Amyn Nasser’s Voyeur Nocturne is a photographic celebration of Vancouver as the better known “city of glass.” With its high population density relative to most other North American cities, urban planning in Vancouver is characterized by high-rise residential and mixed-use development in the city centre as an alternative to urban sprawl. Glass condominium towers dominate the skyline and have been credited in contributing to the city’s high rankings in livability. Amyn Nasser has effectively captured this unique ‘feel’ which is so defining of Vancouver, where each layer symbolizes the excitement and vibrancy of inner city life. If windows are the eyes to the soul, can the same be said for the soul of a city?

After a ten-month long sojourn to various places in the city, the Voyeur Nocturne Series was born. It captured different viewpoints after the setting of the sun and the coming of the evening lights in the city. A good number of the amazing shots were a product of careful planning and consideration with their own share of opportunities and challenges. Coinciding with the 23rd Winter Olympiad, the exhibition strives to live up to the same Olympic spirit that humanity aspires for – higher, faster, stronger.

Amy Nasser is a self-taught visualist from Zanzibar and has become one of the leading photographers in the world. His work has graced the covers and editorial pages of the finest magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Cosmopolitan. A well-traveled professional who is one of the most sought-after for international field missions in several African countries and at the same time is experienced in the mannerisms needed for his image.

“I believe in the photographer’s magic, the ability to stir the soul with light and shape and color. Through the photographer’s eyes a kiss becomes a romance, a stretch of fabric is a costume of endless possibilities, …a face has the playful vibrancy that describes a lifetime… I strive for a visual split second capture that tells a story with mood, style, motion, and mystery by creating powerful color, and striking black & white images. My juxtaposed vision is very much influenced by the East-West culture that I have grown up with.” – Amyn Nasser

Voyeur Nocturne will close on Monday, March 15, 2010

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.

The 2008 BMW 128i is pictured above

MS: To call the One Series the Baby Beemers of the BMW family is a little misleading.  It erroneously evokes the idea that these cars are harmless little things, when in fact they are anything but child’s play.

RT: Well that’s what I thought when I first looked at the 1-Series, it was like geez, a car that I’d probably buy for my teenage kid, but not something credible for day to day use. Since I’ve driven one, my whole perspective has changed.

MS: Launched in 2008, the BMW One Series was born with the idea that driving enthusiasts, if educated, prefer high performance sports compacts over larger sports sedans.  The learned Europeans have been exalting the virtues of small being better for decades, the trick was to win over the North American customer.  Were we ready to give up our silly insecurities of size?  I mean up until very recently, we were a ridiculous automotive culture of SUVs!

MS: The BMW 128i and 135i are exactly the type of cars that can cause a cultural shift towards downsizing.

RT: For the record, I took out a 2010 BMW 135i from Brian Jessel BMW, Michael’s perspective is all about the 2008 128i, supplied by auto/ONE. Up until recently, I’ve been driving Michael’s ’08 128i and I’m not giving it up anytime soon.

The 2010 BMW 135i is pictured above

APPEARANCE:

MS: There will be no question as to the One Series identity. Even without a peek at its trademark twin-kidney grille and round headlights the athletic, sculpted look characterized by the strong shoulder line and prominent wheel arches defines it as a BMW.

RT: One unique thing about the car you’re driving, Michael, the 2008 1-series has “Year One of the One” embossed above the ignition button. A really nice touch which is ultimately going to make this model more sought after by collectors.

PERFORMANCE:

MS: The 128i engine is a 3.0-liter inline six makes 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, and is wonderfully smooth and flexible.  My test car from Auto One had a 6-speed Steptronic automatic with paddle shifters. It was fun to use the paddle shifters for a short bit, but just popping it in drive and listening to the exhaust tone quickly changing its tune with the crisp shifts was almost as satisfying. My preference would have been the 6-speed manual, but then I am not sure if that would be the case if I had to sit in commuter traffic every day?

RT: I also got a 6-speed Steptronic automatic with paddle shifters. Manual is great if you’re on the track all the time but I think the automatic is more my speed – besides, have you seen it handle when you put the car into sport mode? It flies through the gears better than I could ever shift, that’s for sure.

MS: You can guide the 1 Series with gentle, measured movements or bully it and it always responds faithfully, doing exactly what you ask of it.

MS: Exiting a corner on the power is dazzling.  Charge hard into a corner and excellent braking pulls you back to rational speed. Look where you want to go and the car follows your eyes. It is light, nimble, agile and a thrill to drive. The car flatters your every move, making decent drivers look like experts and expert drivers look like heroes.  But get in over your head and BMW’s standard dynamic stability control will intervene to bring you back on course.

RT: I’ve seen plenty of videos on the Internet with the drivers bringing these cars into a drift around a corner. Not something I’d ever recommend but I’ll say they make it look really easy.

MS: So, the 128i has plenty of power. It looks great, hardly like the baby, entry-level BMW that it is. It handles better than the average modern-day vehicle, with true near 50/50 front-engine, rear-wheel drive balance. And unlike the 3 Series, you don’t see as many 1s on the road.

MS: That the 128i is missing a couple of turbos doesn’t mean that it is in any way a slouch. Acceleration is a decent 6.4 seconds to 100 km/h for the coupe and 6.7 for convertibles, and the handling is close to the 135i. It doesn’t have the punch of the 135i, but it still has most of the driving fun.

RT: In having driven both for an extended period, I can say both the 128i and the 135i have a number of characteristics that are unique to only their engine size – the 128i may not have the punch of the 135i, but it’s definitely lighter and gets off the line faster. It’s no lesser of a vehicle.

MS: Coupled with the cabriolet, as was my tester, the 128i is a wonderful way to enjoy a sunny summer day. The top folds in 22 seconds according to BMW and can be dropped at speeds up to 40 km/h – so no need to hold up traffic when the urge to go topless occurs at a traffic light.

RT: I tested that in my 135i too – I was truly amazed that the car could be in motion while the top was coming off. One thing to note, in the trunk there’s a latch that you push or pull – it makes space for the roof. If it’s pushed in, you gain more trunk room, if it’s pulled out, you have storage for the roof. It won’t retract without it and you may be left scratching your head.

MS: The 135i variant with its 300 hp is a serious performance car that will tempt enthusiasts looking for M3 performance on a budget.  This is the same inline six found in the 3 and 5 Series sedans, only powering a much smaller and lighter package. While not as quick as the new V8-powered M3, the 135i is certainly every bit as quick as the old M3. And they say quite possibly more fun to drive.  BMW says acceleration to 100 km/h is 5.4 seconds.

RT: It literally felt like 4 seconds! If anything, the car certainly feels right no matter what speed you’re going. It really responds to the pedal.

COMFORT:

MS: At the reasonably basic trim level of my test car, the 128i has all you need for serious driving, with no distractions. The Sport Package seats are firmly padded for excellent support and comfort, and the leatherette covering is as good as some leather. The pedals are arranged well for performance driving. Instruments and controls are placed for quick visibility and use. In all cases, the trunk has plenty of room for normal use, and far more than in any two-seat sports car.

So what’s not to like?

MS: A couple things:

The back seat.

MS: If you had three folks to go riding, you wouldn’t be able to convince anyone to take a day trip in the back seat. Why BMW would build a car with such all-but-useless rear seats is a head-scratcher. It makes more sense to direct one passenger drivers to the Z4 and have the One Series offering a thrill for those that travel in larger groups than two.

RT: I have sat in the back seat before, it isn’t as useless as some sports cars – I’ve also driven a couple home in a similar situation. It wasn’t too much of an adjustment to accommodate my guests, so don’t be too hard on it. Of course, if you’re as tall as Shaquille O’Neil, you’re probably not looking for a sport compact nor are you going to fit any vertically endowed person in the back seat. The back seat works well for short trips, kids and pets. It especially works well once you put the top down.

The price.

MS: The One series isn’t much cheaper than the Three Series, especially if you get some of the options that BMW is so fond of making you pay for.

RT: Definitely a strategic item from BMW, from the get-go they’ve been touting the 1-series as a credible grown-up series for the enthusiast – I think they’ve hit the nail on the head.

Bottom line:

MS: For people who don’t really need a back seat except in a pinch, the 1 Series might be as much BMW as they need.   If you think a car should be fun to drive, the BMW One Series re-defines fun. I’m sure it will have you looking for a new home with a more challenging commute.

RT: Sounds right, plays right, feels right.

The Quattroporte Sport GT we reviewed previously has nothing on this car. If there were one word to sum up the 385hp V8 GranSport Cambiocorsa, it would be ‘tight.’

Once started, the engine rumbles at a low and intimidating growl that sounds like sex, money and power. After that, you’re rolling down the streets like a king (or queen) and nothing can stop you. You float through the gears of the six speed F1 paddle-shift manual effortlessly, going from 0 to 100k in 4.8 seconds and everyone in your path that hears you coming at them promptly gets the fuck out of the way. Read more after the jump.

Oh yea, it’s a Maserati baby and there’s nothing like it. Sporting the same gearbox and engine as the Ferrari F430, no wonder why it’s such a sexy car.

Being a GT or granturismo, the artful balance of speed and comfort weighed heavily on the engineers who built this beast and in our opinion, they’ve hit the mark. The folks at Car and Driver are best quoted as saying, “The Maserati has a compliant no-surprises touring suspension that invites anyone to risk his license but not his lunch.”

Organizers Brady Dahmer and Lindsay Nahmiache not only put on a green and sustainable living film festival which attracts some of the world’s best known catalysts for change including David Suzuki and endurance athlete Ray Zahab, but they sure know how to celebrate.

On the evening of Thursday, April 2nd, the pair and hundreds of their guests filled the ever-stylish TRUNK gallery (auto/ONE) in Kitsilano to celebrate … pink sparkling wine (courtesy Barefoot Wines) inclusive.

Find out more about Projecting Change on their website, HERE.

This year, CBRE hosted their 15th Annual Winter Wine Event at auto/ONE which is a welcome departure from their regular events at the Vancouver Club.

Guests, including David M. Hall from the prominent local biotech firm, Angiotech, political candidate Margaret McDiarmid and even the go-to person for digital media in Canada, Dr. Gerri Sinclair, rubbed shoulders with some of Vancouver’s most prominent tech CEOs while sampling through a number of wines and canapes.

In discussion, most attendees agreed that they will attend this year’s Symposium, hosted by ACETECH, in Whistler between March 4th and 6th.

To find out more about ACETECH, check out their website, HERE. To find out more about CBRE, check out their local website, HERE.

Papa Ferrari has sown new heathens, and all of their names begin with Maserati.

Background:
The 1980s were an especially dark time for Maserati, with the Biturbo having a reputation for being unreliable and rather plain. In the early nineties, the Maserati stopped importing cars into North America completely, with fiat buying the company in 1993.

In 1997 the Biturbos were halted and the factory closed for a total refurbishing. With Maserati in a vulnerable state, Ferrari initially bought 50 percent but went on to acquire full control of the name shortly thereafter.

Upon rebirth, Maserati produced two world-class cars: the four-seat Coupe and the two-seat Spyder roadster. With the availability of an F1-style gearbox, powerful V8 engines, and vastly improved build quality, the new Maserati cars were introduced to the U.S. market for 2002 and have restored status to this Italian sports car once again.

2005 was a transitional year for Maserati. The year saw the reintroduction of the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan, which is now accompanied by the voluptuous GranTurismo coupe, as well as the company’s split from Ferrari. Today’s Maseratis may lack the cachet of the marquee’s Italian rival but they hold the advantage of being considerably more affordable while still offering vehicles with supercar performance and sexy Italian styling.

My Drive:
Driving a 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT off of the auto/ONE lot, the exhaust note immediately commanded my attention; the Ferrari supplied V8 under the skin made such a beautiful bark. The jet-engine-in-need-of-a-tune-up sound was so guttural, so bass. Yes, the throaty Maserati makes Germanic luxury sedans sound… how who should I say this, umm… ahh… dare I say, pathetic?

With no true manual transmission, the Quattroporte Sport GT DuoSelect system offers modes that are purely automatic, purely paddle, or a blend of the two. I found the DuoSelect F1 transmission most entertaining when paddled through its 6 gears. In aggressive driving the paddle shifts were a little drawn out, but when the gear popped, boy oh boy was the surge breathtaking.

You might think it to be sacrilegious not to have a true manual with an Italian car that has a Ferrari supplied V8, but in this case it works. The Quattroporte is for the comfort-seeking demographic, the weekend warrior with discerning tastes and a flare for mischief.

For a car of its size, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it dove in and out of corners. Unless provoked horrendously, the Maserati maintained rigid and didn’t shift its girth. It is superbly controlled, utterly without float, and yet never harsh or jiggly. And despite the ultra-low-profile tires, comfort issues are nonexistent. The GT’s ride is the near side of ideal.

Appearance:
If a 400-hp, 4.2-litre V8 connected to a 6-speed paddle-shift transmission doesn’t impress, just take a look inside. Apart from a few carbon fiber accents, the interior of the Quattroporte had black leather everywhere. As Maserati says, it offers “the kind of couture luxury that only the lucky few can afford.”

Heading outside, marking the Quattroporte as a real Maserati, the legendary trade-mark trident is branded in the center of the chrome-framed front grille. The car’s styling is antagonistic, yet elegant and manages to be free of even the slightest hint of fussiness. The side profile of the car is dynamic thanks to three air inlets on either side of the front end, while the headlights being set slightly back from the grille accent the aggressiveness of the car’s nose. The Quattroporte is a big refined car that manages a look of sport easily.

Unfortunately the Quattroporte’s tail end is weak in its styling. Outside of the dual double exhausts protruding beautifully from the mid rear bumper skirt and the “Maserati” written in cursive chrome above the rear license plate on the trunk, the Italian menace’s derrière unfortunately resembles the forgettable tush of an early ‘90s Honda Prelude.

I have mixed feelings about the standard 20-inch wheel/tire package. Badass though they are, the ‘20s sidewalls look a bit petite in the Quattroporte wheel wells. That aside, my car was finished in beautiful gun metal gloss paint that was coupled with big red calipers behind aluminum rims. It all made for a very sharp body combo.

Bottom line:
If you want to make your neighbor’s S-Class look Plain Jane, if you want an executive sport car with a rear-biased 47/53 percent weight distribution, nimbly communicative and weighted steering, and, of course, a Ferrari-supplied V-8, well then, the Sport GT dives into corners and rockets along rolling mountain roads like no other sedan this side of a BMW M5.

I think that there is a saying, something like, “Every man likes a lady in public, and a whore in bed.” This little zinger aptly applies to the Quattroporte, which will gladly behave like a passionate Italian gal in a red dress, and yet if asked will behave like a virtuous Roman Catholic bishop too.

And it is this warmth and passion that allows Maserati to distinctly separate itself from its German counterparts. Devoid of the mathematical laws that encompass the German technicalities of speed through calculus and physics, the Italian competitor’s fervor flies fast. The comparison is between it and the M5, and give or take 5 grand, both are relatively similar in 2nd hand price point, and stats. But here is where they differ, only the one is exotic.

The Quattroporte Sport GT’s style, composure, and warmth of implementation make it a most enviable automobile. Couple its $112,200 list price that’s now floating half that with barely used 2007 models, and well, who would have thought a Italian prima donna could be so affordable?

One of the highlights of the Urban Mixer Gallery Series Event on November 26th was the USnaps photobooth – a unique tool that captured some amazing candid and fun shots of the evening.

As a photographer who goes to these events to capture that ‘unique’ shot for the various publications I work for, I was truly surprised as to the power of the photo booth. Nobody’s ever posed like that for me – there’s definitely something empowering about a photo booth and having the subject take control of when to take the photo. For that, the USnaps photo booth gets two thumbs up. You can see all the photos at the link below.

Username: urban
Password: 261108

Check out additional photos HERE.

The Urban Mixer Gallery Series III event is officially a wrap!

Hundreds of attendees arrived at TRUNK gallery on Wednesday night to check out fine art, European automobiles and to support imagine1day, a groundbreaking charity created by Lululemon founder, Chip Wilson and his wife, Shannon, that is working to provide primary education to all children in Ethiopia.

Special thanks to our sponsors – Bright Ideas Events, TRUNK gallery, affinity auto, auto/ONE, Pacific Western Brewery, CKNW Radio, Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Handmade Whisky, U’Luvka Vodka, ShowMAX Event Services, School of Mix, Revel Room, Designer Cocktail Company, Fuzion Wines, Figmint Restaurant, Lonsdale Event Rentals, Bang & Olufsen Burrard Street, Davis Chu Photography, INFAMOUS Magazine, UltraXpress and SSID Inc.

You can see all of the photos in a special set we’ve posted on flickr, HERE.

On on Wednesday, November 26th, Urban Mixer’s Gallery Series III will feature the same works with artists Ward and Ellingsen in attendance and a few more surprises. Find out more about the event, HERE.

Registration is $35 in advance, $50 at the door. You can register for this event through our secure online registration system, HERE.

PS – if you’re a fan of bottle service, get in touch with us and reserve your seat in the affinity auto VIP lounge.