LUX’s personalised Aston Martin Valhalla, created in their factory and projected along the coastline (image generated by computer)

LUX travels to the Aston Martin factory to personalise our new Valhalla, the company’s million-dollar hypercar, with its Q bespoking operation; and then we review the Aston Martin Vantage Volante

What’s in a name? Well, quite a lot actually, if you’re spending a million pounds/dollars/euros on a car. Would you rather have a car named after a piece of software, or one named after a majestic hall for Viking gods presided over by Odin himself? Well, quite.

We won’t dwell here on the million dollar car that sounds like software, although we can confirm we have driven it and it is an extremely fast, brilliantly engineered machine. But as for the Aston Martin Valhalla, this is the sister car to the equally dramatically-named Valkyrie, and if it’s anything like as monumental as its name, the Valhalla promises to be quite a machine.

‘If it’s anything like as monumental as its name, the Valhalla promises to be quite a machine’ (image generated by computer)

(A note: LUX has also been in the Valkyrie, which is even more expensive than the Valhalla and comes with its own set of internal comms headphones as its V12 engine is so loud that the driver and passenger can’t hear each other otherwise. The best way of getting in is by suspending a children’s slide over its open cockpit, and we haven’t quite worked out the best way of getting out, but being inside it is a lot of fun).

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As we made our way to Aston Martin’s factory in Gaydon, England, we pondered that the Valhalla had a lot to live up to. What if the car didn’t cash the cheques written by the name?

We needn’t have worried. Seeing a pre-production Valhalla in the metal and being shown around it by Ondrej Jirec, Exterior Design Manager of the project, was quite breathtaking. The Valhalla is not quite as spaceship crazy as the Valkyrie – a good thing, probably – but it’s still one of the most striking cars on the road.

Hosted by Ondrej Jirec, LUX previewed the Valhalla’s pre-production, personalising the company car (image generated by computer)

Jirec emphasised the organic shape of the Valhalla, how engineering, technology and aesthetic fuse, and how it is a car not just to look at, but to be driven. The petrol engine (there are also three electric motors) is behind the cockpit and even the exhaust pod looks like sculpture.

We also loved the interior – more practical than the Valkyrie but still feeling very hypercar special. It’s clear Aston Martin intends the 999 Valhallas it is planning to build to be driven properly.

On we went from the pre-production car itself, to the Q studio with a screen the size of a large wall, where we were to configure the LUX Valhalla. For the purposes of drama, we went with the colour scheme shown here, a burnt metallic orange with swathes of electric suede inside. With Q, you can bespoke to your heart’s content, although we were told we couldn’t turn the exhaust sculpture into a machine gun turret. Personalisation has its limits.

‘This kind of car – with an actual engine, and real drama – won’t be around for that much longer’ (image generated by computer)

Had it been our private car, we would have gone for an old-Aston colour, a solid blue-green, with an interior somewhere between cream and pumice. It wouldn’t have looked so good in the pictures, but in real life it would have been the ancestor of every classy DB5 Volante we’ve ever seen.

Read more: Binith Shah and Maria Sukkar on UMŌ’s ultimate luxury 

And what’s it like to drive? Our car is still being assembled, as Valhallas haven’t been delivered to customers yet. But we did spend a few days in Aston Martin’s “entry level” offering – a relative term, like an entry level Michelangelo – the Vantage Volante, and our impressions are below. The Valhalla, meanwhile, has more than 1000 horsepower and will get from zero to 100 mph faster than a Norse god escaping a furious goddess who has just found out he has been playing around with a Valkyrie. Whether yours is in outlandish bespoke orange, or a solid green blue, enjoy. This kind of car – with an actual engine, and real drama – won’t be around for that much longer.

The beautifully ‘old-fashioned’ Aston Martin Vantage (image generated by computer)

Aston Martin Vantage review

When something is described as old-fashioned, what does it mean to you? Until recently, it was a pejorative term meaning out of date, unsophisticated, or behind the curve.

Now, however, old-fashioned has undergone its own revival. Vinyl records? Not only old-fashioned, but purveying far better sound quality than a song on Spotify. Vintage clothes? Music from the 80s and 90s? Life without social media? Old-fashioned, yes, but in some cases more desirable than what we have now.

This applies to cars. You won’t see too many enthusiasts at an electric car meeting, even if electric cars are swifter and more advanced than previous models. And old-fashioned is the first phrase we would like to apply to the new Aston Martin Vantage – as a compliment.

‘This is a car made not just for beauty or speed, but for fun’ (image generated by computer)

But, we emphasise, this is not just because it is not an electric car. Super sports cars and supercars, made for enjoyment and show rather than practicality, have undergone their own evolution quite irrespective of the electric car revolution.

Until the end of the 1990s, every supercar was, to a greater or lesser extent, fun to drive, even if many of them were so severely flawed that if you were to attempt to undertake a proper journey in them you might be left yearning to swap into a standard family saloon.

Read more: Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann on the watch industry

They were loud, uncomfortable and most had more power, particularly when it was wet, than their structures could cope with. Great when you’re trying to have a bit of (old-fashioned) fun, but pretty undesirable not to mention dangerous otherwise.

The inside displays Aston Martin’s characteristic attention to detail in design (image generated by computer)

Then, computer technology and electronic advances meant that in this century, supercars not only got much faster thanks to ever more powerful petrol engines, but they also became a lot safer. Put an idiot in a 1990s supercar and soon the idiot would either no longer exist or need to undergo some significant hospital treatment. By 2010, the same idiot could drive a much faster car and keep everything together.

But this came at the expense of that old-fashioned value: fun. For a time, some of the world’s fastest and most exciting to look at cars were also rather dull and clinical to drive, particularly at practical speeds on the road.

And this brings us to the new Aston Martin Vantage. It certainly looks the business: beautiful, imposing, not too huge, dramatic while remaining stylish rather than show-off.

‘The whole car has been engineered for feel rather than just speed’ (image generated by computer)

And from the first corner you navigate, you realise this is a car made not just for beauty or speed, but for fun.

On winding country roads, the thing is both brilliant and exciting. You feel the weight transfer from the front to the middle to the back of the car as you power through corners, encouraging you to do the same again and again.

Read more: Simon de Pury interviews Olafur Eliasson

If you get extremely enthusiastic, you can feel the back of the car wanting to kick itself outwards which in a genuinely old-fashioned car could be lethal, as if you are not an expert driver you would perform a 360° spin. In this car though, the electronic helpers are still there – it’s just that they allow you to have fun, and the whole car has been engineered for feel rather than just speed.

‘The new supercar that is old-fashioned in only one way, the best possible: it just wants to have fun’ (image generated by computer)

The engine is a beauty, also. It’s old-fashioned in one sense, having no hybrid electric motor to help it along. Aston Martin engineers have given the engine (development of one found in Mercedes AMG supercars) real oral character and a hard-edged feeling suitable to a junior supercar like this. It’s a fabulous sound, and it’s always there.

The Aston Martin rides firmly. Don’t buy this car if you’re expecting a limousine, and don’t buy it if all you want to do is make gentle runs to your country home. There are cars that do both of those better. Instead, it is a brilliantly balanced, highly capable, highly exciting and very stylish – inside and out – new supercar that is old-fashioned in only one way, the best possible: it just wants to have fun. And isn’t that what a supercar is for?

astonmartin.com

‘Not For Them’ founder Marcarson photographed in his studio by Charles Roussel

Founding ‘Not For Them’ in 2016, New York City artist Marcarson has created a space which eludes distinctions between art, fashion, and design. LUX Contributing Editor Maryam Eisler speaks to Marcarson about his beginnings in LA, art responsibility, and voyeurism

Maryam Eisler: Who is Marcarson?

Mark Carson: Marcarson is an entity occupying a body.

ME: What was the environment like when you were growing up? How did it influence the way you see the world today?

MC: Very religious and a little dangerous during those times in Southeast Los Angeles.

‘Alive With Pleasure’, oil on canvas, 2019

ME: Can you remember the first moment or experience when you realised you wanted to become an artist? Was there a specific event or person who sparked that desire?

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MC: It was 2016. I would watch my son during the day. During a routine monthly visit from the exterminator he saw that I had made 3 pieces, he enjoyed them and asked to take a photo to show his wife. I see him again the next month and his wife wants to speak with me. She tells me she works for Banksy’s pest control and the artwork I’m making is exciting and I should continue with it. She also tells me to get classes to learn to paint but I didn’t go that far.

ME: If your art could speak, what would it say about you?

MC: Buckle up with this one.

Marcarson’s fashion design under the studio ‘Not For Them’, photographed by Maryam Eisler in Soho New York City

ME: What’s the most unusual or unexpected experience you’ve had while creating art?

MC: I don’t think I’ve had any… yet.

ME: You also write – does your writing inform your art and vice versa?

MC: The truth is I don’t write. I enjoy photojournalism, voyeurism…

ME: Tell me about life and work in Brooklyn.

MC: I hardly leave my place.

Marcarson’s Brooklyn studio view with ‘Brunch Series’ (2025) photographed by Charles Roussel

ME: How has fatherhood informed your art?

MC: Laeth is my go-to for when I need someone to tell me if my work is shit or not. Children can be soul crushing with opinions.

Read more: A conversation with artist Enoc Perez

ME: If you had to create a piece of art based on a memory, what memory would you choose, and how would you represent it visually?

MC: There’s a memory of my mother’s memory, in which I’m biting the hand of a preacher trying to pray for me when I was a toddler. I would make it into a stained-glass window for churches.

Marcarson’s ‘Fabric Wash’ (2024) in collaboration with Catherine Walsh, photographed by Maryam Eisler in Soho New York City

ME: Is there a piece of your own work that you’ve struggled with the most, and why? Do you still think about it?

MC: There is one piece I wish I never let go. I’m still figuring out how to get it back.

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ME: Your art can be tough to experience at times. Entangled, bordering hostile. Explain that to me.

MC: This is a good one. I’ve started to notice that there are two styles of my art: one is cheeky, dark humour, poking fun at society, and the other is a result from love interests that didn’t work out and my way of expressing the heartache, love and disappointment.

‘Creating these furniture pieces that are actually art and not a design passing off as art gets me excited’ – Marcarson

ME: You have also dabbled in design, chairs and furniture. Tell me more.

MC: I have an undying thirst for design and interior design. So creating these furniture pieces that are actually art and not a design passing off as art gets me excited! Eventually I would love to do a whole line of furniture pieces.

Read more: Why the Mercedes G Class is an icon

ME: ‘Not For Them’ – how did it start and what does it mean?

MC: Good’ol ‘Not For Them’ or ‘NFT’ as I was calling it before the bullshit took over. It started in 2016 when I was given a gallery space in Long Island City near Moma PS1. A space for me to do my thing. As for meaning – if you have to ask it’s not for you.

‘As for meaning – if you have to ask it’s not for you’ – Marcarson. Photographed by Maryam Eisler in Soho New York City

ME: What’s something you’ve learned from creating art that has affected how you live your everyday life?

MC: Creating art has helped me get over not showing vulnerability. It’s also the perfect tool to express opinions without getting into too much trouble.

ME: Do you think art has a responsibility?

MC: Art responsibility? If it’s not evoking some kind of emotion you are failing.

ME: What does the future hold for Marcarson?

MC: There are some plans in the works for sure. I don’t know what they are per se (finally can use that in a sentence) but I know there’s a future.

notforthemnyc.com

Fabienne Amez-Droz and Masha Nosova at the start of the Rallye des Princesses with Richard Mille’s 1964 yellow Porsche 356 type C on Place Vendôme, Paris

Castles, mountain passes, vintage cars, vintage roadbooks, adrenaline and dressing up. When LUX was invited to drive the classic Porsche 356 from Place Vendome in Paris to the mountains of Andorra, on the Spanish border, via the Atlantic coast, much of La France Profonde and many castles, on the all-women Rallye des Princesses by Richard Mille, we couldn’t refuse.

Over five days, the intrepid LUX driving team, comprising the car-mad Masha Nosova and luxury maven Fabienne Amez-Droz, weathered wrong turns, quick changes for banquets, and the challenge of driving a classic car older than their combined ages, covering nearly nine hours each day in a yellow Porsche 356 type C from 1964.

Their satnav was an old-fashioned roadbook, needing the navigator to be on the ball every minute; and their competition was some of the most experienced women regularity rally enthusiasts in Europe. Interestingly, women make up an increasing proportion of this pioneering brand’s clientele: just one of the ways Richard Mille has reinvented the luxury watch market against all odds. In keeping with the playful yet utterly serious nature of the brand, days picking through routes in rural France were rounded off by spectacular evenings in private chateaux.

Now, as this year’s driving season in Europe gets under way, we look back on our team’s journey across France with long-term partners Richard Mille. Masha and Fabienne take up the story

The Rallye des Princesses isn’t about racing at full throttle, and, despite Masha’s efforts to the contrary, we were not required to shatter speed limits and frighten sheep —this is a regularity rally, where maintaining consistent speed and precision is key, with your timing carefully monitored throughout the course.

All of the Richard Mille Rallye des Princesses cars were lined up on Place Vendôme in Paris, where the rally starts

After a day on the road, the adventure continued with glamorous evenings offering the perfect chance to unwind and connect with competing drivers, and resolve arguments with each other about why we missed the turning back in that village (Masha was driving too fast; Fabienne wasn’t concentrating on the road book).

The rally is unique because it exclusively features female drivers and co-drivers, celebrating women’s passion for vintage cars and racing. Participants race using classic cars dating from the 1930s to the 1980s, adding to the event’s nostalgic charm. Vehicles often include iconic models like Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, and Aston Martin.

At the Rallye des Princesses you have to navigate the routes with a roadbook

The Rallye des Princesses was established in 2000. Since then, it has become an annual event, attracting participants from around the world who share a passion for classic cars and the thrill of rally racing. The rally has grown significantly over the years, blending competition with elegance and maintaining its reputation as one of the most prestigious women’s automotive events in Europe.

It’s a celebration of elegance, camaraderie and competitive thrill in the world of vintage cars. And also the ability to get changed rapidly from roadwear – the cars generally have no A/C – to evening wear, the mark of a true princess.

Training Day

In the two days leading up to the start, all the participants arrived in Paris. On the training day, the teams got to know the vintage cars and spent an entire day driving around a small village outside of Paris to get to know how an old-fashioned roadbook works.

Amanda Mille, Brand and Partnerships Director of Richard Mille, drove with us on the first day with a vintage Mini

Having arrived at the Equipe Europe garage, where we met and became acquainted with our rally vehicle, the yellow Porsche 356, it felt as if we had stepped into a classic car museum. Specialising in the restoration and servicing of historic and rare racing cars, the vintage Delahayes, Bugattis and Aston Martins (to name just a few) against the backdrop of the picturesque French countryside inspired us for our journey ahead.

When Masha and I first saw the roadbook, we were quite taken aback—how on earth would we manage this?

After a few hours of practice, Masha and I had become a fairly well-coordinated team. In the evening, we celebrated our training day near the starting point at Place Vendôme.

Amanda Mille, Brand and Partnerships Director of Richard Mille, held a welcome speech at the aperitif.

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Race Day 1 – Waving Goodbye in Paris

In an enclosure just outside the Ritz hotel, around 60 classic cars of all types – from Minis to Mustangs, Porsches to Aston Martins, Alfa Romeos and the odd Ferrari – are gathered. We drove through the bustling city, passing by the Arc de Triomphe, along the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.

After leaving the Place Vendôme, we followed the roadbook via the l Arc de Triomphe on the way to Tours

For several hours, we continued through the countryside toward Tours, stopping along the way for lunch at Domaine de Montigny-le-Gannelon and a coffee break at Chateau de Chambord.

To get us through the many hours of driving, the Richard Mille team organised many coffee and cake breaks. On the first day, this break was at Chateau de Chambord

Having concluded our first day of rallying, we arrived at our final checkpoint of the evening at the Medieval La Grange de Meslay, one of the most historic fortified farms of the 13th century.

The first race day was filled with sunshine and rural routes

Each day, we drove around 9 to 10 hours. The routes in the roadbook led us through scenic landscapes and past historic castles.

The finish line of the first day was at a castle near Tours

Race Day 2 – Island Life on St-Martin-de-Ré

After a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast, we prepared to tackle the second day.

All the vintage cars parked next to each other at the lunch spot

The destination for the second day was the French peninsula of Île de Ré, which is a French version of the Hamptons. Along the way, we had lunch at La Mothe-Saint-Héray, an opulent 17th-century fortress.

Lunch was held at L’orangerie de La Mothe Saint-Héray

After turning off our engines, we followed the sounds of clinking plates and lively discourse of our fellow drivers, navigating ourselves through the splendour of orange and lemon trees scattered across the gravelled courtyard.

After lunch with a side of laughter about the sharp corners and unexpected turns, we continued our journey south.

Read more: Car collector king Fritz Burkard on his Pearl Collection

Driving across the 3km Île de Ré bridge that connects La Rochelle and Riverdoux Plage, we decided to slow down, not only for the speed limit but to truly appreciate the expansive sea rolling into the horizon and the sunset visible in our rear view mirror.

Fabienne Amez-Droz and Masha Nosova with car number 27

The day ended near the coast in St. Martin-de-Ré. Upon our arrival to the seaside hotel, we took the opportunity to briefly swap our 4-wheel vehicle to 2 wheels to cruise around the island with bicycles provided by the hotel – experiencing the real Île de Ré – lifestyle.

The vintage Porsche 356 type C driving through the town of St-Martin-de-Ré

The end destination of the second day was St. Martin-de-Ré at the coast

Race Day 3 – Medieval ages in Sarlat-la-Canéda

After our brief stay on the island, we set off again, leaving the salty air behind. The third race day was filled with impressive landscapes and pitstops to several medieval French castles like Château de Villebois-Lavalette and Château de Hautfort.

In case of any issues with the cars or if you got lost, there was a group of very kind mechanics following us and helping us

Palatial gardens, grandiose architecture and the sounds of revving engines satisfied our appetites to early set off for our afternoon leg.

At the end of every racing day, drivers were welcomed at the parking spot with a glass of champagne

At the end of the day, we were invited to a medieval castle in Sarlat-la-Canéda, where we were greeted by ‘real’ knights and princesses. Even the rallye princesses were dressed in medieval attire and celebrated the third day with a feast in the castle, paired with an exhilarating fire show.

After the feast in the medieval castle there was a huge fire show

Race Day 4 – Carcassonne

Spending the night at Hotel Golf du Domaine de Rochebois, we rose in the early hours of the morning to a light and decadent breakfast overlooking the gentle glow from hot air balloons that spread across the rugged and bushy landscape.

On our fourth day, we embarked towards Carcassonne, located in the Occitanie region of southern France, famous for its medieval fortress and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stepping inside feels like travelling back in time, having an immersive medieval experience.

We stopped for some lunch at Château de Mauriac

Inside the thick walls of the fortress, all the Rallye des Princesses teams gathered for the delicious traditional Cassoulet – a hearty dish made from white beans, sausage, and duck – a must-try in the region.

The scenic route towards Carcassonne took us through little villages along rivers and narrow routes

The medieval fortress of Carcassonne is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Race Day 5 – Alpine Routes of Andorra and Prize Ceremony

A mountainous finale awaited us. The last day took us along misty mountain routes towards the Pyrenees to Andorra. The routes up the mountains were quite foggy and you had to be very careful as the sight was not the best and there were some wild animals crossing the roads.

Our yellow Porsche 356 conquering the foggy roads towards the mountains

Occasionally, patches of the fog parted, offering brief, breathtaking glimpses of the valley far below, where dark green forests and meandering rivers appeared like miniatures before they were swallowed up again by the mist.

Fabienne Amez-Droz with the Rallye des Princesses merch: A cap, a jacket and a foulard

After crossing the border of Andorra, we drove up and down the mountain passes until lunchtime. Our final lunch stop was an idyllic picnic set up featuring specialities from Andorra, which are a mix between French and Spanish cuisine.

The final leg of the journey to Andorra is nothing short of spectacular, with steep climbs, rugged mountain passes, and panoramic vistas – a fitting finale for the adventure.

Lunch was served at the top of a mountain with many specialities from Andorra, which were interesting to try

After 5 days and countless hours of thrilling driving, we finally crossed the finish line and received our well-deserved champagne to celebrate plus a medal with the whole route engraved. We did it!

The last race day was filled with Andorras mountain passes and we had a picnic set up for us on the top of a mountain

The evening wrapped up with a big awards ceremony, and by the time we assembled at our final venue of the rally, an alpine celebration was awaiting our company. The cool evening mountain air shifted us inside where after a moving speech by Patrick Peter, we sat down at our tables, discussing the rally’s most challenging and exciting moments.

The finish line in Andorra was next to a luxury chalet-style hotel, where we celebrated the end of the rally

We celebrated and danced until the early hours of the morning with all the participants of the 60 teams, and as the night began to wind down, all drivers exchanged contact details and promises to meet at future rallies, still basking in the memories of winding roads, breathtaking views, and the camaraderie that only a journey like the Rallye des Princesses can provide.

At the finish line in Andorra, Fabienne Amez-Droz and Masha Nosova received a glass of champagne to celebrate and a medal with the whole route from Paris to Andorra engraved

By the end of the rally, we had all grown together as close friends and wanted to keep driving. An extraordinary and incredible journey by Richard Mille.

Find out more: richardmille.com/events/rallye-des-princesses