DRIVEN
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Prime Time
By Kym Allison Backer
In the market for an uber-luxe ride? There’s no beating these two stunners . Brand: Rolls Royce Driven By: T.I., Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Floyd Mayweather This model: Ghost Extended Wheelbase Cost: $296,000
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ere’s what happens when you drive a Rolls Royce Ghost (13 city, 21 highway mpg). You hit the keyless entry, and stand googly-eyed as the legendary Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament rises swiftly and smoothly (and retracts when the engine is turned off). You check out the gleaming grille and walk around, at least two times, just to marvel at the sheer beauty of the exterior lines. You open the door and slide into the padded, monogrammed leather seats and…you’ll just sit there for a minute. If you’re behind the wheel, check out the burled wood and gleaming chrome accents and dials that frame the steering wheel, extend into the center console and highlight
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the doors. If you’re all about the Hollywood lifestyle and are being chauffeured around town, take in the old-world glamour of the famous, rear-hinged coach doors as you sink into the capacious dimensions of the rear passenger space, complete with such standard or optional touches as picnic tables, Tefloncoated umbrellas accessible by the mere touch of a button and a panoramic sunroof. With the extended wheelbase, you can be forgiven for thinking that this is a ponderous, stately grande dame. Stately, yes, but in motion, the 563-hp engine, silent as, yes, a ghost, is a fast thrill with a sporty heart, keeping pace and out-distancing other sportier, high-end rides.
MARCH 2014 upscalemagazine.com
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2/6/14 12:55 PM
Brand: Bentley Driven By: Sean Kingston, Mel B, Ludacris, Kenya Moore This model: Continental GTC Cost: $218,500
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entley could school would-be competitors on how to maintain charter membership in the uber-exclusive category of both old-money status symbol and new-money appeal. They could, but why should they? The tactical introduction of such sporty picks as the Continental GT has secured Bentley’s place in contemporary pop culture and the convertible version of the powerhouse GT, the Continental GTC (12 city, 20 highway mpg) is a scene stealer in its own right—think of it as your favorite sports car with true gravitas as it holds true to the brand’s celebrated curves and legendary heft. On the road, the 567-hp GTC’s power top folds in seconds, and saves me from more than a few sudden drizzles. Top up, even at higher speeds, the GTC’s ride is quiet and unbelievably smooth. Cold weather? The GTC has you covered with “neck warmer’ vents placed to maximize heating and heated seats, just some of the interior comforts that come standard. There’s much to admire inside the four-seater GTC, from the quality leather of the seats, complete with emblem, the contrast stitching and Breitling clock on the dash, central climate and audio controls and my favorite touch: massaging front seats. Shrinking violet? This car’s not for you. But it’s not because it’s flashy—it’s not. It’s because, from the time you turn the key in the engine and hear that roar to the moments that you effortlessly pass and put lesser machines in their place, the Bentley GTC commands attention, respect and unparalleled admiration. Warning: be prepared to return countless thumbs-ups and graciously allow photographs from gawkers throughout the day. That, as we say, falls under high-class problems. upscalemagazine.com MARCH 2014
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2/6/14 1:48 PM