Author: quannd
In a press announcement issued by the Studio ESSECI press office, authorities have discovered lost pieces of the Golden Tree of Lucignano, a grandiose reliquary created by the famous Sienese goldsmith, Gabriello d’Antonio. The reliquary is considered one of the finest masterpieces of Italian goldsmithing, which is a morphological tripartition (roots, trunk, foliage) and contains the metaphor of the life of Christ in the three different phases: origin, passion, and glory. Measuring 2.70 metres in height, it was created in two stages between 1350 and 1471 from gilded copper, silver and enamel, and features branches decorated with coral, crystals and…
Archaeologists and historians from prominent institutions in Spain and Italy have recently published their findings on five ancient dugout canoes retrieved from La Marmotta, an Italian archaeological site nestled in the Mediterranean basin. Through comprehensive scientific analysis, the researchers determined that these vessels date back over 7,000 years, marking them as the earliest Neolithic boats discovered in the area. The significance of these earliest Neolithic boats goes beyond mere antiquity. Not only do they provide insights into ancient maritime practices, but they also underscore the remarkable ingenuity and maritime prowess of ancient civilizations. With their robust construction and evident seaworthiness, these…
Aston Martin on Friday named Adrian Hallmark as its new CEO. Hallmark is currently CEO of Bentley and will start the new position at Aston Martin no later than Oct. 1. Bentley said in its own statement that it will name a successor for Hallmark in due course. Aston Martin’s current CEO is Amedeo Felisa, a Ferrari veteran who held the CEO role at Maranello at one point. He was hired in 2022 to replace former AMG CEO Tobias Moers, who took on the CEO role at Aston Martin in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Moers failed to…
Believe it or not, the 2012 Volvo C30 hatchback is essentially a 10 year old design. Several years before the C30 hit the streets, Volvo revealed a striking concept called the Safety Concept Car (SCC) to the motoring press in 2001, previewing several new technologies that would eventually be seen across the Volvo range and many other cars besides. Concept cars are revealed for many reasons – previewing the style of future vehicles, testing the water for new technology or simply to create a buzz at an auto show. The SCC did all three, but with Volvo’s safety track record…
Aston Martin has been spotted testing its successor to the DBS for the first time. Unlike the DB12 and new Vantage, both of which feature designs clearly evolved from their respective predecessor models, the DBS successor, which is rumored to revive the Vanquish nameplate, appears to be a substantially new design. At the front, there’s an even wider intake than what’s found on the DBS, a model that originally debuted in 2018 as the DBS Superleggera. The headlights appear to follow a similar theme to the lights used on the DB12 and new Vantage, and a conventional hood appears to…
Mini’s redesigned Cooper hatchback starts sales later this year as a 2025 model, though only the gas-powered version will reach the U.S. initially. Timing for the electric version hasn’t been announced but it will likely be in 2026, when production of the EV starts at Mini’s U.K. plant. Currently the EV is built exclusively in China. The gas version was revealed in February, but only in base and Cooper S grades. The high-performance John Cooper Works grade is still out testing and we have fresh spy shots of a prototype. Clear giveaways that this is a JCW include the extra…
A pair of historic Mopar convertibles will be among the featured lots at Mecum Auctions’ upcoming sale in Kissimmee, Florida. Offered as a set, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible and 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda convertible are very early pilot production cars. That makes them among the first examples of the Chrysler E-Body platform, which debuted for the 1970 model year underpinning the first-generation Challenger and second-generation Plymouth Barracuda (sportier versions got the shortened ‘Cuda name). 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible pilot car (photo via Mecum Auctions) The cars up for auction are believed to be the second Challenger convertible built and…
Kim Mulkey, coach of Louisiana State University’s women’s basketball, has a formula for success. Her teams have won four national titles and counting. One of her motivators through the years has been to lead her players with a chip on her shoulder — and theirs. That combativeness worked less well for her as The Washington Post readied an in-depth profile. In advance and sight unseen she described it as a “hit piece,” said reporter Kent Babb was “sleazy” and threatened to sue. The piece dropped over the weekend, coinciding with the last stages of the NCAA championship tournament. The first thing…
Gasoline prices rising ahead of holiday weekend Source: www.goodmorningamerica.com
Mercedes-Benz has been spotted testing a prototype for its next CLA-Class, and the design looks to be a close match to the lines of the handsome Concept CLA-Class unveiled last fall. The new compact sedan is due around 2025 and will offer buyers a choice between hybrid and fully electric powertrains. France’s Alpine will soon launch its A290 hot hatch. It will be the first electric vehicle from a brand that plans to enter the U.S. around 2027 starting with a pair of crossovers. Liberty Media, which already owns Formula 1, is set to acquire MotoGP in a deal valued…