DESIGN DISPATCH

Ferrari Unveils Its Next Supercar, and Other News

Plus, a former art advisor pleads guilty to fraud and Uber explores an Expedia acquisition.

Ferrari's new F80 supercar. Courtesy of Ferrari

Ferrari announces its first new supercar launch in 11 years, retailing for $3.9 million.

Ferrari has unveiled its first new supercar in more than a decade: the F80 is priced at $3.9 million and powered by a 1200-horsepower V6 hybrid engine. What’s more, every vehicle in the ultra-limited production run of 799 units has already been informally reserved by clients.

Studio One Eleven takes over Adjaye Associates’ revamp of L.A.’s arts district.

Plans for the $2 billion Fourth & Central development in L.A.’s Arts District have been revised by Studio One Eleven. Drafts initially created by Adjaye Associates were updated to increase rental housing and reduce the height of a planned residential tower from 44 to 30 stories. 

 

Banana Republic's Los Angeles BR Home store. Courtesy of Banana Republic

Manhattan-based former art advisor Lisa Schiff pleads guilty to defrauding clients.

The former art adviser Lisa Schiff has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court, admitting to stealing $6.5 million from clients who trusted her to purchase high-value art. Starting in 2018, Schiff misappropriated funds from at least 12 clients, for which she now faces up to 20 years in prison.

Uber is in the early stages of exploring what an acquisition of Expedia would look like.

Uber has been exploring the possibility of acquiring Expedia, a move that would expand operations beyond its ride-hailing and food delivery services. It remains uncertain whether the company will move to make a deal, but such an acquisition could strengthen Uber’s market position, with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s history as former CEO of Expedia playing a key role. 

One year after it first launched, Banana Republic shuts down its furniture operations.

Banana Republic has discontinued its furniture line just a year after launching it, quietly removing the items from its website and confirming a shift in focus to textiles and accessories. In a statement, the brand confirmed it will now concentrate on bedding, bath, and wall art.

Building SimCity: How to Put the World in a Machine by Chaim Gingold. The MIT Press, 2024.

Today’s attractive distractions:

Building SimCity establishes a comparison between billionaires and RPGs. 

Temu’s “shockingly grotesque” pig T-shirt is amassing a cult following online. 

HBO’s new satire is based on relentlessly bizarre “Florida man” headlines

Apparently, the chocolate Halloween candy craze is giving way to gummies. 

 

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