Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Top Ten Luxurious Houses In The world
© Hamptons International and Savills
No. 1$139 million (£75 million)Updown CourtWindlesham, England
Thanks to shifting exchange rates, Updown Court is still, it appears, the most expensive home in the world. And no wonder: The unlived-in mansion encompasses 103 rooms, five swimming pools and its own 50-seat screening room. The property oozes opulence, from the 24-carat-gold leafing on the library floor to the heated marble driveway. With your own squash court, bowling alley and tennis court, you may never need to leave--except to visit the queen at nearby Windsor Castle. It is listed with Hamptons International and Savills.
© AP No. 2
$135 millionStarwood EstateAspen, Colo.
It's a record-setting prince--er, price. Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S., has put his 95-care ranch on the market. The Starwood Ranch estate includes a 56,000-square-foot mansion with 15 bedrooms and 16 baths, several smaller buildings, stables, a tennis court and an indoor swimming pool. Listed with Joshua Saslove at Joshua & Co.
© Prudential Douglas Elliman No. 3
$125 millionMaison de L'AmitiePalm Beach, Fla.
In 2004, Donald J. Trump bought former health care executive Abe Gosman's palace, Maison de L'Amitie, at a bankruptcy auction for $41.25 million. With the refurbished version--complete with ballroom, conservatory, 100-foot-long swimming pool and 475 feet of oceanfront--he aims to set a U.S. sales record. It is listed with Dolly Lenz and Geoff Thomas at Prudential Douglas Elliman.
© Luici Real Estate Agency No. 4
$100 million Waterfront EstateIstanbul, Turkey
The fourth most expensive home in the world is in a somewhat unexpected spot. Located on three-quarters of an acre directly on the Bosphorus, this residence offers more than 30,000 square feet of opulent living space in 64 rooms. Details include gilded moldings and crystal chandeliers. The mansion has a rare quay that is nearly 200 feet long. Listed with Alp Sahin at Luici Real Estate Agency.
© Glentree Estates
No. 5 $92 million (£50 million)Toprak MansionLondon, England
When a Turkish entrepreneur builds a neoclassical palace in modern London, the result is Halis Toprak's over-the-top home. The main living space (not including staff and guest apartments) totals about 28,000 square feet, and includes twin grand staircases, four kitchens and an 80-foot-long grand salon. There is an indoor leisure complex with swimming pool, Turkish bath and sauna, and two acres of landscaped grounds. The property is being offered through Trevor Abrahmsohn at Glentree Estates.
©Coldwell Banker No. 6 (tie)
$75 millionThree PondsBridgehampton, N.Y.
Three Ponds, which encompasses more than 60 acres of Hamptons farmland, is named for its lakes. But, the lavish estate also features its own USGA-rated Rees Jones golf course, 14 gardens, a 75-foot-long swimming pool and guest house. The main house, designed by architect Allan Greenberg, has a great room with a 28-foot-high domed ceiling. It is listed with Susan Breitenbach at Allan Schneider Associates.
© Allan Schneider Associates No. 6 (tie)
$75 millionThe Portabello EstateCorona del Mar, Calif.
The triple oceanfront lot is only part of what makes the Portabello Estate so pricey. Built in 2002, the home has eight bedrooms and ten full baths in nearly 30,000 square feet of ultramodern space. The unique design resembles a nautilus shell, with a dramatic grotto surrounded by "chambers." John McMonigle at Coldwell Banker is the listing broker.
© Brown Harris Stevens No. 8
$70 millionPierre PenthouseNew York, N.Y.
Topping off one of New York's most luxurious hotels, this triplex includes the Pierre's original ballroom--now a grand salon with 20-foot-high French doors offering views over the city. Owned by investor and writer Martin Zweig, the spread has a paneled library, wine cellar, black marble staircase and marble baths. It is listed with Elizabeth Lee Sample and Brenda S. Powers at Brown Harris Stevens.
© Decker Bullock No. 9 (tie)
$65 millionLocksley HallBelvedere, Calif.
The views alone may be worth the $65 million price tag on this palace. Indeed, the six-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot home offers breathtaking views of San Francisco, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. Among its other spectacular features are herringbone floors, marble baths and front gates designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan. The property is listed with Olivia Decker at Decker Bullock.
© Coldwell Banker-Beverly Hills North No. 9 (tie)
$65 millionOceanfront Estate Malibu, Calif.
It seems a steep price for a beach house, until you see the land accompanying it. In addition to the panoramic ocean views, the flat seven-acre plot, which sits on its own bluff, offers two riding stables, a riding ring, a swimming pool and a tennis court as well as private access to the beach. The seven-bedroom estate is listed with Jan Horn and Chris Cortazzo at Coldwell Banker-Beverly Hills North.
© Warwick Properties Group No. 9 (tie)
$65 millionGold Coast MansionSan Francisco, Calif.
It's clad in French limestone and needs two more years of work. But this Gold Coast palace is certainly exclusive--you won't even get a go-see without having $800 million in the bank. The dramatic neoclassical villa was sold two years ago for $32 million; neighbors on "Billionaire's Row" include the Getty family. Warwick Properties Group is handling the listing.
10 High-Tech Luxury Cars
Audi TT Roadster 3.2 Quattro: $44,500
This car boasts a 250-horsepower six-cylinder engine, and the latest generation of Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive. In normal driving, 85% of the torque goes to the front wheels. But in heavy acceleration or extreme maneuvering, it can transfer up to 100%, front or rear. Competing all-wheel-drive systems, and even some other Audis, have a more limited range
BMW 335i Sedan: $39,675
The 335i Sedan is the first turbocharged BMW since the 1970s. It has many siblings with the same twin-turbocharged, 300-horsepower, six-cylinder engine: the all-wheel-drive 335xi Sedan, the 335i Coupe and Convertible, plus the larger 535i and 535xi Sedans, and the 535xi Sports Wagon. BMW says its high-tech engines produce more power and lower emissions than in the past, while reducing fuel consumption.
Cadillac CTS: $32,500 (Estimated)
The CTS is an all-new 2008 model, with a 304-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine. Sales start in September. The car can play music from an iPod, a memory stick, a CD, satellite radio or terrestrial radio, and play DVDs when parked. Some redundancy is inevitable, while the marketplace decides which digital formats win out, said J. Ferron, automotive partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Detroit.
Ferrari 430 Scuderia: (No pricing available)
Ferrari will unveil the 510-horsepower, V8-powered 430 Scuderia at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. That implies sales start in late 2007 or early 2008 . "Scuderia" means "a place where racehorses are kept," referring to Ferrari's prancing horse logo. The Formula One racing-style transmission in the 430 Scuderia changes gears in 60 milliseconds--in case 150 milliseconds in the "standard" F430 is too slow.
Infiniti G37: $32,000 (Estimated)
The Infiniti G37 replaces the G35 in August. High-tech options include four-wheel active steering, where the rear wheels help steer the car. For most drivers, the practical advantages of four-wheel steering are negligible. However, the G37's 3.7-liter, 330-horsepower V6 engine is a noticeable improvement over the 3.5-liter, 306-hp engine in the G35. Optional Intelligent Cruise Control maintains a set distance to the vehicle ahead.
Lexus LS600h L: $104,765
The LS600h L is a high-tech platform which, incidentally, you can drive. It even drives you, with an optional package for robotically parallel-parking itself. The car has just about every gizmo there is, including all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain. Lexus says the car produces the torque of a V12 (which is impressive), with the gas mileage of a V8 (not so much).
Land Rover LR3: $49,300
The LR3, formerly the Discovery, may look retro, but it has high-tech features that allow ordinary drivers to off-road like a pro, even in fairly extreme conditions. The base LR3 V6 SE model generates 216 horsepower. Features include electronically controlled traction control and hill-descent control, to prevent skidding. Drivers can also select settings for different surfaces: Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawling.
Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport: $37,275
The C350 Sport has a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Sales are expected to start Aug. 7. The suspension in the new C-Class gets harder in spirited driving or softer on smooth, straight roads. A valve inside each damper opens and closes, depending on how hard it gets bumped. Some competing models allow the driver to select one mode or the other, but the C-Class does it automatically
Porsche 911 GT2; (Pricing not available)
Porsche will introduce the 530-horsepower, turbocharged 911 GT2 at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The most powerful production 911 ever, it produces 50 hp more than the previous 911 GT2, yet the high-tech turbocharger in the new model also helps it achieve better gas mileage. The new GT2 also has a muffler and tailpipes made of titanium, to save weight.
Volvo XC70; (Pricing not available; sales start in October)
The redesigned XC70, with a 3.2-liter, six-cylinder engine, has safety features expected from a Volvo. The carmaker won a safety award at the New York International Auto Show this spring, for the (optional) integrated, height-adjustable booster seat in the XC70's back seat. Higher-tech solutions include more high-strength steel to protect occupants and disperse energy in a side impact, plus bigger side-curtain airbags.
This car boasts a 250-horsepower six-cylinder engine, and the latest generation of Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive. In normal driving, 85% of the torque goes to the front wheels. But in heavy acceleration or extreme maneuvering, it can transfer up to 100%, front or rear. Competing all-wheel-drive systems, and even some other Audis, have a more limited range
BMW 335i Sedan: $39,675
The 335i Sedan is the first turbocharged BMW since the 1970s. It has many siblings with the same twin-turbocharged, 300-horsepower, six-cylinder engine: the all-wheel-drive 335xi Sedan, the 335i Coupe and Convertible, plus the larger 535i and 535xi Sedans, and the 535xi Sports Wagon. BMW says its high-tech engines produce more power and lower emissions than in the past, while reducing fuel consumption.
Cadillac CTS: $32,500 (Estimated)
The CTS is an all-new 2008 model, with a 304-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine. Sales start in September. The car can play music from an iPod, a memory stick, a CD, satellite radio or terrestrial radio, and play DVDs when parked. Some redundancy is inevitable, while the marketplace decides which digital formats win out, said J. Ferron, automotive partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Detroit.
Ferrari 430 Scuderia: (No pricing available)
Ferrari will unveil the 510-horsepower, V8-powered 430 Scuderia at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. That implies sales start in late 2007 or early 2008 . "Scuderia" means "a place where racehorses are kept," referring to Ferrari's prancing horse logo. The Formula One racing-style transmission in the 430 Scuderia changes gears in 60 milliseconds--in case 150 milliseconds in the "standard" F430 is too slow.
Infiniti G37: $32,000 (Estimated)
The Infiniti G37 replaces the G35 in August. High-tech options include four-wheel active steering, where the rear wheels help steer the car. For most drivers, the practical advantages of four-wheel steering are negligible. However, the G37's 3.7-liter, 330-horsepower V6 engine is a noticeable improvement over the 3.5-liter, 306-hp engine in the G35. Optional Intelligent Cruise Control maintains a set distance to the vehicle ahead.
Lexus LS600h L: $104,765
The LS600h L is a high-tech platform which, incidentally, you can drive. It even drives you, with an optional package for robotically parallel-parking itself. The car has just about every gizmo there is, including all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain. Lexus says the car produces the torque of a V12 (which is impressive), with the gas mileage of a V8 (not so much).
Land Rover LR3: $49,300
The LR3, formerly the Discovery, may look retro, but it has high-tech features that allow ordinary drivers to off-road like a pro, even in fairly extreme conditions. The base LR3 V6 SE model generates 216 horsepower. Features include electronically controlled traction control and hill-descent control, to prevent skidding. Drivers can also select settings for different surfaces: Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawling.
Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport: $37,275
The C350 Sport has a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Sales are expected to start Aug. 7. The suspension in the new C-Class gets harder in spirited driving or softer on smooth, straight roads. A valve inside each damper opens and closes, depending on how hard it gets bumped. Some competing models allow the driver to select one mode or the other, but the C-Class does it automatically
Porsche 911 GT2; (Pricing not available)
Porsche will introduce the 530-horsepower, turbocharged 911 GT2 at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The most powerful production 911 ever, it produces 50 hp more than the previous 911 GT2, yet the high-tech turbocharger in the new model also helps it achieve better gas mileage. The new GT2 also has a muffler and tailpipes made of titanium, to save weight.
Volvo XC70; (Pricing not available; sales start in October)
The redesigned XC70, with a 3.2-liter, six-cylinder engine, has safety features expected from a Volvo. The carmaker won a safety award at the New York International Auto Show this spring, for the (optional) integrated, height-adjustable booster seat in the XC70's back seat. Higher-tech solutions include more high-strength steel to protect occupants and disperse energy in a side impact, plus bigger side-curtain airbags.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
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