HAUTE MOVES

The Sky’s The Limit

Rolex’s new Oyster Perpetual Air-King pays tribute to the art of aviation.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

DESIGNED FOR THE PIONEERS OF AVIATION AND THOSE who dare to explore the vast heights of the sky, the new Oyster Perpetual Air-King is a timepiece that embodies the spirit of flight. The history of the Air-King dates back to the 1930s — the golden age of aviation, a period when the aviation industry made massive leaps in aircraft performance, paving the way for future pilots. Several pilots set records while wearing an Oyster, while others used a Rolex watch as an onboard chronometer, solidifying it as a legendary aviation timepiece.

The new model boasts a completely redesigned case, with a crown guard and straight sides like most Professional category models. Its display has been refreshed and balanced with the addition of a 0 before the 5 on the minutes scale — two digits now mark each five-minute interval.

Like its predecessors, the new-generation Air-King has the distinctive black dial — but this edition is enhanced with an optimized Chromalight display, guaranteeing maximum legibility in dark conditions. Additionally, the hands and triangular hour marker at 12 o’clock are filled and coated with new luminescent material — exclusive to Rolex — for a longer lasting, more intense glow. The 3, 6, and 9 numerals are now also visible in the dark thanks to this innovative material.

Finally, the new Air-King is equipped with caliber 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, released in 2020 and now fitted on this model from 2022. Caliber 3230 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with excellent dependability, making the new Air-King the ultimate air companion.

CLASSICHE MOTORCARS LLC PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVESHaute

Move Fast, Move Ridiculously Fast

Entrepreneur, software developer, author and investor Matt Ganzak and why he loves SWFL for running his businesses, raising a family and how he inspires others on their journey.

BY ANNA CATHERINE BLOCK

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS IN MATT GANZAK’S DNA. The founder of BlockShore.com sat down with Haute Living to discuss his businesses, family, success, mentorship, his love for cars, including his newest addition, the Ferrari 488 GTB, and most importantly, how he got there.

Haute Living: Tell us about BlockShore and where you hope to see its success five years down the road.

Matt Ganzak: Over the last 15 years, I have created several seven and eight-figure startups and assisted in course-correcting struggling businesses. BlockShore was founded with the vision of raising capital to build technology, invest in startups, and acquire struggling businesses in a single vertical market. We believe that BlockShore has the formula for being disruptive in capturing market share in each market targeted. In five years, we should see our success reach a high valuation by capturing a large market share, starting first in eCommerce technology.

HL: Were there any specific reasons you chose the Ferrari 488 GTB?

MG: Yes! This was an interesting story, actually. My wife Sachi and I went out for dinner and a movie. Sachi was pregnant with our second child, and we were able to drop off our two-year-old with my mom for the afternoon. On the way back, we were driving past the Ferrari dealership when Sachi mentioned she had an event there the following day. I asked if I could go with her and she said no because it was a women’s luncheon. We stopped at the dealership 30 minutes before closing. We were greeted immediately by Brian Morris. He showed us the 488 GTB, which was similar to the car we had previously rented while in Rome. I told Brian, “Let’s do it. Send me the paperwork!” The next day Sachi was surprised with congratulations on her new Ferrari while at the ladies’ luncheon event. The Ferrari was a very special purchase, as I have never bought anything for myself; I’m always focused on buying things for others or reinvesting in the business. Sachi was happy that I finally bought something for myself, although I still consider the car Sachi’s “push present.”

HL: How do you juggle family and work-life balance?

MG: I work from home, so I can be here all the time. I give every bath, make every meal, read to our kids, and put them to bed every night. Over the last 15 years, I spent time traveling the world, meeting with clients, speaking at events and creating our processes that drive our businesses today. We intentionally built our lives and businesses to be able to allow for more family time by putting a world-class team in place and automating our growth through technology.

HL: What to you is the greatest luxury in life, and why?

MG: Health. Being able to eat well, exercise and feel good. There’s no opportunity in life or business without your health. You absolutely need to prioritize your health, which can be a luxury. It takes more time to prepare nutritious food, which helps to create a good quality of life, but feeling good every day and rarely having any illness in our household has been priceless for us; we attribute this back to the quality of food we eat and give to our kids.

HL: What decisions did you make in your 20s and 30s to get you and your success where you are today?

MG: I made a lot of sacrifices over the years and lost a lot of friends in the process. It was difficult to say “no” to every guy’s trip, refuse late nights, and avoid all peer pressure. But my dedication and focus through my 20s and 30s have paid off. Today I don’t have to hustle and travel the world for clients like I used to; I can spend time with my family and give my kids the experience every day that they need. We are abundantly blessed, happy and living a humble family life, which in turn has attracted so many new friends and quality experiences into our lives.

HL: Is there any advice you have for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of achieving such great success at a uniquely young age?

MG: Move fast. Move ridiculously fast. Don’t be over-analytical or self-doubting. For example, when I sat down to write a book a few years ago, I literally just sat down and wrote the entire book in 48 hours. It took me a few short weeks between sitting down to write the book and becoming an Amazon Bestselling Author. Since writing this book six years ago, I have created perpetual momentum based upon these three steps: have a vision, set a goal, and execute fast. Then use your watch to track time spent working on your goals, not a calendar.

Ferrari SF90

LaFerrari’s powerful younger brother.

BY TIM LAPPEN

WHEN I SAT DOWN TO WRITE ABOUT THE FERRARI SF90, I Had Two ideas — one was simply to type “Wow!” 500 times, thereby filling my word count while leaving enough room for some nice photos. However, that would not provide much illumination about this incredible vehicle, so I went with the second option — “Wow!” written only 100 times with more discussion following.

“Good idea,” said I to no one in particular. “Not so fast,” said my editor. So here’s the result of that negotiation.

The SF90 is one of the most incredible vehicles I have ever driven. What does that mean exactly? It means that it is gorgeous, it has copious amounts of power (almost 1,000 hp!), it can accelerate like an aircraft carrier’s jet launcher and can top the speed of virtually any passenger jet’s liftoff velocity. Yet words alone cannot amply describe what it is like to drive a car that has such an ability to thrill that it can accelerate faster than you can say “Isaac Newton” since it’s an object that seemingly never stays at rest.

The name SF90 denotes that Scuderia (“stable,” of course) Ferrari was founded 90 years ago. The Scuderia moniker normally is associated with the racing division of a car manufacturer, but when it comes to Ferrari, their street cars are imbued with the soul of their racers so it was appropriate to denote this street car as the SF90 as it is the first Ferrari ever to combine potent gasoline-powered energy (769 hp) with three electric motors (217 hp). Two of those motors are independent of each other and motivate the front wheels while the third motor assists the gas engine in providing the thrust to the gearbox and, by extension, the rear wheels. And boy does that power (a total of 986 hp) perform, with 0 to 60 mph hit in 2.5 seconds, quicker than you can say “License and registration, too?”

All Ferraris are both sinewy and svelte and the SF90 does not wander from that formula. With purposeful scoops, vents, wings, and slats, the car looks fast when stopped and is superfast when underway. The top speed is 211 mph but it’s how it gets

there — the way it feels and sounds — and the way it handles once there that combine to make this car so amazing. It clearly is a close relative of the Ferrari Formula 1 cars as it’s so comfortable under heavy acceleration and cruising at high speed (no, I didn’t exceed 200 mph; I promise that I was below 150 mph virtually the entire time). And yet there is no punishment imposed as a byproduct of that astounding performance as the car feels like it’s on the way to far greater speeds, so comfortable is it under all of the conditions that I experienced.

The SF90 clearly is a performance car for the ages but it’s also beautiful, easy, and fun to drive, plus it sounds great. Since it’s a plug-in hybrid, I was surprised (not really) to see that it wasn’t on the California DMV carpool-eligible list but, then again, maybe that’s not the target market. With a base price of $513, 691, perhaps not that many owners will be commuting 9 to 5. However and wherever you drive it, if you’re fortunate enough to get some seat time with this special car, I predict that you will love every minute of it.

2023 Aston Martin DBX707

An SUV with the heart of a lion.

BY TIM LAPPEN

ASTON MARTIN IS ONE OF THE LATEST MANUFACTURERS to enter the Suv parade, to be followed soon by Ferrari and Lotus. But not long after the Aston DBX arrived, the company delivered this fire-breather, the DBX707. And not to be outdone by others, Aston mated its beautiful, sinewy body with a 707 British horsepower (measured in PS, which makes it about 697 horsepower). And I am here to tell you that it puts all of those several hundred ponies to good use. (Note: even with the long-term James Bond connection, Aston obviously didn’t want to have to market a vehicle with only 007 horsepower, so they had to use this nameplate number.)

Aston Martin has made beautiful cars for years. In the 1950s, Ian Fleming helped immortalize Aston Martins as the cars that James Bond drove. Fleming’s verisimilitude was on several levels, with Bond partaking of various brands of drinks, weaponry, and the like, but almost everyone seems aware that Sir James drove an Aston. Also, we can thank the movies for the extensive list of options on the Bond Astons, which were replete with ejection seats, machine guns, oil slicks, and more. What a great product placement, on which Aston Martin has ridden for many years.

The more modern Astons are closer to the top supercars of these days in that they have more sculptural forms, more sophisticated technology, and more potent motors. And nowhere is that new formula more present than with the DBX707, which can rip off 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 193 mph. Even the quarter-mile drag race stats are impressive: 11.5 seconds with a trap speed of 119 mph. As impressive as the numbers are, the SUV feels even faster, thanks no doubt to its great exhaust note and its very fine interior.

The suggested retail price for the DBX707 is $236,000, but “mine” had a number of fine options, boosting the price to $292,186. That compares favorably to the Lamborghini Urus and the Bentley Bentayga. However, at some 700 horsepower, the DBX707 leads the power parade. No wonder it’s gotten rave reviews from many.

But back to the options. As is the case with most manufacturers these days, the DBX has many color choices, each with a price tag of note. Mine was “Satin Titanium Grey,” which added $8,900, but that was the second most-expensive option on the SUV since it also had a number of the “Twill Carbon Fibre” packages: Carbon Fibre Gloss Upper Package for $9,200; Carbon Fibre and Dark Chrome Jewelry at $3,400; and Carbon Fibre Trim Inlay for $4,500.

As I love gray cars and carbon fiber, I owe a huge shout-out to the person who configured my SUV. When you add the 23-inch forged textured black wheels at $5,700 and Arden Green Metallic Leather (stunning!) at $2,800, along with a few other bits and pieces, you can see why the sticker was some $53,000 above the base. But, personally, I would have chosen all of those options too.

Looks are good, of course, but can the performance cash the checks that the DBX is writing? Abso-Aston-lutely. We already know the stats show it’s a straight-line performer. But it was a delight to discover how the DBX707 handles the “twisties.” It’s surefooted and corners really well, which is somewhat surprising since most of today’s primo handlers are e-cars with a very low center of gravity thanks to the batteries ensconced at or below the height of the axles. While the 707’s motor isn’t as heavy as the Aston V12, it’s still a force to be reckoned with, especially when the DBX is as tall as it is. I really like that the car has the ability to go almost in stealth mode and then, with the choice of the steering-wheel buttons for performance and suspension modes and the stomp of the pedal, it’s a real fire-breather.

I must admit that I was always a fan of the Aston Martin brand ― even the exhaust sound alone plays my favorite song ― but it has done a terrific job with the DBX707 in keeping the DNA of Aston’s performance, fit, finish, and sound while venturing into a whole different category of vehicles than they ever have before. Any nits or nats to mention? Not really, as I loved my time with the car and was very, very sorry to see it go back at the end of the week.

ARTISTIC LICENSE

Artist Paolo Troilo’s latest canvas is a Lamborghini Huracán EVO.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

LAMBORGHINI DEBUTED ITS LATEST ART CAR IN MILAN, a Paolo Troilo-painted Lamborghini Huracán EVO called the Minotauro (Minotaur). The work expresses the dynamism, power, and innermost emotions that the artist experienced while driving the car.

Troilo’s painting uses the representation of the male body as its defining element and as a means of communication. His work, titled “Minotauro,” owes its name to the mix of emotion and meaning that the artist experienced when he encountered Lamborghini.

Troilo completed his education at the European Institute of Design in Rome, then went on to study arts and architecture at the University of Florence. His work has been exhibited in numerous cities like Singapore, San Francisco, Istanbul, New York, Milan, Rome, Palermo, Florence, and more.

“It was inspiring to meet Paolo Troilo and his artistic expressiveness. In our company, we are accustomed to art and how it has always influenced our cars,” commented Christian Mastro, marketing director at Automobili Lamborghini. “However, when our product and the emotions it brings come together with the sensibilities of an artist like Troilo, something different and exceptionally unique like ‘Minotauro’ is created, and we are very proud of this.”

The creator pays tribute to the Huracán EVO by depicting a fusion between man, and the bull symbol of Automobili Lamborghini. The fusion is inspired by the concept of myth expressed in the indomitable — supernatural and almost animalistic. The artist tactfully plays with the anatomy and myth that there are many similarities like the clenched fists on the front hood that resemble a bull’s horns.

“Time. I am enamoured with the idea of slowness, and I have always championed it as a key to pleasure, culture, beauty, and success. But there are some encounters that change you,”explained Troilo. “Seeing the Lamborghini Huracán EVO and trying it out suggested to me that there are also things capable of releasing the same energy with acceleration, with speed, with momentum. I heard the sound of the wind picking up as the space narrowed and time distorted: I felt a flowing wind and used it to paint on the muse itself, the inspiration of these emotions: the Huracán, my Minotauro.”

The Huracán EVO painted by Troilo, along with some of the artist’s other works, was displayed at Palazzo Serbelloni at Corso Venezia, 16 in Milan from November 4 to 13. This display was a part of the “TROILO-MILANO SOLO ANDATA” (TROILO-MILAN ONE WAY) exhibition, curated by Luca Beatrice.

100 years of Maybach

Mercedes-Maybach celebrates their 100th anniversary with the world premiere of the limited anniversary series Edition 100.

BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

WILHELM AND KARL MAYBACH WERE REGARDED AS gifted designers, trailblazers of the automotive luxury industry. Pioneers in matters of style, the duo created highly complex things with a simple-sounding formula. They paired perfection and craftsmanship with innovation, technically and in terms of quality — that is what Maybach is today. This year has been notable for the company as they mark their 100th anniversary and launched a special edition of the current S-Class and GLS models, each limited to only 100 units. “It’s about the passionate combination of every detail, no matter how small, that makes a luxury car a Maybach — all in combination with state-of-the-art technology from MercedesBenz,” says Philipp Schiemer, head of top-end vehicle group Mercedes-Benz AG and CEO Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “Every Mercedes-Maybach stands for sophisticated luxury in all its facets — for our customers who are looking for something very special.” The top-class GLS SUV will feature a V8 engine with 557 hp. With a sporty appearance, it has a luxury saloon that is 33 centimeters higher than the classic saloon and offers a generous 1.10 meters of legroom and air suspension. The interior of this SUV is not only soundproofed but also adorned with the finest leather. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class luxury saloon will come with a V12 engine and 612 hp. The perfect chauffeur-driven saloon, this vehicle includes heat and massage functions for the seats, a noise-insulated rear compartment, and high-tech infotainment. This model has an 18-centimeter longer wheelbase than its previous long-wheelbase S-Class and comes with the first-time ever all-wheel drive. Both models possess characteristic Maybach hallmarks like the brand emblem on the impressive radiator grille. Both the S-Class and GLS are hand-painted in the same two tones – hightech silver/nautical blue, and feature a special design of the leather interior in crystal white/silver grey pearl. The brand logo also includes the inscription Edition 100 that adorns the C-pillar (S-Class) or D-pillar (GLS). The interiors also have various storage compartments and illuminated panels.

The brand aims to provide a complete luxury experience, and the vehicle is furnished with a car cover with the iconic double M. The package also includes an exemplary handmade case made of soft crystal white or black leather to store keys and papers. There is also a special series diamond-studded fountain pen from the Maybach the Peak collection. To add to the anniversary edition, yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking offers heat and massage functions for the seats.

The Edition 100 will be available in the first markets from the beginning of 2022. Orders for the limited special series will be open from the fourth quarter of 2021.