Images by Hayden Povey
There are angry SUVs and then there is the BMW XM Label. The former tends to apologise for their size by trying to look athletic or vaguely restrained. The latter makes no such effort. It arrives like it already owns the road and the minerals beneath it. Vast, square-shouldered, ostentatiously illuminated and absolutely certain of its own importance.
There was a time when an Audi RS model announced itself with little more than a swollen set of wheel arches and the faint whiff of mischief. Now it arrives armed with a charging cable, a 400-volt electrical system and enough computing power to run a modest space programme.
This is the new Audi RS 5, Audi Sport’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid and it produces a faintly ridiculous 470 kW, or 630 bhp in old money. Which is to say, quite a lot.
There’s something rather amazing, it has to be said, in a few hours to be air-lifted from one season to another, to override providence, to jump 20 degrees in temperature, to swap a dull, grim cloudy rain-sodden day for a bright, sun-drenched, wonderfully warm climate. How good to sleep deeply to the sound of waves with their own rhythmic heartbeat crashing or lapping and the gentle tinkering from a forest of masts.
We were recently invited to join Harley-Davidson in Malaga to ride some of the new “Limited” range of motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson boasts a rich and fascinating history, one that elegantly interweaves a celebrated American industrial dynasty with the golden age of the open road and vital service during two World Wars. Originally conceived in a humble wooden shed in Milwaukee, the marque has blossomed into one of the world's most prominent purveyors of luxury two-wheeled travel.
In an era of relentless electronic advancement and razor-sharp, robotic aesthetics, the true joy of motorcycling often feels diluted, traded for blinding speed and digital complexity. Yet, when we speak of excellence, that sublime intersection of heritage, mechanical theatre, and modern refinement, Suzuki has delivered a masterstroke with the GSX-8T and GSX-8TT.
There are few rosé houses in Provence that manage to combine poise, pedigree and a genuine sense of place quite like Sainte Marguerite en Provence.
A new one-of-a-kind London experience opened this weekend in the north of the city: officially the UK's highest roof walk, rising 130 metres above sea level.
‘Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure’ takes you to very top of Alexandra Palace on a fully guided climb, and rewards you with spectacular panoramic views of the capital in every direction, encompassing 28 of the 32 London boroughs, and even surrounding counties like Hertfordshire and Kent.
Cupid may have his arrows, but I’ve always preferred a well‑aimed cork. This Valentine’s Day, forget the clichés and reach for something that actually makes your heart beat faster — great wine. From South African sparkle to French finesse and Rioja romance, here’s your cheat sheet to bottles guaranteed to impress. Flowers fade… but good wine is forever.
Wiltshire Roads, Cold Mornings & Electric Surprises
Images by Hayden Povey
On the whole, cars have an extraordinary habit of encouraging somewhat unrealistic behaviour. The marketeers will almost certainly suggest that ownership could, at any moment, lead to paragliding, wakeboarding or something faintly instructional involving ropes, karabiners and a face mounted GoPro.
