Elite Traveler September-October 2015

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elite traveler SEPT/OCT 2015 ISSUE 5

TAKE THREE/// SUPER LUXURY SUVS

1 BENTLEY BENTAYGA One of the most anticipated Bentleys for a generation, the Bentayga will be “as at home in Kensington as it is in the Atacama Desert”. Expect it to be big, bold and enormous fun. Powered by a 550bhp W12, it will accelerate from 0-60mph in about five seconds.

Aston Martin’s Rapide, as designed by Ares (above); Dany Bahar (right)

2 LAMBORGHINI URUS Whether Lamborghini today represents a marriage of inconvenience between German and Italian engineering, or the sublime blend of looks and mechanics, it was inevitable that it would enter the SUV fray. The Urus boasts classic Lambo looks with power and performance.

WHERE THE SHEIKS PIMP THEIR RIDES

Dany Bahar is a man on a mission. And for a man famous within the motoring world as an obsessive brand builder – he’s worked his magic on Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus – that mission is strangely unconcerned with branding. His new venture, Ares, offers what he calls: “A new process, a new manufacture that is only limited by customers’ courage and the limits of time and money.” For the time being that means taking existing cars and doing anything from adding a few personal touches to completely redesigning and rebuilding the bodywork. For example, if you want that mythical Rolls Royce SUV the firm has talked about but never produced, then buy a Ghost, send it to Ares and they’ll turn it into an SUV. “In every sector and all areas of consumer activity people want personalization. In private jet travel, they want the interiors of their jet designed to their taste. They also want something unique to them that no one else has. The exception is cars, when customers have to accept the limits set by manufacturers. You can define the leather, stitching or piping, but you can’t change the angle of the dashboard, or replace cheap wood veneers with Swarovski crystals.” Currently doing big business in the Middle East, China and Russia, a second showroom opened in London last month – although it is unclear what purpose the showrooms fulfill. The US market is in Bahar’s sights. “The US has a huge potential and a new partnership is in the offing for 2016.” While cars are currently the main focus, Bahar talks excitedly about applying the techniques and crafts at Ares to yachts and jets. He adds that an Italian entrepreneur wants something special done to his helicopter later in the year. He may not be building a brand, but Bahar has just as much ambition as ever. ares-performance.com

3 ASTON MARTIN DBX A shock reveal at the last Geneva motor show, the DBX is allegedly on its way into production. With electric motors, fly-by-wire steering and a KERS regenerative braking system, it would mark a radical departure for Aston, if the production car matched the concept.

Ermenegildo Zegna interior of theMaserati Quattroporte

Words Richard Cree. Photos Lorenzo Marcinno, REX Shutterstock