Leisure - Ranch & Coast

Jaguar's New XK Is A Terrific Competitor Jaguar's new ad campaign seems to portray the company and its products as gorgeous, although its executives quickly point out what they really mean is a metaphor for the lifestyle of Jaguar buyers. In my view, this marketing strategy seems to reduce the very competent XK to a fashion object, and that's too bad. Because both the new coupe and convertible models are outstanding products. A major change for the new XK is moving from steel to aluminum structure like its XJ sibling. The added structural strength pays dividends in comfort and poise, while the lighter weight helps produce class-leading fuel economy. Chief designer Ian Callum has created new bodywork that connects with the past, yet creates a more athletic stance and a bit of tension in its new shape. The new bodywork allowed Callum and his team to create additional interior space, so now even tall drivers fit in both the coupe and top-up convertible. And when the convertible top is lowered, it disappears underneath a hard cover. The interior also started from a clean sheet of paper and the benefits are immediately apparent. The gear selector remains in the lower counsel, but looses the awkward 'J' pattern with its nearly imperceptible gear selections. Now, a conventional pattern is present with a new 'J' motion to the left to select sport mode. If you wish to do your own shifting, paddles are mounted on the steering wheel to select the most appropriate gear from the six available. In sport mode, the shifts are a bit crisper but are well short of harsh or abrupt. Jaguar designers and engineers spent a lot of time with the user interface to find the most intuitive system. Twist and click schemes with layers of menus were discarded in favor of a new touch screen video interface to access all the audio, climate, and navigation sub systems. Basic stereo and climate functions are accessed directly. The combination is quite user friendly, a feat that has alluded German luxury brands. The XK doesn't live by looks alone. It's a quick, agile performer that balances sports car attributes with luxury. The alloy V8 awakes with a push of a red starter button and answers the call with a mellow growl. At aggressive throttle inputs, the growl increases to a mellow howl to speak with more authority, but quiets down when the throttle is lifted. The independent suspension is tuned to take advantage of the big 19 and optional 20-inch wide tires, as well as the higher structural stiffness. The Jaguar is nicely balanced and capable of aggressive driving without getting its fur ruffled, and big brakes with solid pedal feedback control the car nicely. So call it gorgeous, glamorous, good looking, glitzy or your very own G-word, the new XK can live up to its curb appeal. - Brian Douglas ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LG 71PY10 The Big Picture How large can they make plasma televisions? LG's answer is the 71PY10, measuring in at a whopping 71 inches, the largest of its kind on the market right now. Throw the new King Kong DVD in this puppy and you'll be seeing the big monkey in his actual size (I'm referring to the gorilla, not Jack Black). The system, which debuted at CeBIT in Germany a few months ago, features full HD (1920 x 1080) while utilizing both HDMI and SCART technology - which means it gathers together various analog signals into a single signal so you can easily hook up components like gaming systems and DVD players. Surround sound comes in the form of a 600W cinema system with integrated display facilities for viewing digital photos and MP3 track playback. To further prove their point that this is the new must-have tv, they built a display model, coated in 24-karat gold, which is housed at Harrods iGallery. All told, the gold trim weighs in at a staggering four pounds, costing some $122,000. But the non-gold 71PY10 giant plasma screen will run you less than that, somewhere in the realm of $87,000. (www.lge.com) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bed And Bentley In an increasing trend of combining luxury automobiles and accommodations, the Lowell Hotel New York is offering a 2006 Bentley Flying Spur for its guests. While driving it solo is not an option, the Bentley Flying Spur and a chauffeur can be booked through the hotel's concierge for $450 per hour with a four-hour minimum, making for a most joyful jaunt through the city and surrounds. The Lowell New York Hotel has 47 suites and 23 deluxe rooms with prices starting at $495 and going up to $7,500 for a three-bedroom penthouse with a conservatory. The hotel features a variety of posh amenities including Frette robes, a mini bar stocked by Dean and Deluca, full-size Bvlgari bathroom amenities, and iPods with docking stations. (212/838-1400, www.lowellhotel.com) - Ann Radcliffe
		Specifications Type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive Engine: 4.2-liter DOHC-V8 Horsepower: 300 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 310 foot-pounds @ 4,100 rpm Base Price: $75,500 As Tested: $81,500 Fuel Economy: 18 city/ 26 highway

		iMoving And Shaking You can't spit these days without hitting a gadget that works in conjunction with the iPod. Considering that, I almost never include iPod peripherals in this column. But I saw this, and thought, you know, it actually is quite a useful peripheral, especially since the 16-35-year-old iPod-toting demographic is sure to be hitting the beach this month. And until now, the iPod only worked on the beach if you used earphones. Memorex's iMove, however, simulates the days of boom boxes by accepting any generation iPod along with Nanos, the iPod photo, and the Mini. Just about any other device with an auxiliary input (i.e. iPod knockoffs) can be plugged into its auxiliary port. Thankfully, it does have an AM/FM tuner and SRS WOW sound enhancement, and can be charged up from your car or boat's cigarette lighter. Eight D batteries or a good old wall outlet work just as well. Whenever the iPod is docked in a charging iMove, it will charge as well. At only $100, it's sure to outsell the other boom box player on the market, the iBoom. Find it in most electronic retail stores like Wal-Mart and Best Buy this summer. (www.memcorpinc.com) - Ryan Thomas

		Raising The Wine Bar You've probably heard of having beer on tap...but how about wine? New from EuroCave, the Vin Au Verre is a sleek stainless steel refrigerated serving unit that lets you pour from eight bottles of wine at once, while keeping each one fresh - it uses nitrogen to replace wine that has been drawn off, thus preserving the bottles for up to three weeks. One side of the unit is dedicated to whites, and the other to reds (so, in truth, you're limited to four of each). Each side can be separately set to the proper temperature control for each color. It's a pretty straightforward unit that some oenophiles are sure to mock, but chances are more people will see it for the clever device it is and use it for wine-tasting parties. Lofts with little room for big wine coolers will also benefit from its compact design. At roughly only three feet high and two and a half feet wide, it would fit snuggly in most home bars, or even just on the counter in the kitchen. $4,495. (www.eurocave.com) - Ryan Thomas


		GrandLuxe Rail: Mexican Adventure By Railway If you've ever dreamed of seeing the beauty of the ancient world by rail, then this is the tour you've been waiting for. GrandLuxe Rail Journeys will debut a nine-day/eight-night itinerary beginning in October. Starting in El Paso, Texas, each tour will traverse the famed Copper Canyon, visit San Miguel de Allende, touch the Pacific Ocean in Mazatlan, with a stop in Guadalajara, and explore the pyramids of Teotihuacan. With fine dining, private cabins, and superlative service, prices begin at $4,190 per person. Each stop will include your choice of activities to enhance the experience - from visiting ancient pyramids to golfing on the sandy Pacific coast. Dates vary. (800/320-4206, www.grandluxerail.com) - Nickolas Cook