23rd Annual Best of the Best

History is a harsh taskmaster. With alarming regularity, it seems, we are confronted with the challenge of either making history or becoming it. Certainly the long path of civilization is littered with the cautionary wreckage of those industries, institutions, and individuals that failed to recognize developing trends and technologies poised to disrupt their comfortable existences. […]

Joshua bell is often called the rock star of classical music. Indeed, the violin virtuoso tours the world 250 days per year, bringing sellout crowds to their feet with a distinctly sweet tone and an athletic performance style that may explain his signature untucked silk shirts. At a youthful 43, Bell has recorded more than […]

Aston Martin focuses as much on the mood of motoring as it does on the mechanicals of its cars. The Vanquish, the DB9, and the DBS, for example, ride a little rough around the edges—as they should, because driving a car equipped with a V-12 engine is supposed to be a challenge for hands, feet, […]

The Audi TT RS (www.audiusa.com), the high-performance variant of the cute TT model, embodies the spirit of the rally-racing cars with which the brand enjoyed so much success in the 1980s. The TT RS’s 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine (similar to those that powered the Quattro racers three decades ago) produces 360 hp and 332 ft […]

The Bentley Continental GT (www.bentleymotors.com) debuted in 2003, so it was high time for a second generation. The latest GT is entirely new, although it requires a discerning eye to notice the subtly wrought outward changes: a sleeker nose, a more angular tail, and crisper style lines. The $190,000 GT retains the W-12 engine (which […]

Since its founders invented the motorcar 125 years ago, Mercedes-Benz has been tweaking and primping its vehicles ever closer to perfection. The Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG (www.mbusa.com) may well be the culmination of those efforts. For muscle and punch, the $151,100 coupe has a twin-turbo, 536 hp, 5.5-liter V-8 (an optional 563 hp performance package is […]

When our judging panel of nearly 50 readers selected the Ferrari 458 Italia as the 2011 Car of the Year with a landslide vote in Robb Report’s March issue, the editors and writers who had the chance to drive the car were not surprised. While we anticipated the outcome, the 458’s accomplishment still is notable, […]

The phrase “less is more” might not serve well as a sales pitch to the typical supercar shopper, but it is the principle behind the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera (www.lamborghini.com). This baby bull’s last name means “superlight” in Italian, and by weighing in at less than 3,000 pounds (2,954 to be exact), the Superleggera […]

If the Ferrari 458 Italia represents a revolutionary development on the part of its maker, then the Porsche 911 Turbo S (www.porsche.com) proves that an antithetical, evolutionary approach to improving performance can be every bit as effective. Under the skin of its familiar 911 shape lurks a friendly monster that makes the Turbo S the […]

The most remarkable thing about the Lexus LFA (www.lexus.com) is not that it is extremely quick (202 mph), very expensive ($375,000), or exceedingly exclusive (only 500 will be built), but that it is made by Toyota, a brand better known for manufacturing family-friendly Corollas and Camrys by the millions. But this is precisely the point […]

The limited-edition CTS-V Wagon is nearly as audacious as a Corvette hearse and faster than almost anything on the road. Built on the platform of Cadillac’s wildly entertaining CTS-Vsedan and equipped with a 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 that pumps out 556 hp and 551 ft lbs of stump-pulling torque, the wagon catapults from zero to 60 […]

Nearly 40 years after its introduction, the Porsche Carrera RS remains an icon of air-cooled aggression that exemplifies the pure and visceral early 911 breed and represents the best of the 1970s racers. However, the car’s rarity—which partly accounts for the $250,000 to $500,000 a collector could pay for an RS—and relatively modest power bring […]

Based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Becker Automotive Design’s JetVan can coddle passengers in the manner of a Maybach while offering them a host of high-tech communication devices. The latest version of the JetVan is equipped with the Sprint­er’s all-new clean-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 BlueTEC engine. The vehicle now has a range of more than 400 miles. […]

Fifteen years ago, Jonathan Ward saw enough beauty in the beat-up bodies of vintage Toyota Land Cruisers to launch TLC, a Van Nuys, Calif., company that restored and serviced the off-road vehicles. Ward’s work led to his building three prototypes for Toyota for the FJ Cruiser that looked more like the classic Land Cruisers than […]

Like Hatfields taking shots at a McCoy solely because he is a McCoy, many Porsche 911 owners have been mercilessly peppering the Cayenne with verbal bird shot—and worse—since the SUV arrived on the scene in 2002. Such prejudice is unbecoming of a group that takes pride in possessing an appreciation for solid engineering and bulletproof […]

When looking at the exterior of the new BMW X5 xDrive50i (www.bmw.com), it is difficult to find anything that distinguishes the vehicle from the 2007 to 2010 model-year X5s. But slip into the driver’s seat and stomp the throttle, and you will see that BMW has breathed new life into its most popular SUV model […]

In the oversize-SUV category that includes the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, and Lincoln Navigator, to name three, the best of the biggest is the Infiniti QX56 (www.infiniti.com). The seven-seat, $58,700 ($61,800 with the four-wheel-drive option) QX56 offers more luxury, technology, and performance than any of the American-made alternatives. Its 5.6-liter V-8 engine pumps 400 hp […]

When you have been building a generally peerless, certainly palatial off-road icon for four decades, what better way to celebrate its big 4-0 than by creating the ultimate edition of that vehicle? Limited to 175 examples for the U.S. market and dubbed the Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography Black Limited Edition (www.landrover.com), the $123,000 SUV […]

The adage that good things come in small packages applies well to the silky-smooth in-line 6-cylinder engine that powers the new $23,200 BMW K 1600 GTL and its sportier, slightly less accommodating sibling, the $20,900 K 1600 GT (pictured). The transversely mounted 1649 cc engine weighs just 226 pounds, and it is only 21.9 inches […]

When Porsche introduced the Cayenne nearly a decade ago, purists feared that this attempt to expand the brand would only dilute it; suddenly soccer moms and other seemingly unworthy owners would be driving Porsches. Instead, by possessing unprecedented performance capabilities, the Cayenne enhanced the image of the SUV—and perhaps the images of a few soccer […]

Six years passed between the debut of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, in 2004, and the super sport’s first comprehensive update. But the improvements were worth the wait. The $13,800 ZX-?10R, which underwent less drastic changes in 2006 and 2008, has new bodywork, a new drivetrain, and a new chassis with a lightweight Showa Big Piston […]

Its irascible motor and unusually low weight render the Ducati Des­mosedici RR too much motorcycle for many riders. But for the Italian boutique bike builder NCR, the MotoGP race replica is only a starting point. From the Desmosedici it creates the Millona 16, or M16. Associations with the firearm of the same name may be […]

The new Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG (www.mbusa.com) appears only slightly different from the previous version of the midsize sedan; the big changes were made under the hood. Mercedes-Benz replaced a normally aspirated 507 hp V-8 with a new V-8 and a pair of turbochargers that increase horsepower to 518. The old CLS63 AMG accelerated from zero […]

With the arrival of so many new or thoroughly updated models from top manufacturers, 2011 could be called the Year of the Sedan. The best of the bunch perform on a par with world-class coupes and GTs. Among these is the Jaguar XJ Supersport (www.jaguar.com), the supercharged variant of the radically reshaped XJ that reflects […]

While motorcars become greener, lighter, smaller, and less expensive, Bentley clings to its heritage by offering the Mul­sanne, a supersized sedan with a carbon footprint as large as that of a South York­shire coalfield. The world of motoring—plus an estimated 10 percent of Bentley owners—is all the better for this mighty $290,000 museum piece, which […]

The secret to the success of the Audi A8 (www.audiusa.com), which finished ahead of sedans by BMW, Jaguar, and Rolls-Royce in Robb Report’s 2011 Car of the Year competition, rests in its underpinnings. Audi seems to have perfected the aluminum space-frame technology that it debuted 17 years ago on the first-generation A8. When combined with […]

The Audi R8 V10 Spyder’s performance specs could have earned it a spot in the sports-car category. Equipped with a high-revving 5.2-liter V-10, it sprints from zero to 60 mph in four seconds and reaches a top speed of 195 mph. Ultimately, the $161,000 Spyder, a ragtop version of Audi’s popular R8 sans the coupe’s […]

With 20 variations in the current model line, Porsche offers a full menu of 911 flavors. Purists can skip over the Turbos and Targas and stop at the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet (www.porsche.com). Essentially a harder-core version of the Carrera S, the rear-wheel-drive, rear-engine GTS churns out 23 more horsepower—for a total of 408—from […]

Maserati GranTurismo Convertible (www.maserati.com), which might be the most beautiful topless GT on the planet. If one requires more pragmatic reasons to consider the $139,700 GranTurismo, he or she can put foot to floor and experience the performance of a Ferrari-engineered V-8 engine with an exhaust note that pales only—and barely—to that of Ferrari’s grandiloquent […]

True convertibles are creatures of elegance and impeccable manners that tender four spacious seats for people who prefer to tour grandly between Relais & Châteaux lodgings. The restyled, reengineered BMW 650i Convertible (www.bmwusa.com) fits that description precisely. Based heavily on the company’s 5 Series and 7 Series, the 650i is longer, wider, lower, and almost […]

When Parmigiani Fleurier was asked by Bugatti Automobiles to create a special-edition watch to celebrate the final version of the automaker’s Veyron supercar, the request came with a catch: Parmigiani had to have the watch ready for release within a year—in time for the Vey­ron 16.4 Super Sport’s debut at last summer’s Pebble Beach Concours […]

The Bovet Fleurier Ottanta (786.787.0363, http://www.bovet.com), a timepiece commissioned by Pininfarina to mark the 80th anniversary of the Italian design studio’s founding, showcases the watchmaker’s tourbillon-building and finishing capabilities. The timepiece, which will be limited to 80 examples and priced at $308,000, also displays a form more contemporary than most of the traditional, pocket-watch-based designs […]

Led by movement developer Carole Forestier, Cartier has exceeded expectations for its initial watchmaking efforts by not only completing the basics on its own but also creating original and compelling designs. The Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astrotour­billon (800.227.8437, http://www.cartier.com) might be the defining example of this achievement. In theory, by making a relatively simple modification […]

The design of the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One (800.246.7273, http://www.chopard.com) might be more elaborate than those of Chopard’s other L.U.C. watches, which match the reserved demeanor of company copresident Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. But the theme of that design—automotive mechanics—still suits Scheufele, a classic-car and car-racing enthusiast. The $80,760 timepiece sports a tourbillon movement with plating and […]

With the Patek Philippe 5170 Chro­nograph (212.218.1240, http://www.patek.com),the company has significantly upgraded the lateral-clutch chronograph, a design that has been valued for its beauty and history, though not its performance, which modern configurations have surpassed. About 3 mm smaller than its predecessor—the well-collected 5070—and displaying many design elements from the 1940s and ’50s, the $75,300 […]

While focusing on the $555,000 price of Rafael Nadal’s Richard Mille RM 027 (310.205.5555, http://www.richardmille.com) when he wore it during his three Grand Slam victories in 2010, the sports media neglected to mention the watch’s technical merits. The timepiece, which is destined to become known as the “Nadal Watch” and will have a production run […]

While complicated pieces usually steal the spotlight, models such as those in the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art La Symbolique des Laques (877.862.7555, http://www.vacheron-constantin.com) show that art watches can have equal if not greater creative content.The artwork on the dials of these timepieces, which are sold as a set of three for $240,000, is produced by […]

Ralph Lauren had a busy year, to say the least, from opening stores in New York and Paris, to receiving the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to presenting expansive new collections in fine watches and jewelry—and even paint. But the designer undoubtedly made his greatest advance in tailored clothing. It […]

Tom Ford (212.359.0300, http://www.tomford.com)has shaped wider lapels and a looser 1940s styling for fall. 2nd from Left: Silk-and-rayon Micro-Herrington suit, $3,570, shirt, $495, tie, $220, and pocket square, $140. A. Lange & Söhne watch, $50,900 (212.397.9000, http://www.wempe.com).

Ermenegildo Zegna (888.880.3462, http://www.zegna.com)delved into its archives for rich tweeds and also developed new lighter materials. Far Left: Wool suit, $2,695, shirt, $325, tie, $185, pocket square, $85, belt, $225, and dress shoes, $1,290.

Kiton (www.kiton.it), a master of handmade suits, offers a more structured, 1960s-style shoulder in its Cipa collection. Far Right: Cashmere-and-cotton suit, $7,295, shirt, $695, tie, $240, scarf, $795, and briefcase, $6,215. Ermenegildo Zegna pocket square, $85.

Cesare Attolini (212.246.0085, http://www.cesareattolininewyork.com) continues to create unconstructed jackets with a fit like none other. 2nd from Right: Wool flannel windowpane suit, $6,400, tie, $250, shirt, $525, and pocket square, $65. A. Lange & Söhne watch, $38,600 (212.397.9000, http://www.wempe.com).

In 1920, Coco Chanel journeyed to Venice, Italy, where the Oriental design elements in the Doge’s Palace inspired a new Byzantine direction in her own creations, with ornate, colorful pieces that echoed exotic Asian cultures. This year, Chanel Fine Jewelry made a return trip with its latest high jewelry collection, Secrets D’Orient, unveiled in Paris […]

t last year’s Biennale des Anti­quaires in Paris, Cartier (800.?227.8437, http://www.cartier.com) presented 60 high-style designs featuring flamboyant feather and colorful bird motifs and romantic details such as delicate, draping beads. The stunning gems included a necklace with a 35-?carat opal center and a ring with a carved 60-carat sea blue sapphire. The jeweler’s endless originality […]

The Munich-based jeweler Hemmerle (+49.89.24.22.600, http://www.hemmerle.com) stands apart for its fearless combinations of exceptional diamonds and gemstones with ordinary metals such as brass and aluminum. Its pared-down designs recall Germany’s Bauhaus movement, and standouts include a sparkling white diamond ring and bracelet set in white gold with a stainless-steel overlay for an industrial-looking finish, and […]

When Harry Winston (800.988.4110, http://www.harrywinston.com) unveiled its Court of Jewels exhibit last November in New York, it was reminiscent of the jeweler’s original display bearing the same name that traveled to major American cities from 1949 to 1953. The new collection is equally impressive, with a rare selection of jewels including a brilliant blue 66-carat […]

“I always believe that when you have the opportunity to acquire something unique it’s your lucky day, because once it’s gone the opportunity has gone also,” says Laurence Graff, founder of Graff, who in the past year seized the chance to capture some of the world’s rarest diamonds. His prized acquisitions include the Graff Pink, […]

just five years’ time, Leviev (212.763.5300, http://www.leviev.com) has earned a reputation as one of the world’s great diamond houses, with spectacular white and fancy colored diamonds set into stylish designs. Leviev’s impressive new anniversary collection solidifies its position: Featuring five unique designs, the line includes a blue diamond cat brooch and red diamond earrings in […]

James de Givenchy, designer for Sotheby’s Diamonds (212.894.1400, http://www.sothebysdiamonds.com), fashions avant-?garde jewelry using some of the world’s best diamonds. This year he continues to captivate an international flock of collectors with pieces such as a striking ring with a vivid yellow emerald-cut diamond that is set on a slant so that it appears to be […]

Every year, De Beers (800.929.0889, http://www.debeers.com) unveils fresh design themes that incorporate classic round white diamonds and rough varieties of pink, yellow, and cognac stones. But with its new Swan Lake collection, the company portrays a surprising femininity with flowing necklaces and earrings.

Brunello Cucinelli (212.813.0900, http://www.brunellocucinelli.it) continues to set the standard for luxurious sportswear, be it denim or cashmere. Far left: Cashmere-and-wool peacoat, $4,495, cashmere-and-silk sweater, $995, cotton shirt, $495, wool-and-cashmere tie, $195, suede belt, $495, cotton corduroy cargo pant, $735, and leather hiking boots, $1,095. Panerai Luminor Marina titanium watch, $8,000 (www.panerai.com).

Canali (212.767.0205, http://www.canali.it) remains a must-have for its broad range of fabrics and colors, and practical silhouettes. Far Right: Cashmere bomber jacket with mink collar, $2,995, and cotton corduroy pants $295. Brioni cashmere turtleneck, $795; Panerai Luminor steel watch, $8,900 (www.panerai.com); John Lobb shoes, $1,290 (212.888.9797, http://www.johnlobb.com).

Hermès (800.441.4488, http://www.hermes.com) proves it is more than just an accessories house, with menswear that delivers style and performance. 2nd from Right: Waterproof cashmere trench coat, cashmere turtleneck, calfskin pants, and leather shoes (prices upon request).

Stefano Ricci (212.371.3901, http://www.stefanoricci.com) sportswear stands out for its inventive mix of materials and key pieces. 2nd from Left: Cashmere bomber jacket with silk lining and mink collar, cashmere sweater, cotton-and-silk shirt, and wool-and-cashmere pants (prices upon request). Panerai Radiomir steel watch, $7,200 (www.panerai.com); John Lobb shoes, $1,120 (212.888.9797, http://www.johnlobb.com); Punto by British Apparel Collection socks, […]

Brioni is best known for the exceptionally tailored, classically cut suits it has been making since 1945. But in the last few years, it has also become a surprisingly inventive maker of sportswear. And this year, the house has come into its own with outstanding casual pieces that express utter comfort and luxury. One of […]

Parisian jeweler Lorenz Bäumer designed Louis Vuitton’s first fine jewelry collection two years ago, but for his own collection this year, he went in a wildly inventive new direction—several of them, actually. Bäumer, a charismatic 45-year-old known for creating unusual designs with deeply colored stones, employed three-dimensional digital technology to create the Mikado series of […]

Taiwanese designer Cindy Chao (886.2.2711.7718, http://www.cindychao.com) is known to spend more than two years on a single piece, such as the Masterpiece Solstice cuff—a creation of 5,170 diamonds and gemstones set in a painterly way to form a blooming azalea. Chao unveiled her collection in the United States last year, but she creates only a […]

Martin Katz (310.276.7200, http://www.martinkatz.com) has never been one to follow trends, and his ability to stick to what he does best—create beautifully designed women’s jewelry that can be worn day or night—makes him a reliable favorite for a growing list of fans. The Beverly Hills designer sets colored gemstones in elegant, Deco-style pieces that exude […]

Anna Hu (212.826.1116, http://www.anna-hu.com) combines a refined Asian aesthetic with old-world craftsmanship. The designer—who trained alongside some of the world’s best master jewelers—sketches each design, then carefully follows its execution, from selecting each stone to forging the metal into soft, curvaceous, gem-encrusted shapes that are imaginative yet wearable.

When Breguet sought to add a high-level complication to its successful Reine de Naples ladies’ watch model, its development team looked to the original watch made two centuries before. Commissioned in 1810, No. 2639—which Abraham-Louis Breguet personally delivered to Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples—was a most remarkable timepiece. The first and only wristwatch Breguet himself […]

Collectors have only recently elevated Van Cleef & Arpels to the rank of serious watchmaker; yet the revered jeweler now combines inventive movement-making with its own distinctive artisanship to produce some of the industry’s most compelling timepieces on an almost annual basis. Last year’s Van Cleef & Arpels Le Pont des Amoureux (877.826.2533, http://www.vancleef.com; $108,000) […]

Though it was one of DeWitt’s early designs, the case of Dame de Pressy is a shape that the company did not produce in large numbers. But when paired with a skeletonized movement, the resulting ladies’ watch exhibits a visual energy that its designers probably never intended. The skeleton format employed in the 25-piece limited edition DeWitt […]

In the years since Corum reengineered its famous Golden Bridge from the 1980s, that specially conceived, in-line movement has been implemented primarily in men’s watches, despite its airy grace. This year, however, the company adapted the design to the female wrist, where it naturally seems to belong. The horizontal Corum Golden Bridge Lady (+41.22.731.84.2, http://www.corum.ch; […]

Beechcraft’s King Air line has outsold all other twin-engine turbo-prop business planes combined. This distinction speaks to the line’s longevity—47 years and counting—and its quality. Like past models, each of the three current ones—the entry-level C90GTx and the larger, more powerful 250 and 350i—is efficient, versatile, and comfortable. The King Airs also are attractive alternatives […]

When Cirrus Aircraft debuted the single-piston, parachute-equipped SR22 10 years ago, the Duluth, Minn.–based manufacturer established new standards for safety, comfort, and performance. In the decade since, Cirrus has continued to upgrade its best-selling aircraft and now offers it with features that protect against icing, boost high-altitude capabilities, and enhance stability. David Mendal, a pilot […]

Other very light jets (VLJs) might promise more utility, value, and efficiency than the TE500 from New Mexico’s Eclipse Aerospace, but the statuses of those aircraft remain “forthcoming.” The six-seat, twin-engine TE500 is available now for purchase and delivery to pilot-owners. The TE500 has a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet, enabling a pilot to fly […]

With a 463 mph cruise speed, a range beyond 1,700 miles, and a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet, the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II (561.253.0104, http://www.piaggioaero.com) can perform as well as a number of light jets. It also can take off and land at runways shorter than 3,000 feet, and it burns only 100 gallons […]

Last year, Cessna began deliveries of its newest jet, the Cita­tion CJ4. However, because this new $8.9 million model is untested in the market, members of the Robb Report Private Aviation Advisory Board are not convinced that it represents a better investment than its $8.2 million predecessor, the Cessna Citation CJ3 (316.517.6056, http://www.cessna.com). Advisory board […]

Though categorized as a light jet because its maximum takeoff weight exceeds 10,000 pounds—just barely—the Embraer Phenom 100 (www.embraerexecutivejets.com) has operating costs that are more akin to those of a very light jet or turboprop. It is priced at $3.9 million and burns just 88 gallons of fuel per hour. The Phenom 100 has a […]

Bombardier Learjet 45XR (514.861.9481, http://www.bombardier.com) offers one of the most comfortable and spacious cabins in the light-midsize class. A typical cabin configuration includes eight fully articulating seats in a double-club arrangement and 65 cubic feet of luggage space. The cabin also is quiet; noise rarely exceeds 72 decibels. The roughly $13 million Learjet 45XR can […]

Like the smaller Phenom 100, the Embraer Phenom 300 (www.embraerexecutivejets.com) is priced competitively for a jet of its capabilities. It has a nearly 2,300-mile range (when carrying six passengers), a 521 mph cruise speed, and a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, which it can reach in less than 25 minutes. Yet its $8.5 million price […]

A normal cruise speed of 528 mph makes the Gulfstream G150 (912.965.3000, http://www.gulfstream.com) one of the fastest midsize jets. With four passengers aboard, the aircraft can travel nearly 3,000 miles nonstop at that speed. Its cruise ceiling is 45,000 feet—well above most weather and commercial traffic. The Gulf­stream’s Honeywell engines each provide 4,420 pounds of […]

Equipped with bigger, more powerful engines, the Hawker 900XP (316.676.0800, http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com) represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the 850XP. These engines improve the jet’s ability to take off in hot weather and high altitudes, and they enable it to reach its cruise altitude of 41,000 feet in just 25 minutes. The $16 million 900XP, […]

The Bombardier Challenger 300 (514.861.9481, http://www.bombardier.com) can fly coast to coast—and farther—nonstop at a cruising speed as fast as 540 mph while carrying eight passengers. In addition to a range of 3,560 miles, it has a spacious cabin. The seating area measures 28.6 feet long, 7.2 feet wide, and 6.1 feet tall (at its tallest […]

The most remarkable feature of the Cessna Citation Sovereign (316.517.6056, http://www.cessna.com) is its versatility. It can take off from a runway that is only 3,640 feet long, thanks to its power-to-weight ratio and wing design. Those factors also enable the $17.5 million jet to climb to 43,000 feet in just 23 minutes. While carrying as […]

The $31.7 million Dassault Falcon 2000LX (201.440.6700, http://www.dassaultfalcon.com) is pricier than the other jets in its class, but it can fly considerably farther and faster than its competition. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C engines that produce 7,000 pounds of thrust each on takeoff, the jet can climb to its cruise […]

Robb Report Private Aviation Advi­sory Board member Kevin O’Leary recently employed 22 criteria to rate each of the current large-jet models. When finished, he had given the Bombardier Global 5000 (514.861.9481, http://www.bombardier.com)the highest grade for nearly every one of those criteria. “[The Global 5000’s] cabin, range, and runway performance are all outstanding,” O’Leary says. He […]

The Dassault Falcon 900LX (201.440.?6700, http://www.dassaultfalcon.com) offers longer range and better fuel efficiency than its predecessor, the Falcon 900EX, because of its lightweight construction and aerodynamic enhancements (such as the addition of winglets). The $42.4 million 900LX, like all Falcon jets, excels at taking off from high-altitude airports and short runways. Despite having three engines, […]

The cabin of the Gulfstream G450 (912.965.3000, http://www.gulfstream.com) is the same height and width as that of the larger G550, and it affords the same Gulfstream-signature oval windows that provide an abundance of natural light. Other features that contribute to an enjoyable flight include an air-circulation system that continuously supplies fresh air to the cabin […]

The Dassault Falcon 7X (201.440.6700, http://www.dassaultfalcon.com) is perfect for travelers in need of a versatile jet that excels at both medium- and long-range trips. The $50.1 million aircraft nimbly handles short runways, high altitude, and hot weather, thanks to such aerodynamic features as winglets and leading-edge wing slats. Its three engines are efficient enough for […]

t 8.3 feet wide and 48.4 feet long, the cabin of the Bombardier Global Express XRS (514.861.9481, http://www.bombardier.com) is spacious enough for many owners to justify any additional operating cost associated with the jet’s size, according to Robb Report Private Aviation Advisory Board member Bill Quinn. “If cabin size and long-range performance are what’s needed,” […]

The Gulfstream G550 (912.965.3000, http://www.gulfstream.com) is the quintessential globe-hopping business jet. Through extra-large windows, light fills the aircraft’s big cabin, which, at more than 7 feet wide and nearly 44 feet long, easily accommodates as many as 18 passengers. Besides comfort and productivity—a typical cabin configuration with four distinct living areas provides ample spaces to […]

Exuma marks the beginning of an era for the Perini Navi Group. The first motor yacht ever built by the 28-year-old Italian yard, the 164-foot boat offers the best of two worlds, combining the sophisticated design and superior engineering of a Perini Navi sailboat with the versatility and durability of an expedition vessel. The yacht […]

In february the hospitality brand Molori Private Retreats launched its first pied-à-mer. The 145-foot, Benetti-built Told u So (+39.0584.3821, http://www.benettiyachts.it; available for charter through Molori Private Retreats, 212.717.4500, http://www.molori.co.za) joins two villas in South Africa, one on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and another under construction in Santa Monica, Calif., in the Molori portfolio. […]

At 2,998 gross tons, Derecktor Shipyards’ Cakewalk (914.698.5020, http://www.derecktor.com) is the largest yacht by volume ever built in the United States. The Bridgeport, Conn., yard required four years to complete this six-deck behemoth, which launched last August and immediately catapulted Derecktor into the international yacht-building limelight. Styled by Tim Heywood Designs to a plan from […]

Lürssen’s 197-foot Solemates (+49.421.6604.166, http://www.lurssen.com; available for charter through Luxury Yacht Group, 954.525.9959, http://www.luxyachts.com)features a shapely exterior by Monaco-based designer Espen Øino and an equally stylish interior decorated with the owner’s modern art collection. Launched last July, the yacht accommodates as many as 12 guests in four equal-size staterooms, a smaller VIP cabin on the […]

Hailing from the McMullen & Wing shipyard in New Zealand, Big Fish (+64.9.573.1405, http://www.mcmullenandwing.com; available for charter through 37 South, +64.9.302.0178, http://www.37south.co.nz) was built to explore the far reaches of the Earth in comfort and style. The 148-foot expedition vessel achieves this with a range of nearly 10,000 nautical miles and a hull built to […]

With its multiple bars and lounging areas—and a crew of at least 16 to staff them—the Nobiskrug-built Sycara V (+49.4331.207.350, http://www.nobiskrug.com; available for charter through Edmiston & Company, 212.792.5370, http://www.edmistoncompany.com) is an ideal yacht for entertaining. The 223-foot vessel’s main-deck salon, which includes a formal dining room with a bar, can be opened to the […]

Launched last July, Vitters Shipyard’s 180-foot sailing yacht Marie (+31.38.386.7145, http://www.vitters.com; available for charter through Fraser Yachts, 954.463.0600, http://www.fraseryachts.com) is a classically designed ketch with a host of contemporary twists. The yacht’s traditional exterior exemplifies the 21-year-old Dutch yard’s workmanship while incorporating such features as a highly efficient aluminum hull, carbon-fiber spars, and PBO-fiber rigging. […]

Despite its size, the 141-foot Leopard 43m remains sporty, thanks to a trio of 2,400 hp MTU diesel engines and a planing hull. Propelled across the top of the water by all that power, the yacht can achieve a remarkable top speed of 35 knots. An alternative booster engine adds even a few more knots […]

The Azimut Magellano 50 (+39. 011.93.161, http://www.azimutyachts.com),the second model in the Italian builder’s long-range, eco-friendly Magellano line, provides a stable, soft ride thanks to the company’s Dual Mode hull. This semi-displacement design includes a deep-V bow section, a very shallow dead rise at the stern, wide chines, and a soft section in the middle of […]

The Ferretti Group’s trideck Custom Line 124‘ (+39.0543.787511, http://www.customline-yacht.com) can hold as many as 10 passengers (and six crew members), and all of them can gather comfortably in a salon that is larger than 500 square feet and designed without support posts, making it seem even more spacious. Natural light fills the salon through the […]

Like the rest of the Italian builder’s Dolphin line, the Mochi Craft Dolphin 74‘ Cruiser (+39.0543.787.511, mochicraft-yacht.com) is said to be based on a New England lobster boat. While the shapes of the smaller Dolphins do bear some resemblance to lobster boats, the 74‘ Cruiser could never be mistaken for a working vessel—this is obviously […]

The Mulder Favorite (+31.71.561.2325, http://www.jachtwerfmulder.nl) is a series of five models—the 1300 (44 feet), 1400 (48 feet), 1500 (51 feet), 1600 (54 feet), and 1800 (61 feet)—that are based on the designs of the Favorite line that the Dutch builder introduced in the 1950s. These new cruisers share the smooth lines and steep bow of […]

The NISI Yachts NISI 2400 (416.907.?0869, http://www.nisiyachts.com) isthe first in a trio of high-performance motor yachts from NISI Yachts, which is based in the Bahamas and in Hong Kong. (Bahamian builder Tricon Marine is constructing the vessels.) American naval architect Ward Setzer’s design of the NISI 2400 incorporates elements from several boat types. A slender, […]

The limited-edition Riva Aquariva by Gucci (+39.0543.787.511, http://www.riva-yacht.com) is a sharply dressed version of the lithe, 33-foot cruiser that the Italian boat maker introduced in 2001. As part of her company’s 90th-anniversary celebration this year, Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini gave the boat a makeover that included a glossy white hull, a mahogany-lined cockpit, a […]

Sonus Faber’s flagship loudspeaker, known simply as the Sonus Faber, stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs an astonishing 354 pounds. This tower of power’s size, however, is dwarfed by its second-to-none sound quality. Italian manufacturer Sonus faber, which debuted its namesake speaker last June, constructs the cabinets of all its loudspeakers to enhance […]

In recent years, most TV manufacturers have seemed more focused on slimming down their display panels than on improving picture quality. And while LED-lit models from such brands as Samsung and Sony certainly offer astonishingly thin bezels, no display panel on the market bests the picture of Panasonic’s Viera VT plasma models. The VT series […]

Snaidero USA has been serving up innovative kitchen designs for more than 60 years. From the company’s futuristic showrooms to its museum-worthy collaborations with such design luminaries as Paolo Pin­infarina and Virgilio Forchiassin, it has established itself as the trendsetter of its trade. Now Snaidero is taking its cutting-edge—and comprehensive—creations to a new room altogether: […]

Established in 1969, the Italian kitchen company GD Cucine has worked for years with real estate developers in the United States to outfit high-end condominium complexes and second-home communities. However, only since Nov­ember has the manufacturer had a two-story, 8,000-square-foot showroom in New York. And only since the debut of that Manhattan space have the […]