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New MINI Cooper S Surfaces with John Cooper Works Trim
The latest MINI Cooper S, now available in the John Cooper Works (JCW) trim, aims to blend sporty aesthetics with the brand's storied racing heritage. This three-door model features distinctive front and rear designs that highlight its agile handling and performance capabilities.Under the hood, the MINI Cooper S boasts a capable 2.0L TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 204 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. This power enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The JCW trim enhances the Cooper S with exclusive design elements, like distinctive diffusers, a high-gloss black octagonal front grille and contrasting black roof and mirror caps. The vehicle also features JCW brake calipers and unique 17-inch or 18-inch rim designs, reinforcing its powerful stance.Insi...
MOD Bikes’ Berlin E-Bike Can Take On City Streets and Trails Alike
MOD Bikes is building out its lineup of electric bikes designed to meet a variety of user needs with the new MOD Berlin. Billed as a premium urban commuter bike, the model packages the Austin-based brand’s advanced technological capabilities into a slimmer, sleek bike that delivers power without being bulky.Powered by a 750W motor, the Berlin runs at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour (45 km per hour), which is the maximum speed an e-bike can go before it's classified as a motorcycle. The bike also offers a range of 90 miles on a single charge. The wheels are thicker than that of a traditional road bike, however, and MOD Bikes says it's also capable of taking on trails.Expanding the tech of previous models in the MOD Bikes roster, the Berlin features a smart color screen display, allowing t...
“Dream On Baby” Book Explores Childhoods of Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic and More
“I put all my effort into breaking the shackles of childhood memories by being an independent-minded rebel,” Ai Weiwei boldly expressed in a new book authored by curator Gesine Borcherdt. The book named “Dream on Baby” gathers childhood memories of 33 artists, revealing how early experiences shaped their creativity.Inspired by her 2020 exhibition 'Dream Baby Dream' at Haus Mödrath in Germany, Borcherdt sought to preserve these unique stories. Ai Weiwei’s account of exile near the Gurbantünggüt Desert highlights how deprivation fueled his quest for "an absolutely free space to think." Vaginal Davis remembers a bookstore's meticulous packaging influencing her art practice.Moreover, Liu Ye recalls his boyhood during the Cultural Revolution, while Lynn Hershman Leeson speaks of daily visits t...
Porsche Reveals Plans for Fourth-Gen All-Electric Cayenne
Porsche has unveiled plans for the fourth generation of its Cayenne SUV, set to be fully electric. The initial camouflaged prototypes are already undergoing rigorous testing, with the company simultaneously advancing its hybrid and combustion engine models. Porsche stated that the move ensures that up to and beyond 2030, the Cayenne will be available with three powertrain variants worldwide.For over two decades, the Cayenne has been celebrated for blending Porsche's iconic driving performance with everyday comfort and off-road capability. CEO of Porsche AG, Blume, emphasized, "In the middle of the decade, the fourth generation will set standards in the segment as an electric SUV. Our customers will still be able to choose from a wide range of powerful and efficient combustion and hybrid mo...
Unique Porsche Dakar Children’s Car Surfaces at Auction
A unique tribute to the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally-winning Porsche 953 is set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby's. The Dakar Children's Car, also known as the Dakar Junior, is a miniature replica of the iconic rally car, crafted by UK-based Halfscale Cars to mark the 40th anniversary of the legendary victory.René Metge and co-driver Dominique Lemoyne's victory in the gruelling 1984 rally, aboard a modified Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 4x4, is commemorated in this meticulously detailed creation. The Dakar Junior sports the distinctive two-tone Rothmans livery, that is notably hand-painted.Under the hood, the car features a 400-cc engine that produces roughly 15 hp, which propels it to speeds of up to 50 mph — the very same engine used in the official Porsche 911 jr. Its mechanical specifications ...
Chevrolet Unleashes Its Most Powerful Corvette to Date: The 2025 ZR1
Chevrolet has unveiled the 2025 Corvette ZR1, boasting the most powerful V8 engine ever produced by an American automaker. The ZR1 is available in both coupe and convertible variants, combining raw power with iconic design.At the heart of the ZR1 is the 5.5L twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine, known as the LT7. This engine generates 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm, making it the most potent factory-produced Corvette engine to date. Chevrolet estimates the ZR1's top speed to exceed 215 mph, with a quarter-mile time under 10 seconds.The ZR1's aerodynamic design features a carbon fiber aero package that produces over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. A notable design revival includes the split rear window, paying homage to classic Corvet...
Authorities Recover $1.3 Million USD Picasso Drawing Tied to 1MDB Scandal
Federal authorities have recovered a $1.3 million USD Pablo Picasso drawing connected to the 1MDB scandal, a massive corruption case involving Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund. Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, former general counsel for 1MDB, agreed to surrender the Picasso and a Swiss bank account tied to embezzled funds, totaling around $1.8 million USD, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB fraud, remains a fugitive. From 2009 to 2015, over $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by officials and associates, including Low and Loo. These funds were funneled through international money laundering and bribery schemes as per a report by Artnet.The recovered Picasso, 'Trois femmes nues et buste d’homme' (1969), was bought by Loo for $1.3 million USD ...
Josef Albers’ Expansive ‘Formulation: Articulation’ Is on View at David Zwirner
Josef Albers' color studies take center stage in a new solo exhibition at David Zwirner. The online show emphasizes the German-American artist and educator's print portfolio, Formulation: Articulation, which is mapped across 127 screenprints printed on 66 sheets of folded wove paper, which explore a number of pivotal periods within Albers' career — from his early days at the Bauhaus and the woodcuts he'd tinker with at Black Mountain College to the Variant/Adobe and Homage to the Square artworks that he's arguably most remembered for today. Albers, who passed away in 1976, age 88, was constantly experimenting well into old age. Printmaking became a quick and efficient way for him "to explore new methods....," wrote Brenda Danilowitz, art historian and chief curator at the Josef and Anni Al...
BMW Reveals One-Off M5 “Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance” Edition
BMW has unveiled the one-of-a-kind 2025 BMW M5 "Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance #1/1," set to be auctioned by Gooding & Company on August 16 during Pebble Beach Automotive Week. This exclusive model, the first 2025 M5 to be delivered in North America, boasts unique features and finishes.The 2025 M5 Pebble Beach edition is a product of collaboration between BMW M, BMW Individual and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It is distinguished by a BMW Individual Frozen Orange metallic paint, inspired by the vibrant hues of a Pebble Beach sunset. This color, scheduled to be discontinued before M5 production, was specially applied weeks in advance, adding to its exclusivity.Complementing the striking paint are hand-painted orange accents on the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear M Dual-Spoke Bi...
Xiaomi Launches 1548 Horsepower SU7 Ultra
Xiaomi has made a significant leap in its performance vehicle category with the unveiling of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. Introduced during Xiaomi founder Lei Jun’s Annual Speech, this prototype marks a milestone for the company, with the vehicle boasting an impressive 1548 hp.The SU7 Ultra is powered by Xiaomi’s newly announced electric "HyperEngine V8s," complemented by two additional motors: one V8s and one V6s. Statistically, this combination surpasses the power of luxury sports cars like the Bugatti Chiron, with the HyperEngine V8s alone delivering 578 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. Equipped with CATL’s Qilin 2.0 high-power battery, the SU7 Ultra promises unmatched performance with an output of 1330 kW. Additionally, the battery’s innovative LFP chemistry allows for rapid recharging, achieving ...
Claire Tabouret Presents ‘The Eloquence of Tears’ in New Ceramic Exhibition
French artist Claire Tabouret ventures back home to the South of France in a new solo exhibition at Château La Coste. Produced in collaboration with Manufacture de Sèvres, L’Éloquence des Larmes (The Eloquence of Tears) provides a new terrain for Tabouret, who is globally recognized for her gestural portrait paintings depicting tales of the sea, youth and self, as she continues to experiment with ceramic vessels that are centered around the theme of womanhood.Having just given birth to her second child, Tabouret conceived the concept of her new show whilst pregnant. "The women Claire Tabouret represents mourn the loss of a child," wrote Château La Coste, which also doubles as a vineyard and restaurant. "For this series, Claire Tabouret summoned the weeping, mother figure in the history of ...
Jules de Balincourt Paints Mysterious Worlds for Victoria Miro
Victoria Miro will showcase new paintings by Jules de Balincourt this fall in London, accompanied by writings from Bob Nickas. De Balincourt’s work captures states of mind rather than reality, creating fantasy-like worlds where landscapes and seascapes blend with abstract forms. His intuitive process involves layering translucent paint to transition from abstraction to figurative imagery. These spaces, filled with figures in perpetual motion, evoke a volatile and mysterious world, encouraging themes of meditation and escape. The exhibition will feature a mix of large and small paintings, often displayed salon-style to invite free association.Additionally, de Balincourt has designed a new skateboard for an exhibition at Paris’ Hôtel de Crillon in collaboration with The Skateroom, celebratin...
