discover luxury summer 2007

DE x t r a o r d i n a r y E x p e r i e n c e s . E x c e p t i o n a l M e m o r i e s .

The DigiTal Journal for The affluenT | fall 2007

Discover A Montana Guest Ranch, Dude

PAGE 8

Charter YourYacht Vacation

PAGE 28

A CaribbeanExclusive

PAGE 16

iscover-Luxury.comReaching the Luxury Traveler

inside

insideDE x t r a o r d i n a r y E x p e r i e n c e s . E x c e p t i o n a l M e m o r i e s .

iscover-Luxury.com

Mountain Sky Guest RanchEmigrant, Montana

PAGE 8f e atu r e d e s t i n at i o n

f e atu r e d e s t i n at i o n

PAGE 16Surfsong Villa ResortTortola, British Virgin IslandsThe ultimate in comfort and privacy, Surfsong offers a unique arrangement of four luxury villas in a beachfront resort.


PAGE 22The Cliff CommunitiesIt’s been called the most compre-hensive, impressive private club membership in the world.


PAGE 28Sunreef Yacht ChartersAcross the GlobeWhether you want sail or power, a crew to attend to your every need, or you want a bareboat charter, Sunreef can do it all for you.

Publishers Letter PAGE 6

Faclon Jets PAGE 34

Extreme Sailing PAGE 42

The Telsa Roadster PAGE 48

fall 2007

fall 2007 Discover-Luxury.com 5

Dear Readers:

I have the worst case of ADHD. My attention span is next to nil. For years, I have clipped and saved from hundreds of print magazine issues, kidding myself that someday I will read each piece with the intention to share or use this and that article. It rarely happens. But it is nice to have a source of this fun and fascinating stuff that I love right at hand.

To this end, welcome to Discovery-Luxury, our digital journal. This format is for people like me who want a shorter, more engaging reading format. It delivers brief, to-the-point articles with dynamic photos, embedded video with sound, and many other enhancements.

We have launched the digital magazine along with Discover-Luxury.com, a web portal featuring exotic travel listings to some of the finest destinations in the world.

Our readers are the world’s most demanding consumers of business news, affluent lifestyle and financial information. They appreciate being able to click a mouse to see a short clip of a secluded beach in Tortola, or take a quick virtual tour of a mountainscape in Montana.

We’re constantly looking for ways to meet or exceed your expectations. So enjoy. Make suggestions. Add your own discoveries. I promise we’ll pay close attention.

Arthur B. Hahn, III

letter from the publisher

16 | Discover-Luxury.com fall 2007

Known by guests for their caring, attentive service, the staff at Mountain Sky is also known by residents in the local community for the same thing. Throughout the year, our staff gives back to the communities in which they live and work - through their physical involvement and through grants made to non-profit organizations by the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund. Established in 2002, the Fund recently exceeded $1 million in grants.

The mission of the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Park and Gallatin Counties in Montana. The Mountain Sky staff is especially interested in supporting non-profit collaborations that maximize use of local resources and, in some cases, drawmore services into Park County, where the Ranch is located.

The Fund traditionally makes grants for a period of one year. The Mountain Sky staff will consider funding for additional years based on demonstrated growth in three areas: new and diversified funding sources; increased impact on the community; and innovative leadership in collaborations.

This Fund supports projects in the following categories: Children and YouthThe Fund supports out-of-school time activities and pro-grams that create opportunity, enhance self-esteem and in-crease cultural awareness among young people. Programs may be operated at school sites or within community-based organizations.

Environment and Outdoor ActivitiesThe Fund supports programs that increase awareness around or advocate for preservation of natural resources, sustainable growth or outdoor recreation. The Fund will consider capital requests for education-related projects.

Fostering UnderstandingThe Fund supports organizations that promote intercultural understanding, perform conflict resolution or prevent bullying and violence. Programs may take place during the school day if they involve teacher and administration training.

Comm

unity Grants ProGram

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund

To contribute, please contact: Tawnya Rupe, Fund Director

P.O. Box 1219Emigrant, MT 59027

406-333-4911

Feature Destination Mountain Sky Guest RanchEmigrant, Montana

Dis

co

ver

A Montana Guest Ranch, Dude

b y J i m m a h a f f i e


“ I am so glad that this is not a dream.”

— mounTain Sky GueST, burTon, 5 yearS old

Revive, Rejuvenate and Reconnect At this Beautiful Montana Guest Ranch

authentic western hospitality awaits at spectacular mountain Sky Guest ranch. nestled in more than 6,000 acres of beautiful, rugged countryside in southwestern montana, the ranch is renowned for its majestic scenery, peaceful atmosphere and outdoor ad-venture. The friendly and attentive staff will make you feel right at home.

This is an unforgettable vacation spot for travelers of all ages and interests. from a flight into bozeman, montana, then a little over an hour’s ride over historic bozeman Pass into spectacular Paradise Valley, you’ll arrive at a world all your own at mountain Sky Guest ranch. on the drive from the airport to the ranch, everyone shifts gears into a whole new attitude and lifestyle.


“ I am so glad that this is not a dream.”

— mounTain Sky GueST, burTon, 5 yearS old


Live the Spirit of the West

The ranch backs up to the vast and pristine Gallatin national forest, and is just 30 miles from yellowstone national Park. horseback riding is a great way to see and experience the spectacular country that surrounds mountain Sky. There are also lots of hiking trails and fishing spots. on the ranch are tennis courts, volleyball, a heated pool and a hot tub. Try a raft trip, a scenic drive, or see a rodeo. in the evening you can join in piano sing-a-longs, Western dancing, hayrides, or just sit around a crackling campfire listening to the coyotes howl.

n A full Rec Center and children’s programs.

n Perfect setting for business groups and groups of up to 80.

n Group rates and several special packages available.

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

P.O. Box 1219Emigrant, MT 59027

www.mtnsky.comToll Free: 800-548-3392

Local: 406-333-4911Fax: 406-333-4537D

eta

ils

Nestled in more than 6,000 acres of beautiful, rugged countryside in southwestern Montana, the ranch is renowned for its majestic scenery.


DL


Nestled in more than 6,000 acres of beautiful, rugged countryside in southwestern Montana, the ranch is renowned for its majestic scenery.

To order your Guy Harvey Artists Collection Wines, go to https://www.guyharveywine.com

EXPLORE tranquility D

isc

ov

er redefine escapet

ime

Feature Destination Surfsong Villa ResortTortola, British Virgin Islands

in a Stunning Caribbean Setting

EXPLORE tranquility redefine escape

in a Stunning Caribbean Setting


The ultimate in comfort and privacy, Surfsong offers a unique arrangement of four luxury villas in a beachfront resort. Surfsong is pleased to tailor ser-vices to meet your needs and coordinate any activities you may desire during your stay. arrival dinners, provision-ing for your villa, car rental, wedding receptions, tours and events are all easy to arrange. The resort management’s genuine hospitality and love of the british Virgin islands ensures that you experience a truly memorable holiday.


COMPLiMEnTARy RESORT SERviCES:n Transportation from arrival

on Tortola to resortn High Speed internetn Snorkel equipmentn Housekeepingn Welcome beveragen Concierge for all activities

and services

By ARRAnGEMEnT:n Provisioning and mealsn Spa Servicesn Transportation and car rentaln Business servicesn Housekeepingn Laundry

n Child care

SurfSonG iS The eSSenCe of relaxaTion in a naTural SeaSide SeTTinG, loCaTed aT The hearT of The briTiSh VirGin iSlandS. The reSorT iS all abouT The muSiC of WaTer blendinG WiTh ChoiCe iSland aCCommodaTionS.

Surfsong is the ultimate in comfort and privacy.


Welcome to the BVI“nature’s little Secrets” are the over 36 idyllic islands that comprise the british Virgin islands. here, you can explore white sand beaches, turquoise waters and nature trails. right next door are the uS Virgin islands, with golfing, shopping and a different experience to compliment your bVi vacation.

Choose from four extraordinary villas, each with individual distinctions and luxuries. There are two bedroom, two bath, or private one bedroom and bath villas. Surfsong Villa resort is edged by ocean blue waters with unspoiled reefs. a short stroll along the water’s edge leads you to a sheltered and shaded swimming beach, Well bay.

Easy to Get Away To

you can fly through San Juan, Puerto rico or St. Thomas, uSVi. The resort is located on beef island’s southern shore just off Tortola, right at the heart of the island chain. in the heart of the Virgin islands, Surfsong is a perfect place to access the whole area’s beautiful waters, reefs, attractions and activities.

Easy to Fall In Love With

The villas are luxuriously appointed, with delicately draped four poser beds, spacious slate and glass baths and stainless steel gourmet kitchens. Private decks offer waterfront views or tree shaded courtyar all are equipped with plush king size beds, resort robes, a bbQ patio, Cd & dVd players, satellite TV and air conditioning.

Surfsong is perfect for getaways, honey-moons and family reunions. The resort of-fers complete concierge services for your ideal vacation.

n Reception lounge and honor bar

n Shaded courtyard with Zen gazebo

n Massage pavilion n Spa services n Library n Gift boutique n Pilates and yoga

available n Modern office services

and wireless internet

Det

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s

www.surfsong.net284.495.1864

Fax: 284.495.0089Email: [email protected]

Surfsong villa ResortPMB 606, PO Box 3252Road Town, Tortola,Bvi

international mailing address:

Surfsong villa ResortPO Box 8309, PMB 606

Cruz Bay, St. John, USvi 00831

DL

Feature Destination The Cliffs: The first course in America designed by Tiger Woods


IT’S BEEN CALLED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, IMPRESSIVE

private club membership in the world. Tiger Woods,

the world’s #1 golfer, could have chosen anywhere in

America to design his first golf course. He chose The

Cliffs at High Carolina.


“When we first moved to The Cliffs, we never imagined how involved we’d become in the community. So while we enjoy all of the privileges and amenities that come with living here, it’s our involvement in things like The Cliffs’ Parkland Trust conservation effort that gives us the most joy and satisfaction.”

-- Jim Moore, 14-year resident of The Cliffs at Glassy.

Legendary golfer and world traveler gary Player – who recently announced he will move his family and company here – has dubbed it “the Switzerland of America”. Members from 46 of the 50 states and more than 10 countries across the globe, professional sports figures, Fortune 500 CEOs and other affluent families call The Cliffs Communities home.

Spanning 20,000 acres in the Western Carolinas – at the leading edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, tucked in a woodland paradise of 14 state parks, three national forests, and one national park – The Cliffs is a collection of eight private, gated residential communities begun in 1991 by Jim Anthony. Each community has a distinct setting: two are atop mountains; one is in a lush valley with towering peaks; two are in the high mountain meadows of Asheville, North Carolina; and the remaining three are situated on an 18,500-acre freshwater lake recognized as one of the most pristine in the Southeast. All eight communities are located a short drive from one another, and membership in one community opens the door to privileges within all eight, including access to The Cliffs’ international properties, which span the marine preserves of British Columbia to the virgin shoreline of Patagonia, Chile and the private island paradise in the Abacos, Bahamas.


This extraordinary international offering doesn’t require additional memberships, dues or initiation fees—it’s all part of your one membership at The Cliffs.

For as serene of a setting as it offers, The Cliffs’ Members are positively abuzz with activity. The Cliffs’ clubs offer more than 1,600 unique events annually for its Members to enjoy, running the gamut from traditional golf tournaments to healthy gourmet cooking classes taught by the Senior



Executive Chef Victor Carducci; from group Pilates to whitewater rafting; from wine tastings to the weekly Mountain Mixer that draws residents to watch the sunset over homemade dishes and great bottles brought from their own cellars.

The Cliffs offers the Best golf Experience in America. golf here is a four-season sport, thanks to the unique isothermal breezes that have created a mild microclimate – most days it averages in the 80’s in the summer and 50’s in the two-and-a-half month winter. Cliffs’ members enjoy eight championship golf courses, including two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf Courses, one bordering the magnificent Pisgah National Forest and one situated at Lake keowee; two lakeside Tom Fazio designs; a new gary Player Signature “river course” under development at Mountain Park with 14 of its 18 holes along the North Saluda River; a parkland-style Valley course designed by Ben Wright; a Tom Jackson mountaintop classic rated Fourth Most Scenic in the Nation by golf Digest behind only Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Cypress Point, and, now, the first course in America designed by Tiger Woods. The Cliffs has again been designated among America’s Top 10 Private golf Communities by Travel + Leisure

golf magazine and is among The Robb Report’s Top 10 Private golf Communities.

But it’s far from just a community for golfers. A team of wellness experts at The Cliffs includes the former Director of Fitness for Pebble Beach, nutritionists, and exercise and conditioning specialists. In fact, the number one amenity at The Cliffs is parks, trails, and green space. Inside its gates, The Cliffs has currently reserved over 1,300 acres of private parks and 30 miles of groomed trails for walking, hiking, and biking. The Cliffs is proud to cultivate its own Organic Farm with over 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and native flowers that supply our clubs, restaurants and Members with fresh, organically-grown foods.

And Wellness at The Cliffs is not only growing but is making history in the process with America’s First Luxury Family Wellness Resortsm, The keowee Springs Lodge and Spa. This 150-acre resort will offer an unparalleled experience for every member of the family, aiming to earn the industry’s coveted four- and five-star ratings. Set against a pristine mountain-lake backdrop, The Cliffs at keowee Springs is offering residents a wellness-infused lifestyle that rivals stays at the world’s most exclusive spa destinations. The Cliffs will make a

limited collection of private resort residences available for purchase.

At the heart of the keowee Springs Lodge and Spa will be a 53,000-square foot Springs International Wellness Retreat, a medical/wellness center promising unhurried time with physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, wellness professionals and a dedicated wellness coach to design a Lifestyle Prescription for your optimized health and well-being.

So, what is it really like to live here? There’s no better way to describe it than the way that The Cliffs’ residents already have –not as merely living, but panoramic living. Living with purpose, fulfillment, and abundance, as everyone deserves. That’s The Cliffs’ definition of Wellness, on which its communities have taken shape and excelled with the even the most discerning buyers.

To see it is to believe it. Evidence of The Cliffs’ passion for a healthy mind, body and spirit is everywhere – from our commitment to the well-being of our residents to sustaining our natural resources to wilderness conservation efforts of Parkland Trust. You will find more for your life at The Cliffs. Come see for yourself.

1-866-463-7534www.cliffscommunities.com/discoverluxury

DL

Feature Destination Sunreef Yacht ChartersAcross the Globe


SUNREEF

In Sparkling Blue Waters Across the Globe

yachtcharters

b y J i m m a h a f f i e


Feature Destination Sunreef YachtChartersAcross the Globe


Sunreef offers charters to and from spectacular ports of call such as the Seychelles, madagascar, mayotte, Co-moros, mauritius, the mediterranean, Polynesia and more. it’s the most private, exclusive and spectacular va-cation of your life. Whether you want sail or power, a crew to attend to your every need, or you want a bareboat charter, Sunreef can do it all for you.

n Charter a whole yacht or rent just a few cabins – worldwide.

n Large selection of luxury yachts (sail and power) and bareboats

n Water sport activities include snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and kneeboarding.

n Crewed service on board is comparable to most luxury hotels – or better!

n Online charter booking at www.sunreef-yachts.com

Looking for secluded, palm-fringed beaches? Snorkeling and watersports in clear tropical waters? Beautiful harbor towns? Or some time with your inner sea captain? Why not charter a luxury yacht?

The Choice is Yours The wonderful thing about a yacht char-ter is that it puts you completely in the captain’s seat. Sunreef offers yachts in locations around the world, so your first choice is a preferred destination. next, do you prefer a motor yacht or sailboat? if you’d like the comfort and stability of a catamaran, Sunreef offers many to choose from, plus a full selection of the company’s own design collection in dif-ferent lengths and capacities.

boat lengths start at about 60 feet for six guests and two crew, and range all the way to almost 400 feet with 40 cabins for guests. There’s a lot to choose from in sailboats – both catamarans and mono-hulls – plus power yachts or all shapes and sizes.

Choices on BoardThere are still many undiscovered paradises spots around the world, and Sunreef captains will take you to them. you can choose from a variety of wa-tersports, fun destination resorts and harbors, spectacular cruising grounds, or quiet respites in deserted bays and anchorages.

at night you can sip cocktails, enjoy appetizers by your on-board chef and dine on extraordinary cuisine in fully equipped galleys or under the stars.


SAiL WiTH SUnREEF AROUnD THE WORLD:

n Australian The Bahamas n The Caribbean n Central America n Croatia n Florida n Greecen indian Ocean n Mexico n new Zealand n Europen South America n South Pacificn Turkey n Spain n italy n The Mediterraneann The Seychelles

Det

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Feature Destination Sunreef YachtChartersAcross the Globe

There are still many undiscovered paradises spots around the world, and Sunreef captains will take you to them.

[email protected]

+48 58 763 14 54fax: +48 58 763 55 42DL


There are still many undiscovered paradises spots around the world, and Sunreef captains will take you to them.


Falcon JetsDiscover

T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T A D M I R E D A E R O D Y N A M I C S .2T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T A D M I R E D A E R O D Y N A M I C S .2


Q U A L I T Y - B U I L T I N T O E V E R Y I N C H , A D D I N G V A L U E T O E V E R Y M I L E .3

T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T A D VA N C E D F L I G H T D E C K .4


Falcon Jets Discover

D A S S A U L T ’ S S O F T W A R E G I V E F A L C O N S U N M A T C H E D D E S I G N A D VA N T A G E S .5

W O R L D - C L A S S C O M F O R T A N D Q U I E T E N S U R E F I R S T - C L A S S P R O D U C T I V I T Y .6



7 T H E S U M P T U O U S C O M F O R T O F A B I G P L A N E . T H E A G I L I T Y A N D E C O N O M Y O F A S M A L L O N E .


Falcon JetsDiscoverT H E L O W E S T D I R E C T O P E R A T I N G C O S T S I N T H E L A R G E C A B I N C L A S S .8

T H E B E S T V A L U E A T P U R C H A S E — A N D R E S A L E .9

Y O U R W I S H I S O U R D E S I G N . O N T I M E . O N S P E C . O N B U D G E T .10

*Fuel Economy Comparison for the most typical business trip: 1,000 nm.Source: Business & Commercial Aviation May 2005.

T H E L O W E S T D I R E C T O P E R A T I N G C O S T S I N T H E L A R G E C A B I N C L A S S .8









F A L C O N C A R E G U A R A N T E E S A P R E D I C T A B L E M A I N T E N A N C E B U D G E T — W I T H N O S U R P R I S E S .12

S U P E R B S E R V I C E I N E V E R Y T I M E Z O N E .11


Falcon Jets Discover

DLporate fleet, FalconCare is a decisive advantage going forward.

Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. Teterboro Airport Box 2000 South Hackensack, NJ 07606 - USA Tel: 201-440-6700Dassault Aviation 78 Quai Marcel Dassault Cedex 3000 92552 Saint-Cloud Cedex - FRANCE Tel: 33-1-47-11-82-32

Copyright 2006 Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. All rights reserved. Brochure items are subjec�

Visit our website at falconjet.com



b y d a V i d a . k a P l a n

Photograph by Guiliano Sargentini/Emilio Bianchi

ExtremeSailing

Tom Perkins/Extreme SailingDiscover

The biggest boat in the World


ExtremeSailing

Tom Perkins had done iT all. he’d made a fortune, conquered Silicon Valley, even

been danielle Steel’s fifth husband for a time. his

venture capital firm, kleiner Perkins Caufield &

byers, was an early backer of Genentech, netscape,

and Google. but when he turned 70 a few years ago,

Perkins decided to do something even grander and

a bit crazier: he would build the biggest, riskiest,

fastest, most technologically advanced, single-hulled

sailing mega yacht in the world. The 289-foot mal-

tese falcon, launched in spring 2006, is that engi-

neering dream come to life.


here’s no official definition of a megay-acht, but every one agrees they’re longer than 250 feet and tend to be triumphs of excess, with opulent staterooms, stainless steel and leather galore, plasma TVs — even their own speedboats and jet skis. To accommodate these toys, all mega yachts used to be powerboats, for the simple reason that sailboats must be reasonably svelte. but Perkins in-

sisted on sail power — and refused to compromise on speed or lavish appoint-ments. The solution was to go long, since (other things being equal) the longer the hull, the faster a sailboat can go. The result is the perfect blend of ego and utility, a $130 million wonder that represents the most daring advance in sailing technol-ogy in 150 years.

if the 1,367-ton falcon were anchored in new york har-bor, its masts would nearly reach the tablet in the arm of the Statue of liberty. The ex-terior has teak decks, a var-

nished cap rail, and exquisitely finished surfaces — all attributes of a classic ship — yet the overall look is sleek, metallic, and ultramodern, almost foreboding. When darth Vader builds his own inter-galactic yacht, it will look like this.

under sail, the square-rigged falcon evokes the magnificent clipper ships that raced across the oceans in the late 19th century. but Perkins’ creation is more new old Thing than mere tribute to the past. The heart of the boat’s tech-nology is a novel rigging system called the dynarig, designed by dutch naval architect Gerald dijkstra and based on a half-century-old German concept. The genius — and risk — of the dynarig is its use of freestanding masts that rotate to adjust sail trim and tack the boat. There are practically no external ropes


T If the 1,367-ton Falcon were anchored in New York Harbor, its masts would nearly reach the tablet in the arm of the Statue of Liberty.


or wires, no traditional rigging of any sort to brace the spars or con-trol the nearly 26,000 square feet of sail. The 15 sails deploy at the push of a button, rolling out from inside each hollow mast along recessed tracks on stationary horizontal yardarms. When dijkstra’s draw-ings first came in, the Ceo of Perini navi, the italian company that built the ship, muttered, “Whatever that is, it’s not going to sail.” fellow mega yacht owner and media tycoon ru-pert murdoch looked at them and asked Perkins, “is it going to look so frightening that people won’t go on the boat?”

murdoch isn’t easily intimidated. but three towering 192-foot masts — unsupported by the usual fore and aft stays and shrouds on the sides — would scare the Top-Sid-ers off even Columbus or magellan. each mast is secured to the hull by two huge steel bearings. The three assemblies — mast, bearings, mo-tors, and fittings — each weigh well over 30 tons. That’s a lot of material twisting and bending overhead in a gale. The key is carbon fiber. it’s exceptionally strong and light, and it doesn’t fatigue like metal, allow-ing the mast walls to be remarkably thin. near the deck, where they’re subject to the greatest loads, the walls measure just 5 inches thick. Toward the top, they taper to half an inch — no thicker than sturdy cardboard.

Maltese Falcon Owner’s Suite

Maltese Falcon Dining Room



To measure the stress on the masts, a fiber-optic network is embedded in the layers of carbon-fiber laminate. These 0.01-inch-diameter cables conta 1,000 feet of hidden cable and wire, automate the operation, allowing Perkins and his crew to control the boat nearly effortlessly. Seventy-five sealed motors, 60 for unfurling and 15 for furling, are used to manage the sails. They are synchronized by computer, but the skipper still needs to implement each step: Perkins insisted that electronics not govern the whole process. The vessel would not be sailed by computer. “no way bill Gates is controlling my boat,” he likes to crack. “i don’t ever want to have to press Control-alt-delete to restart, to make my boat go.”

David A. Kaplan ([email protected]), a senior editor at Newsweek, is the author of Mine’s Bigger: Tom Perkins and the Making of the Greatest Sailing Machine Ever Built (July 2007), from which this article is adapted.

Maltese Falcon Under Full Sail

DL


The Tesla RoadsterDiscover


Introducing the Tesla Roadster

4��ZERo To 60 In FouR SECondS.

4��Top SpEEd 130 Mph.

4 FuLL ToRquE, FuLL TIME.

4 InSTAnT ACCELERATIon.

4 LIGhT And FAST.

& all green


The Tesla RoadsterDiscover

WAIT! BEFORE YOUR EYES gLAzE OVER AND YOU SIgH IN DISgUST. Unlike other electric vehicles, this is one hot sportscar. In their prestigious award competition, the Industrial Designers Society of America and BusinessWeek awarded the car a gold Award of International Design Excellence saying, “The Tesla Roadster represents the best mix of innovation, environmental care and style.” When Tonight Show Host and car aficionado Jay Leno tested it, he said, “The Tesla Roadster is the most fun you can have without fuel,” saying that it was the first electric car that truly handles.

This ain’t no veggie burger of a car. It comes in 12 hot colors. There’s no internal combustion engine, no transmission and no catalytic converter. Just plug it in, charge it and drive it. The motor is virtually maintenance-free. The Roadster’s range is over 200 miles, and it produces zero emissions.

While hybrid makers Toyota, gM and Ford use nickel metal hydride batteries, Tesla is betting on lithium ion technology (used in laptop computers – a nod to their Silicon Valley roots?) as a cheaper and better alternative with increased storage capacity.

Tesla is taking reservations on the Roadster for deliveries starting in late 2007. Base price is $98,000, with lots of standard features, plus options and accessories that

Oh, anD DiD we mentiOn it’s electric?


Oh, anD DiD we mentiOn it’s electric? include a navigation system with voice guidance, XM Satellite Radio, a seven-speaker premium sound system and Bluetooth cell phone integration. Buyers are lining up. Early customers include google Co-Founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, actor george Clooney, and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Roadster is engineered, designed and developed by Tesla Motors in San Carlos, California, in partnership with premium sports car manufacturer Lotus. Final assembly of each car is in the Uk. You can’t get one from an independent car dealer. The company plans six dealerships in major U.S. cities, each with specialty technicians and service.

Tesla is a new kind of car company, created far from Detroit and chaired by Elon Musk, founder of PayPal. Tesla is named after Nikola Tesla, a genius inventor, electrical engineer, and scientist. Among his inventions were the induction motor and alternating-current power transmission. Besides the Roadster, the company also has a 4-door sedan under development with an expected release in 2010.

The Tesla Roadster is the first car to successfully combine beautiful styling, high performance and zero emissions. If you like hot sports cars and you want to be green, this is the one very cool way to go. Check it out at www.teslamotors.com. DL

discover luxury summer 2007

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