Luxury Living Blog

Jersey Shore meets the Lamborghini

Imagine Lifestyles Meets Jersey Shore on South Beach

Whatever your thoughts about the cast or premise of Jersey Shore, the show has gained some serious media attention over the last two years.  The show truly has developed a love/hate relationship with America and the media coverage they garner everywhere they go.  As many of you know the newest season takes place down in South Beach and the premiere was this past week.  Imagine Lifestyles newest addition to the Chicago fleet of luxury rental cars made a cameo appearance in one of the scenes.

Lamborghini Gallardo

We purchased the Lamborghini Gallardo down in Miami, and left it with the home office for a few weeks to let Miami residents enjoy it for a little while before we brought it home to the windy city.  In one of the opening scenes of the Jersey Shore premiere, the cameras take a shot of what appears to be Ocean Drive.  If you look closely, you can see our super rare Gun Metal Grey Lamborghini smiling at the camera on the side of the road.

Unfortunately for Miami residents your chance to drive this now “MTV made me Famous” car is over, but if you are lucky enough to live or visit Chicago it is all yours.  Contact Imagine Lifestyles today and you can experience everything the Lamborghini Gallardo has to offer, and it’s got a whole lot of good that comes with it.  So long Miami and Jersey Shore, we are keeping our new TV Star here in Chicago where she belongs.  

Check out our fleet of luxury rental cars Miami, Chicago exotic rental cars and Lamborghini rental cars today.

 

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Make Your Next Event Memorable, Make it a Luxury Party Yacht Charter

Scratching your head to come up with a creative and memorable location for your next big event?  Why not outdo yourself and indulge your group with a luxury party yacht charter this year.

No matter what type of event, it can be drastically improved hosted onboard a luxury yacht charter!  This is the perfect arena for an annual corporate party, family reunion, wedding or any other special event. 

Imagine escaping to sea with your larger group, with room for up to 140 passengers and views that simply cannot be found on land.  Yes, let the marbled Atlantic and Caribbean waters serve as a luxurious backdrop while you wine and dine your guests for your special event on this decadent vessel.  There is something about sailing on a yacht that just makes you feel special.Venetian Lady Mega Yacht Charter Miami

When you choose our party yacht charter, you no longer have to worry about parking and securing that popular meeting place, and just imagine the excitement guests will have upon receiving an invitation to enjoy time on a private yacht charter!

There is no need to worry about space, as this mega yacht charter is 130 feet long, allowing plenty of room for your party.  The 3 grand decks of this yacht are decked out for entertaining, featuring 2 full bars, 2 dance floors, full crew and staff, and state of the art audio and visual equipment.

We have a skilled executive gourmet chef onboard to delight your guests with brunch, lunch, dinner and or cocktail cruises.  The culinary creations are internationally inspired and sure to dazzle.

 

So what are you waiting for?  You are one phone call away from completing your party planning for this calendar year!  Choose the 5 million dollar Venetian Lady luxury yacht charter and ensure a successful luxury event!
 

 

For more information on the Venetian Lady yacht or other luxury yacht charters Miami, follow links

 

 

 

 

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Luxury Jets: The $59.9 Million Dollar Gulfstream G550 Soars

The name Gulfstream certainly stands out among private jet and aircraft manufacturers, and the Gulfstream G550 is among their best models.  So let’s discuss what comes with the $59.9 million dollars buyers will shell out to own one.

The G550 Gulfstream features an oversized cabin, and is a long-range business jet charter that has been receiving its fair share of attention from its inception.  It accomplished this by flying non-stop from Seoul, South Korea to Orlando Florida just two weeks after it entered service, scaling the 7,301 nautical miles in just 14.5 hours.  This feat snagged the G550 a city pair record, and it established 40 more during its first 5 years of service (it has been in service since 2003).

Now let’s get down to specifications.  The Gulfstream G550 obtains its power from enhanced Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines.  At Mach 0.80, this luxury aircraft is capable of a range of 6,750 nm with a higGulfstream G550 Luxury Jeth-speed cruise capacity of Mach 0.87.

Gulfstream’s “PlaneView” cockpit is among the most advanced flight decks in business aviation, based on the Honeywell Primus Epic architecture and display system, it provides critical flight information via a 14-inch LCD display designed for easy interpretation.  It also boasts the Flight Management System, the Gulfstream Signature Cursor Control Device (to assist pilots when interacting with the PlaneView system), and the very latest in Head-Up technology integrated with next-generation Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System II, to capture photos of the environment for superior weather condition control.

In fact, Gulfstream brand was the first ever business jet charter to certify a synthetic vision system on the G550.  This optional synthetic vision system is called Primary Flight Display, and adds to situational awareness in zero visibility conditions.  Ok, enough techy and power stuff, lets get to the luxury!

The cabin of the G550 is a medley of comfort and productivity, with all the amenities one would expect from a luxury jet charter.  There are 4 separate spaces, 3 climate zones, and it accommodates up to 18 passengers.   Business flights are not only phenomenally fast, but task-friendly, with the available fax machine, printer, wireless and satellite communications available in-flight.  And of course, the over-sized seats and multiple windows are a welcome departure from commercial travel.

This Gulfstream aircraft has airily improved international travel, easily linking major business travel destinations like Washington, D.C. to Dubai, London to Singapore and Tokyo to Paris.
 

 

 

Check out our own private aircraft charters and luxury car rentals on your way out!

 

 

 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Ask Imagine: What Car Would My Wife Enjoy?

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

It is my wife’s birthday next weekend and I am sending her a few girlfriends into the city for a shopping and spa weekend.  They will be arriving at O’Hare on Friday and will be staying at the Ritz until Monday.  I was wondering what options you might have for my wife and her friends with transportation while they are in Chicago.  I have used a limo service before and want to do something a little more special for her birthday.

Dale, St. Louis Porsche Panamera

 

 

Dear Dale,

Great to hear from you!  Imagine Lifestyles would love to help make your wife’s birthday a complete success.  We have the perfect solution for you and your wife.  We just added a new luxury rental vehicle to our fleet that will be perfect for this occasion.  We would recommend renting your wife and her friends the new Porsche Panamera Turbo rental car.  The Panamera is the ultimate luxury sedan with a sleek design and all the power that the Porsche name brings.  One of the newest must-see cars on the streets in Chicago, your wife would absolutely love driving this vehicle around Chicago.  

We can arrange for pick-up and drop-off at the airport so your wife will truly be worry free all weekend.  Imagine Lifestyles will make sure that everything is ready to go upon her arrival and the only thing she will have to worry about is having fun.  The only concern you should have after the trip will be coming up with a reason why you cannot buy your wife the new Porsche Panamera Turbo.  If she decides on another car for that day or wants to try one of our other luxury cars you can come to our store and see our full fleet of Chicago exotic rental cars.  Please feel free to contact us with any more questions or concerns.  We look forward to making this weekend one to remember for your wife on her birthday.

Sincerely,

 

Imagine Lifestyles

 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Columbia Police to Use Seized BMW as Patrol Car

In a cool move, Columbia police have obtained permission to use a seized BMW as a patrol car.  This is a guilt-free move, as the police will have the luxury cruiser to use scorn-free, as it was not purchased with taxpayer dollars.

The confiscated car is a 2008 BMW M3, which was taken after the owner was charged with drug possession following the investigation of a DUI crash.  As the rules go, officers are free to seize vehicles involved in such acts, if the courts concur that said vehicle was used to transport felony amounts of drugs.  Under these guidelines, the Columbia police are free to use this luxury car, morphing it into one cruiser sure to extract jealousy among other officers.  I wonder if they will flip a coin to see who gets to use the BMW police cruiser?  I personally prefer the Lamborghini police car, but who is comparing.

Current rules and guidelines require that police departments use seized vehicle profits to benefit programs to reduce drug crimes and violence caused by drugs.  In response, Chief Joe Edwards said the department opted to use this particular BMW as a D.A.R.E. program car.  Officers will drive this car to area schools in efforts to educate the children on the many downfalls of drugs, using the car to show that you can lose your fancy toys that were purchased with drug money.  Yes, this is certainly a savvy way to not only say, but show that cops can snatch your fancy car if you are caught with illegal drugs!

The department intends to use the attention grabbing new luxury car for around a year, after wBMW Police Car Columbiahich point it will send it to the auction block and use the profits to purchase two regular patrol cars.  Hey, gotta keep the streets safe! 

The reason for the auction decision other than to invest in more vehicles?  Well, so far the department BMW has cost around $8,000 in repairs, as it was damaged in the DUI crash from which it was confiscated.   Chief Edwards said the funds used to repair the BMW were taken from other drug related seizures.
 

 

For more on luxury cars, exotic rental cars and luxury news, follow links.
 

 

 

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Top 5 Cars Women Hate

It seems it is not just men who hate certain cars with a passion; there are also women who object!  This makes perfect sense, but seeing as how automotive topics are generally engulfed by the male species, it is interesting to get a female perspective.  So without further ado, here are the top 5 cars women hate, according to my mini-survey:

1.    Minivans
2.    Station wagons
VW New Beetle
3.     VW New Beetle
4.    Chrysler Sebring convertible
5.    Oversized pickups
6.    Lamborghini Gallardo…Just kidding.

While most of these may seem obvious, they are also commonly associated as “female favorites”.   The minivan seems obvious, and was the #1 vehicle hated by women.   A minivan takes the image of a sexy woman and runs right over it, leaving the image of a frazzled soccer mom wearing spit-up as an accessory.   Some moms would argue that they are well put together, and maintain their edge during motherhood.

The same sentiment goes for the trusty station wagon.  The station wagon is a historical symbol of devoted mother, and not much more.  It is often the butt of jokes, and far from flattering, even if VW did make a go at it.  You can’t put lipstick on a pig-it is still a station wagon.

General Lee CarSpeaking of Volkswagen, up next is the uber-popular VW New Beetle.  This one fascinated me, as you see mostly women behind the wheel of these diminutive and decidedly “cutesy” cars.  Shockingly, this was among the most hated cars, but gauging from the roadways, this may be a split.  VW certainly went out of its way to target the women in the New Beetle campaign and design, and I would argue they did a damn good job.

The Chrysler Sebring convertible also made the list.  This one I can completely understand, as it was so overproduced.  It seemed for a while there that you could not drive 4 blocks without seeing Sebrings or Ford Mustangs.  The mass production seems to have dissolved the appeal for the females, who often crave individuality.

Pulling into 5th place is the oversized pickup truck.  Drop your tailgate, belch out beer, add tires the size of a small country and you are still the same guy, fellas.  It seems women are not swooning for you to drop a ladder and wisk them away to a chewing tobacco and gun rack filled cabin while you bounce and barrel down the road.  Let's face it guys, it isn't the General Lee.  Sorry guys, this one goes to the girls.
Oversized Truck
As for the Lamborghini Gallardo, this is in fact a favorite among females.  It is among the best exotic and luxury rental cars available on the market, and just looks hotter with a woman behind the wheel if I do say so myself!
 

 

Check out our fleet of luxury rental cars Miami style on your way out!

 

 

 

 

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Ask Imagine: Where to shop in Chicago?

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I have been reading your blog and website for quite sometime, and it has given me some new ideas for my business.  However, I have a more personal matter at hand this time around.  I will be in Chicago next month and was wondering if you could recommend a few streets, malls, or general areas downtown that will provide the best in luxury shopping options for myself and my daughter.

Sincerely,

Michelle, Boca Raton

 

 

Dear Michelle,

First off thank you so much for writing in with your inquiry.  We are glad to hear you have gotten some positive responses and information from our blog as well.  

Now to the most important matter, shopping.  It does not get much better than downtown Chicago.  There are also some nice places in the suburbs but it sounds like you will be downtown the whole time so we will focus our attention on downtown only.  

Oak Street Chicago

Imagine Lifestyles would advise you to start your day at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Oak Street.  You will find your flagship luxury stores right here, including Louis Vuitton and Chanel.  Head west on Oak Street next and you will find one of Chicago’s premium boutiques, Ultimo.  Continue down Oak Street and you can also browse Hermes, Kate Spade, Prada, and Barney’s New York.

After Oak Street, we would recommend heading back to Michigan Avenue for a quick bite to eat at the RL Café, located on the lower floor of the Ralph Lauren store.  After lunch, and a stop in the Ralph Lauren store, continue south on Michigan Avenue for some more fabulous shopping.  Tiffany’s, Burberry, and La Perla are just a few of the shops you will find on Michigan Avenue.  You can wrap up your day at Nordstrom, located just north of the river on Michigan Avenue.  

We are sure you are going to need a place to put all of your bags as you continue on from store to store.  Be sure to contact Imagine Lifestyles Chicago to set up a luxury car rental before you embark on this epic shopping adventure.  We also offer chauffeur services which might be much more accommodating and allow you to avoid the stresses of parking and traffic.  Also, if you would like to see our fleet of Chicago exotic rental cars stop into our garage and we will show you around.  We hope this information is helpful and are always here to answer more questions regarding anything luxury in Chicago.

Sincerely,

Imagine Lifestyles

 

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Luxury List Item: The Koenigsegg CCXR-Pricey but Green Supercar

In the market for a supercar, but it needs to be environmentally friendly and be able to successfully display your impressive bank account?  Meet the 2010 Koenigsegg CCXR, destroyer of wallets, but not the planet!  It can be yours, for $1.2 million or more.

That is right, no matter what color your CCXR is, they are all green inside.  So how does a world-class supercar manage to meet eco standards, while keeping its er, cool?  I thought you would never ask, let’s get down to specs.

2010 Koenigsegg CCXR SupercarThis Koenigsegg has taken all the success of its predecessors, and adapted it a bit to create a new level of performance.  The CCXR is a derivative of the CCX model, but boasts a modified 4.7-liter twin-supercharged Koenigsegg engine that can run on E85 and E100 biofuel, and normal 98-octane petrol (Europe).

While Koenigsegg has not officially released a figure for its top speed, it is likely over the 250 mile per hour mark, with a weight to horsepower ratio of only 1.26 kg/hp.

Running on regular petrol, the supercar bursts out 806 Bhp, a figure that increases to 1018 Bhp when run on E85 Biofuel.  The CCXR is being touted as the first green supercar in the world, and other companies are paying attention.

From a technical point of view, the ethanol E85 fuel has a higher octane rating and internal cooling capacity, allowing the engine to run with higher compression, boost pressure and increased spark advance in comparison to the petrol fuelled CCX.  Both retain the same exhaust temperature.

On the outside, the 2010 CCXR edition is gorgeous, with great curves.  Featuring unpainted carbon fiber, the luxury standpoint is a statement indeed.  
 

 

 

For more information and entertainment of automotive artisans, exotic or luxury car rentals, Ferrari Rentals, and more follow links to our luxury blog!

 

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Luxury Hybrid News: The 2015 Ferrari Hybrid

Ferrari brand has officially unveiled its “HY-KERS” experimental vehicle at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, giving merit to the previous rumblings of the luxury car rumormill.

The future Ferrari hybrid is based on the fabulous Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, with of course, some green perks that are likely to cost a bit more green. 

The HY-KERS Ferrari has been completely designed and engineered to comply with the future CO2 regulations and standards, boasting impressive fuel economy for an exotic car or luxury rental car.   The city driving has improved exponentially over previous Ferrari models, which could lead to a Ferrari that could be a daily driver.

2015 Ferrari HY-KERS Luxury HybridThe hybrid Ferrari uses an F1 derived gas-electric system, allowing the HY-KERS to release 35 percent less emissions than the gas-consuming counterparts.   What is awesome is that the electric motor weighs only 88 pounds, helping to decrease overall weight, which also decreases energy and fuel consumption.  This electric motor is attached to the 599’s 7-speed F1 transmission, and power is pulled from the electric motor seamlessly via either of the two clutches from the gearbox.

The electric motor provides an extra 100 prancing ponies to the 599’s V12 output of 612.  The 599 Ferrari is the most powerful V12 production car of all time, and these specs are impressive.  It is unclear what the power specs are when using it in electric-only mode, or if that is even possible.  I assume more details will pour out closer to the 2015 production schedule, as I am sure they are still tweaking the final product.

The electric power is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack, which has been mounted lower in the chassis to maintain a low center of gravity.  As is usual with most hybrids, the Ferrari HY-KERS features a regenerative brake system that recharges the board batteries.  An engine-mounted generator performs ancillary duties like power steering, AC and power braking.

Overall, this seems like a tight and green little package, and I look forward to hearing more about the Ferrari hybrid as its launch approaches.
 

 

 

Check out our own Ferrari rentals and other luxury car rentals on your way out!
 

 

 

 

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Top 5 Boat and Yachts to Rent for ChicagoScene Boat Party

Top 5 Boats to Rent for Chicago Scene Party 

Mardi Gras meets Lake Michigan this Saturday in the playpen located just north of Navy Pier for ChicagoScene.com’s annual boat party.  Arguably one of the better weekends of summer here in Chicago, you will not want to be left on shore watching all the action.  Imagine Lifestyles has put together a list of the top 5 luxury yachts and boats to rent this Saturday to ensure you do not miss any of the action.  

1.) 54-Foot SeaRay Sundancer

2.) 68-Foot Azimut 

3.) 38-Foot Cigarette Speed Boat 

4.) 40-Foot SeaRay Sundancer 54 Foot SeaRay Sundancer

5.) Tige RZ2

1.) 54-Foot SeaRay Sundancer: An absolute classic luxury sport yacht, SeaRay’s 54-foot Sundancer is a beautiful yacht.  Renting this yacht will be sure to make other boat owner’s jealous as you cruise into the playpen.  There is nothing more you will need this Saturday for the scene party than this magnificent yacht, a few friends, and possibly a catering company to spice the party up.

2.) 68-Foot Azimut: If you want to be the talk of the party on Saturday, the Azimut is the boat for you to make this possible.  Basically a floating luxury hotel, this yacht will surely impress all your guests and clients as well as fellow partygoers who might be lucky enough to tie up to this masterpiece.  Complete with a full master suite, after the party is over this yacht won’t even require you to head ashore. This is the perfect yacht charter.

3.) 38-Foot Cigarette Speed Boat:  Not interested in tying up to your neighbor this Saturday, this go-fast boat will provide you with non-stop entertainment running up and down the shoreline at speeds of up to 80 knots.  Although this boat is not considered a sport-yacht, don’t expect to be roughing it down below in the cabin.  This vessel still provides luxury below deck, and also can accommodate guests for sleeping.  The Cigarette boat rental is perfect for anyone who loves speed.  Remember, the boat is called a go-fast for a reason, to go as fast as possible.

4.) 40-Foot SeaRay Sundancer:  Although smaller than our 1st recommendation on this list, the 40-foot SeaRay is still plenty capable of making this Saturday a day to remember.  If you have a slightly smaller group heading out for the party we highly recommend this yacht as it still offers up all the luxury that SeaRay is known for.  The full kitchen and sleeping quarters for 4 down below ensure no guest will go hungry or thirsty on Saturday. If need be a quick nap is surely possible to recharge for the long night ahead.  Take advantage of this luxury yacht charter.

5.) Tige RZ2: Our final suggestion for this Saturday’s party is the perfect solution for someone on a little smaller budget but still wants to get out on the water and enjoy the day.  This final boat also might cater more to the sport’s enthusiast.  The Tige RZ2, a wakeboard boat at heart, is also the perfect boat for just relaxing in the play pen.  With a custom-added sound system, the Tige has all the potential to be the boat to tie up with all day long Saturday.  Whenever you need a break from the action, head out into the lake and do some wakeboarding, then head back into the pen for some more.

Whatever you are looking for this weekend, Imagine Lifestyles Chicago has the perfect boat or yacht to ensure an awesome day.  Chicago Scene truly does throw one of the best days of summer out on Lake Michigan be sure to take full advantage of all the excitement with a luxury yacht rental of your own.  Check out our fleet of Chicago yacht charters, exotic rental cars and more.  Remember, there are only a few weekends of boating season left on Lake Michigan. The Chicago-Scene boat party should be on everyone's calender.

 

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