HAUTE TIME

Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo

BY TIM LAPPEN

THE 2022 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE TROFEO IS THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE four-door sedan offered by the marque. Maserati does make other four-doors (like the smaller Ghibli) and other Quattroporte models, but the Trofeo is the ultimate sedan, with a distinctive color scheme and special badging and, lest we forget, the most powerful motor in their sedans.

Let’s take a step back to meet the four siblings. Pricing for the Quattroporte starts at $99,000 for the GT, a six-cylinder 345 hp variant. Next up is the Modena, which arrives with a base price of $109,100 and likewise is powered by a sixcylinder motor, this one putting out 424 hp. There’s also the Modena Q4, an all-wheel-drive version of the Modena, with the same power but more traction, starting at $113,600. But today’s story is about the top of the line — in terms of luxury, exclusivity, and power — the Trofeo (“Trophy”, in Italian), starting at $146,900, which sports a V8 with a robust 580 hp, throwing down 0-60 mph times of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. And, as it is a rear-wheel-drive (“RWD”) car, it has both swagger and acceleration waggle to show its street cred.

It’s easy to spot the Trofeo because of its livery. The side portholes and finished with bright red edges, “Trofeo” is written above the portholes on each fender and there are tri-colore badges on the front doors’ window pillars. It’s even easier to identify if it’s in motion as the distinctive Maserati sound announces both its arrival and departure.

The Trofeo basic offering is in three colors — Blanco (white) is standard and Nero Ribelle (black), Grigio Maratea (dark grey), and Grigio (silver grey) are the optional metallics. “Mine” was painted a terrific golden green, Verde Royale, which was not on the standard menu as it was a $6,500 option. It really is a stunning color.

Driving the Trofeo was a real treat, too. The sound is great, as befits an Italian sports tourer, and the driver can select the level of engagement wanted, from sedate and supple suspension to sporty mode and from a rather quiet exhaust note to full on bravissimo at the flick of a switch.

I loved the interior, too. The fine upholstery — mine in carbon macro twill — was a good match for the medium-green exterior and looked great with the other interior finishes. The sound system — the optional Bowers & Wilkins unit, at $2,500 — provided a lush soundtrack for the drives. The optional wheels — 21” dark forged units with 15 spokes — were a nice blend of beauty and aggressiveness.

I liked the fact that I didn’t see another Quattroporte every few minutes, as can be the experience with other luxury sedans during LA drives. Added to the base price, the $14,600 in options put the sticker at $160,500. Given all that’s included — style, performance, quality, and convenience — it was a great experience for me. It really is a wonderful luxury performance sedan.

Audi R8 V10 Spider

BY TIM LAPPEN

BOND. JAMES BOND. SHORT, SWEET, CLEAR, CONCISE. TWO WORDS, ONE used twice, to convey every supervillain’s worst nightmare (even if they don’t know it on first meeting).

The 2022 Audi R8 V10 performance Spyder RWD, on the other hand, uses a lot of characters but it nonetheless packs more than may be initially apparent. (NOW do you see where this Bond thing is going?) And, just to be clear, Audi does not capitalize the “p” in “performance” — maybe they thought that it would be bragging.

This version of the vaunted R8 is different as it’s not a “Quattro” version — only the rear wheels receive the power this time. Many sporting drivers prefer a rear-wheel-drive (“RWD”) car as it’s easier to have a controlled power slide when only the rear of the car breaks out on acceleration. It’s fitted with the same naturally aspirated (no turbo) fuel-injected 5.2-liter V10 motor (with 40 valves!) but it’s tuned to provide 562 hp, no doubt because it doesn’t have four wheels to grab hold when the throttle is punched and doesn’t need as much power to run a drivetrain that’s not a Quattro. But with 406 lb-ft of torque and a great sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (paddle shifted, at the driver’s option), it’s good for a 3.7-second run from 0-60 mph and a top speed of 203 mph. Not bad for a drop-top!

To me, the proof is in the driving and I loved my time with this car. It has a few choices of sounds (I prefer the Dynamic with the Performance mode) and, with an 8,700 rpm redline, it loves to sing without pestering everyone in the Zip code. It’s a highly responsive car that can be a cruiser with the punch of a few buttons. The controls are clear and very easy to understand and the ones used regularly (like temperature changes, fan speed adjustment, etc.) are front and center. The infotainment also is clear and intuitive and allows for several driverselected options depending upon what one wants most to focus on.

The convertible top is well designed, allowing for opening or closing operation in only 20 seconds at speeds below 31 mph. It’s an “acoustic top,” too, so when it’s up and all three windows are closed (there is a small vertical window at the back of the cabin), the interior is very quiet. With the top down and the windows lowered, it’s not all that windy, either, and even the coldest nights are tamed by the terrific heater and the heated seats (a must-have in a convertible).

The base price on the Spyder RWD is $160,000 but, luckily for me, the optionpicker blessed me with the Carbon Exterior Package (carbon accents in several places — $4,800), the Premium Package (special B&O sound system, beautiful leather accents — $4,500), the Sport Exhaust Package (choice of sounds, different exhaust pipes and tips, and special steering wheel — $3,600) and a few more goodies, which brought the price of “my” ride to $189,690.

Is it worth it? I sure think so as you get a great design, terrific performance, flexibility in how aggressive or laid-back you want your ride to be at any given moment and the convenience of a quick-change convertible top. I’m sold.

GREAT INNOVATIONS AT WATCHES & WONDERS 2022

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE WATCHESHaute

Hublot

Square Bang Unico All Black

FOR HUBLOT, A NEW SHAPE HAS TAKEN FORM AT WATCHES & Wonders: square. Hublot revealed its own interpretation of the square watch for the first time through the Maison’s iconic Big Bang watch, creating the Square Bang Unico in five new models.

“The square watch is a very specific object that most watchmakers dare not tackle. This is a divisive, disruptive, and unconventional shape that no one has known how to rework for decades: It was just waiting for us!” notes Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot. “Hublot decided to get to grips with the shape in order to explore its power and create a totally unique timepiece.”

The five 42mm models range from solid titanium, black ceramic, King Gold, and titanium or King Gold blend with a black ceramic bezel. Each model comes with a black rubber strap and a folding clasp in the same material as the case. These original designs beat to the rhythm of the HUB1280 Unico Manufacture movement, a 354-component automatic chronograph set at 4Hz (28,800 vib/h).

Most notably, the Square Bang Unico All Black is limited to just 250 pieces as the only special, limited edition of the new collection. The new Square Bang Unico marks the start of an exciting exploratory era for Hublot.

Patek Philippe

Annual Calendar Time Travel Ref. 5326G-001

TO END OUR TIME AT WATCHES AND WONDERS, WE SAVED the best for last: Patek Philippe. While the full range of new timepieces was nothing shy of impressive, the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Time Travel Ref. 5326G-001 stunned most as they were able to get a closer look during the intimate presentation. Patek Philippe combined two signature complications into a single watch for the first time in history: its patented Annual Calendar and its Travel Time dual-time display.

The model travels back in time to incorporate a vintage look with a charcoal gray dial with refined gradation with a subtle granular texture, reminiscent of the exterior case on old photo cameras. Yet, it is catapulted into the modern era of watchmaking with the new 41mm white-gold case that houses the new, groundbreaking self-winding movement. Protected by eight patents, the exclusive mechanical movement combines both the Annual Calendar and the Travel Time mechanisms in the same case. In the new caliber 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement, the Annual Calendar is controlled by the Travel Time function, and it is the local-time hour wheel that drives the calendar.

Embodying the essence of Patek Philippe’s unparalleled approach to watchmaking, Ref. 5326G-001 Annual Calendar Travel Time stands as a testament to exceptional artistry and sophisticated design. The timepiece is fitted with a beige calfskin leather strap that can be changed out to a black calfskin strap embossed with a fabric pattern.

Roger Dubuis

Knights of the Round Table Monotourbillon/X

THE ROGER DUBUIS BOOTH PUT ON QUITE THE SHOW AT this year’s Watches & Wonders. In true Roger Dubuis style, it was an uncommon experience, with 528 screens that presented a show that took roughly two months to perfect. The wow factor of the presentation set the stage for Dubuis’ latest creations — the Excalibur Monobalancier and Knights of the Round Table Monotourbillon/X timepiece.

The Knights of the Round Table collection combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design creating an utterly unique lineup of timepieces. The 8th edition of the Monotourbillon takes the collection’s name to heart by incorporating the equalizing round table in the timepiece’s design. Twelve knights, cast in pink gold 750/1000, are strategically placed around the center of the watch fighting against the forces of gravity with their micro-sculpted shields — ultimately speaking to the great legend of King Arthur.

Within the circular design is an entirely new time-telling experience as two gold markers are integrated into the design of the translucent-purple Murano glass blocks, which requires a remarkable eight layers of décor around the dial while the 4mm pink gold case is sealed by a notched bezel. While all Dubuis’ watches are meticulously created with bold details, this new edition pushes beyond the boundaries of hyper horology.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROGER DUBUIS Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection

Rolex

Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II

THE NEW ROLEX GMT-MASTER II, A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED launch, sent shock waves through the fair. First, the timepiece introduces a new colorway pairing for a Rolex GMT: green and black. And second, it is a left-handed model — also known as a “destro” — as the crown and the crown guard are positioned on the left side of the watch case and meant for those who wear their watch on the right wrist. Aside from those two significant distinctions, this timepiece adheres to the GMT-Master II design and performance codes. It features a two-color monobloc Cerachrom bezel, a crystal case fitted with a Cyclops lens for easy date reading, and an Oyster bracelet paired with the patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp as well as the Superlative Chronometer certification that ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

The latest version is also equipped with calibre 3285, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling it to display the hours, minutes, seconds, date, and an additional time zone in 24-hour format. Originally designed as a navigation tool for professionals traveling around the globe, the GMT-Master became the watch of choice for adventureseekers, which then evolved into the GMT-Master II that introduced a movement that allowed the hour hand to be set independently of the other hands in 1982. And today, the new GMT-Master II embodies the same spirit of exploration while being a pioneer in the industry.

Grand Seiko

Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003

PHOTOS COURTESY OF (TOP) ALEX TEUSCHER PHOTOGRAPHY, (INSET) GRAND SEIKO GRAND SEIKO ARRIVED IN GENEVA THIS YEAR WITH major news: The brand would be revealing its first mechanical complication in its history. For the first time in horological history, the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon combines a constant-force mechanism and a tourbillon into one unit on a single axis, creating a new rhythmic heartbeat. Kodo, which means “heartbeat” in Japanese, is symbolic of the motion of the new mechanism because of its innovative movement. In the heart of the watch, the movement delivers a level of stable accuracy unprecedented for Grand Seiko.

The Kodo is a true testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship of Grand Seiko as the production, from the inception to the final glorious manifestation, took a decade to perfect. Each of the 340 components of the caliber was meticulously reexamined, redesigned, and reengineered for production, resulting in Caliber 9ST1 — setting a new standard of accuracy, after each movement was evaluated for a 34-day testing criteria, testing for 48 hours in 6 positions and three temperatures.

There’s no denying that the groundbreaking integration of the two mechanisms creates a stunning visual effect. The inner tourbillon carriage rotates smoothly as the balance steadily vibrates at 8-beats per second, and the outer constant-force carriage follows its rotation at exact 1-second intervals. The constant-force carriage has a ruby on one of its arms, which acts as a small second hand, and the hour hand has an extra facet at its tip to enhance its readability. The case is constructed from Platinum 950 and Grand Seiko’s Brilliant Hard Titanium to achieve optimal, lasting luster, and the case back is made with sapphire crystal, revealing the movement’s finishing and intricate construction. The timepiece is designed with an extremely durable calf strap that has been hand-painted with Urushi lacquer in a multi-coating process that gives the strap a delicate sheen.

Perhaps one of the buzziest timepieces of Watches & Wonders, the new Grand Seiko watch completely stole the show.