Testing the Chanel Segway

23 April 2009

We took delivery of the (10.000€!) Chanel Segway at the Intersection Magazine French HQ today:

I had a spin…

Next step: a Chanel Segway polo team?

Driven : Nissan 370Z

9 April 2009

A few years ago we customized a Nissan 350Z to make it look like the original Datsun 240Z that ran in the Rallies of the 70s, took it around Europe on various trips and ultimately did the Gumball Rally in it. The car was immensely fun to drive, especially on snow tires…

When its replacement, the 370Z, came out last year, I was at first skeptic about the design, but having now driven it and spent some time looking at it properly I’m pretty much an unconditional fan again. The interior is vastly improved, the stance and curves of the exterior work really well, especially in white, and of course you’ll have trouble finding a production better car to drift around corners than the perfectly balanced Z (incriminating video of donut not included).

Nissan had a pristine Datsun 240Z for us to compare:

Starck + Intersection

21 March 2009

Coming soon…

Jacques Ferrand Leather Bike

20 March 2009

My friend Jacques Ferrand trained as a traditional leather cutter and sewer, and after 14 years of apprenticeship, set up his own shop, Crèvecoeur (23 r. Des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, France). He normally works on bags, shoes, and belts, either directly for customers under the name Etablissements Ferrand, or for labels such as Hermès.

Today he called me to show me the bike he’s just finished covering, and the result is quite spectacular. Every inch of the frame is covered in thin leather, down to the lugs and tightest spots of the bottom bracket, and the saddle and grips are in ostrich leather. Although some thin chrome vintage tubular rims would have worked better, and maybe a road bike with baskets and mudguards would have been more fitting than a track bike with risers, this is a rather impressive demonstration of his craft.

Jacques did skateboard decks in leather before:

And is now doing brogues with a bespoke bootmaker in-house:

Jacques, his (sexy) team, and Vador the dog in the workshop:

Tools of the trade:

Friends and their wheels / pt.12

16 March 2009

Fellow Apartamento subject Felix Friedmann passed by my place on Saturday with his amazing Citroen CX Break. I wish they could still design such daring cars.

Driven: Aston Martin DBS

9 March 2009

Last week we shot it, this weekend I drove it. The Aston Martin DBS is the meaner sister to the DB9, lighter, rougher and sportier. Despite the weight loss and power increase, the DBS still feels rather big and intimidating on UK roads, and would be more at home on an empty motorway in Oman. The blistering speed and acceleration was clearly enjoyable, but made me wish I was making use of it at Le Mans, where the DBR9 proved that Aston was serious again about motor-sport.

Definitely one of the most beautiful contemporary cars, no doubt:

Got to love the “emotion control unit”, sorry the $1,000 key fob made of sapphire crystal, stainless steel, and piano black trim. Plug it into the dashboard and push for a mesmerizing combination of V12 sound and instrument panel light display:

André + Le Montana + Marc Newson Ikepod watch

8 March 2009

In Paris last Friday I passed by Le Montana, which is André and Olivier Zahm’s new (yet old) bar, and André showed me the new Ikepod watch that Marc Newson designed. Reversible and simple, and quite small. Massive watches are so pre-crisis.

Driven: Infiniti G37s Sedan

3 March 2009

Drove to the Geneva Motor Show this weekend, via Chamonix – again – for a bit of snowboarding. The vehicle of choice was a rather blisteringly quick and nimble Infiniti G37s Sedan. An unsuspecting Audi RS4 driver on the French Autoroute was probably left quite confused as to what this fast red car was… Infiniti is a new brand in Europe, and still a rare sight on our roads. Rear-wheel drive isn’t ideal in the snow without winter tires, but luckily (for driving not riding) the conditions were spring-like and I thoroughly enjoyed the Col de La Forclaz.

As usual in Chamonix, had a meeting with the Black Crows crew to discuss our upcoming world domination.

But of course no trip to the Alps would be complete without a hunt for old ski poles, which will soon become Hardcourt Bike Polo mallets. Jackpot! (Wayne don’t worry I’ve made sure that delicate leather remains unscathed)

MOOF bike

27 February 2009

We have a Moof Bike in the office at the moment for a shoot. I personally love the overall design and principle (solar-powered lights integrated in the top tube). Not too comfortable with the coaster brake but then again I’m not Dutch…

Aston Martin DBS Volante

25 February 2009

We just shot the new Aston Martin DBS Volante with its coupé sibling in London. I snapped a couple of images before we put the cars in position for the photoshoot.

Loving the fuel cap, nicely designed within the shut lines of the trunk:

Actual pictures by James Purssell coming in the next issue of Intersection…