Lifestyle

News on consumer habits, trends, and lifestyle spending.

Lifestyle
Volvo's new ES90 is an all-electric sedan-SUV blend
Volvo is set to launch its new category-defying electric ES90 car, which combines design elements from the company’s sedans and SUVs. While it succeeds the non-electric S90 sedan, the ES90 features a raised ground clearance and a 3.1 metre wheelbase, creating a large interior similar to an SUV. “The Volvo ES90 combines our most advanced technologies with Scandinavian design and superior comfort, creating a true premium Volvo car designed to elevate your quality of life,” said Volvo CEO Jim Rowan. “It joins the EX90 SUV as one of our flagship models and cements our position as an industry leader in software-defined cars that harness the power of core computing.” The car boasts a range of 700 kilometres on a full charge, and includes faster charging speed than previous Volvo models due to a new 800 volt system. The ES90 can add up to 300 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes of charging, and supports bidirectional charging to export power back to the electrical grid. This will be the first Volvo car to host a dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin computing chip, which will manage the vehicle’s safety features, artificial intelligence capabilities, and software. The vehicle includes both a 9-inch driver’s screen display and a
Lifestyle
Jeep model discontinued in Australia after sales crash
Stellantis will discontinue the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Australia after a major decline in sales. Grand Cherokee production will also end for all other left-hand drive markets, including Japan. The vehicle’s Australian sales numbers fell to just 645 in 2024, compared with 1,247 in 2023. “As we look to right-size the Jeep product portfolio to match local market dynamics and customer preferences, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause availability of the current model Jeep Grand Cherokee in Australia,” a Stellantis Australia spokesperson tells Azzet. “While the Jeep Grand Cherokee will continue to be sold in many countries around the world, this decision allows us to focus our efforts on placing the right products in the right segments that can have the greatest relevance for our customers.” The company said it was still committed to the Australian market. Stellantis is slated to showcase five new electric and hybrid vehicles at Sydney’s Everything Electric Show this week, including the fully electric Jeep Avenger. Jeep’s total Australian sales were 2,377 across 2024, declining 48.7% from the previous year. Net revenue at Stellantis dropped by 17% last year to EU€156.9 billion, while net profit fell by 70% to €5
Lifestyle
EV sales remain slow in latest Australian car numbers
Australia's electric vehicle market has continued to have a sluggish start to 2025, according to the latest VFACTS numbers supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. It included data from the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) of their Polestar and Tesla sales, and showed that the Australian market had fallen 7.9% last month compared to February 2024, following a similarly slow January. Broadly, the total new vehicle sales for February 2025 in Australia came in at 96,710, but battery powered EV's recorded just 5.9% of total sales, compared with 9.6% in February 2024. “We are now two months into the Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), and while the supply of battery electric vehicles has risen dramatically, consumer demand has fallen by 37% this year compared with the first two months of 2024," said FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber. Accounting for nearly all the fall in EV sales in February was Tesla, selling just 1,592 units compared to 5,665 at the same time a year ago, although specific model data is yet unclear. This comes amidst ongoing political tension and controversy surrounding CEO and founder Elon Musk, as he undertakes his latest role serving in President Donald Trump's cabinet.
Lifestyle
Barbie honours iconic women in music and sport
Two of Australia’s most celebrated tennis players Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty have been honoured as one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls. As a part of International Women’s Day celebrations, Mattel in Australia is recognising sportswomen and the power friendships between women of colour through Barbie. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I’d be a Barbie myself," said Barty. "It’s just such an incredible experience to be a part of.” The doll maker's tribute to female friendship includes a series of one-of-a-kind “Role Model” dolls, each inspired by powerful pairs whose bonds have shaped their careers and empowered their successes. “When I first heard about it, I thought 'that is so cool' because it just came out of the blue ... I wasn’t expecting anything like this," said Goolagong Cawley. Over in the U.S, Barbie’s career of the year is women and music and to celebrate multi-GRAMMY award winning artist, Alicia Keys will be honoured with her own doll. Barbie is spotlighting two distinct professions: Musical Artist and Tour Managers. The iconic doll brand teamed up with Keys, her recording and mix engineer, Ann Mincieli, and their She Is The Music initiative to honor women who chose a career in t
Lifestyle
Kate Bush and more protest UK AI law with silent album
More than 1,000 prominent British musicians have released a silent album to protest the United Kingdom’s proposed changes to artificial intelligence and copyright laws. The album, called Is This What We Want?, features artists like Kate Bush, The Clash, Hans Zimmer, and Annie Lennox. The U.K. government has proposed a policy that would let AI models be trained on copyrighted works, with consultation ending last week. “The U.K. is full of pioneering, highly creative and imaginative artists. The government's willingness to agree to these copyright changes shows how much our work is undervalued and that there is no protection for one of this country's most important assets: music,” said Bush. The government’s proposal “is a plan that would not only be disastrous for musicians, but that is totally unnecessary: the U.K. can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus,” said Ed Newton-Rex, organiser of the project and head of the non-profit Fairly Trained. Fairly Trained certifies AI companies that do not use copyrighted material without permission. Under the U.K. government’s proposal, artists could choose to withdraw their copyrighted work from use in AI training. The government sa

Lifestyle
Four seasons Maui, The White Lotus experience
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has unveiled a new Poolside Escape cabana and The White Lotus Bar, inspired by the HBO original television series of the same name. The resort was the backdrop to the filming of the first season of the show. Four Seasons Resort Maui will invite guests to set-jet to paradise at its iconic Adult Pool from 14 March to 16 May, 2025. "The White Lotus has been a driving force behind the trend 'Set-Jetting,' where travelers are inspired to visit destinations featuring their favorite shows and movies," Expedia Travel Expert Melanie Fish told Good Morning America. "Each season's luxurious set location has become a top travel destination, and season 3, filmed in Koh Samui, Thailand is no exception." The first two seasons drove a 300% increase in travel demand to Hawaii and Sicily, respectively, within 90 days of airing, compared to the same period the year prior, according to Expedia. The pool, which was a central filming location, will offer series inspired cocktails and give guests that chance to relax in the Poolside Escape cabana or a specially curated poolside spa treatment that blends Hawaiian traditions with modern relaxation techniques. The experience features Ti leaf offerings
Lifestyle
Deals back in fashion: Prada nears Versace acquisiton
Prada is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Versace for EU€1.5 billion (A$2.5 billion), which would unite the two luxury fashion brands during a slump for much of the industry. Versace has been owned by Capri Holdings since 2018, and has seen a major slowdown in revenue in recent months. Capri aimed to merge with Coach and Kate Spade owner Tapestry last year, though this was halted by a United States judge. “Given our Company’s performance over the past 18 months, we have recently started to implement a number of strategic initiatives to return our luxury houses to growth,” Capri CEO John D. Idol said in November. Prada hopes to finalise a deal this month, according to Bloomberg. While Capri’s first asking price for Versace was EU€3 billion, the companies have now agreed to a price of around €1.5 billion. Prada has been working with Citi to evaluate a bid for Versace since January. It secured exclusive access to review Versace’s financial data last month ahead of a potential sale. Versace’s revenue last quarter fell by 15% year-over-year to US$193 million, posting declines in markets worldwide. The company saw an operating loss of $21 million. Capri Holdings’ overall revenue sank by 11.6% year-over-year last qu
Lifestyle
Fashion: Burberry AW 2025 show features modern heritage
The Burberry Winter 2025 collection, presented at London's Tate Britain, draws inspiration from the British countryside and the interiors of grand stately homes. Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee envisioned the collection as a tribute to the weekend escapes from London, with long rainy walks and visits to grand estates. Lee's fifth collection was modelled by Naomi Campbell, Lesley Manville, Richard E Grant, Elizabeth McGovern, and Lila Moss, the daughter of supermodel Kate Moss. “Think of them as weekend escapees,” says Lee, of the pictures pinned to a mood board. “It’s that greatFriday nightexodus from London. Long rainy walks in the great outdoorsto disconnect and day trips to grand stately homes.” The collection features a mix of outdoor coats, scarves, evening wear, daywear, and suits, all rendered in twisted British fabrics. The designs incorporate elements of classic British tropes from film and television, blending the rugged outdoors with the faded elegance of country house interiors. The collection showcases iconic Burberry silhouettes reimagined with luxurious materials and intricate details. Velvet brocade jackets replicate flocked wallpaper, while pheasant prints are intricately cut to create feath
Lifestyle
Luxury shopping continues; declining consumer confidence
Saks Global, the largest multi-brand luxury retailer, released its Saks Global Luxury Pulse survey, revealing insights into consumer sentiment regarding the economy and personalised shopping experiences. “At Saks Global, we’re working to reinvent luxury shopping by delivering luxury fashion and experiences perfectly curated for each customer. Our deep understanding of the luxury consumer – bolstered by this survey – strengthens our ability to do just that,” said Emily Essner, President & Chief Commercial Officer, Saks Global. “In the Saks Global Luxury Pulse, we’re pleased to see that the luxury consumer remains engaged in the luxury shopping experience, despite a dip in their optimism about the economy.” The survey indicated a decline in economic optimism among luxury consumers. This was due to 45% feeling calm about the economy and 43% feeling optimistic, both figures lower than previous surveys. Despite this, 58% of respondents plan to maintain or increase luxury spending. 94% are likely to engage in activities that enhance personalised shopping experiences. The survey, conducted from January 16-22, 2025, highlighted that while confidence in the overall economy is waning, luxury consumers remain optimistic about the