Is there not a more well recognized brand in the luxury car industry than Rolls-Royce? Rolls-Royce has just introduced the incredible 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Specification.

The 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Specification is an upgraded Ghost sedan model that delivers more power and luxury. The Rolls-Royce Ghost was first introduced in 2010. It’s a slightly smaller option versus the highly popular and large Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan.

Don’t worry, the new 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Specification brings the speed. The Rolls-Royce sedan features an enhanced twin turbo V12 6.6 engine that produces 593 HP and 80% of torque from idle.

Paired with an eight-speed automatic, the Ghost V-Spec goes from 0-60 mph in under 4.7 seconds. The sedan’s top speed is limited to 155 mph. The unique powertrain delivers an impressive 30bhp / 22kw power increase.

Rolls-Royce offers a wide variety of color schemes to choose from. There are stunning luxury colors including Arctic White, Graphite, Black Kirsch and Infinity Black.

2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Specification features 21-inch part-polished wheels. Looking for more bling, then select the optional, visible chrome exhausts.

Rolls-Royce will offer the Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Specification at price higher than the standard Rolls Ghost which starts at $267,300. Don’t wait since the luxury sedan will only be available through June of this year.

Eagle Beach on tropical Aruba will be the location of a new luxury condo resort. Scheduled to open March 1, 2014, the luxurious Blue Residences is an upscale condominium resort for discerning vacationers who desire the best.

The Blue Residences resort will feature three towers that offer amazing and unobstructed views of the ocean. Elevated ceilings in the bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms, private Jacuzzi terraces, fully loaded kitchens featuring upscale appliances and wireless Internet throughout are just some of the key luxury amenities available for resort guests.

Blue Residences is still under construction and each tower will open on different dates. The first tower debuts on March 1, 2014 with two five-bedroom penthouses, four three-bedroom penthouses, 12 three-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units, totaling 42 units. The second tower will open May 2014 and the third is scheduled to open on January 2015.

Pricing for deluxe hotel rooms begin at $120 per night during the summer season. One-bedroom apartment suites will go for $180 per night (two-, three- and five-bedroom units are also available at discounted rates).

Herber Valkenberg who is president of Icon Hotel Marketing, the North American representative for the resort was quotes, “This is the first luxury resort to open on Eagle Beach in the past 20 years and we are excited about the prospect of promoting this to both loyal Aruba vacationers as well

as those coming to the island for the first time.”The beautiful and spacious units will range in size from one to five bedrooms. Each will be decorated in a sleek contemporary design and will each

offer elevated ceilings, balcony, upscale appliances and electronics, fully-equipped kitchen, wireless Internet, living and dining room, cable TV, and a washer and dryer.

In addition, all ground floor suites at Blue Residences will feature a private Jacuzzi terrace. Deluxe ocean view hotel rooms with no kitchen are also available upon request.

Found only four miles from Blue Residences is Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital city. It offers both the charm of a quaint seaside village along with the allure of a cosmopolitan, international tourist destination featuring stylish shops, gourmet restaurants, nightclubs and casinos.

For those who love the outdoors and want to enjoy the great Aruba weather, visitors can try various water sports at Eagle Beach and golf privileges at two nearby courses, including the 18-hole Tierra del Sol, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Blue Residences resort guest will also enjoy numerous on-site amenities such as – a private beach protected by a jetty, full-service spa, fitness center, two infinity swimming pools, upscale restaurant for your dining pleasure plus a bar, mini market and deli and a landscaped sundeck.

If you would like to book a reservation at the luxury Blue Residences resort on Aruba’s Eagle Beach, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can assist with all your travel reservations.

Boutique hotels have seen a dramatic increase in popularity all around the world, particularly in Europe.

People don’t always want to stay in a standard hotel but experience the culture of a country and staying in a luxury, boutique hotel. The allure of boutique hotels is the special attention given to detail in all their amenities and offered services.

So we’ve hand-picked a unique and independent selection of some of the most beautiful, charming and romantic boutique hotels in Italy. Italy is known as the center of western civilization, and continues to draws millions of visitors a year to explore its rich culture and history.

We hope you enjoy the following list and can truly experience Italy one if its boutique hotels, luxury hotel hideaways or romantic Italian retreats.

First is the Jk Place Capri, which is a gorgeous property set upon the cliffs and built high up, directly looking out to the sea. The ambiance of this resort is reminiscent of a chic, away-from-it-all backdrop that breathes tranquil bliss without ever actually leaving the urban area. Jk Place Capri feature just 22 available rooms, so plan well ahead. We hear that room #22 offers the best views overlooking the sea. With staff members like family, this resort is the ideal home away from home. Although more suited to couples and lovers looking for seclusion, JK Place Capri also offers a “chill out” venue for those traveling alone.

The Hotel de Russie (photo above) can be found the heart of Rome. It’s a five-star luxury haven that will cater to your every wants and needs. The staff will go that extra mile to indulge you even more. Despite the enormous size of the hotel with 122 total rooms, the Hotel de Russie hotel’s staff and attendants maintain a high standard of personal service. For vacationers who belong to the “lonely hearts club band”, find your way to The Stravinskij Bar for a chance to meet interesting and famous personalities. Le Jardin de Russie’s Pasta-Tina de Ceci con Gamberi is a must-try! One last piece of advice for dieters, celebrated chefs Fulvio Pierangelini and Nazzareno Menghini will make it hard for you to curb your appetite. Enjoy!

The Castello di Vicarello is an out-of-town “Castle in the Clouds.” If you are gifted with patience, then your dedication will not go unrewarded. Upon entry towards the Castello di Vicarello castle’s manor, you will drive through beautiful vineyards and olive groves. As you approach, you’ll realize a magnificent stone building that is reminiscent of medieval times. There are only 6 suites available for accommodation. It would be best to make travel arrangements beforehand, that way you get to pick which suite you’ll stay in. If it’s an arrangement just for two, set your sights on the Sassi as it’s perfect for couples with romantic inclinations.

The Chiesina boutique hotel is another choice if you’re going with your entire family and money is not a problem. We highly suggest you stay at the Chiesina. This 2-story mini-castle will make you feel like royalty indeed as your suite will be catered with wine straight from the vineyard and fruit bowls served at your behest or on schedule. Though the attendants here are warm and friendly, be warned that they’ll be more likely to spoil and indulge you with your vices rather than your virtues!

The Principe Forte Dei Marmi is the ideal place to be to soak up the sun’s rays. This chic hotel definitely brings a new meaning to a simple relaxing vacation. Featuring 28 pad-inspired rooms to choose from, we recommend a corner room which offers access to the best views. Open-clad, sun-kissed tan and beach ready is the usual dress code anytime, anywhere. While the 67 Sky Lounge hotel bar on the rooftop is the perfect place to unwind (unless you prefer a poolside bed massage), in high summer, live DJ’s reign and transform the hotel into one big party.

The Il Salviatino hotel sets high on the hills overlooking Florence. This 15^th century inspired mansion is a beautiful mix of exposed brickworks, classic design and striking architecture. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your dedicated ambassador to look after your every wish. Choose from 45 luxurious rooms. Among boutique hotels, this one is not for those traveling on a budget, but their signature cocktail (classic dry martini shaken to perfection) is surely worth its weight in gold.

The Hotel Cipriani offers its guests 79 suites and rooms that feature open lagoon views. Imagine cruising through Venice on board the Cipriani’s private boat, Shirley, which is available upon reservation. Not in the mood for a boat ride? Try their Olympic-sized swimming pool instead which is the first and only in Central Venice.

The Bvlgari Hotel organizes special tours and excursions to Italy’s most exclusive destinations. Bored of standard modes of traveling. Let the Bvlgari Hotel help. Choose from limousine, yacht or private plane. For pasta lovers, try your palate at Chef Andrea Ferrero’s classic Italian cuisines which are simply to die for!

The Maison La Minervetta hotel is a cliffside beauty that offers 12 rooms, each with sea-facing fantastic views. To accentuate the hotel’s quirky nautical appeal, almost all rooms come with bedrooms with medium-sized boat models of different sorts For those who travel in pairs and staying away from the public, 200 meters away from the hotel is La Tonnarella where private beach reservations are available upon request. There’s even stairs from the hotel that lead directly down to the sea. Be prepared for the climb back though!

If you would like to book your next vacation to Italy and stay at one of the above mentioned luxury boutique hotels, please contact The Life of Luxury and we assist with your travel reservation.

With the holiday season over, it’s now time to talk about the upcoming tax season. Getting advice from a professional is critical to your financial success.

IRA’s, annuities, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, life insurance, etc …. it can quickly become very overwelming for many people.

The IRS laws are constantly changing and its best to put your hard earned money in the hands of a financial professional – to give you sane advice and peace of mind.

Recent surveys show that IRAs and annuities continue to grow as popular retirement investment options. But beware that there are some significant disadvantages you should be aware of.

CPA Jim Kohles is the chairman of RINA accountancy corporation and states, “Last year, four out of 10 U.S. households had IRA accounts. That’s up from 17 percent two decades ago.” (based on a ICI Research survey). Kohles continues, “But they can be bad for beneficiaries if you have a very large account.”

Annuities are onother popular investment vehicle as they offer a potential guaranteed income stream into the future. In the second quarter of 2013, annuity sales increased by 10 percent.

In addition to Jim Kohles, wealth management advisor Haitham “Hutch” Ashoo of CEO of Pillar Wealth Management and attorney John Hartog of Hartog & Baer Trust and Estate Law all agree that placing large sums of money in either annuities or IRAs can have serious tax consequences for your heirs.

Hartog was quoted, “If you want to ensure your beneficiaries get what you’ve saved, you need to take some precautions.”

The three financial experts provide these helpful suggestions:

• Better understand your assets as you may be worth more than you think. If your estate is worth greater than $5.25 million (for couples, $10.5 million), your beneficiaries at time fo death may face a stiff 40 percent estate tax and federal and state income taxes. CPA Kohles says, “It can substantially deplete the IRA.”

To avoid that, take stock of your assets now – you may have more than you realize when you take into account such variables as inflation and rising property values. Be aware of how close to that $5/$10 million benchmark you are now, and how close you’ll be a few years from now. Kohles adds, “Consider vacation and rental properties, vehicles, potential inheritances.”

Also, take advantage of the lower tax rates you enjoy today, particularly if they’re going to skyrocket after your death. “A lot of people want to pay zero taxes now and that’s not necessarily a good idea,” he says. An example is if you’re at that upper level, consider converting your traditional IRA to a ROTH IRA and paying the taxes on the money now so your beneficiaries won’t have to later.

• Consider spending down your tax-deferred IRA early. If you’re in the group with $5 million/$10 million assets, it pays to go against everything you’ve been taught and spend the IRA before other assets, says attorney Hartog.

• No matter what your estate’s value, avoid investing in annuities. Wealth management adviser Ashoo warns annuities, offered by insurance companies, can cost investors an inordinate amount of money during their lifetime and afterward.

“Insurance companies try to sell customers on the potential for guaranteed income, a death benefit paid to beneficiaries, or a ‘can’t lose’ minimum return, but none of those compensates for what you have to give up,” he says.

That includes being locked in to the annuity for five to seven years with hefty penalties for pulling out early; returns that fall far short of market investments on indexed annuities; high management fees for variable annuities; declining returns on fixed-rated annuities in their latter years; and giving up your principle in return for guaranteed income.

“If you own annuities and have a substantial estate, there are smart ways to unwind them to minimize damage,” Ashoo says.

If you are seeking sound financial or tax advice, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can put you in touch with an investment professional in your area.

The sublime yet distinct is the nature of such luxurious creations which have been used to bribe the tender women kind for centuries now and for once, you may blame it on Paris rather than Rio.

The French, who may be now bordering on their affinity to the nouvelle et farouche, but are, even today the undisputed champions of eternal luxury. The French Fashion House Hermes Birkin Style Bags are true to this long tradition, doing honest justice to the aura of its name sake diva Janes Birkin.

For some, this coveted crocodile leather bag may be an unusual gift for her, but the one which is sure to please every fashion worthyeve and a short glimpse to their unison will explain every onlooker that why God lies in the details.

The lust for the leather equals to a no stopping craze for the stylish leather hand bags. Every female shopper will agree to an undeniable adrenaline rush with her each tiny purchase but the real magic unleashes with the luxury possessions of the timeless kind, especially the ones that knock on the latest trends.

It is this fad that compelled Digital luxury Group UK to carry out the 2012 fashion survey, the same group that gave us the World Watch Report. The survey findings revealed that American women preferred the orange colored Hermes Birkin style hand bags but their French counterparts were more enticed with the black color of the same design.

The same survey puts the United Kingdom ahead of all the countries in the list when it comes to having fascination for designer hand bags and interestingly enough, country specific loyalty to certain top brands was also noticed.

The just revealed masterpieces are created around the uber cool woman who reflects a long heritage of riches and for whom luxury is a way of life; the Hermes diva will give only front row attendance else won’t be there at all and will perform all this and more with pedigreed élan whilst garnering awe from either gender.

Bang! Bang! Bang! And the HERMES is yours; In case one wants to please a true lover of bags then an unusual gift for her could possibly be an exquisite and vintage piece won through a bid made on an online auction. Such auctions are a chance to avail rare bags that are owned by VIPS or certain styles that your woman once lusted for but disappeared from the store shelves before she could reach them.

The regular suspects featured in these auctions include highly coveted names such as Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton among others. Exotic crocodile Hermes Birkin handbags in stark colors such as purple or green are a favorite pick in such sales events of the hi-fashion circuits.

Tote Bag to the Modern Hobo, the luxe hand bags have been an evergreen fashion accessory that appeals to women across the continents and have significantly evolved over the decades of runways and design extravaganzas. The journey has today concluded with a need to mark personal fashion statements and rightly enough the increasingly available quirky colors and shapes come in designs like:
• The modern hobo bag,
• An evening clutch,
• A tote bag,
• Muff fur bag and
• Satchel

The quality of materials and the constructional details still however remain the vital areas those define a few brands as the pinnacle of style and others as fashion untouchables. Expensive materials such as Crocodile or Eel skin are not only exotic but a stronger substitute to cow, pig and sheep leather.

The Elite Fashion Houses and their near perfection artisans strive recklessly to create that show stopper tag that echoes the vibe of the world’s most pricey and elegant handbag to be owned by the ultra-genteel only.

How Much? Is though not of concern to its suitors but mentionable are the prices of these bags that start at a $6,000 and going upwards to as much as $150,000 each, again undeterred are those who most often wait as much as couple of years to possess a bespoke Hermes bag before it finds the rightful place into the female closet.

Socialites, celebrities and actresses can barely resist the temptation to be photographed by the paparazzi with their trade mark Hermes hand bags and thus the name Hermes Birkin (style) bag christened after Jane Birkin.

The bags churned out under this brand name are not just stylish but extremely practical and spacious scoring high on the usability scale, as well the versatile and stylish color schemes and textures used. Textures such as velvet could compliment a classic look on the other hand crocodile (these hides are most sought after as they are rare and expensive) or snake skin bags complete a chic appearance.

Pamper your woman with this unusual gift for her for she is born with a natural instinct to consume and get attracted to items that will highlight her social worth. A sure seduction is what the latest and exotic crocodile leather bags offer, letting out an age old secret about an inherent weakness, all womenfolk possess!

If you want to purchase a Hermes Birkin handbag, please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our fashion product specialists will assist you.

Nat Sherman is a well known family owned business that was founded back in 1930. For three generations, Nat Sherman International has continued to define the authentic tobacco experience.

Now that Christmas and New Year’s are over, Valentine’s Day will be here sooner than you think. For that special person in your life that loves the taste of a fine cigar, Nat Sherman has offered six wonderful gifts.

The Valentine’s Day gift ideas from Nat Sherman are the perfect mix of cigars and accessories to show your love and affection. Give that cigar aficionado a gift that he or she will remember for years to come.

XIKAR Limited Edition Nat Sherman Cutter ($325)
The Xikar Cutter creates the finest cut for your fine cigar with both style and efficiency. The aluminum body houses double guillotine steel blades that appears upon command. Impress your lover with an elegant design and recognized Nat Sherman logo.

Nat Sherman Metropolitan Maduro ($163 box of 20)
For a mild, rich and smooth cigar flavor, choose a box of The Metropolitan Maduro featuring a dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. It doesn’t matter if your loved one enjoys a medium-bold or rich and complex cigar, Nat Sherman’s diverse collection has an option to please any palate.

Thanks to a special fermentation process, the great tasting cigar is a result of incorporating more natural heat with humidity. The process adds a bit more body and a richer sweetness to the smoke, without increasing its strength.

Nat Sherman Executive Ashtray ($125.00)
The Executive Cigar Ashtray is made from a combination of a modern pewter grid, atop a rich mahogany base creates a bold yet elegant statement for your significant other.

Orion Lighter Red sold at Nat Sherman ($100)
With the Orion lighter, you’ll be on the receiving end of twin pinpoint torch flames. A single action ignition button guarantees a steady light every time and is sure to ignite the flame with your loved one!

6 oz Exotic Wood Padauk Flask ($85)
Give the one you love the 6 oz Exotic Wood Padauk Flask from Brizard and Co. so that he can enjoy his favorite spirit wherever and whenever. No cigar experience is complete without a drink to compliment the cigar and vice versa. This stylish flask features Padauk wood that’s wrapped around a stainless steel frame. Padauk wood is valued for its toughness and decorative appeal, making it a gift that will last the ages.

Timeless 6 Cigar Assortment ($69)
The original 4 cigars from our award winning Timeless cigar selection in a beautiful hand crafted wooden slide top box including the #2 rated cigar aficionado’s #10 in the top 25 cigars of 2012 plus the two newest sizes, the Divinos and the Especiale. It makes the perfect gift that will make any cigar lover smile.

These cigar related gift products are available at the Nat Sherman Townhouse in New York City or on their web site. You can also contact The Life of Luxury and we can assist you in finding the perfect gift for your Valentine.

Well renowned British diamond and watch company Backes & Strauss produces high end luxury swiss-made watches.

Backes & Strauss London, the world’s oldest diamond company was founded in 1789. The company has a strong passion for diamonds.

Backes & Strauss is proud to present a watch video titled, “The Meeting of Master – Episode 1 – The dial maker.”

The video showcases the creativity and innovation of Backes & Strauss plus profiles the dial making craftsmanship, offering viewers a tour of a unique watchmaker know-how.

Backes & Strauss has for over two centuries, continually pioneered new diamond cutting techniques and delivered compelling designs to its watch connoisseur clients.

Their collection of opulent, diamond-set watches are leaders in the luxury watch industry. The house’s distinguished watch collections have all been named after famous London city squares.

If you are interested in purchasing a new, luxury watch from Backes & Strauss, please contact The Life of Luxury.

Everybody wants to look younger and combat the signs of aging. What if you could get a more youthful and radiant look from an unlikely source – King Cobra venom.

Dr. Paul Reid is a noted neuroscientist and international peptide biologics expert and has developed Venin Royale, made from King Cobra venom.

Concentrated Neuropeptide Renewal Serum is an ultra-premium renewal serum scientifically formulated by Dr. Paul Reid. The formula was enhanced with pure King Cobra venom.

Dr. Reid believed after studying the benefits of King Cobra venom for over twenty years, he was uncovered the secret to renewing the appearance of youthful skin.

Powered by Neuropeptide Renewal Technology™ Enhanced with Pure King Cobra Venom, Venin Royale also includes Red Marine Algae as well as the following Vitamins – A, B6, C, D3 & E.

According to Dr. Reid, the results of many who use Venin Royale are impressive. The skin care serum helps fight the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots in addition to other visible signs of aging skin. At the same time, the skin care serum allows the body to renew and restore skin clarity, tone, and texture to a more youthful and radiant look.

Dr. Reid’s was quoted, “Women who are truly dedicated to rediscovering their youthful radiance should include Concentrated Neuropeptide Renewal Serum in their daily skin care regimen.”

Venin Royale is available in a 50 ml / 1.7 Fl. Oz. bottle. You can purchase or learn more at http://www.veninroyale.com

The prestigious Milan Fashion Week will be held next month in February between the 19th and 25th. It’s one of the most popular fashion events in the world.

If you have always wished to attend Milan Fashion Week, then we want to share a couple of exclusive experiences that shouldn’t be missed.

First established back in 1958, Milan Fashion Week is actually a semi-annually even and hosted in Milan, Italy. The year’s show is the autumn/winter version and later this fall is spring/summer event.

You can choose between a three or five day luxury package. Enjoy the Fashion Show and reserve the best seats. You will also be part of an exclusive meeting in the Boutiques’ private room to choose one of the new collection of show clothes.

Gold Package (3 full days)
– Invitation to 1 Fashion show
– 2 Fashion experiences in the private room at the boutique*.
– 1 dinners: discovering the italian food and wine. The best Italian Chefs will be at disposal for special tasting
– Personal translator full time for 3 days (9 a.m- 7 p.m.)
– Personal driver with a Mercedes E** (upgrade available upon request) for 3 days (9 a.m.-11 p.m.)
– 2 nights in a luxury Five-star or Design Hotel

Platinum Package (5 full days)
– Invitation to 3 Fashion shows
– 2 Fashion experiences in the private room at the boutique*.
– 3 dinners: discovering the finest Italian food and wine. The best Italian Chefs will be at your disposal for a special tasting experience.
– Personal translator full time for 3 days (9 a.m- 7 p.m.)
– Personal driver with a Mercedes E** (upgrade available upon request) for 3 days (9 a.m.-11 p.m.)
– 4 nights in a luxury Five-star or Design Hotel

*The guest will have the chance to buy a fashion masterpiece only at the Milan Boutique, during Fashion week. A taylor will be at their disposal for any garment adjustments. The taylor will delivery it within the next day.

If you would like to attend the autumn/winter version of Milan Fashion Week, then contact The Life of Luxury and one of our travel concierge specialists will be able to help you book all aspects of your travel itinerary.

Buben&Zorweg have been a luxury watch leader in the world market for watch winders of automatic watches for many years now.

Buben&Zorweg has introduced its new TIME MOVER® HANDWOUND watch. The high-end manufacturer has reached another critical milestone for its innovative watch products.

One fact was obvious to Buben&Zorweg. Extended periods of standstill of winding watch are as detrimental to the valuable calibres of precious handwound watches as they are to the inner workings of automatic watches.

A critical issue that had to be overcome related to handwound watches was the lack of a safety clutch. It’s important to be able to increasingly apply force to the spring until it reaches its ideal tension, but not go too far and damage the watch.

The solution from Buben&Zorweg was the ingenius The TIME MOVER® HANDWOUND watch. The device is equipped with state of-the-art, electronically controlled sensors that monitor changes in spring tension until it reaches the ideal point.

The end result is that the winding process stops in just a matter of milliseconds, as soon as this tension point is reached.

What this mean is that handwound watch lovers can now feel safe with a perfectly wound watch in their fingertips.

The watch’s winding rollers that clamp the crown of the watch are a prime example of the technology Buben&Zorweg delivers. The luxury watch brand developed a very special rubber mixture that was developed just for the rollers.

The TIME MOVER® technology thus provides an ideal solution that has long since prevailed by the collectors and lovers of luxurious automatic chronometers.

If you are interested in purchasing a new TIME MOVER® HANDWOUND watch model from Buben&Zorweg, then please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our product specialists can assist you with product pricing and procuring your watch.

With the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance nearing early next year, one of the featured experiences will be to view the BMW Batmobile racers.

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is clearly one of the top automotive events in the world. Get a chance to view nearly 250 rare vehicles from car collections around the world. The event is held between March 7-9, 2014 at The Golf Club of Amelia Island, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

The BMW Batmobile racers were first seen in the U.S. after arriving from Europe. They had giant wings, large fender boxes and huge spoilers. The Batmobile was powered by a beefy 430 hp straight-six engine that produced a stunning rumbling noise and allowed BMW’s luxury coupe to reach speeds of over 180 mph.

Road racing fans across the U.S. took one look at the cutting edge race car and simply fell in love. In addition, their admiration also provided the new BMW racing coupes their well known nickname today – “the Batmobiles”.

The first debut of the BMW Batmobile came at the 1973 Six Hours of the Nurburgring. It was a result of a corporate war between the be-winged BMW 3.0 CSLs and Ford’s Capri.

Ford invited Grand Prix stars Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi, in addition to the Amelia’s 2014 honoree Jochen Mass. They led the blue-oval’s fight against BMW’s F1 stars Chris Amon, Hans Stuck and future World Formula 1 Champion Niki Lauda. But BMW won the most important race on the European Championship calendar that weekend. As a result the Batmobile legend was born.

Back in the summer of 1975, BMW entered a very special version of the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” coupe at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. BMW’s first “Art Car” was created by Alexander Calder, an American artist known for his giant mobiles.

Alexander Calder’s 3.0 CSL was the first in a line of BMW Art Cars that spanned three decades. It set off a series of BMW’s racers rendered by famous artists. Frank Stella, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein interpretations of the 3.0 CSL followed Calder’s Le Mans “Batmobile”.

Known as a very charitable event, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance show’s Foundation has donated over $2.2 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other charities on Florida’s First Coast since its inception in 1996.

Definitely a highlight and not to be missed, the Florida car event will host a special class for BMW’s rare “Batmobiles” at the 19th annual edition of the spring show that opens the international concours season.

If you would like to attend the the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance car show and see a BMW Batmobile up close, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can assist you with all of your travel and car show arrangements.