Page 80 - Sharp Winter 2024

Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class
The condo-dweller award for excellence in compact luxury
LUXURY CARS DON’T NEED TO BE HUGE.
In fact, if you live in a condo with a tight parking garage, or if you regularly drive downtown, having a smaller car that can zip through gaps in traffic and take shortcuts is a luxury in its own right. We’re happy, then, to see that Benz understands this. And the luxury German marque is teasing an entirely new line of all-electric compact cars with its Concept CLA Class. It’s a beautiful thing, obviously, but that smaller size doesn’t mean it skimps on the specs. The cabin is controlled by the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) and the carmaker claims that its new electric drivetrain will offer 800-volt rapid charging (400 kilometres in 15 minutes) with a range of up to 750 km. If they do manage to pack all of that into a sub-compact EV, it’ll be a true game changer.
AUTO
TAG Heuer Carrera
80 WINTER 2024
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Bamford
A watch to celebrate a titan of motorsport
THE HIGH-OCTANE SWISS WATCHMAKER PARTNERED
with Japan’s Team Ikuzawa and British Bamford to create this clean, limited-edition Carrera chronograph earlier this year. Paying homage to Tetsu Ikuzawa, a racing driver from Tokyo whose illustrious career has left an indelible mark on motorsport, the boldly asymmetric design features a white opaline dial, punchy red detailing and rhodium-plated indexes and hands. Finished with the team logo, it’s a fitting tribute to a truly excellent racer. $6,300 USD.
2024 Nissan GT-R
The modern classic award for being a bonafide legend
IT’S BACK! WELL, ACTUALLY, IT NEVER LEFT. BELIEVE IT OR
not, the current R35-generation GT-R was unveiled back in 2007, and has been in production since 2009. These days, it’s considered a classic — albeit one you can buy with a new warranty. And that the GT-R can still melt drivers’ faces with its sheer grip and speed speaks to just how ahead of its curve it was back in the day. A “supercar, for anyone, anywhere, anytime” remains a novel idea and, for 2024, Nissan has given its flagship a tasteful redesign to keep things fresh, including a dash of “Midnight Purple” paint as a throwback to previous GT-Rs. So what if its interior is starting to look a little dated? The GT-R is a classic, and we’d recommend you
scoop one up while you still can.
SPECS ENGINE: 3.8-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V6 POWER: 565 HORSEPOWER PRICE: $157,498
Team Ikuzawa by