Category: Lifestyle

Carscoops 

Automotive design is no easy feat and that’s one reason that Sasha Selipanov stands out. He’s had a hand if not the all-out lead in some of the world’s most important supercar and hypercar designs in recent years. After stints at Genesis, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Koenigsegg, he’s decided to strike out on his own with a design firm named Hardline27. 

Selipanov sees an opportunity with Hardline27 to shift the automotive industry’s approach to design through more use of digital technology and a multi-faceted holistic approach. He also sees room for the studio to work outside the bounds of the automotive world.

Selipanov recently sat down with Carscoops to chat about those goals, the design industry as a whole, and how the old myth that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is hogwash. Our conversation with the bold designer is below. 

CS=Carscoops / SP=Sasha Selipanov

CS: How did Hardline27 come about? 

SP: It was always my dream to do something as an independent sooner or later. So I had two full decades of working for car companies and it was a very exciting journey… meeting some very influential and powerful car people in my career and picking up some wisdom from them. But there was always kind of a ringing in my ear that I should try to build something myself, you know… not always hide in the shadow of a big successful OEM. 

CS: Did you consider simply using your last name as opposed to Hardline27? 

SP: I did, and consciously stayed away from doing so. For me, an idea is bigger than a person’s name and it transcends the name. It’s a traditional thing in the automotive industry to name companies after the founder’s name in the case of design consultancies, as much as it is in the case of car manufacturers. 

The vision I’d like to ultimately communicate through our work is hopefully bigger than just my name. I wouldn’t like people to say that they are working for me, even if they mean that they’re working for the company, I wouldn’t like it to sound like “I am working for Sasha.” The aim is to allow people to take some shared ownership and feel motivated and inspired to perform as if they were in a rock band or a metal band. 

CS: When do you think you came to the realization that this was going to be a reality? 

SP: The first time I realistically started thinking about it was right after my time at Genesis. This was something very high on the list of considerations, but then the opportunity with Koenigsegg came about and I figured that I would postpone other plans for the experience of going there and learning directly from Christian and all the other talented people working there. 

More: Ex-Koenigsegg, Bugatti, Genesis Designer Sasha Selipanov Opens Hardline27 Design Studio

 I ultimately ended up leaving Koenigsegg because I wanted to start my own business. We’re still good friends and we’re on great terms. I think of all people, Christian understands the internal ambition and the lack of love for authority that motivates people to try their own path. 

CS: If there’s one major lesson that you think you’ve learned from him, what do you think it’d be? 

SP: Just that there are absolutely no limits except those in your own head. That the universe and the world can be as pliable as play dough, and that you could kind of shape it into whatever vision or idea you have in your mind, provided that you’re willing to do an absolutely enormous amount of work and you believe in it with the entirety of your being. He’s definitely not the one to draw artificial limitations for himself or the people around him. So that was very inspiring. 

CS: Are there any projects the team is working on that you can tell us like general ideas of what you guys are working on right now? 

SP: We have worked on 17 projects since Hardline’s inception a bit over a year ago. Our announcement was very recent but in truth, the company has been open for business for a bit longer. Some of the projects were for startups who came to us and said we need your help across the board… we need to come up with everything from tone of voice for the brand to the actual design and execution of the product and those projects are very, very exciting. 

We have worked with traditional OEMs that say ”Look, we have a design team in-house, we’re working on projects, and we need you to stay on the same schedule with them and contribute as an external design studio showing your ideas for our in-house projects.” 

We also had a couple of very, very cool tech companies as clients. I was excited to see them reaching out because obviously, our core expertise is sports cars, but we had these tech companies work with us on very creative projects where we delivered some quite advanced work for them.

I never like to make announcements before something’s on the show floor and speaking for itself but we do have a couple of very interesting projects that are well past the sketch phase and becoming real as we speak. 

CS: How are things different as a design firm as opposed to working directly for an OEM? 

SP: What I find very rewarding is the fact that you’re switching between different customers, different businesses as your clients and everybody has their own set of values. There is a certain belief system that every company has that they find totally obvious and straightforward and they think “Why would it ever be different?” 

But you have, let’s say, in parallel three projects that you’re working on and you have to switch between these paradigms and I find that fascinating and very rewarding. It’s great to offer our unique perspective and bring something to the table. But obviously making it fit within the framework of the world within which this client exists.

CS: Is it a challenge to not accidentally mix some things up between project briefs?

SP: Actually, we’re making a conscious effort against that. That’s a really good point. The separation of kitchens is very, very important because the last thing we want to do is to in essence sell the same thing twice. 

That’s not our idea at all. We want to take every client and their set of constraints and their set of worldviews as guiding principles and understand how to bring our philosophy in sync with where they come from. We take that very seriously, both on the workflow level in terms of keeping separate work environments and making sure that you’re not mixing data in any way. But it [does] take discipline. It’s an effort, a conscious effort every day to make sure you change gloves and sterilize so to speak. 

I think some of that was possible before. Looking at Giugiaro’s work from the 70s you see a lot of similarities between say a Volkswagen Scirocco and the Hyundai Pony. You see a very clear Giugiaro signature which we all love. Back then brands were not as focused on having their own unique design DNA they were just happy to have the best car possible and Giugiaro would give them that best car. Today, design, marketing, and brands have become more like mini-religions. It is impossible to bring a crucifix from a church to a mosque and pretend that it works. 

CS: In our previous conversation, we delved into the topic of infusing passion into the EV experience. You hinted that there might be some exciting developments in the works. Can you share any details about those at this stage?

SP: Those projects are still in gestation so unfortunately still no spoilers. I just feel like the electrification of the drivetrain has triggered a sterilization of the overall experience. Some believe that since the drivetrain is electric, the entire user experience with the vehicle should be similar to the TV section at Best Buy… Screens everywhere, it became a kind of digital information overload. 

When everything is touch-sensitive, everything is glossy, everything just feels like an appliance more than a car. Replacing the drivetrain is obviously a challenge and we’ve found some ways to make electric cars very exciting to drive but… It’s this experience on the interior with some of the UX UI topics that feels very cold and could be brought back to a much more tactile, much more haptic, much more engaging level. I’m looking forward to projects in the future where our team gets to show some of that approach.

CS: I know you’ve already talked about your work with sports cars mainly, but are there any segments you plan to stay away from as a design company? 

SP: We strive for a holistic approach to design. We believe that just doing the final bit, which is seeing the engineering package and coming up with a design proposal that fits is not enough to create a truly remarkable product. 

We have branding and marketing experts on board to do the initial conceptualizing of the brand to discuss with our clients what is the market they’re trying to go for, what are the ways to speak to those people, and what are the interesting new approaches and trends emerging in those markets. Instead of just trying to focus on the product itself, we try to focus on the entire world within which this product is meant to exist. 

This is very rewarding for us because the product you create is like the final piece of the puzzle. Once the puzzle is laid out, you just drop that in and everything starts to make sense and there’s this holistic, very satisfying result that tells a complete story. 

Even something as mundane as a washing machine can become a very exciting project if you are given an opportunity to reimagine the process of doing laundry and interacting with that object. We are consciously branching out. 

We learned a lot of great things from the sports car world about lightweight, about form following function, and about designing to performance targets. And these are relevant topics for many other industries as well. I think there’s space to bring sobriety to a lot of design work that’s happening right now in various industries. 

CS: So we’re not ruling out the Hardline27-designed minivan, is what I’m hearing? 

SP: I really like the Renault Espace F1. That’s a pretty cool minivan… jokes aside, definitely not ruling it out. Absolutely, we’d love to work on a proper people mover. The T1, T2, and T3 Volkswagens are a huge inspiration; functional yet endlessly practical, with heaps of cool factor as well!

Some of that cool has been lost with the dirty diaper, “I have no life, minivans.” A badass van is certainly missing in today’s world. We’ve been on that sort of topic for many, many years now discussing it at all the different places I worked at before and how cool it would be to bring a van to the markets that would have a cool factor of, let’s say, a Land Rover Defender.” 

This is only one part of our multi-part interview series with Selipanov. Be sure to keep an eye out for our next part when he talks about the automotive design industry as a whole, what some of his favorite car designs are, one aspect of sustainability that isn’t getting enough attention, and how beauty isn’t in the eye of the beholder. 

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Well+Good 

When you think of traveling to Mexico, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s going on a culinary excursion to tantalize your taste buds with regional cuisines, swimming in the ocean alongside the vibrant aquatic wildlife, or exploring markets for handcrafted souvenirs.

As much as we love an active itinerary and exploring everything that local cultures have to offer, we also strongly advocate for building in a low and slow moment—or even a full getaway—dedicated to self-care. That said, if you can’t resist a luxurious spa treatment and are heading south of the border in search of some serious R&R, the SE Spa Water Ceremony at Grand Velas Riviera Maya should definitely be on your radar.

This deluxe hydrotherapy offering—which, BTW, is complimentary with any spa booking at the award-winning resort—also entails hot and cold exposure plus much-beloved spa staples like a sauna and a clay room.

Why the water ceremony experience at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is hydrotherapy at its best

If you’re new to hydrotherapy (aka water therapy), you’ll want to *immerse* yourself ASAP given its impressive health and wellness benefits. Per a 2014 review in the North American Journal of Medicine and Science, hydrotherapy is widely used to boost immune function, relieve pain, and improve conditions as diverse as fatigue and anxiety to asthma and high cholesterol.

The seven-step water ceremony is designed to restore, revitalize, and reinvigorate your mind, body, and senses. Here’s the play-by-play (or rather, the splish-by-splash):

Sauna

After settling into your cozy robe, you’ll start by sweating things out in a dry heated cedar room. According to a 2018 review in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, considerable evidence “suggest[s] that sauna bathing can induce profound physiological effects.” Short-term exposure to intense heat raises the temperature of the skin and body, activating the autonomic nervous system. Potential benefits include everything from reduced stress, enhanced cardiovascular function, and increased blood flow to the skin (resulting in a lit-from-within glow).

Color Therapy Steam Room

Not so fast—you’re not done sweating yet. Color therapy and clarifying and energizing eucalyptus oil complement this second schvitz with sensorial delights.

Clay Room

Natural clays have been used the world over for centuries and are traditionally used to facilitate healing, whether applied topically or used to build spa rooms.

Ice Room

Cold exposure—via experiences such as this ice room and ice baths à la Wim Hof—can help with pain relief, blood flow, swelling, and soreness. Experts and cold-therapy aficionados also prize it for additional benefits like higher energy levels, better sleep, and increased focus.

Sensation Showers

Cleanse, baby, cleanse.

Hot Tub and Cold Plunge

Hot and cold therapies are a stellar duo to reap a double dose of wellness benefits. As the Mayo Clinic explains, rotating the two allows you to simultaneously loosen muscles (with heat) and and reduce inflammation (with cold exposure), boosting the potential for serious relief from aches and pains. Perhaps you already do this at home with ice packs and hot compresses—but since we’re talking about full-body plunges here, expect to come out of the water with some extra pep in your step and feeling lighter and looser from head to toe.

Sensation Pool

Last but not least, the sensory pool boasts delightful touches including a pebble walkway, bubble beds, and knot-busting neck massage jets. You can also swim a few laps if you so prefer—but it’s totally fine, and absolutely encouraged, to simply rest and recover.

Each of these steps lasts for three to 15 minutes (which you can modify based on your preferences), comprising an immersive experience of detox bliss. Plus, your moment of zen doesn’t need to end once you step out of the sensation pool. You’re invited to continue your journey by laying back on a souped-up, heated lounge chair and cover your eyes with cool cucumbers.

If you end up dozing off, we don’t blame you. But if you ask us, the water ceremony is an absolute dream in and of itself.

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The Points Guy 

Hyatt doesn’t have the biggest footprint when it comes to the major hotel groups, but it has grown steadily over the last several years — focusing on luxury properties, its European expansion, extended stays and all-inclusive resorts. Hyatt also recently acquired Mr & Mrs Smith hotels and is about to get into the vacation home rental market.

If you ignored the Hyatt portfolio in certain destinations in the past, you need to revisit the options. Vienna is a perfect example. When I reviewed my choices for a recent vacation there, it wasn’t easy to pick from the five properties the World of Hyatt app suggested. For my needs, I decided to split my time between Park Hyatt Vienna and Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere.

I’m sharing my take on all five of the best World of Hyatt hotels in Vienna so you can book the one that’s right for your next stay.

Related: Here are all the new additions to World of Hyatt — and the 1 that’s going away

Best for Vienna’s old city: Park Hyatt Vienna

Even this dalmatian loves the Park Hyatt Vienna. TONY GIGOV/HYATT

TPG’s pick for the overall best World of Hyatt property in the city is the six-story Park Hyatt Vienna. With 146 guest rooms and 42 suites, this is a fantastic place to apply a Globalist suite upgrade award.

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Everyone should stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna at least once in their lifetime. Ask Hyatt loyalists, and they’ll tell you it’s one of their favorite hotels in Europe. I figured some of the praise was hype, but after my recent visit, I can assure you that the accolades are well-deserved.

Here’s what makes the Park Hyatt Vienna so special:

Close to sights and Christmas market

Horse-drawn carriages in the square in front of the Park Hyatt Vienna. HYATT

Of all your Hyatt options, the Park Hyatt Vienna — on Am Hof square in the city’s so-called Golden Quarter — has the most enviable location in the capital. During the holiday season, a veritable winter wonderland and festive Christmas market will greet you when you walk out the front door.

Walk a block or two, and you have dozens of luxury retail shops, cafes and chocolate shops to choose from.

Want to see the sights? You can easily walk to all of these (which is a good thing since much of Vienna’s old city is vehicle-restricted):

Cafe Demel and Central Cafe — four minutes
Sisi Museum and Spanish Riding School — six minutes
St. Stephen’s Cathedral — seven minutes
The Hofburg and Albertina — 11 minutes
Vienna State Opera — 14 minutes
Natural History Museum — 15 minutes
MuseumsQuartier — 19 minutes

If you have limited time for sightseeing or simply want to be in the middle of it all, you can’t beat Park Hyatt Vienna.

Historic building

Exterior of the Park Hyatt Vienna. MATTHEW SHAW/HYATT

Vienna is like a classic novel, and its historic buildings are its characters. At every turn in the Innere Stadt (within the Ringstrasse road that circles the oldest and fanciest parts of the city), you’ll revel in incredible baroque and art nouveau architecture.

The UNESCO-listed Park Hyatt Vienna is housed in a former bank building that’s more than 100 years old. The edifice was painstakingly renovated and transformed into a luxury hotel, which opened in 2014.

The hotel retained many of the bank’s original details and art. Head to the spa to visit the old bank vault that now houses the pool. The original vault door is also at the ready for Instagram moments.

Impeccable service

Park Hyatt Vienna is a luxury hotel, and the staff is a notch or two above what you’ll find at more mainstream properties. The doormen, concierge, front desk representatives, restaurant and bar hosts, and housekeepers were universally cheery and helpful.

Check-in was efficient, and our room was ready by 10 a.m. We were proactively offered late checkout (as a Globalist benefit), too. The room was immaculate, and our glasses never went empty in the bar or restaurant. The concierge and doorman also had spot-on suggestions for what to see and do in the area.

Bonus: Excellent restaurant, cafe and bar

Bank Brasserie dining room at Park Hyatt Vienna. ANDREA M. ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Finally, we’re foodies, and we thought the hotel’s Bank Brasserie was exceptional. Breakfast, which is included for Globalists, was phenomenal. You can order off the menu or opt for the buffet. (Globalists can do both.) Order the chive toast and then head to the buffet for the delicious smoked meats, cheeses, homemade breads and pastries, and so much more.

Dinner was so good that we wished we had more time to dine there again. The menu is outstanding, and each dish was well executed. Some of the entrees on offer right now include:

Halibut with Hokkaido pumpkin, granola, beluga lentils and watercress veloute
Braised venison saltimbocca with roasted cauliflower cream, pancetta and cranberries
Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes, cucumber salad and cranberries

Pricing

Park Hyatt Vienna is a Category 7 hotel in the World of Hyatt program. Nightly stays start at 25,000 points per night or 558 euros ($590).

Related: Best Park Hyatt hotels, according to Globalists

Best upscale Hyatt value in Vienna: Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere

The view from the 14th-floor Executive Suite. ANDREA M. ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value in the city — especially if you’re looking for “luxury lite.”

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Incredible value on points or cash

Head to Hyatt’s booking calendar and search for the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere. You’ll soon see what a value — in terms of both points and cash — this Category 3 hotel is. If you lament that you can’t stay anywhere nice with those Category 1-4 free night certificates, use them here.

You earn a free night certificate by staying 30 nights, earning 50,000 base points in a calendar year or completing the Brand Explorer challenge. You can also earn one on the anniversary of holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card and when you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.

The value (see more about that below) is one of the reasons we decided to spend the balance of our trip here after leaving the Park Hyatt.

Related: How to earn, use and make the most of your Hyatt free night certificates

Plentiful, spacious suites (this is for you, Globalists)

Our home-away-from-home. The 14th-floor Executive Suite. ANDREA M. ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

The 16-story Andaz Vienna, opened in 2019, offers 259 guest rooms and 44 suites. With that many suites, Globalists — especially those traveling offseason — regularly report being upgraded. Use one of your Suite Upgrade Awards to guarantee the upgrade during peak dates.

There are a variety of suites with incredible views of the city. We stayed in the Executive Suite and could see Belvedere Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Prater amusement park, the Danube Tower and more.

Warm and friendly staff

Aurora bar. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

The hospitality industry has taken a lot of punches since a perceived decline in service following the pandemic. At the Andaz Vienna, the entire staff was friendly and helpful. Everyone seemed happy at work and went out of their way to ensure we had a fantastic stay. Was the service as polished as what we experienced at the Park Hyatt Vienna? No, but we didn’t expect that since the Park Hyatt and Andaz brands are very different.

Bonus: This hotel is also near Vienna’s central train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof). A fellow traveler in my group took the train from the airport, got out at the train station and walked a few minutes to the Andaz.

Hotel review: Why my family loved the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere

Pricing

Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere is a Category 3 in the World of Hyatt program. Nightly stays start at 9,000 points or 170 euros ($180).

Best boutique Hyatt accommodation in Vienna: Hotel Das Tyrol

For an intimate getaway just outside the Ringstrasse and next to the Naschmarkt, you can’t do better than Hotel Das Tyrol, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Here’s why.

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It’s intimate, with just 30 rooms

When I think of a “boutique” hotel, I envision something beautiful but intimate … the kind of place where you never get lost looking for your room. Hotel Das Tyrol offers just 30 rooms in four categories: small superior, superior double, deluxe and studio. Each one features a king bed, and only the studio can accommodate up to three people. For a view of Mariahilfer Strasse, request one of the four rooms with a balcony.

It’s a 10- to 15-minute walk to the old city from here, and there’s a subway stop right around the corner.

Thoughtful, high-end amenities

Who doesn’t love being pampered? You’ll feel that way the moment you check in and receive a welcome glass of Prosecco. Stay four or more nights, and you’ll also receive a voucher for the coffee house.

Your soundproofed room is stocked with all the comforts of a high-end home, including a Dyson hair dryer, slippers, robes, a scale, a lighted makeup mirror and bath amenities from Ada (shower gel, body milk, shampoo and conditioner).

My favorite amenities? Treca mattresses, lights on dimmers, the Nespresso coffee maker, and the heated floor and towel racks in the bathroom.

If you’re not a World of Hyatt member, you’ll pay for breakfast out of pocket (about 25 euros/$26); it’s highly rated among guests who say it’s the perfect way to fuel up for a day of sightseeing. Book through Hyatt to get the breakfast fee waived.

Finally, the spa allows guests to book a private session in the sauna and steam bath.

The art

Hotel Das Tyrol exemplifies the idea that art does not only belong on museum walls but in everyday life. That’s why the hotelier, Helena Ramsbacher, installed her private collection of contemporary art within the hotel. Throughout the building — even in guest rooms — you’ll find paintings, statues, ceramics and more.

The hotel showcases work from dozens of artists, including Hermann Nitsch, Gunter Damisch, Franz Grabmayr, Kiki Kogelnik, Tom Fleischhauer, Rosemarie Benedikt and Lucia Riccelli.

After you’ve explored all the art on-property, it’s just a two-minute walk to MuseumsQuartier and the nearly dozen institutions there, including Leopold Museum and Architekturzentrum Wien.

Pricing

Hotel Das Tyrol is a Category 4 in the World of Hyatt program. Nightly stays start at 12,000 points or 206 euros ($218). Standard World of Hyatt benefits — such as complimentary parking on free night awards, complimentary bottled water and waived resort fees — do not apply at SLH properties. Hyatt points are only awarded on room rates, not on services such as dining or spa appointments.

Best Hyatt for a funky, arty vibe in Vienna: Altstadt Vienna

For something a bit zestier than the other options, check out Altstadt Vienna in the 7th district, next to the MuseumsQuartier. The hotel fuses funky art with attentive service.

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Apartment-like setting with designer rooms

HOTEL ALTSTADT VIENNA/FACEBOOK

Just a few blocks farther outside the Ringstrasse than Hotel Das Tyrol, Altstadt Vienna has a blissful apartment-like setting. When you stay here, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve moved to the city for a taste of European cosmopolitan life.

Sixteen architects and designers developed 62 unique rooms that offer single, double and suite options. One room (number 55) was designed to evoke the feeling of a compartment on the Oriental Express, complete with bunk beds. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an XXL Suite clocks in around 1,184 square feet with two bedrooms, two baths and plenty of living space in between.

Complimentary afternoon tea

Who says no to free tea, cake and candy? Every day between 4 and 6 p.m., guests enjoy delicious confections accompanied by tea from Sonnentor and Kusmi, Paris. It’s a great way to refuel between a busy day of sightseeing and your later-in-the-evening dinner reservation.

The rooftop garden is a haven

The hotel’s rooftop garden is open May through September and is reason enough for some people to pick this hotel over others that lack outdoor space in this beautiful city.

Pricing

Altstadt Vienna is a Category 4 in the World of Hyatt program. Nightly stays start at 12,000 points or 291 euros ($308). Standard World of Hyatt benefits — such as complimentary parking on free night awards, complimentary bottled water and waived resort fees — do not apply at SLH properties. Hyatt points are only awarded on room rates, not on services such as dining or spa appointments.

Best low-cost Hyatt option in Vienna: Lindner Hotel Vienna Am Belvedere

If you’re looking to spend the lowest amount (in dollars or points), this is the Hyatt hotel to consider.

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Related: As a Hyatt loyalist, here’s why Europe is more appealing than ever

Category 1 hotel starting at 3,500 points per night

I did a double-take when I researched the Lindner Hotel Vienna Am Belvedere and realized it was a Category 1 property with award nights starting at 3,500 World of Hyatt points.

If you applied for the World of Hyatt Credit Card and earned the 30,000-point welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in first three months of opening the account, plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. You could stay at this hotel for eight nights and still have points left over. What a value.

For travelers who spend all day and most of the evening out sightseeing and just need a place to crash at night, the Lindner is a good bet.

Well-located near Belvedere and transportation

Like the Andaz, this hotel is in the Belvedere neighborhood. While the Andaz overlooks the front of Belvedere Palace, the Lindner has a view of the opposite side of the building.

It’s also just a few blocks from public transit, including the Wien Rennweg train station (with service from and to the airport).

I met a traveler who was staying at this hotel, and he walked to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in about 30 minutes. He said it was a neat way to see more of the city.

Full-service with a restaurant and bar

The bar. HYATT

There are only a few restaurants near the Lindner (unless you walk 15 to 20 minutes north). That’s why many guests appreciate the on-site dining venue and bar. Heuriger am Belvedere takes its inspiration from typical Austrian rustic wine taverns with brick walls and wooden tables and chairs. It serves up seasonal Austrian specialties.

The pretty Canaletto Bar offers wine, cocktails and beer alongside Viennese coffees and cakes.

Pricing

Lindner Vienna Am Belvedere is a Category 1 in the World of Hyatt program. Nightly stays start at 3,500 points or 107 euros ($113).

Want to read more about Austria? Here are some resources:

How to spend 48 hours in Vienna, Austria
The best family-friendly activities in Vienna
Europe’s newest luxury landmark: A review of the Rosewood Vienna
11 of the best hotels in Austria for your next visit

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Carscoops 

For automotive enthusiasts who like a little color in their lives, there’s good news and bad news. While white, black, and gray cars have increased in popularity, since the pandemic, brightly colored cars are holding their value better than ever.

White was the most popular color on the used market in 2023, controlling a massive 26.2 percent of sales. Despite being the most popular color in 2018, black is now the second mode popular color in America, and gray holds steady in third place.

What may be a surprise is that, although silver remains the fourth most popular color, it has lost a lot of market share over the last five years. Whereas 15.1 percent of used vehicles were silver in 2018, just 11.7 percent of them are silver in 2023.

Most Popular Car Colors

However, in its study of 10 million 1- to 5-year-old used vehicles, iSeeCars‘ research indicates that popularity of “grayscale” vehicles has only increased since 2018. Whereas white, black, silver, and gray vehicles made up 77.2 percent of the U.S. market five years ago, that figure has increased to 78.6 percent in 2023.

Intriguingly, that doesn’t necessarily make them the most prudent investment. Since the pandemic, the value of unusual colors has grown significantly. For example, the average price of beige cars has more than doubled since 2018, making it the color whose value has increased the most in the last five years.

Read: $23K Used To Buy A 3-Year-Old Car In 2019, Now It Can’t Even Get You A 6-Year-Old One

That, though, may necessarily be because the colors are more popular. Instead, the increasing value may have more to do with the scarcity of used cars in general. A drop-off in production prompted by the pandemic meant that values across the used vehicle market increased significantly, and buyers became less picky as a result.

Change In Average Price By Car Color: 2018 vs. 2023

“With regard to beige, we’ve seen the same story with economy cars,” said Brauer. “Cars that weren’t as desirable before the pandemic have been swept along with the price increases impacting the entire used car market. That means vehicles with relatively low prices in 2018 have, as a percentage of their previous price, gone up the most.”

Nevertheless, yellow and green vehicles are the two most expensive on the pre-owned market, trading for an average of $49,043 and $39,911 respectively. That may reflect the growing popularity of these colors in the luxury and high-performance vehicle market.

In terms of non-grayscale colors, blue and red remain the two most popular paints in the market. Interestingly, blue has overtaken red as the most common colorful paint choice in 2023. Red was the most popular five years ago, but became the less popular choice in hatchbacks, sedans, and (importantly) SUVs, this year.

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Carscoops 

For years now, we’ve heard that Formula One cars, and other racecars, produce so much aerodynamic downforce that they could be driven upside down. However, finding a way to actually do that has always been considered so difficult that it couldn’t really be done. But YouTube channel Driver61 thinks that it can.

Racecar driver Scott Mansell will be the man behind the wheel, and says that he has already poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into making this project a reality. However, it won’t surprise you to learn that he still faces significant challenges before he can actually do it.

While driving a car upside down sounds preposterous, it’s theoretically easy. All you really need is a car that can generate more downforce than it weighs. For instance, modern F1 cars weigh around 1,760 lbs (798 kg) and can generate around 8,818 lbs (4,000 kg). Since an F1 car generates five times its own weight in aerodynamic downforce, it could easily hold itself up against the roof of a tunnel if it suddenly found itself there.

However, while generating enough downforce to hold a car up is easy, just about every other aspect of this project is incredibly difficult. And that’s why an F1 car isn’t really the right car for this project.

Read: The Peugeot 9X8 Could Be Updated For 2024 With A Traditional Rear Wing

From a purely practical point of view, F1 cars have to go fast to generate downforce, which means that you’d need an incredibly long and strong tunnel to actually achieve this feat. Since tunnel designers don’t build roofs to be driven on, Mansell decided to find a different car to do this with.

He landed on the Empire Wraith. An open wheel racecar, it’s designed by Willem Toet, who used to be the Ferrari F1 team’s head of aerodynamics. However, the Wraith isn’t designed for big open racetracks, but rather tight, high-altitude hill climbs, which actually makes it perfect for this project.

With a few tweaks, Toet was able to design a body that could make more than 1,371 lbs (622 kg) of downforce, or (for safety) more than twice what the car weighs, which is just 686 lbs (311 kg).

While Mansell found a car that he could adapt to complete this project, he couldn’t find a tunnel that would work. In fact, he realized that tunnels are bad for this kind of project since they have harsh angles, lights, and are closed off.

Instead, he’s building half a tunnel. That will ensure that the car can climb up the walls and onto the roof smoothly, without upsetting the delicate under car aerodynamics, and causing the car to fall down. As a bonus, it also means that the stunt will be easier to film and view.

Mansell still has to solve the problem of how to get an engine to run upside down. He hopes to run his car inverted for five seconds, which would cause issues for its fluids. Although he hasn’t revealed how he solved this, one anticipates that an electric powertrain with a very small battery might be helpful.

However he solves the problem, he needs help. The point of this and other videos in this series isn’t just to build anticipation for the final stunt, it’s also to ask for backers who will help pay for everything that’s needed to make this project a reality (information on how to do that is included in the video description). We wish him luck in his endeavor, because it frankly just sounds neat.

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Carscoops 

This story contains renderings that are not related to nor endorsed by Hyundai

The new generation of the 2024 Hyundai Verna / Accent debuted earlier this year as a sharp-looking affordable small sedan focused on emerging markets. Despite its budget-friendly character, digital artist Zephyr Designz envisioned a performance version of the Verna with a wild bodykit that would put a BMW M3 to shame.

The visual modifications on the Hyundai Verna are quite extensive, with only the LED lighting units, greenhouse, door handles, and mirrors remaining untouched. The highlight is probably the ultra-wide front and rear fenders, sticking out of the bodywork. Their shape is inspired by the sharp Lamborghini Urus-style surfacing of the original and sends strong racecar vibes. At the front, the redesigned bumper has larger intakes and a splitter, while the tail features a generously sized diffuser, dual exhaust pipes, and a discreet lip spoiler.

More: Mahindra Scorpio-N Ladder-Frame SUV Envisioned With A Hemi V8 Engine Swap

Photos Zephyr Designz (Instagram/YouTube)

This is a photo of the stock Hyundai Verna for reference.

The most hardcore Verna rides on a set of 21-inch Asanti Black Label rims shod in Advan Neova tires. Finally, the suspension has been significantly lowered compared to stock and the tracks are a lot wider in order for the massive wheels to align with the fender extensions. The creator of the digital-only build didn’t mention any performance upgrades but with this looks the sedan certainly needs something more impressive than the 1.5 T-GDi engine that produces 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS) right from the factory.

There is no sign that Hyundai will make a sporty N-Line or a full-blown N version of the Verna, but that didn’t stop fans of the brand hoping for something spicier. Vishnu Suresh, who goes under the nickname Zephyr Designz on Instagram and YouTube, gave them something to dream about with his “hardcore bodykit” for the small sedan.

The digital artist is known for applying extreme modifications to production vehicles like the Kia EV6 GT Time Attack Monster or the slamed Mahindra Scorpio N with a Hemi V8 engine swap. More recently, he created sporty versions of the VW Virtus and Skoda Slavia siblings, proposing an imaginary rivalry in the small sedan segment.

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Carscoops 

Some people have such a strong connection with older cars that find it worth spending new car money to have them restored. That’s exactly what The Car Care Nut did with a 600,000-mile (965,606 km) Lexus LS 430 that was bought sight unseen, and to say the results are impressive would be an understatement.

This video is one of just many in an in-depth series detailing the Lexus’s restoration. It all started with buying the LS 430, making it safe to drive, and fixing any and all mechanical issues with it. In this video, The Car Care Nut and the team at Chicago Auto Pros did a complete interior restoration, stripping away every component, thoroughly cleaning them, then reassembling the whole package.

The process began with disassembly, which saw the car get stripped of every single interior component until all that was left was bare metal. The team then worked on meticulously cleaning both the components and the bare interior, doing their best to erase 22 years’ worth of dirt and grime. Looking at the finished product of this process, it appeared as though it was fresh from the factory.

Read More: 2024 Lexus LS Debuts in Japan With New Digital Instrument Cluster And Safety Upgrades

See Also: Spending $24,000 To Fully Restore A 229k-Mile Lexus GX470 Makes More Sense Than You’d Think

Once that was done, it was time to reassemble the car, which proved to be a laborious task. As you could imagine, the rebuild process took a long time, and was especially complicated due to the unique design of components like the HVAC system. The first step in the process was to install all the roof-mounted parts like the sunroof, headliner, visors, and electronics. Next up was the dashboard/firewall area, which started with the HVAC system, then covered components such as the steering column, pedals, and central trim panels.

Following that, the Lexus‘s interior started to look habitable again as the carpeting, seatbelts, insulation, and rear seats were all reinstalled. They then pivoted to the front, putting back the driver’s seat, center console, radio, screen, and climate controls along with the gauge cluster, steering wheel, and weather stripping. Finally, the interior was complete with the installation of the passenger seat, glovebox, and door cards. In the midst of all this, wiring proved to be a continuous challenge, but that’s to be expected when essentially reinstalling the car’s entire nervous system from scratch.

There’s still a little more work to be done to modernize the car, but it’s now a fully assembled, driving vehicle. Not only was the knowledge to clean like this an extremely impressive skill to have, but so was the expertise to reassemble it properly. And aside from things like minor wrinkles in the leather, the Lexus looks as though it could’ve just rolled off the showroom floor despite having enough mileage to circle the earth 24 times over.

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Well+Good 

When it comes to the wide world of cheeses, farmer’s cheese may be the most humble, but not for long. While you may not have heard of this variety of cheese before, it’s quickly becoming a favorite among cheese lovers thanks to its subtle flavor and smooth, spreadable texture.

What’s more, the neutral taste of farmer’s cheese perfectly lends it to both sweet and savory dishes, and it can even be made super easily at home. Beyond being a versatile secret ingredient, farmer’s cheese offers some very notable health benefits, especially varieties that contain probiotics, or healthy bacteria.

So, what is farmer’s cheese?

An unripened curd cheese, farmer’s cheese is very similar to cottage cheese and ricotta. It’s got a spreadable texture like the latter and a tangy flavor like the former. However, it does tend to be drier and more mild than either of these cheeses.

Also known as tvorog, farmer’s cheese is wildly popular in Eastern Europe, though its origins are said to lie in France. You’ll often see this spreadable cheese in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian dishes like blintzes, pierogies, pastries, and pancakes.

Farmer’s cheese can be either cow, goat, or sheep milk-based and there are quite a few ways to make it. It can come together in less than 30 minutes through warming milk, combining it with an acid, like distilled vinegar, to separate the curds from the whey, and squeezing all the whey from the curds resulting in a deliciously basic farmer’s cheese.

But this method won’t enrich your final product with probiotics. Rather, to achieve this kind of farmer’s cheese, a fermentation process must occur. Some cheese makers will ferment their milk for 24 hours to naturally separate the curds from the whey. Others will add enzymes made for cheese, also called rennet, and a bacterial starter to their milk to bring about separation. Regardless of which method is used, both will result in a farmer’s cheese rich in probiotics.

Farmer’s cheese can come plain or rolled in seasonings and/or herbs, though some will have these adornments mixed directly into the cheese. Because this cheese is unripened, once the whey is squeezed from the curds and it’s seasoned, it’s ready to be enjoyed, which is super convenient.

The health benefits of farmer’s cheese

Beyond the probiotics some farmer’s cheese varieties can contain, there are many nutrients found in this cheese that qualify it as a healthy choice. These include calcium, phosphorus, protein, and B vitamins. Because farmer’s cheese and cottage cheese are so incredibly similar, any health benefits associated with one will likely be the case for the other. Let’s get into what those are.

Bone health

The calcium and phosphorus found in farmer’s cheese may very well be two of the most important minerals in the bone health cycle. This is because they both play a vital role in bone growth and the maintenance of healthy bone tissue.

Energy and tissue health

As one of the three major macronutrients, the protein in this versatile cheese will offer us sustained energy through its ability to slow digestion (in a good way), stabilizing our blood sugars. Plus, protein is a critical building block for effectively every tissue in the body, from organs and blood cells to our skin, hair, and nails.

Growth and development

With vitamin B12, folate, niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin, there’s no shortage of B vitamins to be found in farmer’s cheese. This vitamin group is super important for growth, development, and efficient metabolism throughout the body.

Gut health

The probiotics found in many brands of farmer’s cheese primarily support our gut health through their impact on the gut microbiome. Given that probiotics are beneficial bacteria, when we consume them we’re boosting the population of supportive microbes in our gut. The gut microbiome is a community of over a trillion microorganisms housed in the large intestine and it is intimately linked with not only better digestive health but brain, immune, and overall health as well.

But the gut benefits of farmer’s cheese don’t stop there. The process of making this cheese yields it to be nearly lactose-free. This is because the lactose found in milk is almost entirely removed in the cheese-making process through the whey that is discarded. In fact, many farmer’s cheese brands will advertise their product as 99 percent lactose-free, as it’s nearly impossible to get every last drop of whey out of the curds when making this spreadable cheese. For the lactose-intolerant, this is great news as farmer’s cheese won’t result in tummy troubles the way regular milk often will.

Heart health

Finally, farmer’s cheese is notably low in sodium compared to many other popular cheeses—perfect for those with heart health concerns. This is because high salt intake over long periods of time can lead to elevated blood pressure levels or hypertension. Plus, while the saturated fat readily found in full-fat dairy products is not nearly as much of a concern for heart disease as once thought, fermented dairy products have an added leg up when it comes to heart health benefits. This is due to the fact that the fermentation process involved in making probiotic-rich dairy products, like farmer’s cheese, converts some of the saturated fat found in this product to heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

How to make farmer’s cheese

One of the most enticing aspects of farmer’s cheese for many is that it can easily be made at home, perfect for both seasoned and beginner cheese makers alike.

Yields about 8 servings

Ingredients

1 gallon of whole milk of your choice, either cow’s, goat’s, or sheep’s. Opt for raw or pasteurized milk over ultra-pasteurized as ultra-pasteurized milk will result in curds that are too small. Similarly, whole milk is important for smoother cheese texture and richer flavor.

1/2 cup acid of your choice, either white distilled vinegar or lemon juice—though some like to use apple cider vinegar for an added flavor note.

1 tsp salt

Optional: Any mix-ins you’d like including (but not limited to) olive oil, fresh herbs such as dill, chives, rosemary, basil, mint, or tarragon, or spices like black pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, cayenne, or cumin

1. Over medium-low to medium heat, start bringing your milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot.

2. Just as you see foamy bubbles start to form, turn off the heat. Use your thermometer to check the temperature of your milk, it should be around 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Slowly stir in your acid. The milk should start to curdle pretty quickly. Let this mixture sit until it reaches room temperature.

4. Prepare your colander by lining it with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel.

5. Then, stir any mix-ins you’d like into your milk mixture and pour the mixture into your colander.

6. Squeeze all the moisture out of your curds and add them to a large mixing bowl.

7. Mix with salt to taste.

8. Now you can optionally shape your cheese into a ball using your cheesecloth or a disc with two dinner plates. If you didn’t add mix-ins directly to the cheese, now would be the time to roll your cheese in any herbs or seasonings you’d like. Then enjoy!

This fresh farmer’s cheese will stay good in the refrigerator anywhere between seven and 10 days, if not devoured long before. Also, be sure to hang onto the whey you’re left with as it’s the perfect addition to homemade soups, smoothies, and even bread recipes as a natural source of protein.

While this recipe doesn’t contain probiotics, you can purchase probiotic-rich farmer’s cheese at the supermarket. Some excellent options to look for include Friendship Dairies and Lifeway.

Ways to enjoy farmer’s cheese

Whether you make your farmer’s cheese or opt to purchase it at the grocery store, there are so many delicious uses for it in the kitchen.

On the savory side of things, this mild cheese can be used as a substitute for cream cheese on bagels, mayonnaise on sandwiches, or avocado on toast. It’s also the perfect base for creamy dips as well as filling for casseroles, pierogies, lasagna, ravioli, and stuffed shells. It’s even an excellent swap for feta cheese in Mediterranean recipes, ricotta in Italian classics, and paneer in Indian dishes. Farmer’s cheese also rivals hummus for the ideal snack with cut veggies or tinned fish.

There are just as many possibilities for sweet applications when it comes to this tasty cheese. You can stuff it into crepes or add it to baked goods like cakes, tarts, and pies. Farmer’s cheese is also a great substitute for yogurt or cottage cheese when mixed with honey, fresh fruit, and chia seeds for a satisfying afternoon pick-me-up.

From the impressive nutrition it delivers to its delicious flavor and versatility in the kitchen, there’s no shortage of reasons to love farmer’s cheese.

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Carscoops 

Earlier this year, rumors circulated that Mazda’s intentions to revive the 6 and produce a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sedan were being scrapped in favor of prioritizing SUVs and crossovers. However, a recent report from Japan indicates that the positive reception of these SUVs has prompted a reconsideration of the sedan.

Fondly remembered by many, the Mazda6 was a handsome, front-wheel-drive sedan that, like so many others in its fading class, was discontinued in recent years. A victim of changing consumer preferences for tall riding models, the sedan has been off the market for two years now.

Rumors have long persisted regarding Mazda’s intentions to resurrect the car, with many speculating that it might return as a four-door coupe designed for enthusiasts with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. However, in August, a source close to the company was quoted by Japanese media, stating that the latest large vehicle architecture, initially designed for a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, would be “exclusive to SUVs.”

Read: The Rotary Engine Is Back In Production At Mazda

Illustrations John Halas / Carscoops

Indeed, the automaker has been focusing on getting its CX line of SUVs sorted. With the CX-50 and CX-90 now on sale in North America, and CX-60 plying its trade in Europe, the Japanese automaker is well on its way. All in, it plans to ultimately sell the CX-50, CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90 in varying markets around the world.

That’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense from a business point of view, considering rising SUV sales. However, Japanese outlet Best Car is now reporting that the CX-90 and CX-60 are doing so well, and cost so little to make, that Mazda can once again afford to develop a sedan.

With its eyes reportedly set on the North American market, the sedan is expected to have four doors, and to be based on the CX-60’s platform and running gear. That means that drivers can potentially expect ICE and PHEV versions of Mazda’s 2.5-liter inline four turbo as well as its 3.3-liter inline-six turbo that’s currently available in 280 hp and 340 hp variants.

Like the rest of Mazda’s refreshed lineup, the sedan would likely aim to move upmarket and compete with premium offerings from brands like Lexus and Acura. However, given Mazda’s current focus on SUVs in its product cycle, it’s improbable that we’ll see the sedan, assuming it’s indeed in the works, before 2025.

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Well+Good 

The simple act of washing clothing and bedding has a bigger environmental impact than many folks know. Apart from the amount of water used, some chemicals in conventional laundry detergent allow synthetic substances to enter natural waterways and can also cause skin irritation.

Lea D’Auriol, founder of ocean conservation nonprofit Oceanic Global, shares, “Laundry detergents are commonly made with synthetics and toxic chemicals including carcinogens, air pollutants, and hormone disrupters.” Not only are these toxins detrimental to human health, but since around half of global wastewater enters the environment untreated (according to the United Nations), they also end up in our waterways and threaten to devastate marine biodiversity, fisheries, and the overall health of marine ecosystems, D’Auriol notes.

Fortunately, there’s a more sustainable solution. Natural laundry detergent can be a healthier choice for us and our planet. They’re made with more sustainable packaging, safer ingredients, and are less toxic for aquatic life than many traditional options.

Some people worry that eco-friendly laundry detergent won’t clean well, but that’s a myth. Minimize your carbon footprint with the best natural laundry detergents on the market. Not sure where to start? There’s a sea of options available, so I tested several popular choices over the course of a few weeks to figure out which will clean your clothing the best.

What makes a laundry detergent eco-friendly?

There’s no shortage of brands selling these natural laundry detergents in this age of sustainable living, but what exactly makes a laundry detergent green? And how can you tell if it’s just clever marketing or a product that performs well and doesn’t contain harmful additives?

Eco expert Jessian Choy, who works with the Sierra Club and the San Francisco Department of Environment, recommends seeking out products with minimal ingredients. As she puts it, “If you won’t eat it, why would you put it on your skin? She considers coconut oil to be one of the best options, as its antifungal and antibacterial properties can help remove stains.

Ingredients to avoid in laundry detergent

Choy warns against 1,4 dioxane, a known carcinogen that can contaminate waterways and is often hidden on labels under various names. “Avoid anything with pre-fixes and words like -eth, PEG, or -oxynol-, which are all synonymous with 1,4 dioxane.”

Besides that, Choy says to try and steer clear of:

Dyes
Formaldehyde
Optical brighteners
Phosphates
Dichlorobenzene
Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate

What to consider when buying eco-friendly laundry detergent

Type

Detergent is typically offered in pods, sheets, liquids, or powders. D’Auriol recommends powdered or liquid detergent sold in bulk as opposed to single-use disposables. Choy prefers powder since it’s less bulky and heavy.

While laundry sheets and detergent pods can be convenient, they’re not as kind to the environment. “Liquid and powders are both better than laundry pods,” Choy says. “I prefer powder, since liquid is heavier and weighs more to ship around, ultimately creating more climate change.” She adds that an ultra-concentrated formula, which typically comes in a smaller plastic container, can help reduce waste as well.

Fragrance

When it comes to natural laundry detergents, Choy prefers fragrance-free products to unscented ones. “Fragrance-free means zero added fragrance or oils,” she says. “Even something that sounds as innocent as essential oils can cause breast growth in young boys.” This can be especially important to consider if you have allergies or skin sensitivities.

Environmental criteria

Ecolabels, which are icons allowing you to see just how sustainable your product is, are another way to identify natural laundry detergents. Look for the Environmental Working Group (EWG) verified mark and the Safer Choice Standard from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can also check for labels that contain words like organic or bio-based, and offerings from Certified B Corporations.

Packaging

“When shopping for an eco-friendly detergent, a plastic-free bottle is better,” Choy says. Plastic isn’t great for the environment, but post-consumer recycled plastic has a smaller carbon footprint. Also keep an eye out for biodegradable packaging and brands that sell refills, which can help minimize waste.

The best natural detergents

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