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The Ultimate Cruising Machine

By Shin Takei

Autumn is the best time of the year for driving a convertible. The strong sunshine of summer is gone and a different scent permeates

the clean and crisp air.  For some of us the leaves turn color and beautiful fall scenery makes it that much appealing. What better convertible to cruise around in than a Rolls Royce Dawn?  All new this year, the Dawn is based on the same architecture as the Wraith but if you look closely many of the panels are not the same and the front is a totally new look with different bumpers and a lower grill. The car looks sleek with the top up or down and has beautiful proportions that make it a definitive Rolls Royce. The rear quarters are wider and the overall height is twice the height of the wheels. With the top up and wide C-pillars, the Dawn looks like a custom car. Powered by a 6.6 liter twin turbo V8 that produces 563 hp @5250 rpm with 605 lb-ft torque @ 1600 rpm, the Dawn is no slouch for a 5200 lb vehicle. The 8- speed ZF transmission is like the Wraith and its shift points are calculated by GPS connection anticipating the roads and curves coming ahead. All this translates to a 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The engineers have designed a rigid structure to make sure the Dawn was free from any typical convertible shake.

But that’s not all what the Dawn is about. Unlike the sportier Wraith, the Dawn is an automotive statement that you cruise and glide around in. Open the carriage doors and a sumptuous interior adorned with the best leather and book matched wood veneers available assembled by craftsmen who have been

working at the factory several generations tickle your senses. Overall quality is impeccable throughout and the attention to detail is exemplary.  The back seat is deep, roomy and comfy and is a true four passenger convertible instead of a cramped 2+2. The rear deck reminiscent of a barchetta is bespoke to the choice of the owner as the rest of the car. Particular attention has been paid to the convertible top which maintains the same silence as the fixed roof Wraith up to 35 mph. The mechanism of the top is so smooth the engineers have coined it Silent Ballet and lowers in just 22 seconds. The French-weave top contributes to the silence as it aids in aerodynamic efficiency. The Spirit of Ecstasy rotary controller is your access to the 10.3 inch screen and multi-function navigation system which is a vast improvement over previous systems.

So how does it drive? Gliding is a more appropriate word when describing the ride of the Dawn. Make no mistake, this is a German

engineered automobile built to the standards of British tradition and craftsmanship. It may be smooth as butter but it has a very stable ride and it doesn’t float or waddle so you’re not tossed around in the cabin. It’s a serene ride so you can hear the fallen leaves rustling on the pavement as you glide by smoothly and quietly. At freeway speeds, the Dawn is rock solid and there are no dramas. The 16 speaker Bespoke Audio has been engineered to give the best sound experience with the top up or down. At home in Beverly Hills, Monte Carlo, San Trope, Lake Cuomo or anywhere else, the Dawn is an automobile you want to show off and be seen in. It commands a presence like no other.

You don’t need the Starlight Headliner, an option on closed roof models because you can look above and see the real thing. As Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars quoted: Like Eleanor Thornton, thought by many to be the inspiration behind the Spirit of Ecstasy, the Rolls-Royce Dawn will itself prove to be the muse that leads its owner to believe that at the start of the day, anything is possible.”

For more information, please visit www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

INFINITI QX30 SPORT

by Vaughn Lowery × Anthony Sovinsky

It’s a Mercedes, it’s a hatchback; no, it’s the Infiniti QX30 Sport crossover vehicle! There’s no coincidence that the new Infiniti QX30 Sport could be mistaken for its Mercedes-like design; we are merely witnessing the fruits of a flourishing partnership between Infiniti’s parent companies, Renault-Nissan and Mercedes Benz’s parent company, Daimler AG.

Closely resembling Mercedes-Benz GLA Class crossover, the QX30 shares the same DNA – engine, transmission, chassis and some interior pieces but with an Infiniti twist – performance. Powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine manufacturing 208 horsepower and 258 pound-ft torque to the front wheels with a 7-speed automatic dual clutch transmission; yep, you’re in an Infiniti. The sport model coming 15mm lower to the earth featuring 19″ aluminium alloy wheels and cross drilled front brake rotors which provide the car with stop-and-go agility from approaching a corner at high speeds to quickly braking in traffic.

The cabin complements the sporty soul of this crossover vehicle with Mercedes influenced in-dash system and transmission/shift control staying true to the Infiniti marquee. The seat controls, AC controls, key fob and the TFT information screen between the gages on the cluster are all Mercedes Benz. However, Infiniti went a step further with race-inspired zero gravity seats, reducing fatigue by up to 30% by evenly distributing the driver’s body weight, centering all passengers while accelerating through corners.

At $43,735.00, the Infiniti QX30 Sport marks its territory as one of the most nimble and well-appointed vehicles within its market segment. The perfect luxury entry-level SUV for a millennial dwelling in a metropolis with friends and perhaps a toddler in tow.

#360Recommended

InfinitiUSA.com

BFGoodrich Social Handles

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360 Magazine Q&A with BFGoodrich Performance team member Andrew Comrie-Picard

Tell me about your background as a stunt driver…your most notable movies/shows etc.? Anything new and exciting coming up?

• For four years on Top Gear USA, I did most of the exotic car precision driving, which means I got to drive all the best supercars in anger. So much better than a real job!  I drove an Aston Martin Vantage V12 wide open drifting on a dry lakebed, Lamborghini Aventador SV-670 in a bullring, Mercedes AMG SLS sideways between airport hangers. These are the things stunt guys dream of and I got to do all of them. I’ve done a number of features but probably the most exciting is “Atomic Blonde” which is out in theatres July 28. Any film has a huge team of people making it possible, but I was lucky to work with the hero, Charlize Theron. I’m also hosting a new car build/stunt show on Discovery Channel airing April 17 at 10pm called “Car Saviors.” We put a 600hp Hemi in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and I drift it with VIPs in the back seat…Did I mention this is better than a real job?

Why do you think stunt drive/car movies are so popular?

• Not everyone jumps off buildings or gets into technical MMA fights but everyone (more or less) can drive. I think the car stunts seem closer to reality. It’s not like everyone thinks they could do that insane drift or that big jump, but it’s the same steering wheel and pedals for everyone. If that guy can do it… hold my beer.

Top things we can do to upgrade our vehicles to access timely performance like stunt pro drivers such as yourself (safely)?

• Stunt people are cowboys for sure, but we’re always trying to control whatever we can to ensure safety. Equipment is crucial. The most important piece of equipment on a car is the tires. Any time we set up a gag on a film we’re thinking about the type of tire, the pressure we’re running it at and how it’s going to behave. For a long time I have only used BFGoodrich tires whenever I can. The Rolls Royce on “Car Saviors” has a set of BFGoodrich g-force™ Sport Comp-2™ tires on it. I know BFGoodrich tires not only have a super high level of grip but that they are predictable on the limit. We call the way a tire communicates at the limit its “progressivity” and BFGoodrich is better than anyone there. The new Advantage T/A® Sport and g-Force™ Comp-2™ A/S are both amazing for handling any conditions with total predictability.

What are you top 3 favorite stunt/car movies of all time?

• What a great question. For raw car stunts, you can’t beat Frankenheimer directing “Ronin.” The opposing traffic stuff wasn’t choreographed, it was just happening. I later got to work with Jean Reno and it blew my mind. I have a real weakness for the campy and European stuff, so the original 1998 Luc Besson “Taxi” and the original 2002 “The Transporter” with Jason Statham are awesome. For American films, the first “Fast and the Furious” directed by Rob Cohen still holds up, and I worked with Rob later too. By far the best car movie of all time is the 1966 “Grand Prix”, also directed by Frankenheimer whom I wish I could have met. Today, I think David Leitch is one of the most exciting action directors, since he comes from stunt work himself (“John Wick”) and he directs the upcoming “Atomic Blonde.” So I’m going to say “Atomic Blonde,” since I worked on that!

What’s in your garage now?

• It’s a riot in there. I have a 1967 MGB, 1967 MG Midget, 1972 Jaguar E-Type, 1982 Porsche 928, 2013 VW GTI, and the jewel in the crown, the “widowmaker” 1982 Porsche 930 Turbo, a real icon. All have BFGoodrich tires holding on to the ground.