comfort, place, and innovation has an immediate and powerful visual impact.  

The Designer's Description:

Considering I come from Torino, the car manufacturing capital, it only made sense that at some point I would extend my work to the automobile industry. I went scavenging through car junk yards and found that the aftermath of that industry produced a wealth of beautiful and extremely well made products which could be re-utilized into making furniture, hence the birth of 'Dondolo'. It's a rocking chair with a foot in the past and one in the future. Still benefitting from the factory-issue moving parts, the original leather Alfa Romeo 166 seat reclines and heats at will, powered by an eco-friendly gel based battery which can be charged with any power outlet. By means of two periscopic arms, it has the added comfort of providing a swinging, retractable work table to rest your laptop, and an efficient dimmable warm-toned LED light, housed in what was a beautiful metal FIAT 500 vintage headlight. I am adding an extra layer to the proverbial cake, by lining the bottom of the retractable table with a EMF and radiation protective fabric, which will mitigate the damage one incurs from using a computer at such proximity to the body. Lastly, for some finishing touches and to replace the molded plastic parts, I used hand embossed recovered leather from the furniture industry, replicating the pattern of car tyre marks, which look almost like natural crocodile patterns. Everything was sourced and made in Turin itself. A complex project but one that made alot of sense: back to my roots. 

To find out more about this amazing piece, head over to www.enricomaronecinzano.com

Follow @enricomc

1965 Iso Bizzarrini AC3 Corsa LHD

This stunning historic example has been presented by UK restoration specialists DK Engineering and is now up for sale.

Images ©DKEngineering

Born out of a tumultuous relationship with Renzo Rivolta, designer/engineer Giotto Bizzarrini created what was to be a Ferrari-beater that kept exclusive company with the likes of Jaguar XKE, Ferrari 250, Ford GT40, Aston Martin DB and Lamborghini Miura as one of the most charismatic sports cars designed before or since.  The hand-beaten, thin-gauged, riveted aluminum body that would envelope an american Chevy 327 V8 made for a eclectic and effective combination in the pantheon of legendary italian sports cars of the early to mid 1960s.

DK Engineering confirms that "The car currently has valid FIA/HTP papers and is therefore eligible for numerous events during the racing calendar, including the Goodwood TT (where it started on the front row in 2014), the Spa Six Hours and the Masters historic racing series where it would be without doubt a front runner in the right hands..."

H/T: Jalopnik.com



The 2017 Volvo S90

While Volvo Cars is now owned by Chinese company Geely, the design aesthetic has remained distinctly Scandinavian; and perhaps more than ever before.  The new S90 sedan is a study in Swedish restraint, with its clean classic lines, pale wood interior details, leather seats and onboard sustainability and state of the art safety systems, the S90 is the new Volvo icon for the 21st century.  In addition to this and the recently redesigned XC90, we can expect up to 7 more models beginning in 2017.

Nissan Heritage

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has launched an amazing website chronicling its illustrious 95-year history with stories, milestones, reference data and photography.  The various decades show clearly the evolution of the modern Japanese motorcar beginning officially in 1933 where Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd., predecessor of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., was established in Yokohama with paid-in capital of ¥10,000,000.  Head over and see early versions of the GT-R, Fairlady Z as well as domestic (Japan) passenger vehicles and electric cars as well.  With all the beautiful images and history to pore over, its definitely NSFW.

Follow @Nissan



Cars from the stable of Chris Evans go on the block at Bonhams goodwood Revival

Popular BBC Radio Two Dee Jay Chris Evans has built a reputation for being an complete gear head; his all-white Ferrari collection is now world famous and he has done much good giving to charity using this collection to raise funds.  This weekend at the Goodwood Estate, an enviable variety of rarities from the Ferrari lineage go up for auction at Bonhams including an alloy-bodied 275 GTB/6C in stunning Mint color, a 250 SWB Replica, and most notably, this stunning example of a 1971 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider (#18 of 121 Spyders ever built).  Proceeds go to BBC Children in Need charities.

The motor cars offered from Chris Evans are: 

- 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy, estimate £2,600,000-2,900,000
- 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, estimate £2,300,000-2,600,000
- 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso', estimate £1,400,000-1,800,000
- 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder, estimate £1,300,000-1,600,000
- 1963 Ferrari 250 SWB Replica, estimate £500,000-600,000
- 1949 Jaguar XK120 'Alloy' Roadster, estimated £325,000-375,000
- 1967 Jaguar XKSS 'Lynx', estimate £325,000-375,000
- 1936 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Replica, estimate £250,000-350,000
- 1970 Mercedes 280SL 'Pagoda', estimate £100,000-130,000
- 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS, estimate £100,000-130,000
- 1958 Jaguar XK150 3.4 Fixed Head Coupé, estimate £55,000-65,000
- 1964 Daimler Dart Police Car SP250, estimate £50,000-60,000
- 1983 Fiat 127 Abarth, estimate £10,000-15,000

Follow @bonhams

Follow @achrisevans