Baby boomers around the world drive for many reasons but as retirement edges closer, many of them are looking for a more pleasurable set of wheels.

Discerning drivers will be happy to be reminded that Rolls-Royce, the venerable British car maker, has a new toy in store for them, it’s the six-speed automatic and extensively featured Phantom Drophead Coup?©.

The design team drew part of its inspiration for this “maritime themed” car from the classic 1930s J-class racing yachts which happened to be the fastest of their time. Like the Drophead Coup?©, these vessels possesed a combination of ability, versatility and fitness for purpose, not to mention downright beautiful.

If you like listening to the rain pattering on a cloth hood, you’ll like the idea behind Rolls Royce’s decision to opt for a soft-top instead of a more widely offered folding metal roof. The goals of honesty and integrity in the design process were paramount so this particular decision came naturally as the car stands to be a true coup?© and not “yet another” convertible.

The design team also found it important for the styling to give a clear hint at the Phantom Drophead Coup?©’s performance. That’s why the front of the car is more rakish and the radiator grille bears a rather streamlined shape.

Of course, it’s instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce but this new face embodies a modern, dynamic spirit while retaining the confidence and grandeur that has characterised the car maker for more than a century.

Another striking feature on this luxurious car’s face are its headlights which incorporate LED technology. These slim line sidelights add drama and expression to the Drophead Coup?©‚Äôs face.

Passengers can enter and exit the car in style, thanks to the unique and spectacular rear-hinged doors, which were pioneered in the Phantom. It takes a while to get used to these doors but, once you get used to them, they’re just as functional as “regular” doors, especially when using the automatic door-closing mechanism.

As you’d expect from the latest member of the Phantom family, the heart of this car is an all-aluminium 6749 cc V12 engine. Using some the most sophisticated engine technology available, including direct petrol injection, variable valve control and variable camshaft timing, it produces a maximum power output of 453 bhp at 5350 rpm and torquewise, 531 lb ft at 3500 rpm, all Rolls-Royce’s peerless refinement and unmatched drivability.

Tuned to deliver Rolls-Royce’s legendary ‘waftability’, this powerful engine gives 75% of its maximum torque at just 1000rpm while the remaining 25% arrives in one (sustained) linear stream, as the driver squeezes the throttle.

At just over 400,000$, the 2008 the Phantom Drophead Coup?© is different but in all fairness, it a good kind of different.

Tags: rolls-royce, phantom coupe, luxury car, waftability, powerful engine

Tourists from all over the world love Fort Lauderdale, FL for its awe-inspiring miles of blue waterways, soft golden sands and gentle ocean breezes.

Add a St. Regis Resort to the mix of already diverse hotels, arts as well as entertainment offerings and things get even more interesting, in this coastal paradise.

The St. Regis in Fort Lauderdale is presented as the ultimate haven of style on Florida’s Gold Coast. With the Hollywood Beach and the Downtown Riverwalk nearby, that’s quite a pitch but with unimpeded views of the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, this ultra luxury resort definitely takes the legendary St. Regis lifestyle to the beach.

Demanding guests will be happy to learn that the seaside elegance of the St. Regis’ rooms is mainly the work of famed interior designers, Hirsch Bedner Associates.

The 187 guest rooms, including 8 oceanfront and 20 Intracoastal suites, are designed to evoke the glamorous era of vintage yachting and luxe travel.

For most tourists looking to enjoy their stay in Fort Lauderdale, the resort’s irresistible combination of pampering, fitness and relaxation is their ticket to a pleasant stay. Pool side, beach side, at the spa or out boating and fishing, St. Regis’ guests may well experience the ultimate in sun-drenched Floridian luxury and style, in a 100% smoke-free environment.

Many visitors head to Fort Lauderdale for a well deserved spa day or even a day cruise but there’s a lot more to do. Families can visit the area’s museums to explore acclaimed art, culture, science and history exhibits. Taking the local bus is also a smart alternative, when staying at the St. Regis.

The glamorous energy of this South Floridian city provides a nice counterpoint to the wide ribbons of pristine sandy beaches (hence, the Gold Coast) which are perfect for beachcombing, sunbathing and a fabulous array of water sports.

Tags: st. regis, fort lauderdale, hotel, resort, florida, gold coast, beach, sand, spa

Located a mere 30 minutes south of sunny San Diego, just before entering the Mexican city of Rosarito, the Trump Baja Ocean Resort lets you enjoy the Pacific ocean waves in a breathtaking coastal setting.

The Trump Baja resort banks on it’s enviable location in Mexico’s North Baja to lure the rich Southern Californians into buying their share of this condo-hotel project for roughly 250k$, instead of over 750k$ for an equivalent oceanfront property, North of the border.

What makes this particular high-rise towers and resort development so interesting is that it stands to be the first such property along the North Baja peninsula to combine luxury resort amenities and services with premier “Trump-style” real estate ownership.

The world-class design team for this project, dubbed the Punta Bandera and featuring 400 meters of ocean frontage, is led by Guerin Glass Architects in New York and HOK in Mexico City.

Donald J Trump and Irongate are ahead of what’s expected to be a real estate stampede in the area and for rich folks looking for an income-generating vacation home (thanks to S&P Destination Properties’ services), it’s allegedly a good time to jump in a oceanfront resort project like this one.

Consistent with other Trump properties, this resort is set to cater to owners and guests (read: tourists) with a collection of amenities typically found at luxury resorts.

Features of the Trump Baja Resort are expected to include an owner’s concierge, lobby bar & lounge, pool house bar & cafeÃÅ, fine dining restaurant, infinity edge resort pool, lap and family pools, a spa, fitness center, tennis courts and walking trails.

Nearby, the cool activities abound, namely fine dining, outdoor sports, deep sea fishing and wine shopping in the Valley de Guadalupe, home of the land mark Adobe Guadalupe which is reminescent of Napa, in its early stages.

The first condo-hotel tower should be finished by year end and two more towers should be built within a few years, depending on how fast they’re sold to their new owners. In other words, if you’re looking to buy a luxurious condo in this sunny Mexican retreat, you still can.

With real estate prices in Southern California going through the roof, people are looking South of the border for a little financial relief. This is expected to fuel a furious realty development blitz over the next five to fifteen years where those who moved in first might see their North Baja property’s value skyrocket.

The numbers say it all — already, over 1.5 million Americans own homes, in Mexico, according to the Mexico Association of Real Estate Professionals. The group predicts this number will explode to 12 million, by 2025, as more baby boomers retire, in more affordable homes, South of the border.

For some people, this is just another condo-hotel project in a sunny destination but for others, namely those who follow the Mexican real estate rise, Trump’s Baja Resort project might be nothing short of a perfect fit.

Tags: trump baja resort, donald j trump, irongate, condo-hotel, resort, north baja, mexico

Singapore already has its fair share of tall buildings but none of them look as dazzling as the Marina Bay Sands towers.

Due to open in 2009, the Marina Bay Sands includes a waterfront promenade, a grand shopping arcade, a civic space, a museum, a few hotels, a luxurious casino and vast waterfront areas of parkland.

Dubbed, first and foremost, as a casino complex, these three 50-storey towers have been designed by Moshe Safdie (a renowned architect) for the Las Vegas Sands, a US-based casino gaming company.

Way above street-level, at the very top of the towers, will be the Sky Park. It’s a two acre public space featuring a mix of landscaped gardens, jogging routes and a posh swimming pool with an outstanding view of downtown Singapore.

This unique landmark is sure to become a favored destination for casino gamers and general tourists alike.

Tags: marina bay sands, singapore, casino, moshe safdie, towers