Driven by style. Defined by the journey.
Strada Luxe is the definitive guide for those who see driving as not just a necessity, but a way of life. Blending the worlds of high-end automotive design and curated travel, Strada Luxe offers insider tips on the latest luxury car releases, from cutting-edge electric performance to timeless classics. Each issue puts readers in the driver’s seat, with expertly crafted guides to the world’s most scenic road trips, refined pit stops, and hidden travel gems. From the boulevards of Palm Springs, where retro glamour meets modern design, to the alpine passes of the Dolomites, Strada Luxe inspires a life of movement, elegance, and discovery.
Here, the open road is always an invitation.
Volume 15
The roads we remember
There’s something captivating about the way a road can hold memory. A curve that echoes with past speed. A boulevard lined with silhouettes of a more glamorous time. In Volume 15 of Strada Luxe, we travel not just through space, but through eras of elegance, excitement, and design that still leave their mark.
This issue begins in Palm Springs, where the sunlight seems to have a golden filter and the cars glide past mid-century masterpieces like they never left the 1960s. Our feature on retro vintage cars in the desert oasis celebrates a uniquely Californian sensibility: part cinematic nostalgia, part future-forward cool. Whether it’s a candy-coloured Cadillac parked beneath a breeze-block wall, or a restored Porsche glinting by the poolside, we explore how these machines still turn heads and stir imaginations.
Then, we switch gears and head to Europe, where adrenaline replaces ease but elegance remains. Our story on driving the legendary F1 Grand Prix roads of Monaco takes readers from the harbour-front chicanes to the hilltop straights, retracing the footsteps (or tyre tracks) of racing’s greatest legends. But this isn’t just about speed. It’s about control, precision, and the rare experience of placing yourself in the heart of motorsport’s most iconic circuit.
Throughout this issue, you’ll also find our signature blend of curated escapes, expert automotive reviews, and design-driven discoveries. We dive into new releases redefining electric luxury, spotlight hotels where car and culture align, and offer a selection of destination road trips that combine performance with poetry.
As always, Strada Luxe is about more than the vehicle. It’s about how you travel, where you stop, what you notice. It’s about choosing the road less driven but doing it in style.
Here’s to the machines that move us, and the memories we make on the way.
See you out there,
Isabel Laurent
Editor-in-Chief
Torque report
Desert-proven
New AWD Concept Tackles the Dunes in Style
In the golden sweep of the Al Dhafra desert, where sand meets sky and terrain tests metal, a new all-wheel drive prototype is making waves.
This week, an unnamed European luxury marque (industry insiders are whispering Maserati or Aston Martin) quietly debuted its next-gen AWD platform in a series of closed-track trials across the UAE’s dune fields. Sleek and sculpted but rugged at its core, the vehicle is said to blend grand touring aesthetics with advanced terrain-adaptive tech; think off-road capability without sacrificing that on-road swagger.
Sources on-site reported a near-silent drivetrain, sophisticated suspension geometry, and an “elegantly brutal” presence as the vehicle cut across the sand like silk on stone. Heat-adaptive tire compounds and custom airflow channels were also spotted in camouflaged form.
Full details remain under wraps, but this test signals a bold pivot in the luxury off-road segment, one where performance is expected, but poise is everything.
The official reveal? Rumoured for late autumn, just in time for the next major international auto show.
The latest from the garage
Veltrone teases its most ambitious coupé yet
Behind the frosted glass of its Northwood design studio, Veltrone Automobili is quietly preparing its most daring reveal in more than a decade. The independent marque, known for its sculptural silhouettes and obsessive attention to detail, has confirmed that its next flagship coupé is entering final design validation.
Codenamed Vero C12, the grand tourer will reportedly fuse Veltrone’s legacy V12 architecture with hybrid-electric assist, marking the brand’s first major step toward performance electrification. Early renders hint at a long, fastback silhouette, dihedral doors, and a minimalist cockpit draped in hand-patinated leather and brushed bronze accents.
Inside, the Linea S9 will reportedly debut Veltrone’s most immersive cabin yet: think hand-stitched natural hides and ambient lighting drawn from architectural design.
Long known as the insider’s choice for design purists, Veltrone’s move into the high-luxury sedan space signals a broader ambition and a subtle challenge to the legacy brands dominating the category.
Production is slated for late next year, with a near-production concept expected to debut on the concours circuit before then.
Desert chrome:
Palm Springs’ retro car revival
By Penelope Kim
In Palm Springs, the past doesn’t just live on — it cruises down winding streets in polished chrome and pastel paint. Nestled between the San Jacinto Mountains and the Mojave Desert, this iconic oasis has become a haven for vintage car lovers who celebrate the enduring beauty of mid-century design.
Every weekend, parking lots transform into showcases of nostalgia: gleaming Cadillacs with tailfins, candy-coloured Thunderbirds, pristine Buick Rivieras, and the occasional DeLorean catching the sun just right. But beyond the visual spectacle is something even more enduring, a tight-knit community of enthusiasts who find connection through restoration, admiration, and the shared thrill of cruising a piece of history.
For many locals, the vintage car scene is more than a hobby; it's a lifestyle. “It’s not about horsepower or modern tech, it’s about character,” says Tom Rivera, founder of the Palm Springs Retro Riders, a local group that hosts monthly meet-ups and pop-up shows. “Every scratch has a story. Every drive brings one back.”
“Every scratch has a story. Every drive brings one back.” — Tom Rivera, Palm Springs Retro Riders
These gatherings are a vibrant tapestry of stories and styles. Attendees trade restoration tips, vintage parts, and often build lifelong friendships. There’s a democratic spirit to it: whether you're driving a six-figure classic or a humble fixer-upper, if your car has soul, you’re welcomed with open arms.
Palm Springs itself seems to echo this retro spirit. With its preserved mid-century architecture, throwback signage, and stylish desert ambiance, it’s the perfect backdrop for a culture that thrives on timeless cool. During the city’s annual Modernism Week, vintage cars line the streets as both art and artefact, rolling monuments to design and Americana.
What’s particularly compelling is how intergenerational this scene has become. Younger collectors, many inspired by Instagram aesthetics or their parents' garages, are now entering the fold — bringing fresh energy while honouring tradition. Cars once thought of as nostalgic relics are becoming expressions of identity, personal style, and sustainable appreciation. For them, retro doesn’t mean outdated — it means enduring.
Behind every polished hood ornament is a labor of love. Some enthusiasts spend years sourcing original parts from obscure corners of the internet or swapping tales at desert swap meets. Others find joy in keeping the patina and history intact — choosing to drive, not just display, their classics.
And drive they do. From leisurely loops through Indian Canyon to longer hauls across the open desert highways, these vintage vehicles were made to move. The rhythm of the ride, the low purr of an old engine, the wind cutting through desert heat — it all becomes a sensory experience, a kind of time travel you can feel in your bones.
Members of the Palm Springs vintage car community aren't just preserving history — they're living it. Together. With each rev of the engine and wave from behind the wheel, they remind us that the open road is always better with a little style — and a lot of soul.
What's in the drive?
With so many classics to choose from, it was hard to settle on just three.
1965
Ford Mustang
Convertible
The iconic first-generation Mustang, recognizable by the side scoop styling, triple-segment taillights, and pony emblem on the fender.
1972
Jaguar E-Type
Coupe
The long nose, wire wheels, and smooth flowing curves make this one of the most recognisable classic cars ever produced.
1966
Chrysler Newport
Convertible
This specific design was only produced for 1965-66 and was Chrysler's first full-size car offering.
The art of
driving beautifully
By Casey Lang
In the heart of Milan’s design district, behind a discreet set of steel-framed doors, Luca Moretti sketches the future of luxury mobility with an architect’s precision and an artist’s soul. From concept showpieces to production models gracing Geneva and Paris, Moretti has become the designer-of-choice for some of the world’s most iconic automotive houses — Ferrari, Bugatti, Maserati, and beyond.
Now in his late 40s, Moretti’s name carries weight in the most rarefied circles of automotive design. His signature? Sculptural minimalism with sensorial detail — every line purposeful, every surface engineered to seduce light and motion. His concepts have won design awards and moved metal, but his philosophy remains rooted in the emotional connection between driver and machine.
“I’m not interested in nostalgia,” he says, brushing past a maquette of an electric GT coupe in his sunlit studio. “I’m interested in permanence. In creating something that still looks powerful twenty years from now.”
Trained in industrial design and mentored by legendary coach builders in Modena, Moretti’s early career saw him leap from boutique studios to the design departments of major manufacturers. But it wasn’t until he led the design language for a celebrated Italian luxury EV prototype that his name became synonymous with the next chapter of high-performance elegance.
“A car should make you feel something before you even touch the wheel.”
“That’s the difference between transport and experience.” – Luca Moretti
Moretti’s creative process is famously immersive. He’s known to travel with materials, samples of forged carbon, vegetable-tanned leathers, brushed titanium, testing them against light, skin, and sound. His approach blends technology with intimacy: AI-assisted sketching tools sit beside handmade clay models on his studio shelves.
“He doesn’t just design cars,” one creative director at a leading brand notes, “he designs dreams that just happen to have an engine.”
Despite his global acclaim, Moretti remains grounded in his ideals. “Luxury isn’t about louder engines or shinier paint,” he says. “It’s about coherence, about intention. A truly luxurious car is one that feels inevitable, like it couldn’t have been designed any other way.”
As the automotive world accelerates toward electric, autonomous, and digital-first experiences, Luca Moretti continues to champion beauty as performance. His vision? A future where cars are not just fast or smart but emotionally resonant, timeless, and exquisitely human.
Because in Luca’s world, driving isn’t just about where you’re going.
It’s about how beautifully you get there.
Chasing legends:
5 unmissable stops on your
Monaco Grand Prix drive
Monaco may be best known for its race-week roar, but when the grandstands come down and the crowds disperse, the track transforms into something equally captivating, a road you can actually drive. Winding through the hills, hugging the harbour, and brushing against architectural icons, the Monaco Grand Prix circuit becomes your own open-air museum of motorsport.
This isn’t about racing. It’s about the rare, quiet thrill of tracing a legendary path in the calm of an early morning or a golden Riviera dusk, in your own car, at your own pace. Here are five unforgettable spots to savour along the way.
1. Sainte-Dévote — a quiet test of precision
Start your drive at the foot of Sainte-Dévote, just before the chapel that gives the corner its name. Without the roar of engines, you’ll notice the sharp gradient and the narrow run-off, the subtle challenges that have caught out even the best. Take it slow, glance upward to the casino district above, and feel the pulse of what’s to come.
2. Casino Square — the world’s most elegant left turn
Glide up the hill and into Casino Square, where architecture, fashion, and horsepower intersect in true Monaco style. With the famed casino on one side and Café de Paris on the other, it’s less about speed and more about spectacle. Roll down your window, let the breeze in, and feel the romance of motorsport history right beneath your tyres.
3. The Grand Hotel Hairpin — turning heads at a standstill
No Monaco drive is complete without the iconic hairpin in front of the Fairmont Monte Carlo. At this point, your car is likely crawling but that’s the point. The hairpin is less about driving and more about the photo op, the angle, the sheer novelty of taking the slowest corner in Formula 1 in whatever car brought you here.
4. The Tunnel — acoustic magic by daylight
As you cruise past Portier and into the tunnel, the world narrows and the sound wraps around you. Even in a road car, the acoustics make this a highlight, especially if you downshift just for the echo. Emerging into sunlight again, the sea opens up to your right, and you’ll see why this moment is unforgettable from any seat, at any speed.
5. Tabac to Rascasse — sunset through the barriers
Hug the harbourfront and wind past the tight, twisting turns that lead to the legendary Rascasse corner. These narrow streets, lined with cafés and moored yachts, are intimate and cinematic. As the sun begins to dip, it’s easy to imagine the ghosts of races past flickering in your mirrors, reminding you that you’re tracing a path that only a rare few truly appreciate at this pace.
Driving the Monaco Grand Prix circuit on a quiet day isn’t about chasing lap times. It’s about feeling the weight of history beneath your wheels, experiencing world-famous corners in your own rhythm, and seeing a side of Monaco that most only glimpse from behind a barrier. Here, the thrill isn’t in the roar — but in the reverence.
Your turn.
The Luxe Agenda
From exclusive concours showcases to coastal drives and collectors-only soirées, The Luxe Agenda keeps you in the driver’s seat of what’s next in the world of luxury automotive.
Mark your calendar and arrive in style, these are the events where passion meets precision.
Monterey Masters
August 15-18 | Pebble Beach, California
A favourite of car collectors, Monterey Masters blends the prestige of the concours lawn with intimate driving experiences along California’s coastal highways. Expect rare unveilings, vintage elegance, and a guest list as polished as the chrome.
Veltrone: The Preview
September 6 | Lake Como, Italy
Veltrone Automobili hosts an invitation-only salon at a restored 19th-century villa to unveil the Linea S9 concept. Guests will enjoy champagne on the terrace, design conversations with Alessia Bruni, and a moonlit reveal beneath the Lombardy pines.
The Desert Rally
October 10-12 | Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
Set against the sandstone cliffs of the Saudi desert, this curated off-road rally invites a limited field of luxury 4x4s and heritage SUVs. With bespoke campsites, Michelin-star dining under the stars, and guided desert routes, it’s off-roading, elevated.
Editor-in-Chief: Isabel Laurent
Contributing writers: Penelope Kim, Casey Lang, Ryder Nox
Art Director: Alyssa Tucci
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