It’s Friday. It’s six o’clock. It’s time to down tools, pour yourself a drink and look back at what A Prodigal Week it has been. Here’s your bite-sized helping of news and views.
CARS
Perfection
The Hermès collaboration with Rolls-Royce caught my eye - it is stunning - but you won’t be surprised to hear that I can’t get too excited about it. No, the future of motoring is electric and, this week, Porsche released what is quite simply the most compelling electric vehicle ever made. It’s as close to perfect as you can buy today.
By putting an estate body on the already hugely impressive Taycan, Porsche has added just enough practicality - not to mention rugged good looks - as to make this thing irresistible.
Since my Audi S4 then RS6 days, I’ve always loved a fast estate. To me, there’s nothing more exciting than combining utilitarian looks and practicality with ferocious performance. And that’s exactly what the Taycan Cross Turismo delivers. But unlike my twin-turbo, Lamborghini V10-powered RS6 that used to guzzle petrol as if the world was running out of it (wait a minute…), the Taycan is electric so you can have all of that cool, all of that performance and, you know, a planet to leave our kids too. Don't take my word for it though, listen to Rory:
GADGETS
Samsung takes a shot at Apple
Mashable’s reporting this week on Samsung’s new Galaxy Book Pro asks “Ever wish you could fold your MacBook Pro in half and use it as a tablet?” I certainly never have. But there are plenty who do crave that functionality and if you’re one of those weirdos, it looks like Samsung has really delivered.
WATCHES
Watchmaking is coming home
Although I briefly toyed with the idea of showcasing IWC’s new Cyberloupe, the watch news of the week - as reported by my friend Robin Swithinbank in GQ - has to be that British watch brand Bremont has finally opened its long awaited UK watchmaking facility, The Wing.
I remember first meeting Bremont founders Nick and Giles English at Baselworld ten years ago. And when I say “at Baselworld”, I actually mean in a rather small hotel room across the road from Baselworld because that’s where the plucky upstart brand had, with unashamedly guerrilla tactics, set-up shop for the week. Laid-back, unpretentious and with a passionate story to tell, it was hard not to like them instantly. And, even back then, their pitch always culminated in an ambitious vision: to re-establish mass watchmaking in the UK.
While British watch nerds continue to eagerly anticipate Bremont’s first in-house movement, this hugely impressive manufacturing facility nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside brings us a massive step closer. Bravo, Giles and Nick. You deserve your halos - although Giles looks like his has slipped a little.
In case you missed it…
⌚️ In the latest Prodigal Persiflage podcast, I talk to Eric Drosin about the dangerous, murky waters of vintage Rolex collecting. It’s a riveting tale of bravery, treachery and a perfectly-coiffed rascal of a watch dealer.
Have a listen >
📱 Apple’s Spring Loaded event didn’t deliver any big surprises but it did impress with the little things.
Read our take >
⌚️ Watches & Wonders 2021 was a very mixed bag. Eric and I sat down to chew it all over. The result is our first Prodigal Persiflage podcast: some joy, some jolts, a little jousting.
Have a listen >
Welcome to the weekend, folks.