Category Archives: News

The Stunning 2017 McLaren 570GT

With a panoramic sunroof, a humming, musical engine and an exterior that begs for speed, this McLaren is a standout. At 562 horsepower, this 3.8 twin turbocharged V8 engine takes you where you need to go. It’ll get you a combined 19 mpg, but when you’re driving this car around you won’t be thinking about fuel economy–you’ll be thinking about speed.

This car has seven speeds in a dual clutch with three shifting modes: normal, sport and race. Depending on how much power you need to get the car up to speed, the normal mode is soft enough for lower-key driving days–though you might not have many of those in a McLaren.

This car has features that you won’t realize you want until you have them. Everything from having your perfect driving position adjusted to the car’s memory, to the nose lift function to protect the front end on inclines. The nose even lowers automatically at 35 mph for maximum airflow efficiency.

The interior is clean, around the wheel there aren’t many buttons and controls, giving it a sleeker look. Of course, an infotainment system is featured in this car as well.

To read more about this model, visit Autoweek.com.

Find your new McLaren in Miami at The Collection, the premier luxury auto dealership, which real estate mogul Ugo Colombo owns.

Alfa Romeo’s New SUV: The Stelvio

Alfa Romeo has outdone themselves by introducing an SUV into the American luxury car market. Introducing the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, First Edition. Built in Cassino, Italy, this model has a 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo-four engine coming topping out at 280 horsepower. You’ll find yourself going 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.

The exterior features 18-inch wheels, with chrome accents throughout. The frame is taller than other models, and headlights and backlights are LED. It weighs almost 4,000 pounds and gets a combined 24 miles per gallon, not surprising being that it’s an SUV. Inside the Ti models, you’ll see wood on the interior as well as an 8.8 inch screen and 12-way power seats.

This machine uses the Chassis Domain Controller and the DNA drive-mode system so it can perfectly detect which wheels to transfer power to. Though it is all-wheel-drive, the car mainly keeps the control in the rear wheels, but it can transfer up to 60% of control to the front wheels. The driver can choose to shift between three modes: dynamic, natural and advanced.

It’s no wonder this car specializes in control and handling, as it’s named after the winding mountainside roads of the Italian Alps. The notorious Stelvio mountain pass has 48 corners and is not suitable for inexperienced drivers. Though you might not choose an SUV for such a setting, American roadways will be suitable for this fine vehicle.

To read more about this model, visit Autoweek.com.

Find your new Alfa Romeo in Miami at The Collection, the premier luxury auto dealership, which real estate mogul Ugo Colombo owns.

The Audi A5 Sportback

Finally arriving in the US after finding success in Europe, the Audi A5 Sportback is here. It feels like a condensed version of the Audi A7, but based on the design of the A4 sedan. It’s a blend of the best parts of a coup and a hatchback, with a roomy interior and lots of power.

The engine is turbocharged with a two-liter engine with 252 horsepower, taking it from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds. The Quattro all-wheel drive feature enhances handling in addition to active torque distribution in the rear axle.

One of the best parts of this 2018 Audi is the technology featured throughout the vehicle. The virtual cockpit has endless possibilities for customization, with a seven-inch infotainment system with elements for navigation, audio, and Apple CarPlay and even Google Earth. The engine is packed with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic, so shifting in most traffic settings can be done with foot controls.

The Audi A5 model went on the market in May 2017, and tested to have an observed 29 mpg fuel economy. The exterior is gorgeous, and the interior is ergonomic. This Sportback is a great mix between a coupe, sedan and hatchback. This model can be found at Ugo Colombo‘s The Collection in Coral Gables, Florida.

Read more about this model in Auto Week.

New Miami Real Estate Study: Where to Invest

The polling firm Bendixen & Amandi International and the Miami Herald conducted a survey in June of 2017 to evaluate the current state of the Miami Real Estate market. The survey was focused on the mid-range market, so luxury real estate agents’ perspectives were less of a focus–an interesting move, being that the luxury market is bustling in Miami.

The survey was based in the idea that the best investments in Miami real estate lie in appreciating property values. They found that the hottest neighborhood in Miami is Miami Beach. Specifically, Miami Beach is the best place to purchase an apartment, and the best neighborhood for young professionals.

If you are in the market for a single-family home, the research suggests that the best investment would be found in the Coral Gables area. Another notable mention is the Brickell area, which a survey respondent (a real estate agent or broker) said was “one of the hottest areas for millennials”.

Interestingly, the most undervalued neighborhood is Homestead, which is known for gated communities, new restaurants and shopping, as well as the Homestead Hospital. They believe the next emerging market, with a good ROI over the next five years, is Little Havana.

Overall, the survey revealed that 36% of respondents believe real estate values in Miami-Dade County will appreciate, and 73% believe that now is the time to own, rather than rent.

Ugo Colombo has helped shape the Miami real estate market as a commercial and residential developer. Starting out in the Brickell community, Ugo also had a huge stake in redefining the market in South beach by rejuvenating the Waldorf and Casa Grande.
To read more about this study, visit The Miami Herald.

Ugo Colombo speaks at the ULI Southeast Florida/Caribbean Miami Condo and Community Development Symposium

In November 2016, Ugo Colombo and other industry veterans took part in a 3-panel event at the Urban Land Institute’s Southeast Florida/Caribbean Miami Condo and Community Development Symposium, held at the Brickell City Centre. Ugo Colombo has been credited with igniting the Brickell area’s condo boom.

According to the ULI, “Most agree that Miami offers a lot of advantages to both developers and buyers alike. A favorable tax climate, a surplus of underdeveloped land and a sexy, high-end image as a global city attracts plenty of luxury consumers to its shores.”

With new condos coming to market soon, it’s important for developers to differentiate their properties from others. Brickell Flatiron, the new development from Ugo Colombo and CMC Group, was designed by Luis Revuelta to be a tower of soaring glass, enhancing the skyline with persuasive curves, while the interior offers a renaissance revival that contrasts the powerful structure.

Inside this sleek high-rise, Italian interior architect Massimo Iosa Ghini combines sleek glass walls and curved lines to create a sense of movement – welcoming residents upon arrival with warmth, light, and precious stone. Exquisite design paired with fine art creates a masterpiece gallery for residents to enjoy.

Learn more about Brickell Flatiron and all of the features and amenities at http://brickellflatiron.com/

Read more about the Miami real estate market at http://urbanland.uli.org/development-business/access-public-spaces-waterfront-locations-driving-healthy-luxury-condo-market-south-florida/

Miami Real Estate Gaining Momentum

Despite real estate prices falling in many parts of the country, the Greater Miami real estate market in August posted gains in both volume and median prices for single-family homes. The Miami Downtown Development Authority reports that the area is experiencing growth, and the population should surpass 100,000 by 2021. [1]

Ocean Drive Magazine reports on some of the reasons that the Miami real estate market continues to thrive, including speaking with Ugo Colombo.

One of the reasons is that international buyers are interested. Miami is more accessible by air, and strengthening currencies in some countries gives international buyers more purchasing power. Ugo Colombo told Ocean Drive that he’s seeing buyers from Latin America, Europe, Turkey and even Kazakhstan.

Of course, the best thing about the Miami real estate market is that it’s in Miami. Between the weather, beaches, and the lifestyle, Miami is a great place to live.

[1] http://www.miamidda.com/business_research_current.asp

Ugo Colombo’s Brickell Flatiron Retail/Restaurant Space Under Contract

Part of Ugo Colombo‘s under-construction Brickell Flatiron building located at 1001 South Miami Avenue in Miami includes 24,800 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space on the ground floor. The rest of the building will house 549 condo units, and construction is expected to be completed by 2019.

The retail/restaurant space is now under contract for $22.5 million by Elysee Investments, a firm which owns and manages a portfolio of commercial properties in both
New York and South Florida. The space includes high ceilings and will be attractive to some of the best restaurants in the world.

The Brickell area is seeing an infusion of new shops and restaurants, between the Brickell Flatiron space, Brickell City Centre, and other properties. Ocean Drive magazine says that “Brickell is now, unequivocally, the center of Miami. It is the heart of the city’s financial, residential, and soon, commercial, universe.”

Yossi Bibas Experiences Miami from the 2017 Jaguar XE

Source: World Red Eye

Yossi Bibas is a social media expert and the co-founder of Aura Groupe. He joined Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION in their Jag Drive 305 partnership with World Red Eye so he (and others) could experience Miami behind the wheel of the new 2017 Jaguar XE.

This world traveler considers Miami his home. “It’s a metropolitan city with a tropical twist,” he says. “What’s not to love!” He welcomed the opportunity to experience Miami with the XE saying it’s changed his views of the brand. He began his experience believing Jaguar was primarily for an older demographic, but when asked about his perception of Jaguar after driving the XE he says, “Incredible. I fell in love with the XE. It’s impeccably designed, spacious, comfortable and powerful….The Jaguar XE has everything I’d want in a car and beyond.”

He drove the XE all around Miami – from Brickell to South Beach and Fort Lauderdale – and said the most memorable characteristic of the XE was its power. “The XE is super swift.” His favorite technological feature was the XE’s laser Heads Up Display. This display projects your speed – and other essential information – directly onto the windshield.

“Anyone who’s ever doubted Jaguar or perceived it to be an older generation car, think again,” Bibas advises.

Noah Ohlsen Discusses the Jaguar F-PACE for Jag Drive 305

Source: World Red Eye

As discussed in a recent Ugo Colombo post, Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION has been in partnership with World Red Eye as some of Miami’s most notable individuals can share their experiences about the all-new 2017 Jaguar XE and the innovative Jaguar F-PACE.

This fascinating partnership, called Jag Drive 305, includes CrossFit Games athlete Noah Ohlsen who has been sharing his time with the Jaguar F-PACE. “The F-PACE seems more accessible to younger, active people always on the move,” Ohlsen shares. “I would describe the driving experience as smooth and strong. It puts you a little higher up in terms of point of view, so you feel in control of the road. The ride is very smooth and you can feel the power beneath your feet, begging to be let loose.”

When asked how he views the Jaguar brand having evolved, after testing the F-PACE he responded, “[The F-PACE] has an air of luxury but handles and sounds a lot like a sports car. It’s definitely now a brand that I would consider to fit my lifestyle.” Ohlsen also appreciated the technological features used in the F-PACE saying, “I love the simplicity of the dash. The sleek gear shifting nob that retracts when the car is off, the easy to use touch screen and the panoramic roof.”

Are Your Ready for #‎YourNextJag‬?

Ugo Colombo’s THE COLLECTION is South Florida’s leading luxury automotive dealership. On June 15, THE COLLECTION joined with NBA Champion Dwyane Wade & actress Gabrielle Union to celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated Jaguar F-PACE and Jaguar XE.

The #JagFresh celebration included a cocktail event where guests enjoyed delectable bites courtesy of Ariete, Bulldog BBQ, Fooq’s and Bulla Gastrobar; and cocktails courtesy of Eatery and Sidebar and Baby Jane Cocktail House.

The F-Pace is the first luxury performance SUV by Jaguar and the XE is set to exceed all expectations of a compact luxury sport sedan.

Watch this video about #JagFresh for more: