The Society Road Trip Report / BMW X1 / The Ultimate Fuel-Efficient Urban Crossover

Riding to a High Society Wedding in Style

On our BMW X1 road trip courtesy of The Society Toronto Chapter, we started off with hitting the most anticipated Toronto society wedding of the year in style. We came back early from a TAJ press trip to Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan for the marriage of business school-bound Natasha Penzo, a budding philanthropist with a stellar career performance already under her belt. At ASC Public Relations, she worked with clients like Jo Malone, La Mer, Armani and American Express. Her groom, Graeme McIntosh, a rising star in basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors, turned out to be the NEW Gold Standard in Grooms.

We fell in love with the BMW X1 at first sight. And at first “handle”. We truly tested the high-performance “suspension” technology of the BMW X1 with Shay Lowe, Carole Park, and Amanda Chan. The car sustained multiple giggles and hijinks from St. James Cathedral to Rosedale Golf Club. The vehicle has a robust body structure and agile, precise, confident handling. It can handle Carole Park’s funniest stories. Thank you to The Society for this amazing BMW RoadTrip.

Despite the increase in weight and height over a normal 1- or 3-Series, the expectation of dynamic performance is essentially met and exceeded. The steering favours cruising comfort over Attention-Deficit Driving and we couldn’t be more impressed. The X1 feels supremely planted and gives mums the feeling that they’re taking their kids to school in a Sherman Tank. And this, by far, is a great reason to get this BMW model over comparable classes by other manufacturers.

In an inspired seating arrangement, I am seated at the right of celebrated designer Joeffer Caoc, known for being a big “get” for bridal parties as he’s typically busy dressing actresses and pop stars.

Next to Graeme and the patriarchs of the wedding, Joeffer was the “man of the hour” delivering four distinct dresses tailored to each bridesmaid’s personality. In a stunt worthy of Project Runway, he delivered Katia Tallarico’s dress only the night before due to her arrival time from New York. We’re gobsmacked at the sight of Katia in her gown, perfectly tailored low back that moves with every high-five, dance floor girl huddle and whooping parental hug!

This photo, from left to right, of Katia, Jenna Naumovich, Joeffer Caoc, Melissa Manoff and Katie Shipp pretty much captures the love in the air for Natasha’s good taste (no sea foam green, never-seen-again bridesmaids dresses here) and Coac’s exemplary, ahem, tailored-to-figure abilities – Naumovich looked more delicious than the red velvet 6 tier cake, and that’s saying something as the cake was divine.

Thanks to Joeffer Caoc, Jenna Naumovich was the Pippa Middleton of this wedding. Utterly scene-stealing bod in a perfectly tailored Veuve-hued silk dress. Natasha looked as stunning (and glowing) as our newly wed Duchess of Cambridge, while Katia Tallarico’s bare back was rather regal in a discreet but backless bridesmaid dress. As Joeffer had only finished the dress the night before, leading me to believe that when you’re as perfectly proportioned as Katia, it’s the woman who wears the dress, not the other way around.

Best dressed at Natasha’s wedding besides the bride? Surprisingly, it was the Mother of the Bride’s entourage who worked it best. This is by far my fave snap of my time on the dancefloor, pictured here with Natasha’s stunning mum, Debbie Penzo.

And this is my kind of wedding favour: the bride and groom’s love began at BOOBYBALL (a fundraising juggernaut founded by The Society’s Amanda Blakley and Ashleigh Dempster and gifted to Rethink Breast Cancer in 2010 after establishing itself as the reigning charity event of the fall social season) and the big ball gets 5 mentions in the speeches. Moreover, in lieu of cheesy mints in crystal bowls wrapped in silk, the bridal favours turn out to be donations made by the couple on behalf of 140 guests! Love it.

We of course would never take the X1 out for a spin with even an ounce of Grey Goose Pear in our systems, so we picked up our ride at The Rosedale Golf Club the next day. The centerpiece flowers from Debbie Penzo were super fresh, a vision to our hungover eyes!

Ah Graeme… by far a shining example of EVERYTHING a girl dreams of on her wedding day. Impossibly dashing, a team player, beloved by family and friends, incredible dance floor performance, looks sexy in family tartan (red-dominated), polished and humble speech delivered, cleans up DISHES (!) at Penzo family afterparty at 3 AM while packing up his Raptors hockey bag (!) and dialing a limo to take Natasha home. Unbelievable. This parting shot is in honour of Graeme McIntosh, most inspiring groom ever.

From society weddings to country escapes, the BMW X1 is primed for urban maneouvering and parking, in addition to being absolutely perfect for countryside “extracurricular” activities. We were inspired by S-List member Ashleigh Marshall’s road trip to cottage country and took the BMW X1 to Brickworks. More on this in our second, more automotive-focused review of the X1. We’re currently in transit with Korean Air’s phenomenal Prestige Class service to Bali, Indonesia via Seoul, Korea and will be uploading more BMW test drive photos as we go!

Love from Moyo Island,

Si Si Penaloza

Founder of AUTOGASM and TRIP COUTURE

51 BUCKINGHAM GATE Introduces World’s First Jaguar Suite

51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Hotels’ boutique London town homes with spacious accommodations just steps from Buckingham Palace, has just unveiled the world’s first Jaguar-themed suite.

Using materials taken from the cars, such as leather, metal and high gloss veneer, the sleek design of this 1,832-square-foot, two-bedroom residential-style references classic and contemporary Jaguar models, from the legendary 1960’s E-type to the state-of-the art C-X75, a nod to the legacy and future vision of Jaguar’s timeless style.

The two bedrooms are fitted with super-king sized beds with Italian leather headboards, soft carpets, state-of-the-art fittings, a 32 inch wall mounted television and custom-made wallpaper with subtle Jaguar motifs. The en-suite bathrooms feature top-end design with adaptable mood lighting, marble floored walk-in showers and oversized baths.

The spacious yet homely living room has comfortable sofas and large windows with a courtyard-facing balcony, creating a light and airy ambience.   One wall is covered in Italian leather, embedded with a 42 inch television and the modern and minimalist clean-fuel fireplace, referencing the rear windows of the cars to complete the sophisticated look. The suite offers the best in sound systems (Denon and Creston), with Blu-ray DVD player, iPod docking station and Sonance ceiling speakers throughout.

An archway leads through to the chic dining room that doubles up as a meeting space, seating up to ten people.  For those needing a quiet workspace, the separate study, with its custom-made desk, modern design and latest IT equipment, is just the spot.

Complete with a fully-equipped, gloss-black kitchen, guests can dine as if in the comfort of their own home.  However the hotel’s restaurants, Michelin-starred Quilon and The Courtyard, are bound to tempt residents from their suite.  The beautiful Anne Sémonin Spa at 51 is also only a few steps away.

Residents of the Jaguar Suite will enjoy the services of chauffeur-driven Jaguar transportation within London, 24-hour private butler service and daily breakfast for approximately $8,542 per night.

To learn more about the Jaguar Suite or to book a stay at 51 Buckingham Gate, please visit www.51-buckinghamgate.com, call +44 (0) 20 7769 7766

Senna / AUTOGASM’s Must See Film

The Sexiest F1 Driver Ever

Asif Kapadia’s new documentary, “Senna,” tracks the driver on a rocket ride to three world championships in four years, and captures his stoic intensity perfectly. Senna was locked into an exploration of being human that few will understand. Sometimes a documentary will unexpectedly reach out and grab you by the throat, not giving you a second to breathe. This is that film, whether you follow F1 or not.

Fans of Formula One racing will know at once that this is a film about the legendary Brazilian Ayrton Senna, considered by some to be the greatest driver who ever lived. A boy genius behind the wheel, capable of pushing cars beyond their capacity, Senna won 33 races and three Grand Prix titles before dying in a crash in 1994 at age 34.

Someone who just flat-out loved to drive, Senna was a purist who had utter disdain for the politics that had to be played in the cliquish Formula One world. Though he drove like the devil, he was a spiritual person who believed profoundly in a higher power. A philosophical mystic with a jewel thief’s nerves and a poet’s sensitivity (and scorching good looks), Senna was an altogether remarkable human being.

Told solely through the use of archival footage, “Senna” is bursting with great racing sequences, many dealing with his bitter rivalry with French champion Alain Prost. But what makes this film so riveting is the remarkable personality of the man himself.

 

Learn to Drive, Mr Bean! Rowan Atkinson Plows $4 Million McLaren F1 into a Post

Opps! Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson totaled his £650k McLaren F1, and crawling from the supercar’s burning wreckage. Walk it off Bean, walk it off.  Seriously, we’re glad he’s okay.

That’s more or less the Daily Mail‘s version of what happened on the A605 at Haddon, near Peterborough, when Mr Bean wrapped his expensive motor round a tree and a signpost.

An unusually restrained Sun, however, reckons Atkinson simply climbed out of the vehicle with “a minor shoulder injury”, although the paper did manage to find an unnamed source who gasped: “It’s a miracle he walked away.”

A photo of the carnage used by both the Mail and Sun originally popped up on Twitter, and doesn’t appear to show any evidence of the Daily Mail‘s automotive inferno.

An exceptionally rare vehicle, it was bought by Atkinson for around $1.2 million to celebrate the success of his Mr Bean movie. The car is now believed to be worth around $4 million.

Atkinson, known to be a car enthusiast, recently topped the leader’s board on Top Gear’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. Notching up the fastest ever time on the show, he completed the circuit in 1 minute 42.2 seconds.

Atkinson is best known for his work on Not The Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder and Mr Bean, in which his hapless character drives an old Mini. He previously pranged the McLaren in Lancashire in 1999, when the front of his extravagant wheels came off the worse for an encounter with a Rover Metro.

Victoria’s Secret Model / Alessandra Ambrosio / Cadillac Escalade

Alessandra Ambrosio spiced up this Cadillac Escalade when she stepped out of the backseat in an all white outfit before a Victoria’s Secret promo. Ambrosio is best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret and was chosen as the first spokesmodel for the company’s “PINK” line. Ambrosio is currently one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels and has modeled for brands such as Next, Armani Exchange, Christian Dior,  Ralph Lauren.

Later that day, Alessandra posed on the back of a pink moped for the Victoria’s Secret promotion. Nothing says Summer! like a VS Angel on a moped. Great legs, great photo op.

Sexy Black and Yellow Dodge Challenger

Not too surprisingly, rapper Wiz Khalifa is big on automotive muscle and power. But this isn’t just any muscle car, it’s a wide body Dodge Challenger SRT8 with 24″ Forgiato wheels. The car is an absolute beauty and a beast! The custom wheels are a great choice.  We tested drove this car in Sedona, Arizona and have it on permanent alert direct to our iPhone. Our eyes popped when we say this incredible wide body hottie.

Adrian Grenier Goes and STAYS Green in a Toyota Prius

Adrian Grenier gets a lot of flack for driving a Prius. We love the Prius and that Grenier plays against type and is NOT the gas-guzzling oaf he plays on Entourage.

And he actually drives it all around LA… it’s not that thing he keeps in his garage for progressive identity branding and green cred. It’s kind of adorable that he looks like he could have a car boot sale out of the back!

Let’s face it, if you look like this… you can drive anything and look SEXY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma, Daniel and Rupert / Harry Potter Premiere Photos / Ah, It Was Only Yesterday…

Thousands of fans arrived in the West End from all over the world for the first showing of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Memories: The ‘flying’ Ford Anglia in which whippersnapper wizard Harry Potter is seen soaring through the air in the movies.

They had us at the The blue Ford Anglia 7990.

Emma Watson became even more endearing today when she wept on the red carpet at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 premiere in Trafalgar Square. Emma welled up as Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint talked about working together for the last decade or so, and was comforted by her co-stars. When Daniel said he was lucky to get the role when he was 11, Emma replied, “You didn’t ‘get lucky’ – you were and are the perfect Harry and will be forever.”

She has previously admitted crying during the Harry Potter filming and then  blubbing when the cast all went their separate ways so it was no real surprise to see her wiping more tears at the world premiere of the finale to the film series.

It seems 21-year-old Watson can’t help getting weepy over this end-of-Potter business.

The sniffles even spread to co-star Rupert Grint, who arrived on the red carpet with Watson yesterday before the screening in Trafalgar Square.

They began queuing as early as Monday evening for last night’s screening. Many of them dressed as characters from the films with others waving placards reading ‘Potter ’til I die’ and ‘Harry Potter is over. See you in therapy, folks!

Daniel Craig + Lexus RX 350 = AUTOGASM

Congrats on the Bond Bombshell, Rachel Weisz

Daniel Craig, AKA Hollywood hunk, hot Anglo Export and Mr. James Bond was spotted hanging out around his Lexus Rx 350 to the set of the new James Bond movie. After a short, quiet courtship, Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz recently pulled off a near-impossibility in Hollywood: A secret wedding!

The lucky guests? Daniel’s daughter Ella, 18, and Weisz’s son Henry, 4, and two friends, the Mail reports. First linked last fall, Weisz, 41, and Craig, 43, spent Christmas together in the U.K.

The real-life newlyweds play husband and wife in the upcoming Dream House, due in theaters this fall. Weisz can be seen next in The Whistleblower, a thriller opening August 5.

Hackgate / Lynch Mob / Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks

Thank You, Ford Motors, for Pulling Ads From News of the World After Phone Hacking Scandal

‎Other major brands, including T-Mobile, are reviewing their relationships with Rupert Murdoch’s paper. Pressure is mounting on Rupert Murdoch‘s News of The World newspaper after the Ford motor company said it had withdrawn its advertising from the paper and other major brands including Tesco, Halifax, Orange and T-Mobile said they were reviewing their relationships with the paper.

The withdrawal of support from key partners comes as the paper is facing a growing public backlash and political firestorm after one of its investigators is thought to have hacked into the phone of murdered 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The investigator is believed to have deleted a number of messages at the time so that more could be intercepted leading police and Dowler’s family to mistakenly believe for a time that the 13-year-old was still alive.

Police have also contacted the parents of murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman as well as families of the victims of the July 7 terrorist bombings in London in 2007, telling them that their phones may also have been illegally accessed.

Readers have been Tweeting that they have cancelled online subscriptions to the Murdoch-owned Times newspaper and to Sky television. Thousands have bombarded advertisers with Tweets asking big brands like retailer WH Smith: “do you consider it ethical to stock a newspaper prepared to hack a murdered girl’s phone?”

Despite the clamor for her resignation, News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks - a close Murdoch family friend and confidante – who edited of the News of The World during the period, has said she will not resign.

In an email to News of The World staff she said it was “inconceivable” that she had known or sanctioned the illegal phone-hacking.

“It is almost too horrific to believe that a professional journalist or even a freelance inquiry agent working on behalf of the News of The World staff could behave this way,” she said in a copy of the email made public.

Seriously? We’re skeptical.