BMW’s Molten Hot M6 Arrives!

Those mad engineers at BMW’s Motorsport Division have unveiled their latest creation.

Meet the M6..!

BMW’s 6-series is the automaker’s largest two-door coupe and convertible, done in a Grand Touring style with sporting overtones.  After a bake in the Motorsport oven it has become a hi-performance rocket ship masquerading as a buttoned-down GT. 

The heart of the M6 is a 4.4 liter turbocharged V8 rated at a volcanic 560hp and just over 500 lb-ft of torque.  A 7-speed DCT transmission sends power to the rear wheels.  BMW claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Stop is provided by the standard M Compound brakes or the newly available M carbon-ceramic brakes.  The carbon-ceramic option reduces unsprung weight by nearly 43 lbs., improving overall performance and stopping capability.

Several visual cues including front and rear treatments as well as M-specific 19” or 20” wheels and a carbon-fiber roof on the coupe set the car apart from the standard 6-series.  A few interior touches also remind that you are in an M vehicle as well…as if you would forget.

In sum, what we have here is a striking GT-sized coupe or convertible that can be driven sedately on an everyday basis, yet has the ability to blast into hyperspace at a moment’s notice.  If that is your ticket, then the new BMW M6 is your car..!

Laguiole Knives are Awesome…Sometimes!

Many of you are likely familiar with the name Laguiole, having seen it on cutlery at a fine restaurant, store or a residence. It has become synonymous with high quality handmade craftsmanship.

What many folks don’t realize is that the name Laguiole is NOT a brand or a company.

When these knives were first created in the early 1800s with their slim design and tapered blade, nobody thought to patent the name. The result is that cutlery with the Laguiole name and style can be manufactured anywhere in the world and unfortunately the quality varies greatly.

Should you want to procure the real deal, let me give you a few pointers…

There are several cutler makers in France, most located near Laguiole or Thiers, that follow the traditional Laguiole style and hand crafting techniques.

This is the good stuff!

Along with the Laguiole name you will find a name and/or logo of the maker on the knives. The product will also be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, listing the name and address of the producer. This is old-school artisan work. Some of these knives require over 200 steps in production to complete!

The real Laguiole cutlery is indeed…awesome!

TV Fun at CES 2012

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas every January might be referred to as Mecca for geeks.

Yes… I am a geek! (I bet a lot of you are too!)

With that said, new television technology is always one of the highlights from the show. This year’s CES did not disappoint, and there were two TVs that caught my eye. It also happens that both were from the same company, LG.

Let me start with OLED technology and LG’s 55-inch OLED TV. Organic light-emitting diode is a different take on the LED technology that you are familiar with. I won’t get into those geeky details, other than to say OLED has better black levels and contrast ratios than LED while at the same time being thinner and lighter. The LG OLED television is only 4mm thick, which is thinner than most smartphones. On top of that, the picture is breathtaking.

For the next TV, we are going into the jumbo category and talking about LG’s 84-inch UD (ultra-definition) 4K TV. This monster LED set has what LG refers to as 4K resolution, a major step up from our current 1080p HiDef standard. The current HD sets run a resolution of 1920 x 1080. This set resolves at 3840 x 2160, allowing for finer detail on the screen and therefore a better picture.

This is just a quick take of the toys at CES, but for you videophiles out there, it should whet your appetite for new technology coming down the road…

Acura NSX Concept at Detroit Auto Show

Acura’s original NSX sent shock waves through the sportscar world when it hit the market in 1990. Combining Acura’s reliability with Ferrari-esque performance at about half the price, the NSX sent the Italians scrambling.

Ending production in 2005, we have since been teased by the folks at Acura with several concepts and hints of a new NSX. Introduced this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the latest NSX Concept appears to finally be approaching production form!

And now for some details…

The new NSX will continue the history of a mid-mounted V6 engine, but it will be augmented by three electric motors. Yes, this is going to be a hybrid supercar! Acura’s SH-AWD will be used in its latest incarnation along with the gasoline V6 to provide what Acura describes as “supercar acceleration” along with the efficiency of a hybrid. Handling should be stellar as Acura engineers are keeping overall weight to a minimum.

Look for the new NSX to get to market in the 2015 timeframe. I can’t wait..!

Sweet Sounds! Rockport Technologies’ new Avior

Those of you audiophile music geeks such as me have likely heard of Rockport Technologies, the renowned speaker manufacturer based in Rockport, Maine. For the non-geeks out there, let me make an introduction…

Andrew Payor, Founder and Designer for the company, burst onto the audiophile scene in the early 90s with highly acclaimed phonograph products. His next step was a move into speaker design, which he has done with tremendous results. Several speaker models over the years have garnered widespread acclaim from the audio press.

Payor’s latest speaker creation is the Avior, described as a three-way, four driver design. The single midrange and dual bass drivers have a new carbon-fiber fabric cone for high performance and ultra-low distortion levels. The speaker compliment is rounded out by an impressive beryllium-dome tweeter for the high frequencies. Frequency response is rated by Rockport at 25 Hz to 30 kHz, +/- 3dB.

Each speaker is 46.5” in height, 15” wide and 24.5” deep and weighs in at 220 pounds. Fit and finish is of heirloom quality.

As for the sound..? Paired with the proper electronics, you will be blown away by what you hear… simply amazing!

Pricing for the Avior is set at $29,500.00 per pair.

Ridley Scott Returns with Prometheus

I have a vivid recollection of the little critter bursting forth from this poor fellow’s chest..!


(More on this in a moment)

Ridley Scott, one of the better film directors around, is returning this June with his latest work…

Prometheus

You may know of Mr. Scott from some of his previous films. Science fiction classics Alien (the above reference) and Blade Runner, along with other genres such as Gladiator, Thelma & Louise, Black Hawk Down and American Gangster have all garnered acclaim from critics and the public alike. You may get the idea that this guy is pretty talented.

This latest movie tells of a team of explorers looking for clues to the origins of man. Thus the name, as in Greek mythology Prometheus played a pivotal role in the early days of mankind.

While there are some tie-ins with the Alien movie, this story apparently takes its own direction with a timeline prior to that film. With Ridley Scott at the helm, this has the makings of the next great Sci-fi epic!

Prometheus is due in theaters on June 8th. My calendar is already marked!

Sweet in Saint Lucia – Hotel Chocolat

I’m going to practice some chemistry today and combine two of my favorite things. The first ingredient is that wonderful tidbit of edible decadence otherwise known as chocolate. The second item is a location – a wonderful isle in the Caribbean called Saint Lucia.

Let me introduce you to The Hotel Chocolat.

This newly opened boutique resort is located on the Rabot Estate near Soufriere on the southwest side of the island. This chocolate producing estate has roots back to the mid-1700s and has been renovated by the new owners.

Accommodations on the estate consist of stand-alone cottages, my favorite being the larger Cocoa Pod Luxe with King-size beds, open sky forest showers and verandahs with spectacular views of the twin Pitons. All of the expected top-shelf amenities are present as well.

On the activity front, water-based fun such as sailing, diving, kayaking and swimming are all available. For those with an affinity for the land you can try hiking, island exploration or maybe a zip-line ride. If you are in the mood for relaxation, visit the nearby beach or hang at the resort for a spa treatment or a day of lounging at the infinity edge pool.

The highly rated Boucan Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner highlighting local ingredients. Don’t be surprised if you see some cacao on the ingredient list!

Relaxing and intimate with first-class service and amenities, the Hotel Chocolat adds up to one sweet vacation destination!

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Debuts

Question: What happens when the engineers at BMW have a tug-of-war with a 6 Series coupe in the middle?

Answer: The car is stretched 4.4 inches, adds two doors and becomes the 6 Series Gran Coupe!

Filling a niche created by Mercedes with their CLS four-door coupe and recently joined by Audi with their gorgeous A7, BMW has unveiled their entry with the Gran Coupe. Adding a bit over 4 inches and two extra doors to the 6 Series works surprisingly well from an aesthetic standpoint. The 6er Gran Coupe is one nice looking sedan…er…coupe. BMW refers to the look as “athletic elegance”.

The 2013 640i Gran Coupe will be the first iteration to market in the early summer of 2012 with BMW’s familiar turbocharged inline 6 cylinder engine. Late summer will see the arrival of the 650i Gran Coupe and a turbocharged V8 motor. An all-wheel drive 650i xDrive will be available at this time as well. An 8-speed Sport Automatic Transmission will be standard in all models providing excellent sporting characteristics as well as aiding fuel efficiency.

The cosseting interior will be familiar to anyone with time in the current 6 Series, as the layout is essentially unchanged. Excellent fit-and-finish and a wide variety of color combinations are available, including BMW’s Individual program. The techno-geek will be in heaven as well, as the latest gadgetry is in attendance, including BMW’s new ConnectedDrive driver assistance systems and mobility services. This is an excellent environment in which to pass the miles in appropriate luxury and technology.

Production will take place at BMW’s largest plant in Dingolfing, Germany along with the other 6 Series models and also the 7 Series and 5 Series. Pricing has yet to be announced, but figure it to come in a notch above the current 6 Series Coupe models.

Porsche’s New 911 – the 991 Breaks Cover

Out with the old and in with the new…


One of the most iconic and recognizable cars of all time, the Porsche 911, has been pinched, pulled, poked, prodded and completely redone by those tireless engineers in Zuffenhausen. Fear not, ye Porschephiles, the new 911 looks to be a winner!

With the initial public debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Porsche has now released official pictures and information for the new sports car, following months of speculation and spy photos on the internet.

What we have is a longer and wider yet lower and lighter vehicle. The most drastic change is a wheelbase 3.9 inches longer than the outgoing model. This will increase interior room, improve stability at high speeds, and also move the mass of the rear-mounted engine slightly forward in relation to the rear wheels, improving at-the-limit handling characteristics.

Propulsion in the base 911 Carrera model is provided by a 3.4 liter boxer engine, smaller than the previous gen’s 3.6, yet with slightly more power at 350 hp and also better fuel efficiency. The uprated Carrera S gets the larger 3.8 liter engine with 400 hp on tap. The cars should accelerate from 0 – 60 mph in 4.4 and 4.1 seconds respectively, according to the folks at Porsche. Available transmissions will be the 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox as well as a new 7-speed manual.

Great care has been taken with interior revisions as well. Gone is the dated and somewhat sparse environment – purists called it “businesslike” – replaced by design cues taken from the Panamera and Carrera GT models. These changes produce a more enveloping environment while maintaining the sporting and driver oriented Porsche “feel”.

Due in showrooms beginning February 2012, the Carrera will MSRP at $82,100 and the Carrera S at $96,400. Porsche’s usual extensive list of options and customizations will be available as well…at a cost!

I like what I see here. Porsche’s development team has done well with the latest 911 and it should be a great performer both on the road and in the showroom. Place that order now to get at the head of the list..!

GSM – There’s No Place Like Rhone

If you do a reasonable amount of wine tasting or maybe just hang out in tasting rooms, you may have recently heard the term “Rhone blend” or more specifically…”it’s a GSM”.


While that may strike you as an acronym for a fancy car or a significant muscle injury, I am in fact referring to the varietals of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from the Rhone wine region of France.

The GSM blend will normally consist largely of Grenache, followed by Syrah and then Mourvèdre. However, a visit to the northern Rhone region will see Syrah taking over the majority role. (Can you say SGM..?) These three varietals are the main players from the Rhone, but there are in fact over 20 grapes that are allowed in blends from the Rhone AOC. Many blends will use small quantities of Carignan, Cinsaut, Viognier or other secondary varieties. Just use the term “Rhone blend” and you will be sure to cover all your bases.

Rhone blends are for the most part ready to drink right off the bat but can be aged for a few years if desired. The flavor profile leans toward ripe dark berries with some peppery, earthy, rustic qualities. For a great food pairing try some rosemary herbed meats on the grill.

Fire up the barbeque, open that Rhone blend and enjoy..!