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07 Digest Cars, culture and much more in your indispensable quarterly news update 12 Crossing the Sound Barrier Iraqi singer Majed Al Mohandes on his music’s international appeal

14 Treasure Island Buying your own piece of paradise can be a surprisingly profitable move

ditionIn This

16 A Long-term Relationship Art investors must commit more than cash to win top gallerists’ love 20 Melting Moments Artisan chocolatiers take confectionery in mouthwatering new directions

26 Taking the Plunge The world’s top dive sites for spotting shipwrecks, sinkholes and sharks

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Welcome Note

Contact for ADCB: excellencymagazine@adcb.com

Editorial Editorial Director Philip Fenton Editor Melissa Sleiman Sub-Editors Salil Kumar, Lauren Steadman Arabic Editor Kinan Shohof

Design Creative Director Fredrick Dittlau Creative Director Carl Bergman Designer Mohammad MareiAdvertising Advertising Sales Director Anuradha Basu Tel: +971 50 499 4983, anu@switch.aePhotography TH Bandula

38 1226

31 The Perfect Package Why buying a business can be better than starting one from scratch 32 The Ultimate Thrill An Excellency client gets behind the wheel to spend a day as a racing driver

35 A World of Interiors British designer Kelly Hoppen on her global approach to home styling

38 Ready for Lift-off Flying cars could soon touch down

at an airstrip near you. We look at the firms competing to bring this space-age technology to the masses

40 The Family With its Panamera saloon, Porsche

proves four-seat cars can still be a force to be reckoned with

Cover Image: Divers at Laguna Beach

W ith the summer behind us it is back to business as usual, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten the holiday spirit.

This issue of Excellency covers plenty of opportunities for living life to the full, whether by discovering Paris’s best chocolatiers (see p. 20), exploring the underwater treasures of the world’s most beautiful diving spots (p. 26) or even buying a private island.

As the latter proves, it is certainly possible to mix business with pleasure. A private island is not just the perfect vacation destination; it could also make money if you turn it into an exclusive tourism hotspot. Experts who have been down this road share their tips on page 14.

Another popular investment is to buy expensive art, a fairly straightforward process if you go through an auction house such as Sotheby’s or Christie’s. Buying from galleries, however, may prove less easy – gallerists will often only sell to art lovers they trust. Turn to page 16 for the full story.

If that sounds like too much hassle, perhaps luxury goods would be a more attractive option. Our in-house expert Mark Friedenthal explains on page 11 why now could be a good time to invest in the consumer goods market, detailing the latest trends such as the surprising growth of men’s luxury brands.

We’ve got plenty of insight to offer tech-heads too on page 38 with an exciting development expected to take off – quite literally – in the near future. I’m talking about cars that transform into planes in as little as 30 seconds.

Speaking of motors, plenty of developments are taking place in the UAE as well. In our news section on pages 7-10 you can learn all about the region’s latest supercars and get a glimpse of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 events. As usual, Excellency members will receive plenty of perks at the racing extravaganza, so we hope to see you there in November!

As always, we welcome your comments on Excellency. If you would like to share your thoughts, please email us at excellencymagazine@adcb.com

Martin ScottChief Marketing OfficerADCB

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s the excitement builds for the 2012 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, here is a glimpse of what you can expect during the three-day extravaganza in November.

On track, the Australian V8 Supercar championship and six world champions are anticipated on the grid this season as F1 drivers take on the technologically advanced circuits.

Off track, a comprehensive programme of entertainment, food

and beverage, and driver autograph signings and Pit Lane walks will keep visitors busy in between races.

All F1 ticket holders have access to the three after-race concerts and 15,000 UAE ticket holders will receive two additional tickets to the Friday concert free. In the past, artists including Prince, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Aerosmith, Kanye West and Linkin Park have rocked the arena, so it promises to be another exciting event. For more information, visit yasalam.ae

GearInG up for the Grand prIxA

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98per centabout

Mahmoud Said’s Petite fille d’Assiout

GCC countries have a total of 45 million residents, or fewer than 1 per cent of the global population, according to a report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz). The most populated country is Saudi Arabia with 28 million, followed by nearly 8 million in the UAE. The International Monetary Fund expects the population to increase to 49 million by 2016.

of Gulf companies are family owned, according to a study by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

FSupercarS from the uaeThis may look like just another version of the Batmobile, but it is actually the first line of W Motors, the first automotive design and manufacturing company in the Middle East.

Designing and building high-performance luxury sports cars, it has announced it will produce two models in the near future, the Hyper-Sport (pictured) and the Super-Sport.

W Motors’ first model is set to be unveiled in Dubai in December, followed by a public launch at Qatar Motor Show in January 2013. Deliveries are expected to start by end of 2013.

ashion company Queen of Spades, led by Emirati designer Lamya Abedin, recently unveiled a new collection of abayas inspired by the famous 1001 Nights tales. The line, made up of 85 dazzling abayas, combines traditional design with brightly coloured accents. Trendy techniques such as tie dye and block and screen printing add an extra touch of glamour to the collection.

amazInG abayas

deep-rooted tradItIons

Isabella rossellInI joIns fIlm festIval

A holiday wouldn’t be the same without plenty of shopping and sightseeing, but in order to get a real sense of the country’s heritage it may be worth exploring its cultural scene even further.

In Florence, the city where the world’s first opera was written and some of the greatest Renaissance art created, it is now possible to take opera singing and art classes while enjoying a short luxury break.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy in Florence has teamed up with respected local tutors of painting and opera singing from the Accademia Europea di Firenze to offer guests an experience that includes tutoring, guided walks and tickets to the opera.

learn from the mastersThe opera masterclass, which can be

covered in a single day or two half-days, includes a guided walk to the courtyard of the Pitti Palace where the first ever opera was performed in 1600, a session with a music academic on the history of Italian opera and how to listen to it, and a singing lesson with a specialist in vocal technique, with particular reference to what is required of an opera singer. To round off the day guests can attend an opera.

The art masterclass includes a lesson in drawing or painting in the style of one of three great Italian masters – Leonardo, Michelangelo or Caravaggio – and a guided visit to see their work in the Uffizi Gallery. Visit roccofortehotels.com for more details.

ttracting talent from across the globe each year, Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) is once again set to make headlines.

This year’s edition, which will be held from 11 to 20 October, will see Isabella Rossellini preside over the Festival’s Narrative Competition Jury.

The daughter of Italian director Roberto

Rossellini and Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman, Rossellini has appeared in more than 40 films (among them David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Guy Maddin’s The Saddest Music in the World) and was the face of Lancôme for 14 years. More recently, she has moved behind the camera to direct several series of short, comic films about science.

And while the 2012 edition is set to feature a new line-up of impressive films and stars, the 2011 winners have not been forgotten. Two 2011 ADFF award winning

rom exquisite weapons for sale to advice on how to take care of your horse and a saluki beauty contest, the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) once again attracted millions of visitors from across the region.

Held in September, the trade and consumer exhibition was organised by the Emirates Falconer’s Club and Informa Exhibitions, with the support of the Abu

Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.The event featured a wide variety of

festivities and live performances such as an equestrian show, a falcon and dog show, camel auction, art competitions and traditional hunting activities. Visitors had the opportunity to purchase the latest camping, hunting, equestrian, outdoor and marine sports equipment and got a sense of the deep-rooted traditions of Abu Dhabi and the UAE at a special stand promoting the region’s culture.

alumni have picked up further accolades at the Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) in Switzerland. 

Stories Only Exist When Remembered, Brazilian director Julia Murat’s naturalistic slice of life among senior citizens in a remote village, won four awards at FIFF’s 27th edition, including the lucrative Talent Tape Award, while Egyptian indie drama Asma’a, directed by Amr Salama, won the Audience Award. Both films won prizes in ADFF’s New Horizons competition last October.

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diamonds may indeed be a girl’s best friend, but as a husband and

father of two teenage girls I have come to realise that women also have a high level of affinity with a wide range of international luxury brands. To be fair, it’s not just the ladies who are enamoured with such goods. Research shows an increasing number of men are taking to the high street in search of their favourite labels.

Luxury goods, a term used interchangeably here with luxury brands, generally refers to a premium-segment product or service within lines such as clothing, bags, shoes, watches, pens, cosmetics, fragrances, consumer electronics and cars. These purchases are not considered essential and consequently tend to be associated with affluence. The classic economic definition of a luxury product or luxury good is one for which there is a highly elastic demand relationship with income – in other words, the demand for luxury goods increases at higher rates than the rate of increase in income. By comparison, necessity goods are things we can’t live without, such as food and utilities. Necessities tend to have an inelastic demand relationship with income, so demand increases at a lower rate than the rate of income growth.

The world’s largest two luxury goods companies are Paris-based Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) and Switzerland’s Richemont. Together, these firms represent over EUR30bn of annual sales (FY2011) and control a list of brands including Montblanc, Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Officine Panerai, Louis Vuitton, Tag Heuer, Bulgari, Fendi, Givenchy, Moët & Chandon and several others.

Over the next 20 years, luxury goods investment trends will largely be a play on emerging market trends, more specifically the changing consumption habits within emerging markets, which are expected to experience

Issue 20 011

Mark Friedenthal, head of asset management, adCb, discusses investment

opportunities in luxury brands

wealth Talk

a massive increase in per-capita income. Markets such as India and China will see rises of between 500 and 600 per cent per-capita income growth between now and 2050. These rising income levels will dramatically alter consumption in the respective markets as affluence levels increase.

By 2030, it is forecast that 2bn people will move from the lower to the middle-class income

bracket, changing buying patterns around the globe as they aspire to higher standards of living.

From A GLoBAL consumption perspective, the emerging-market consumer has already overtaken the US consumer. It is expected that, by 2015, the emerging-market consumer will account for 37 per cent of global consumption, compared with 26 per cent in the US and

20 per cent in Europe. China dominates this wave of changing global consumption patterns through the emergence of a burgeoning and robust middle class. As recently as 2005, only 2 per cent of Chinese households had incomes in excess of RMB100,000. Five years later that figure had risen to more than 12 per cent.

Looking specifically at luxury goods, the Chinese are expected to overtake Europeans in 2012 as the world’s largest consumers of luxury brands, reaching a level of 22 per cent – up from only 4 per cent at the turn of the century. China has already become the world’s largest market for Rolls-Royce and the second-largest market for Bentley and Ferrari.

Interestingly and quite counter-intuitively, the growth in the market for men’s luxury goods is outpacing that of women’s luxury goods. According to a recent study published by Bain & Company, men’s luxury goods, a segment traditionally under-served, now accounts for half of the global luxury apparel market, with expectations that this number will increase going forward. The same report forecasts 2012 growth of 9 to 10 per cent for the men’s sector versus 7 to 8 per cent for women. This shift in gender based preferences is once again due, in large part, to the impact of the increasingly affluent emerging markets and, in particular, China. Approximately 70 per cent of US male millionaires are above the age of 45, in stark contrast to the situation in China, where as many as 80 per cent of male millionaires are under that age. Anecdotal evidence also suggests a shift in the buying preferences of both genders. While men are buying custom-made leather shoes and the ubiquitous ‘man bag,’ Ferrari North America claims that as many as 10 per cent of US Ferrari owners are women having historically been close to zero. In China, more than 30 per cent of Ferrari owners are female.

2010 Income per capita (LHS)

2050 Income per capita (LHS)

Growth in per capita income 2010-2050 (RHS)

70,000

60,000

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0

900%

800%

700%

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

0%

Philip

pines

China

India

mala

ysia

russia

Indone

sia

Turk

ey

Thail

and

Iran

mex

icoEgyp

t

Brazil

South

Korea

Argen

tina

Saudi A

rabia

Spain

Germ

any

Italy

Austra

lia

Canad

aUK

Fran

ce

Japan US

Growth in per capita incoMe 2010-2050

Source: uN, HSBc, JP MorgaN, aDcB reSearcH

Source: oecD

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%North

America

% o

f g

lob

al m

idd

le c

lass

co

nsum

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n

26%

17%

10%

38%

29%

20%23%

42%

59%

1%4%

7% 7% 6%

Europe Central & South America

Asia-Pacific

Sub-Saharan

Africa

mENA

2009 2020 2030

SpendinG by Global Middle claSS

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

eM conSuMerS expected to doMinate Global conSuMption

Source: creDit SuiSSe

Other industrial

Europe

Japan

EM

US

12%

22%

10%

22%

34%

11%

20%

6%

37%

26%

2005 2015

ADCB recently unveiled its new Excellency service desk, located at the bank’s Hamdan Street branch in Abu Dhabi.

The desk is manned by a Relationship Officer who greets clients and assists with all banking requirements no matter how big or small.

The services offered include general account maintenance, credit card limit increases and card replacements.

Customers can also receive assistance with fixed deposits and debit card requests.

The Service Desk is open 8am to 4pm, Saturday to Thursday. The branch teller counter is open 8am to 8pm, Saturday to Thursday.

There are Excellency centres and service desks across the UAE. These are located in:

Abu Dhabin Salam Street (ADCB head office), 02 696

8409 or 02 696 8415n Corniche branch building, Mezzanine floor,

Golden Tower, 02 626 0269, Ext. 201, 200

Dubain Indigo Central 5 building, Sheikh Zayed Road

(use exit 45 heading South), 04 310 6852

n Deira, Airport Road (nearby Toyota showroom), 04 602 4141 or 04 602 4142

n Bur Dubai, Khalid Bin Waleed Street (Bank Street), 04 4091875 or 04 4091870

n Emaar Business Park, Al Ittihad Branch Building 2, 04 361 5151, Ext. 207

Al Ainn Main branch, next to Al Masood Travel

Agency. Sanaya Road, 03 755 3455

Sharjahn Main branch, Meena Road,near Sharjah post

office, 06 573 2357

All branches are open 8am to 4pm.

amadan was marked with a sohour at Abu Dhabi’s only beachfront tent.

ADCB sponsored the temporary majlis at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, which opened from 8pm to 2am throughout the Holy Month.

Dr Majdi Abd El Muhdi, Senior

Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications at ADCB, said: “The

Holy Month of Ramadan is a very special month where families come

together to spend quality time with one another.

“At ADCB we treasure each and every one of our customers and we consider them an important part of our family.” ADCB cardholders received a 25

per cent discount as an incentive for

“At ADCB we treasure each and every one of our

customers and we consider them an important part of

our family.”

R

excellence in Service

them to enjoy the tent’s food and drinks in an atmospheric seaside setting.

Oud and qanoon players performed from 8.30pm to 12.30am each evening.

holy month Celebrated by the sea

012

What are your thoughts on your current tour?I am focusing on the quality of the works I present while striving to ensure they are of high artistic and humanitarian value.

What has it been like meeting your fans, who come from all over the world?I am very pleased with my fans. I’m often in contact with them and always take their opinions into consideration. Evaluating my work with the fans is my method of gauging success. Through the fans’ reaction to my works, especially during concerts, I am able to get an idea about what touches them and I have noticed that fans from different countries often have contrasting opinions.

Do you use social media or browse fan websites?Of course I do. I have an official page on Facebook which is administered by my business manager, the poet Faik Hassan, which I am very pleased with.

When it comes to getting inspiration, how do you come up with ideas for songs?Art, in general, is a reflection of our experiences, so I try to make sure that most of my works are based on real-life experiences and feelings.

Could you tell us more about the songs you have composed yourself and lyrics you have written? What is the process usually like?Composing and writing are talents that must be buffed through awareness and education in order for them to stand a chance of flourishing into creativity.

You’ve collaborated with many well-known singers, including Elissa, ragheb Allama and mohammed Abdo. How do you feel about having worked with them?Exposure to other artists through artistic work or group interviews is indeed needed. In the artistic scene, cooperation always benefits the fans because they enjoy the results.

You started out with Iraqi songs and ever since then we’ve seen your music evolve to incorporate more modern elements. How do you envisage your style further evolving?Music is an international language, crossing

sInGer and excellency Customer majed al mohandes talks about hIs soul-movInG sonGs

Voice of the Arab World

borders without the need for passports. I strive to present music and songs that reach and are understood by our whole Arab nation. This opens up possibilities for my works to reach the whole world as the Arab world is of high standing with its art and other nations follow and look up to this.

You have produced many songs celebrating middle Eastern countries. What do you hope to achieve with this?My objective is to share these countries’ celebrations and events and get closer to people. Ultimately, I consider the great Arab world to be one and I am a citizen of it.

Music is an international

language, crossing borders without the need for passports.

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015Issue 20014

:: investment ::

urgh Island, Petit St Vincent and Taransay are as beautiful as any five-star destination, yet most people have never heard of them – because they’re privately owned.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s possible to buy your own island for next to nothing. As little as $30,000 will get you a 3,000-square-metre islet in Panama, undeveloped save for a septic tank and a toilet bowl where a house once stood. Spend $30 million and you could acquire a 167-acre tropical paradise in the Bahamas complete with three houses, power plants and boats on which to sail to the airport.

So what does it take to purchase a tiny speck in the ocean? John Bound is a partner at CKD Galbraith, an independent property consultancy in Scotland.

A Private ParadiseIt’s everyone’s dream to own a seCluded Island, but Is It really worth payInG tens of mIllIons to develop one?

He says buyers should think about the type of island they want and how they plan to develop it.

The firm recently completed the sale of Taransay in the Outer Hebrides. Inhabited since about 300AD, it has been the site of many fierce territorial battles and was even the backdrop to the reality TV show Castaway.

With hill lochs teeming with brown trout, a herd of about 200 red deer and several charming cottages, it now attracts a number of tourists each year.

Bound added: “Buyers should consider whether there will be power and a good water supply during rough weather, or low or high tides.

“Are they taking on major repairing

B liabilities to jetties? These are the sort of things a good agent will advise on.”

Deborah Clark fell in love with Burgh Island, off England’s south-west coast, and spent a decade transforming its historic Art Deco hotel into a thriving business.

She said: “We were married on Burgh in April 2001, understood that it was for sale and put our offer in the next day.”

Ensuring guests and suppliers had easy access to the property from the sea proved crucial to their success.

LocaL reguLations are another important consideration when buying any island, as Clark, herself a lawyer, discovered.

“Other than collecting over £1m

(AED 5.74m) taxes from our business each year, the government is not especially involved in Burgh Island; however, as a high-profile coastal business, we were involved in a legal threat in the early part of the century when it was suggested by lobbying groups that all coastal land in the UK be open to public access.

“This is obviously unworkable and unjust and we engaged in some serious political discussions before the proposal was dropped.

“As the saying goes, an Englishman’s home is his castle.”

Transforming a private island into a tourist destination is an obvious business opportunity, with the ability to control

visitor numbers offering guests an unusual and memorable experience.

“The challenges are really only to do with managing guests’ expectations about the

tides and access to the island, but that in itself is a unique selling point,” says Clark.

“Because of its profile and location, the island often attracts VIPs ranging from politicians to film stars and we have a regular who is a rock star living nearby.”

Dominic Wedderburn, Associate at CKD Galbraith, echoes the sentiment that owning an island can be a fulfilling experience.

“Owning an island can provide a wealth of environmental and eco-friendly opportunities,” he says.

“Because of this, buyers within this niche market are not merely looking at islands for substantial financial return or as a ‘status symbol’.

“It’s about much more than that.”

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017Issue 20016

:: collecting art ::

O n a summer’s afternoon in London, a few years ago, one of the world’s most famous art collectors went from amiable to irate in the space of a few seconds. The collector – let’s call him “Jeremy” – had phoned a leading contemporary gallery to buy a work featured in a new exhibition, only to be told it was not available. However, Jeremy knew very well it was still for sale – just not to him.

The renown he had accrued, the many celebrated artists whose careers he had

helped develop and the massive fortune at his disposal: none of it counted. The gallery’s owner had decided that this particular collector could not be trusted to take proper care of the work.

This may sound surprising. If your pockets are deep enough, can’t you just walk into any selling exhibition space, declare, “I’ll have that, thank, you,” write a cheque and leave with your picture, sculpture or installation piece? Not necessarily, is the answer: and especially not if you are buying at the top end of the market, whether that be in the modern art arena that draws the

super-wealthy to fairs around the world, including Abu Dhabi Art in November and Art Dubai in March, or in the wood-panelled, old-school-tie wearing world of the Old Masters dealers.

In the case of the latter, the explanation is practical. The huge sums involved mean that businesses are legally required to ensure that purchases are not attempts at money laundering. Cash is now problematic at even quite a low level – the European Union is currently considering proposals to require galleries to register as “high-value dealers” if they accept payments in cash of above

How to Become an Art Collectorwhen It Comes to buyInG at the top end of the art market, It Is not enouGh to deClare you want to buy a pIeCe. Sholto byrneS desCrIbes how the proCess works

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:: collecting art :::: collecting art ::

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€15,000, which is relatively small change when it comes to serious art. As a result, buyers are forced to cope with extra layers of onerous regulation.

In the case of the former, something else is at play. Amazing as it may be to those who see galleries as just a fancier and more formal part of the merchant economy, the vast majority of contemporary art dealers care about the work they sell and the artists they represent. The relationships can last a lifetime and separation – if an artist chooses to move to another gallery, for instance – can involve much of the trauma that accompanies the end of a marriage.

At the high end, collectors are expected to demonstrate an interest in the long-term career of the artist and an equal commitment to the works they buy. That may sound like an imposition, but ultimately leads to a far more rewarding relationship between those who produce great work and those who become its custodians.

As Louisa Buck, a critic and former

judge of Britain’s Turner Prize, and Judith Greer, long-time collector and a former director of international programmes at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, put it in their book Owning Art: The Contemporary Art Collectors’ Handbook: “Many view the process of collecting as a personal education... The best collections

are born from a deep personal engagement with the work. Why this piece? Why this artist? The best collectors have a clear understanding of why they respond to certain kinds of work and can clearly articulate these ideas. It is not enough to declare: ‘I know what I like.’”

on one level, of course, it is true that there are arenas in which people are free to make such statements and act on them. Anyone can buy at auction, for instance. And one reassurance is that there is already a definite market for the works on offer – otherwise they would not be put up for sale.

But precisely because they have no control over that process, gallerists are suspicious of would-be buyers who might merely want to turn a quick profit at auction.

For who owns a work of art, how they care for it and how enthusiastic they will be to lend it for international or institutional display matters deeply to the artist’s career. Appearing in a major museum show enhances any artist’s reputation and will likely raise the value of their work. If a gallery believes a new collector would refuse a request from, say, the Guggenheim in New York, the Pompidou Centre in Paris or the Hermitage in St Petersburg, preferring instead to hang a painting above the pool table in their games room, that collector will find a frosty response. They will probably be told, like our friend “Jeremy,” that the work in question is “not available”.

The importance of appearing in such locations cannot be overstated. As Iwan Wirth, president of the Hauser & Wirth group of galleries and who was listed at number three on Art Review’s Power 100 List in 2010, puts it: “An institutional sale is extremely valuable to an artist as it is an indication of their success.”

If all the above seems terribly serious, and

“Those new to acquiring art should see as much as they

possibly can and not feel intimidated by the process: part of

the enjoyment is being challenged.”

more about obligation than enjoyment, it should be pointed out that collectors do not always treat works as sacred objects.

In the home of one couple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a diptych by one of South Asia’s most revered artists conceals a guilty pleasure. At the touch of a remote control, the two canvases slide apart to reveal a large plasma-screen television – a Bond villain-type touch that the couple would be wary of revealing to fellow collectors with less developed senses of humour.

In our own apartment in Qatar, a sculpture by Damien Hirst of his own hand sometimes finds itself turned into a receptacle for paper clips, receipts and bits of Blu Tack. This would not harm the work in stone, but is not the most respectful of uses, given that Hirst is a superstar of the art world and currently the subject of a major retrospective at one of Britain’s foremost museums, Tate Modern in London. (The exhibition is due to travel to Doha next year. Perhaps I should ensure that the hand is cleared of detritus before then...)

More important is the sense, felt throughout the art world, that collecting should not merely be an investment (although it can be an extremely lucrative one), and nor should it be viewed as a luxurious and expensive branch of home furnishing. It is instead a journey, and one that becomes all the richer the more those embarking upon it choose to explore and engage with both the works and their creators.

Farah rahim ismail, Christie’s representative in Doha and a consultant to Art Dubai and to a new fair starting next year, Art Istanbul International, offers this advice: “Those new to acquiring art should see as much as they possibly can and not feel intimidated by the process: part of the enjoyment is being challenged,” she says.

“By creating relationships with the

galleries to learn more about the artists and their careers, as well as partaking at auction, there are wonderful opportunities to feel enriched by living with works that you’ve made concerted efforts to engage with. It is a feeling that many collectors find hard to describe but one common thread is that it becomes a passion – a way of life.”

And right now, she says, is a perfect moment to embark on the process. “The emerging art scenes of the Middle East, South and South-East Asia are seeing strong artists with new voices responding to their environments.

“This is one of the most exciting times to start collecting.” Sholto Byrnes is editor of Think, the global trends, international affairs and thought leadership magazine published by Qatar Foundation, and a contributing editor of the New Statesman.

:: gourmet :: :: gourmet ::

021Issue 20020

Raising the Bar

I

a new trIbe of artIsan ChoColatIers has arrIved where onCe delICaCy ChaIns suCh as lenôtre and la maIson du ChoColat reIGned supreme. MeliSSa SleiMan talks to parIsIan ChoColate-maker patrICk roGer about hIs unusual yet delIGhtfully tasty CreatIons t is hard to resist the temptation of heading straight for Place de la Madeleine the moment one sets foot in Paris.

Gloriously displaying mouth-watering delicacies in the shops lining the square, anyone who has reached this foodie Nirvana knows that it is quite possible to remain entirely oblivious to all else – even the architectural wonder that is the millennium-old Roman temple at the centre of it – as you salivate over the glittering chocolates of Fauchon, majestic king crabs of La Maison du Caviar or overflowing gift baskets stocked with Hediard goodies.

Certainly, these established delicacy chains consistently deliver quality and are a safe choice for gift buys. But those looking for something more innovative are better off venturing through Paris’s inner streets to find the artisan chocolate-makers who have perfected the craft.

Producing delicate creations filled with such left-field ingredients as chillies, root ginger or tropical Asian sesame, in addition to the more conventional fruit, coffee and caramel flavours, these are innovators taking the art of chocolate making to a whole new level.

In the swanky neighbourhood of Saint- Germain-des-Pres, just a short walk away from the famous Les Deux Magots café and the Musée d’Orsay (housing works by Monet, Renoir and Cezanne), the Patrick Roger boutique comes across like a hip, contemporary art gallery.

Resplendent with sleek lines, emerald-coloured hues and images of exotic trees, the store and its intricately lined rows of chocolates is a deliberate nod to the power of Mother Nature and her bountiful ingredients. Prominent here are the cocoa beans from Vanuatu and Ecuador, processed so that their pure, raw flavours are vividly retained.

With his shaggy blond hair and slightly maniacal, sleep-deprived eyes, Roger himself cuts an artsy, rebellious figure. “I am not about chasing after trends,” he concedes.

“These days, what’s better than pan-seared foie gras, or bread and jam in the morning? You can invent whatever you’d like around it, but there’s nothing better than strawberry, apricot or cherry jam... There’s no point in trying to construct around [these basic things].

“Of course, we have a few products which are a little more sophisticated, but the heart of it is a praline filling made of sugar,

“Chocolate is an incredible means of communication –

it’s monstrous.”

almonds and hazelnuts – that’s it. There’s a race in the media to sniff out what’s new and trendy, but who cares? It’s not about that. It’s about what customers want, which usually comes down to simplicity. Everyone dreams about a glass house, but no one wants to really live in it.”

roger became a chocolatier after undertaking an apprenticeship in pastry, which didn’t interest him. Luckily, a post in the same company opened up for a chocolatier – a far more malleable and expressive medium. “A passport to the world,” he smiles.

Traversing the globe for the finest tropical vanilla, Ethiopian coffee or flavoursome passion fruit, his ideas are born of both experience and imagination. His most extravagant piece of work, called Amazone, is the perfect match between caramel, Brazilian lime and dark chocolate.

To create these new notes and flavours, he consumes about 100 chocolates per day, experimenting with ideas that seem obvious to him rather than reacting to consumer demand.

This year, Roger is promoting the theme

022 023Issue 20

:: gourmet :::: gourmet ::

top international destination for art, fashion, romance and food, Paris can quickly overwhelm the visitor. We have selected the top spots that will give you a glimpse of the finest things the French capital has to offer…

shopThe Avenue des Champs-Elysées and Rue Saint-Honoré are guaranteed for good luxury shopping, with boutiques of every high-end brand you can think – from Alexander McQueen to Zadig & Voltaire – located on these streets.

Those pressed for time will be able to find a varied range of fashion at Galeries Lafayette, located on Boulevard Haussmann. This 70,000-square-metre luxury department store attracts more than 100,000 visitors a day to its trendy collections, fine foods, homeware and more.

eatTired of the wide-eyed tourists at every attraction you visit? Head to these exclusive restaurants for a chic yet secluded experience.

le stresa  Attracting executives from the major French luxury-goods houses and international movie stars, this private club is designed in the style of the Fifties. The restaurant’s name is borrowed from a town in Italy, from where its founders (the Faiola brothers) originate. The menu features Italian cuisine, incorporating dishes such as ‘artichokes alla romana, cooked with mint, garlic and olive oil’, and ‘poached asparagus alla parmiggiana’.

le volta

The crème de la crème of international fashion and luxury royalty, including Marc Jacobs, Anna Wintour, Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld, often dine at this restaurant. It offers high-quality French cuisine, such as perfectly cooked steaks and sole meunière.

l’epicure, hotel le bristol

Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, David Cameron, Woody Allen, Leonardo di Caprio and Steven Spielberg have all been spotted here. The design of the three-Michelin-star restaurant is inspired by precious jewel cases, with oak panels and marble-

mosaic floors. The French cuisine menu includes blue lobster, veal sweetbreads and langoustines and caviar.

stayIf you’re looking for a hotel in downtown Paris, Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysees is the perfect base from which to explore the city. The only five-star hotel located directly on Paris’s most prestigious shopping street is just opposite Louis Vuitton’s flagship store and minutes away from classic attractions such the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. 

Occupying the building that Louis Vuitton, the prestigious French luggage manufacturer, built in 1914, the luxury hotel boasts 192 rooms and suites and a French restaurant. Rooms have a contemporary, luxury design, with mini-bars designed in the form of a Louis Vuitton luggage trunk.

The oval shaped atrium lobby includes a popular spot for guests to lounge in the classical burgundy sofas and armchairs and order a coffee or a croissant. With natural daylight flowing in from the glass roof-tip window, the place oozes timeless elegance.

visiting ParisA

of ‘defending flavour’. He does this by taking fruits and vegetables straight from his garden, which is located next to his kitchen, and using the best raw ingredients in his cuisine.

Roger’s themes not only correspond with the season, but also with world events.

He creates chocolate and bronze sculptures for public holidays, Valentine’s Day or to commemorate key moments in history such as the moon landing. On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, he created a 16-metre replica of the notorious barrier.

“Chocolate is an incredible means of communication – it’s monstrous,” he says. “Everyone eats chocolate, so you can get a lot across.” He pauses and points to two giant chocolate polar bears on one of the worktables.

“Those are meant to raise awareness on the melting ice caps and global warming. If we don’t take action, polar bears will become brown bears like these,” he says wryly.

“And over here, I don’t know if you can make out what it is, but it will become an elephant trapped in a block,” he explains, gesturing to an enormous block of chocolate with what looks like fossils carved into one side.

the eLephant scuLptures will be about four metres high once complete, taking almost a year to create. It is shaped entirely by hand from a seven-metre-long bar weighing four tonnes.

And while Roger’s approach often clashes with the chocolatier status quo, he is quick

to point out that the way chocolate is created doesn’t change.

“To make chocolate you have to find the best products,” he said.

“Then, it depends on the chief to create a new recipe and unveil a new ‘fragrance’ to the public. Chocolatiers also have to be in perpetual evolution with the job, the products and the packaging.”

Japanese tourists in particular seek out the St Germain shop, as Roger’s approach draws parallels with their country’s cuisine, where presentation is a crucial element of the dining experience.

In the boutique, art is everywhere, from in-store décor and sculptures to the chocolates themselves. Even the packaging catches the eye – all products are presented in emerald, jewel-box like cases of varying sizes.

“Chocolate has become synonymous with art and creativity,” he says.

“My ultimate goal is to share the pleasure of art and taste, to reinvent smooth and refined delicacies every day from a paste. I enjoy transforming and sculpting shapes while continually improving the chocolate that we eat.” Visit patrickroger.com for more information

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:: section ::

026

:: diving ::

027Issue 20

cenotesYUCATán, MExICOThe Yucatan Peninsula has more than 6,000 cenotes, or freshwater-filled limestone sinkholes, only 2,400 of which have been registered. Just a few have grottos vast enough to support cavern diving.

Underground caves below naturally collapsed land, the sinkholes have fresh water running through them, offering four different types of diving – cavern diving, wall diving, wreck diving and reef diving.

Ik Kil, Chelentun and Zaci are only a few names of cenotes worth visiting. With hanging vines, waterfalls and crystal-clear turquoise water full of rare eyeless black fish, these oases depict some of the most miraculous phenomena known to man. Divers flock from all around the world to explore the clear waters of its caves and caverns.

The cenotes’ many rooms support different spectacles. When visiting the Chac-Mool, tourists will see tree branches reaching down into the depths of the water along with a gorgeous light show produced by the rays of sun streaming through the holes in the cavern’s roof. It is here that the salt water and fresh water meet, creating unusual visual effects called haloclines.

World’s best diving spotsFrom seldom-visited caves to shipwrecks and sharks, the world’s oceans abound with exciting underwater experiences. bianca riley rounds up the planet’s top scuba sites

028

:: section ::

029Issue 20

:: diving ::

to its magnificent state, boasting colours unimaginable until seen in person.

As well as the reefs, adventurers can also visit the Maldives channels and explore the caves and overhangs. Along with several types of sponges, visitors can visit cleaning stations where shrimp and other cleaner fish help service larger species.

the great barrier reef OFF THE COAST OF QUEEnSLAnD, AUSTRALIAThe Great Barrier Reef is one of the most amazing coral reef systems on Earth.

the great bLue hoLeOFF THE COAST OF BELIZEA large submarine sinkhole in Lighthouse

Reef, The Great Blue Hole is a popular spot for recreational divers as the crystal clear water is inhabited by several types

of reef sharks and tropical marine species. Giant grouper fish are also common, while more rare sightings include bull sharks and hammerheads.

This dark pupil in a crystal blue sea is over 300 metres in diameter and some 120 metres

deep. Little light is visible when in the

hole itself, but the shallower rims of the Great Blue Hole contain an amazing ecosystem of aquatic vivacity.

Some argue that to fully experience the Great Blue Hole one must skydive

and gain a new appreciation for the view, but scuba divers say the stalactites and limestone formations moulding the walls of the drop-off cave are the key to its appeal. Stalactites are a form of dripstone formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate and other minerals. The deeper you dive, the more intricate and concentrated their detailing becomes.

The sinkholes formed during the Ice Age. As the ocean began to rise, those past geological shifts caused the stalactite caves to be flooded, leaving a stunning vertical grotto.

Dive trips to the Great Blue Hole tend to be a full-day event, including up to three extra dives in surrounding reef habitat.

With options of north or south side diving, tourists also have the option of on-shore cave sightseeing of Belize’s world-renowned collapsed sinkholes.

With a length of 2,300km, this natural wonder can be seen from space and is the world’s biggest structure made of living organisms.

If you have never dived before, there are a lot of places where learning is made easy. Its system of more than 2,900 individual reefs means there is plenty to explore, whatever your level of experience.

Beginners can dive in shallower areas and more gentle reef sites which are just as rich with marine life, while those looking for a challenge are often found in zones with much deeper drops, found all along the reef.

the uss KittiwaKe GRAnD CAYMAnWhether it is to snorkel overhead and see the main decks of the ship or dive down and explore the engine rooms, the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman, on the ocean floor, is a remarkable sight.

The 251ft submarine rescue ship roamed the seas from 1945 to 1994, but is now being transformed into an artificial reef, enhancing the already gorgeous dive with habitats for marine life. The entrance fee goes towards the maintenance and protection of this fascinating wreck as well as the surrounding natural reefs.

To preserve the beauty of the area, Cayman law states that no touching, talking or fishing is allowed at the site.

the waters of the maLdivesOFF THE COAST OF MALEThough most resorts and hotels in The Maldives offer scuba diving excursions, it is often argued that the best way to see the archipelago in all of its glory is by boat.

Divers from all around the world flock to these live-aboard vessels, spending days or weeks spotting all manner of manta rays, sharks, turtles and shoals of tropical fish. What separates this diving experience from many others is the opportunity to see whale sharks and swim beside these massive yet gentle creatures.

Known for its crystal-like waters and gorgeous white sand beaches, The Maldives lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean, providing access to 1,900 beautiful atolls of coral reef in all shapes and sizes.

Though damaged in a severe tsunami in 2004 by coral bleaching, it has recovered

031Issue 20

n June 2010 Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire the retail banking business of The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in the UAE.

The $100 million acquisition helped the bank leverage RBS’ established local retail banking presence with an addition of more than 250,000 customers, 51 ATMs, three new branches and two customer service centres, along with a call centre in Dubai.

Apart from giving ADCB a huge boost, the deal proved that sometimes it is better to buy a readymade business rather than spend considerable time and resources expanding or starting from scratch.

When most people consider starting a business, they think of developing their own ideas and building the company from the ground up. But starting from zero presents some distinct disadvantages, including the difficulty of building a customer base, marketing the new firm, hiring employees and establishing cash flow.

In most cases, though, buying an existing business is a good idea. When you do this, you take over an operation that’s already generating cash flow and profits. “The business is already up and running and, when done right, a buyer can take out a salary immediately,” says Richard Parker, of Diomo.com and author of the How To Buy A Good Business At A Great Price series. “Unlike a start-up, where you begin with nothing, with an existing business everything is in place, including employees, customers, equipment, systems, etc.

“On paper, most start-ups sound wonderful, but the fact is that 96 percent of all start-ups fail in the first five years.”

On the downside, buying a business is often costly; however, it’s easier to get financing to buy an existing business than to start a new one. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing. Follow these steps to make sure you get the best deal.

a good fitThe first thing to decide is the type of business you want to run. List what is important to you. Look at your motivations and what you ultimately want to achieve. What are your abilities? How much money do you have to invest? Learn as much as you can about your chosen industry so you can compare different businesses.

getting the baLL roLLingThe next step is to put together an “acquisition team” – your banker, accountant and attorney – to help you. These advisors are essential to what is called “due diligence,” which means reviewing and verifying all the relevant information about the business you are considering. When due diligence is done, you will know just what you are buying and from whom.

You also need to assess the company’s reputation and the strength of its business relationships. Talk to existing customers, suppliers and vendors.

If the business still looks promising after your preliminary analysis, your acquisition team should start examining the business’ potential returns and its asking price. Your assessment of its value should take into account as the business’ financial health, its earnings history and its growth potential, as well as its intangible assets.

negotiationsNo decision is more emotionally charged than deciding upon a price for an existing business. The owner has one idea of how much it is worth, while the buyer will typically have another viewpoint. Each party is dealing from a different perspective. Usually the one who is best prepared will have the most leverage when the process enters the negotiating stage.

Price is a very hard element to pin down and, therefore, is for the buyer to assess. There are a few factors that will influence price, such as economic conditions. Usually, businesses sell for a higher price when the economy is expanding, and for a much lower price during recessions. Motivation also plays an important factor. How badly does the seller want out? If they have many

personal financial problems, you may be able to buy the business at a discount rate.

financeOnce you have come to an agreement you need to decide how to finance the acquisition. There are several possible sources, including: banks, friends and family, equity finance. If you approach banks, they will generally ask for details of the business/sales particulars; accounts for the past three years; financial projections – if no accounts are available; details of your personal assets and liabilities.

formaL offerIf you make your initial offer by phone, follow this up in writing. Head your letter ‘subject to contract’ and include this phrase in all written communication.

Even after you reach an agreement on the price and terms of sale, the deal could still fall through. You have to meet certain conditions of sale to complete, including verification of financial statements; transfer of leases; transfer of contracts/licences; transfer of finance and transfer of existing registration.

:: business ::

I

buyInG a busIness Is often better than startInG one from sCratCh

best buy

032 033Issue 20

:: motoring ::

Feel Rushwhat does It feel lIke to be a professIonal raCInG drIver? we took exCellenCy ClIent mohamed to yas marIna CIrCuIt to experIenCe a lesson In drIvInG an open-CoCkpIt raCInG Car

F ully suited in racing gear, Mohamed carefully approached the track. The Yas SuperSport SST he was about to drive resembled a miniature version of the Le Mans vehicles seen in endurance races – and it was not long before he got a feel for the car’s staggering performance.

Mastering the sequential gearbox and unbelievable grip and acceleration, he cut through the circuit’s long straights and sharp corners with ease.

The session, part of an experience offered by Yas Marina Circuit, gives guests with no prior racing knowledge a feel for the thrilling activity.

The powerful Yas SuperSport SST they drive features a four-cylinder engine and high-nose bodywork to increase downforce, reduce drag and improve cooling.

Mohamed had a technical briefing from a coach who explained how to approach each corner before making several laps of the circuit in a Renault. The instructor then appraised his performance.

“The tips given to me by the coach proved very useful as I was faced with many challenges on the circuit,” said Mohamed.

“The session definitely gave me more insight into the mind-blowing scientific and technological aspects of racing.

“It was an exhilarating experience which gave me the opportunity to learn all the ins and outs of driving a small racing car.

“The feeling when you are driving is incredible – it was as though I was flying over the track.” For more information, visit yasmarinacircuit.com

the

:: design ::

035Issue 20

S tepping inside the London townhouse of Kelly Hoppen MBE is akin to experiencing a stylish black and white photograph come to life.

Sporting a glossy, monochrome interior with black wood and neutral colours throughout, the Georgian townhouse in Notting Hill is the epitome of chic.

Every room has a sliding door with a 6ft vertical door handle running from the top to the bottom, with concealed lighting emanating from behind the walls. In the living room, a stunning triangular Italian coffee table made from black glass and metal – made in the 1970s – takes centre stage.

Hoppen’s style is characterised by her ‘East meets West’ approach, which fuses together the eastern principles of simplicity and the sumptuous textures and luxurious finishes popular in Western cultures.

“I think that Middle Eastern homeowners

are now taking a lot of inspiration from the minimalist styles of the West,” says the petite South African-born British designer, who is rumoured to only take on projects costing a minimum of £300,000.

“I would treat their home in exactly the same way – start with a base of neutral colours and then punctuate with some bright colours here and there.”

Relying on her intuition and a grid system to analyse space, delineate vistas, impose structure and establish order, she has created iconic designs for houses, hotels, yachts, ski chalets and private jets, as well as the interiors for British Airways’ first-class cabins.

Her clients include an ever-expanding list of luxury companies as well as international celebrities such as the Beckhams, Elton John and, of course, her stepdaughters Sienna and Savannah Miller, whose father, Ed, was her husband for 15 years.

Known as the ‘queen of taupe,’ Hoppen prefers using colours and materials that are organic. Take for instance the LUX* Belle Mare resort (formerly the Beau Rivage) she recently designed in Mauritius, for which her company Kelly Hoppen Interiors used mainly organic textures.

Fabrics – predominantly linen and cotton – complement other beach-inspired textures, such as water-like lacquer surfaces, bleached wood trestle tables and tongue-and-groove bathrooms.

She used her signature neutral palette of white, cream, taupe and beige, layered with accents of bright colours including turquoise, fuchsia, soft yellow, apple green, Chinese red, bright orange and purple.

“I know what I want when I go to a hotel, and it is virtually nothing – but everything there is has to be clean, simple and pleasurable to the touch. This is a beachside location, so the design had to reflect the

Globally renowned desIGner kelly hoppen talks to ron KaiSer about her trend-settInG style

east meets west

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036

:: design ::

037Issue 20

same sort of minimalist luxury that Brigitte Bardot made famous at Saint Tropez in the Sixties,” Hoppen says.

“In fact, the more I designed, the more I made it lighter and simpler – my aim was to create an uncluttered ambience to help rebalance the body and soul.”

Keeping collateral to a minimum in all her projects, she likes to place emphasis on artwork and objects, and is a fan of vintage, which she carefully sources from specialists.

“There are so many amazing markets which I go to to find vintage pieces,” she says. “Alfie’s in London is amazing, as is Portobello market really near to my home.”

When it comes to homes, she pays close attention to the lighting, which is not as

simple a process as it may seem. “People can overlook this, but it’s really key in building the right ambience in a room,” she explains.

“Also, the kitchen should be well thought out as it’s often the place in the house where the family likes to hang out so it needs to be comfortable and practical at the same time.”

To some, Hoppen’s advice may come as nothing new, but she stresses that sticking with a safe set of basics – in her case, the ones she developed when launching her career at the age of 16 – must not be ignored.

“If you look at fashion, it’s a circle that keeps going back to the period of time. It is just a reinvention of that style because nothing is new.

“My style is constantly being reinvented but the basics of it and the lifestyle that I created when I was very young, works. Obviously a brand evolves, but you always go back full circle.”

furnitureOld reclaimed wood is coming back. Furniture pieces made with reclaimed wood and finished with lacquer, shiny metals or glass are ‘must haves’. So, whatever texture is used for part of the piece it is mixed with the completely opposite texture as part of the finish – it is like ying and yang and a look I will be featuring in my next collection out in the summer.

Stylish luggage inspired furniture is in, so large leather trunks in lighter shades are used for storage and to brighten up rooms.

bed Linen/ cushionsHigh thread count linen make consumers feel good as more

people want comfort.Pattern fabrics such

as Paisley, Brocade and Ikat are making a comeback and are used for bed linen and

cushion covers.

fabrics/ uphoLsteryTexture are a big focus as people place more importance on comfort so Hungarian and Swedish linen mixed in with silks and velvet, the materials being the complete antithesis of each other, are used for bed linen and

cushion coverings.Waxed fabrics, rough Swedish

linen, towelling and sacking are used for upholstery to give furniture a contrasting modern and rustic feel. For example, a seat front would be upholstered with a shiny fabric and the back with hessian or sacking, thus highlighting the wood in the chair but with a defined finish.

waLLpaperWe have seen an increase in patterned and textured wallpaper over the past year and interest will keep rising over the next season. Some of the must have prints will include oversized geometric floral and vintage patterns.

coLoursSplashes of pastel pink, emerald green, Italian suit grey and burnt orange will be the shades of next season.

artSculptures are making a comeback with organic formed pieces being a highlight as more people look to nature for inspiration. More and more people will look to invest in

valuable photography and art.

accessoriesDifferent shaped and sized vases mixed with different types of flowers

will soften room settings in a straight and neutral

interior. Clusters of candles will be used in rooms instead of a few lined up candles.

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039Issue 20038

:: innovation ::

Take the High RoadonCe the stuff of movIes, flyInG Cars have now beCome a realIty. excellency looks at the fIrms GettInG thIs futurIstIC teChnoloGy off the Ground

rom Back to the Future to Blade Runner, Hollywood loves the concept of the car-o-plane. Few filmgoers in the Eighties expected to see such vehicles in their lifetimes but, with technology accelerating faster than a Ferrari, they may not have to wait much longer. In July, US firm Terrafugia announced its

flying car, the Transition, had completed its maiden flight, travelling at 1,400 feet for eight minutes. That same month, Dutch firm PAL-V unveiled its own hybrid prototype, the PAL-V One.

The Transition was created by pilots and engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Running on petrol, it can reach

F

the PaL-V one in action

speeds of up to 180km/h on land and in the air.

Terrafugia Chief Operating Officer Anna Mracek Dietrich said: “We have great momentum going in our testing programme.

“Our top priority this summer is flight and drive-testing in anticipation of certifying compliance with the Light Sport

Aircraft and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards.”

Carl Dietrich, the Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer added: “It’s a real aeroplane – we’re flying it whenever we want, for as long as we want.”

With room for carry-on luggage and two sets of golf clubs, the Transition is unlikely to replace the family car, but could make for a novel way to shorten the school run.

Essentially a light aircraft with fold-away wings, it will undoubtedly turn heads, but isn’t the sleekest vehicle.

Two metres wide, six metres long and just over two metres tall in ‘car’ mode, it has an eight-metre wingspan when in flight.

Its wings fold upwards when not in use, giving the craft a somewhat ungainly appearance, but that hasn’t deterred the 100 buyers who have already placed orders with the firm.

the transition takes to the skies

A snip at just $279,000 (AED1m), it could hit the streets as early as winter.

Licence to thriLLBeing able to afford your own plane is all very well, but the people queuing up for the Transition had better have their own airstrip.

The craft needs ample runway space in order to achieve lift-off, but Terrafugia’s European rival has taken a different approach.

Like the craft used by James Bond in You Only Live Twice, the PAL-V One gyroscope can take off in confined spaces.

A rotary winged aircraft similar to a helicopter, it achieves lift using a rotor rather than fixed wings, with forward movement driven by a propeller.

“The launch of the PAL-V One marks a truly historic event: the birth of a new class of vehicles offering unprecedented freedom, adventure, flexibility and pleasure – all in one product,” PAL-V states.

“Gyroplane technology means that it can be steered and landed safely even if the engine fails, because the rotor keeps auto-rotating.”

In true 007 style, the propeller folds into the driving position once the engine stops, appealing to would-be special agents everywhere.

Cars aren’t the only vehicles being adapted for air travel.

Another US aerospace company, Aerofex, has created a hover bike which can glide several centimetres off the ground.

“Think of it as lowering the threshold of flight, down to the domain of all-terrain vehicles,” said the firm’s founder, aerospace engineer Mark De Roche.

The hover action is created by two rotors underneath that spin in opposite directions.

It can be controlled by leaning left or right, like riding a conventional bike, and the intuitive nature of its controls means it can be ridden without specialist training.

De Roche added: “Since the pilot’s balancing movements are instinctive and constant, it plays out quite effortlessly to him.”

Aerofex has no plans to bring its creation to market any time soon, but the idea could inspire other inventors.

Hard to fly at high speeds or very far from the ground, it could be the perfect way to shorten the morning commute.

Pilot in the PaL-V one

040

:: motoring ::

orsche claims that a four-door saloon had always been the dream of its founder.

It’s certainly long been the dream of many a middle-aged man who, having settled down and had children, simply cannot justify a two-seater.

The Panamera is the answer to those prayers. The company insisted it would not compromise when building a larger vehicle – its first four-door saloon – and has remained true to that promise.

For such a big car (and the Panamera is deceptively large) it certainly handles well. Even the entry-level V6 packs almost 300bhp so it’s not exactly sluggish, but for real performance you need to opt for the Turbo S, which boasts an impressive 543bhp.

Of course, all that performance means there are some shortcomings. The car seats only four, not five, while the interior is spacious but not enormous – head room is slightly less generous than in a 7-Series

the porsChe panamera CombInes spaCe for a famIly wIth the kInd of enGIneerInG you would expeCt from the German sports Car maker

Pure Performance

Por an S Class, but then those cars are luxury saloons so the comparison is not entirely fair. In any case, its individual rear seats can be adjusted in a variety of ways, an option simply not available with a bench-type seat.

Even some time after its launch the Panamera continues to turn heads and it’s not surprising – it looks fabulous. The performance is stellar, too. So has Porsche achieved its goal of creating a four-door saloon without compromising on its sporting pedigree? Absolutely.