24 | PENTA | December 2020
Zen Accessories:
Building an Oasis on Wheels
P
rivate cars have become
oases of safety for many
of us adjusting to life post-
pandemic. And if the car
is a sanctuary, what could
make it even better? How about helping
both drivers and passengers achieve a
near-Zen state? Here are some nirvana-
worthy accessories worth considering.
Hi, Alexa
Amazon’s virtual assistant is amaz-
ingly capable around the house, but
now she can go on road trips. She is
available in cars from Audi, Buick, Ford,
Toyota/Lexus, and Lincoln. In 2020
Lamborghini began offering Alexa in
the Huracán EVO. She can take care
of such in-car functions as setting the
temperature, adjusting the interior
lighting, and turning up the seat heat.
Bubbly Benefits
Introduced in 2019, the £37,000
(US$48,225) Rolls-Royce Champagne
Chest is made of carbon fiber and
machined aluminium, and covered in
natural grain black leather. Push a
button and the chest opens, with service
for four, including cotton napkins and
handblown crystal flutes etched with
the “RR” monogram. The chest is set
up to accommodate Champagne and
the caviar that might accompany it,
appropriately chilled of course.
High Fidelity
Audi’s Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced
Sound System with up to 1,920 watts
of power incorporates as many as 23
speakers and can duplicate the sound of
a concert hall. Meanwhile, audio com-
pany Harman produces soothing nature
sounds recorded at national parks, soon
to be built into infotainment systems.
Head and Shoulders Above
Airscarf is a Mercedes-Benz option
From seats that massage to cars with sweet smells,
these “extras” allow you to really relax
By JIM MOTAVALLI
on the 2021 E-Class Cabriolet. The sys-
tem adds vents in the back of the seats
that direct air from the heater to the
back of your neck and shoulders. Order
it with Aircap, which reduces drafts on
all four occupants and keeps condi-
tioned air in the car for a longer time.
Speaking of seats, a US$3,788 option
in the Lamborghini Urus SUV is fully
electric front seats with heat, ventila-
tion, and massage.
Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Porsche,
Buick, Lexus, and Volvo all offer
massage seats.
The Sweet Smell of Success
Perfumer Marc vom Ende created
scents for the atomizer that lives in the
glove box of certain Mercedes-Benz
S-Class cars. These include Freeside
Mood (citrus-y), Sports Mood (young
green leaves and light flowery nuances),
and Nightlife Mood (a heavy leather
armchair in a wood-lined library with
a fire going). But you can also buy
aftermarket diffusers for any car from
brands including InnoGear, RoyAroma,
Greenair, Zaq, and Vyaime. They’re
not expensive (US$20-US$40), can clip
to the air vents (as phone holders do),
and use either a wired plug or recharge-
able batteries.
Riding on Air
Cadillac’s Magneride 4.0 is a computer-
controlled, sensor-enabled, adaptive
suspension system. Magneride is stan-
dard on some trims of the US$77,490
Escalade, US$45,490 CT4-V, and
US$48,690 CT5-V. It’s always scanning
the road ahead (1,000 times a second)
and adjusting to meet the conditions,
including potholes and rough terrain.
The Way Back
A long wheelbase is required, but
rear-seat passengers in select vehicles
can now recline their seats while a
leg rest extends—shades of business
class air travel. In Range Rovers with
Executive Class Comfort-Plus, the
massaging, heated and cooled seat can
tilt back more than 40 degrees. The
Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV includes
pillows, a refrigerator, a foldable con-
sole, and a detachable tablet to control
the infotainment.
From top: Mercedes-Benz’s Airscarf;
Amazon’s Alexa in the Lamborghini
Huracán EVO; the perfume atomizer in
the Mercedes S-Class. From top: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz; Courtesy of Lamborghini; Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz