New Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG revealed

At the upcoming LA Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz will premiere the S65 AMG 2014, its new luxury sedan powered by a V12 twin-turbo engine with 630hp.

Quote: Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz. - Janis Joplin

This third iteration of the Mercedes S 65 AMG has a 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine with a total output of 630hp coupled with an automatic 7G-Tronic transmission offering three driving modes (economical, manual and sport). The sedan can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.3s, and its top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

The model’s fuel consumption over a mixed cycle is announced at 11.9L/100km, for CO2 emissions equivalent to 279g/km. The Mercedes S 65 AMG also has a lithium-ion battery, which allows it to save more than 20kg compared to the traditional starter and back-up batteries.

In terms of safety features, the Mercedes S 65 AMG stands out for its Pre-Safe autonomous emergency braking system and its night vision assistant. Extra options include a 360° camera, exclusive seats, or even individual entertainment systems for each of the back seat passengers.

The new S 65 AMG will be available in the sedan version only from March 2014 in certain markets, with prices starting at €232,050 (around $310,600).

Last spring, Mercedes garnered headlines in the automotive world with the presentation of its new S Class, designed around three major principles: luxury, safety and energy efficiency.

The range will be available with four engine systems, including two hybrids (S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and S 400 Hybrid) equipped with a small electric motor.

Orange Diamond Sells for $36 Million at Christie’s

A spectacular and rare orange diamond, the largest known gem of its kind, was on Tuesday auctioned for a record $35.54 million in Geneva.

“It’s a world record price for an orange diamond, it’s a world record price per carat for any coloured diamond,” the Christie’s auction house said of the sale.

Quote: Big girls need big diamonds. - Elizabeth Taylor

The price works out at $2.4 million per carat, beating the previous record of $2.15 million for the Vivid Pink Diamond sold in Hong Kong in 2009. The man who made the purchase swiftly got up and left the room to a round of applause. Christie’s did not reveal his identity.

The deep orange gemstone, found in South Africa, weighs a whopping 14.82 carats. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has handed it the top rating for coloured diamonds: “fancy vivid”.

Pure orange diamonds, also known as “fire diamonds”, are extremely uncommon and few have been auctioned, with the largest never more than six carats.

Steve Martin’s $10.5 million Caribbean Estate

Comedian +Steve Martin is offering up some amazing ocean views by putting his $10.5 million St. Barth home on the market. Called Villa Au Soleil, the residence is beautifully situated high in the hills of Lurin, offering luxury, ambiance and privacy.

Quote: Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity. - Coco Chanel

The villa features a gourmet kitchen, a formal dining room, and a spacious living room. Outside, the home includes multiple terraces, a sun deck and a two-tiered infinity pool. Lush tropical gardens with a lily pond and a fountain enhance the back of the villa and provide a setting for a Balinese style gazebo.

There are four bedrooms with baths en suite featuring outdoor showers and a guest bath. The view is a 180 degree panorama of St. Jean Baie.

What $50k Buys You At This Weekend’s F1/Grand Prix In Austin

When the F1 Grand Prix comes to Austin, the cowboy boots come off and the Ferraris come out. This weekend’s race is quickly becoming an annual favorite for the city better known for rodeos than racing. But the town’s lack of F1 history doesn’t mean that the action will be any less intense.

Quote: The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury. - Charlie Chaplin

Last year’s post-race party hosted guests such as Friends star Matt LeBlanc and Nicole Taylor of Entourage, plus John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits. Drivers in attendance included Torro Rosso’s Jean Eric-Vergne, Caterham’s Vitaly Petrov, Sauber F1’s Kamui Kobayashi, and USA F1 driver Alexander Rossi, among others. Visiting royalty, including the Crown Princes of Bahrain and of Saudi Arabia, also enjoyed My Yacht Club.

This year, as with last, the top spot for post-race nightlife will be Ballet Austin, transformed into a pop-up nightclub space organized by My Yacht Group, known for throwing lavish parties at top races like the Monaco Grand Prix. There’s one caveat: as the name suggests, My Yacht Group specializes in parties on mega yachts, and the city doesn’t allow motorboats on the town’s major lake. So while the party won’t take place on water, it will be no less over-the-top.

The premier package? A $50,000 Methusalem V16 Ultimate Table for up to 20 guests in a private section including security, “Golden Girl” table attendants, plus two hand-engraved six-liter commemorative Comte de Mazeray bottles of gold flecked champagne. Only ten of these exclusive, numbered Methusalems will be produced; Number 1 will be awarded to the winning driver of the U.S. Grand Prix.  Attendance is limited to 500 each evening.

We can’t wait to see who rocks out with this ultra-luxe package this weekend. Of course, you could always get in with the “regular crowd” too …

First Look at Kate Moss as a Playboy Bunny at 40

Here’s the first look at Kate Moss as an iconic Playboy Bunny, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Kate will appear in the January/February issue of Playboy, which is Playboy’s 60th birthday and her 40th.

Playboy’s editorial director, Jimmy Jellinek, told the Los Angeles Times that Kate was the perfect poster girl for the magazine.

Quote: Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury. - Coco Chanel

Jellinek said: “This is a massive global brand. You need a global icon in order to celebrate that — that was the impetus. You’re talking about the face of Burberry, the biggest supermodel in the world on the cover of Playboy. She’s the perfect partner for us to help launch the next 60 years.”

Disney’s “Maleficent” Trailer Starring Angelina Jolie

Disney has unveiled the teaser trailer for “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie. The story focuses on the retelling of the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty, but from the perspective of Jolie’s villainous Maleficent. Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville also star. The movie will be released on May 30, 2014. Excited or not for Jolie’s take on Disney’s Maleficent? Comment below.

Francis Bacon Painting Sets $142.4 Million Auction Record at Christie’s

A work by British painter +Francis Bacon was sold for $142.4 million in New York, smashing the world record for the most expensive piece of art ever auctioned.

“Three Studies of Lucian Freud” by the 20th century figurative artist, who lived from 1909 to 1992, was sold by Christie’s on Tuesday, after being offered at auction for the first time.

“The work was sold for $142,405,000, after six minutes of fierce bidding in the room and on the phone,” Christie’s announced.

Hammered to an outburst of applause at the auction, it smashed the previous record of $119.9 million fetched by Edvard Munch’s iconic “The Scream” by rival house Sotheby’s in New York in May 2012.

“An historic moment,” said auctioneer Jussi Pylkkanen when bidding temporarily stalled at $126 million, having opened at $80 million.

The rare triptych, executed almost 25 years after Bacon and Freud met, is the most expensive single lot offered in the entire New York November auction season.

The previous record for a Bacon painting was $86 million in 2008.

Pre-sale, Christie’s described the three studies work as “an icon of 20th century art” and said the auction was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to acquire it.

Just moments later Christie’s broke another record by selling the giant orange “Balloon Dog” sculpture by Jeff Koons for $58.4 million, making history for the sale of a work by a living artist.

It is one of five different colored such pieces by the American, who has most recently collaborated with Lady Gaga providing artwork for the pop diva’s third album Artpop released on Monday.

The Bacon and Koons were the two most prized lots among a stash of 20th century masterpieces that flew under the hammer in a flourishing market of post-war and contemporary art.

With impressionist and modern art harder to come by and many of the great works in museums, it is contemporary work that has seen such a dramatic rise in prices.

Brett Gorvy, head of post-war and contemporary art at Christie’s, said recently that sales had been revolutionized by new collectors looking for the best.

Billionaires from Asia, China, the Gulf, Latin America and Russia have galvanized the New York market where Americans have long dominated.

“What’s amazing about many of the newer collectors coming out of Asia or coming out of Russia, they have an incredible appetite, an incredible intelligence and these are not cowboys,” Gorvy said.

“These are people who want to put together major, major holdings of art because they’re responding to the art and they’re learning incredibly quickly,” he added.

WWD: Lady Gaga to Front for Versace

+Lady Gaga has been tipped to front Versace’s spring campaign after the singer was reportedly involved in a photo shoot for the brand in London.

Quote: You shouldn't have to have money to have a luxury fragrance. - Lady Gaga

Via WWD: “Lady Gaga will appear in Versace’s spring advertising campaign, WWD has learned. It is understood fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott photographed her in London. The collaboration between the American pop star and Donatella Versace dates back to 2011, when Lady Gaga decided to wear Versace vintage dresses for “The Edge of Glory” music video.”