The19Th

ho

lema

g.c

om

| 53

Life in the fast Lane is even better topLess

Pop culture is where icons and legends are born and vehicles are no exceptions – especially when it comes to top down driving. americans have had a love affair with convertibles since they first hit the pave-ment and cruisin’ became as popular a past time as baseball. infamous roads from route 66 to rodeo drive were transformed into extended runways for hollywood icons such as the late, great steve mcQueen – one of the original bad boys of the silver screen – to model their most expensive suits, ties and cuban cigars. with paparazzi taking its proper place in the front row, the ultimate statement accessory was a convertible.

playbookdrive

One of the most coveted accessories was the 1957 Jaguar XKSS Roadster owned by…you guessed it, Steve McQueen. He was the man every woman wanted that drove the car every man had to have…thus the romance began. Only 16 of these roadsters were manufactured and purchased new the XKSS was barely $6,000, yet this rare find has sold for over $1million. This roadster and 17 other of the world’s rarest and most brilliantly conceived cars from the 1930s to the mid-1960s, are part of a special The Allure of the Automobile exhibit at Atlanta’s High Museum through June 27. <High.org>

allure of the convertible[by THEO TYSON]

PHOTO cOurTESY Of THE HigH MuSEuM Of ArT, ATlANTA, gA

54 |

Th

e19T

hh

ole

ma

g.c

om

The19Th

ho

lema

g.c

om

| 55 playbookdrive

enoUGh to MaKe the seX and the CitY GirLs CLUtCh their proverviaL pearLs

The perfect blend of form and function, the 2010 Maserati GranCabrio removes the need for compromise by offering four real seats. Just recently introduced in the United States, Maserati’s first ever cabriolet model of the GranTurismo, the Maserati GranCabrio, has been turning heads in Europe since late winter. Designed by expert coach builder Pininfarina, the interior appointments of supple leather and rich wood are enough to make the Sex and the City girls clutch their proverbial pearls.

Such beauty is not lost on the roads, however. With the longest wheelbase in the convertible market, the S Coupe does not disappoint with a 4.7 liter V8 engine with well over 400 hp and superior handling. Whether hugging the winding roads of sub-urbia, navigating traffic in the urban jungle or enjoying a trip to grandma’s house – the GranCabrio’s 6-speed automatic with paddle shifter will allow you to relax and enjoy the ride.

Available in six exterior colors with options for two tone styling on the interior, Maserati kept with tradition by opting for a clean, canvas top that slips into obscurity in only 20 seconds. Built for men and women alike, the Maserati GranCabrio offers power, sophistication and a certain ‘joi de vive’ worth every penny of the $90,000 price tag it carries.

2010 MASErATi grANcABriO

The19Th

ho

lema

g.c

om

| 55

The19Th

ho

lema

g.c

om

| 57 playbookdrive

an aCoUstiC Utopia top Up or doWn CoUrtesY of bose open air soUnd sYsteM

everYthinG YoU eXpeCt and deMand froM a MiLLion-doLLar boat

This car is the socialite of convertibles. The Infiniti G37 convertible comes well equipped to handle anything with a modest 3.7 liter V6 engine and 325 hp with ex-traordinary handling and steering. Another impressive feature is the Bose Open Air Sound System by visionary engineer, Mr. Kazuhiko Otsuguro. The sound quality in convertibles has long been sacrificed alongside the sounds of nature, but with 11 chan-nels of custom equalization, Infiniti has pushed the envelope and technology to offer its drivers an acoustic utopia – top up or top down.

At first glance and with the top up, the convertible appears to be an identical twin to the coupe version, but make no mistake, the G37 stands alone. In less time than it takes to decide on dinner, the retractable hard top glides into its designer trunk re-vealing a virtual cockpit of comfort and luxury. A well laid out (read: user-friendly) dashboard highlighted with easy to read gauges and aluminum or wood trim accents the sinuous leather featured throughout.

A great car for a track day or an al fresco Sunday brunch – the G37 is practical, playful and ready for whatever, whenever.

When the open road is no longer enough to satisfy your need for speed, it’s time to take to the water in the Statement 42’ V-Bottom. The Statement begins (pun in-tended) from the time it enters the water, going from 0 to 60 in under 20 seconds and reaching speeds of up to 130mp. It is everything you’d expect and demand from a million-dollar boat. Each and every watercraft is customized to owner specifications with exquisite performance, power boat handling and intelligent design.

The V-Bottom’s Northstar screens, Mercury SmartCraft system view motorized dashboard monitor, luxurious leather interior is best in class when it comes to graphic design and paint. With accommodations for up to eight, the Statement is a floating oasis.

2010 iNfiNiT g37 cONVErTiBlE

STATEMENT 42’ V-BOTTOM

58 |

Th

e19T

hh

ole

ma

g.c

om

playbookdrive

it’s been five Years for this porsChe, bUt pLease don’t CaLL it a CoMebaCK

this LiGhtWeiGht ModeL deLivers on speed, CoMfort and handLinG.

the MotorCYLe of YoUr MarveL CoMiC WorthY dreaMs is reaL. reaLLY

It’s a Porsche – need we say more? Or a better question – where do we begin? Intro-duced to the North American market in 1964, we have been waiting five years to see a new rendition of the 911 Turbo return to the roads, but please don’t call it a comeback.

Stealthily sexy, this Porsche turns heads for a second and third glance if you can catch a glimpse in the 3.1 seconds its takes for it to go from 0 to 60. The 911 Turbo S tops out just short of 200MPH (195 to be exact) with ceramic composite brakes to maintain control. With an added 30 horses bumping full horsepower to 530, Porsche still managed to retain respectable fuel consumption.

The cabriolet comes standard with 19” RS Spyder wheels, adaptive sport seats and beautifully supple twin tone leather interiors. All the classic colors of red, yellow, black and white are still available, however, a new ice blue metallic option is yet one more reason this car is the ultimate accessory. From quick trips to the mall for a pair of Christian Louboutins to jaunts at the cigar bar for a Davidoff – the Porsche 911 Turbo S will help you arrive in style.

Please don’t insult this cycle by calling it a mere ‘bike’. Blue is known for building winning competitive cycles, and the AC1SL is no exception. For novices and pros alike, this lightweight model delivers on speed, comfort and handling. With full customization available (base model starts at $7,800) cyclists have the op-portunity to create their dream machine, including graphics and tube shapes. It’s ability to stay sure in and out of corners, im-mediate response to changes in speed and shifts in your body position adds to the en-gineering of the cutout frame that improves aerodynamics. Weighing in at only 13 pounds in sizes XS-XL, the Blue AC1SL is built for performance year round.

Ducati is to the motorcycle world, what Ferrari is to the automotive world – it just doesn’t get any better. This new flagship, superbike Ducati 1198R Corse Special Edition is the motorcycle that has made an appear-ance in your waking dreams as a su-perhero or villainess speeding off into the dark of night. But you will defi-nitely want everyone to see this Ital-ian work of art. The raw power the Ducati exudes begins in the partially exposed frame, aluminum tank, new sleeker graphics and full Termignoni exhaust. A big and expensive toy starting well above the $40,000 range, this Ducati even comes with a “desk plaque of authentication” for show and tell in the office.

2011 POrScHE 911 TurBO S cABriOlET

2011 POBluE Ac1Sl cArBON cYclE

2010 DucATi 1198r cOrSE SPEciAl EDiTiON