This post was going to be about NYPH, The New York Photo Festival, which is taking place in DUMBO at the moment, but on our way to there for the opening night, Magnus Unnar and I stumbled upon a Lincoln Town Car.
The doors and hood were wide open and some smoke was billowing out of it. In a few seconds it started catching fire, and 5 minutes later it had become a complete burned out wreck. All the witnesses/spectators were photographers or aspiring photographers or photographers’ agents, so expect to see some pictures of this fire in a portfolio soon…

This is the first installment in a series of reports on how the automotive industry organizes launches for new cars.
When a new model comes out, most manufacturers decide to rent a hotel or venue for 2 to 3 weeks, and invite groups of journalists from around the world for a couple of days each. Obviously they tend to choose sunny and picturesque places, and there is an unspoken competition to out-do each other with the most lavish and original program.

For the launch of their new Gallardo LP 560/4, Lamborghini chose Las Vegas, and put us up in THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. Spectacular view from the bar:

The new taillights are the most noticeable design change from the previous generation Gallardo, and a great improvement I think:

Lamborghini erected a minimalist tent in a car park, in which they hosted a dinner on a specially-designed table with a catwalk running through the middle. Rather unusual for a car event. First the CEO, Stefan Winkelmann, gave us a speech, his shiny brogues only inches from our entrées:

Then we had interludes between each course, with risqué fashion shows, ninja-clad acrobats somersaulting, showgirls dancing lasciviously, and an opera singer to top it off. Lamborghini does clothes, but we only had a few seconds to look at the coats before they came off:

The morning after we all flew in a fleet of 7 Lambo-stickered helicopters to the Las Vegas Speedway:

Where we drove around the track:

I then borrowed Mr. Winkelmann’s matt black car for the rest of the day. I have been a huge fan of matt black and primer grey cars for years now, and to my knowledge this is the first time a car manufacturer offers a fully matt paint as a factory color. Simply amazing, especially on such a stealthy-looking car:

Look for a full report in the next issue of Intersection.

Then, on my final evening, I hooked up with the Las Vegas fixed gear crew and we rode the strip.. Who would have thought kids would start cycling in such a city - I guess that’s the positive side of this whole trend.

Hooked up with the multi-talented Jerome Coste and saw (and heard) his brutal Yamaha XR500.

Jerome recently launched a brand of carbon-fiber helmets, Ruby. Really nice work.

We’ve been working on a bike frame for a few months now, and while I’m waiting for the first prototype to arrive, I’m testing some of the parts on my current bike.
First bits: stem, grips and handlebars. These Sankukai bars are quite a design and manufacturing marvel. Five tubes welded together, yet extra rigid and strong (they’re made for Dirt MTB).
Plus they’re fluorescent yellow.

I finally managed to pass by Xavier Veilhan’s newly completed office/workshop/studio in Paris. The use of space is very clever, with furniture from Charlotte Perriand, the Bouroullec brothers and Atelier Van Lieshout integrated in the concrete structure.

Recently, Xavier has been using 3D scanning and 3D printing to create artwork, and the studio was full of small models of his “statues”, some of which were used on the cover of Air’s latest album.

Check out more of his work at Galerie Emmanuel Perottin in Paris & Miami

Since I found out that most airlines don’t charge extra for bicycles in bags, I’ve taken my bike everywhere, from Tokyo to LA to Phoenix or Turin. Best way to discover a city, period.
However, most airports are far out and you need a cab or train to get into town. But Milan Linate is really close to the city, and yesterday I did the 20 minutes ride with my bike bag strapped to my normal bag:

Then packed it all up, right in front of the check-in area:

Then took a shot as it went through the X-ray machine (note the way the carbon fiber fork becomes transparent):

Then British Airways lost my bag.

In Milan for the Salone, as usual overdosing on design. Here are a few things I saw today.
A Legnano bike, a customized Ape, a harbor bollard/seat made of foam, and a corrugated iron caravan.

Yesterday during a day-long ordeal at the now infamous T5 terminal at Heathrow airport, I had time to check the installation called “Cloud” by Troika. It looks and sounds fantastic. All the small flip-dots make a discreet clicking noise when they flip over.
Here are some videos I took.

Ben Wilson, inventor/designer/skateboarder/vehicle maniac from London, just sent me these recent pictures of a “Monowheel” project he’s been working on for a while. The finished thing looks amazing. According to him, it needs a bit of practice to be ridden properly. It’s on display at the 21-21 Issey Miyake Gallery in Tokyo until June.

Today we did a fashion shoot with one of my all-time favorite cars, the Aston Martin Lagonda.
Unsurpassed design. Flawed electronics.
I took a few pictures before the owner left: