It’s a rare occasion when you’re invited to enter the cockpit of a McLaren (which we took with open arms), but imagine testing three of McLaren’s latest supercars in the one day? Yeah. We pee’d a little.

Sadly, Sydney’s roads are notoriously bad for driving at speeds above 50 km/h. With a little clever pre-planning from McLaren’s team driver Luke O’Neill though, we found some of the best secluded roads available to this man and his three machines.

The purpose of the day was to test McLaren’s 570S and 540C models against the existing 650S Spyder (which we tested in Dubai). Over the course of the next three hours we received first hand experience and got to intimately toy with each of the three models.

With my license point count safely topped up we hit the road.

McLaren 570S

The 570S is a reduced power (and price) evolution of the popular 650S. Don’t worry, it’s still very fast though. On the aesthetic front, the 570S takes its styling cues from the mighty P1 which tends to be every man’s motor oil dream. Whilst we won’t see the $2 million P1 in Australia any time soon, the 570S is a suitable substitute for those who want the McLaren race car experience without a full pit crew and debt to the grave.

As the car is designed to cope with public roads, it has an updated carbon tub which makes getting in and out of the car (with skinny jeans) so much easier. There’s also updated audio and electronics which finally brings Bluetooth connectivity into this century.

“A suitable substitute for those who want the McLaren race car experience without a full pit crew and debt to the grave.”

On the driving front the 570S offers three drive and ride modes which for the roads we hit, needed a more gentle touch to avoid scraping. For everyday driving you wouldn’t be too annoyed with the 570S. It’s powerful but also very drivable. Personally I found Sports Mode (mid-setting) was my preferred option in the 570S. It delivered the poise when I needed but also made lots of the fancy air surging noises that turbos tend make. The all important 0-100km/h? Easily dispatched in 3.2s. 

The 570S is as good looking as it is fast but it’s not bonkers fast like you would expect. It’s more respectable fast and for the price of AU$408,000 on-road, it’s something that would easily go up against a 911 Turbo. The hard part is determining your poison – a pure bred 3.8-litre V8 making 562hp and 700Nm, or something else. 

McLaren 540C

After forty-five minutes of constant cornering bliss and cranky cyclists in spandex, I tried my hand at the baby of the McLaren bunch, the 540C. Don’t be fooled for a second that the baby is any less potent than its older siblings though.

“We think McLaren’s definition of ‘de-tuned’ still needs some work.”

You’ll find the ride is almost identical to the 570S with the only difference being power delivery. Both models feature the same engine, however the 540C is slightly more detuned and smaller in stature. Somehow we think McLaren’s definition of “de-tuned” still needs some work. 

The car borrows the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 from the 570S but brings things down a notch to a respectable figure of 532hp and 540Nm of torque. This will get you from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds. Right. ‘Respectable’.

That said the 540C does require a little more promoting to get the most from the engine. We’re not saying it’s slow but you do notice there’s some latency when putting one’s foot to the floor to wait for the grunt.

You’re splitting hairs between the two and with the 540C you’re still getting that dramatic McLaren styling, the updated interior but also saving a few pennies. On the flip side, with what you save on the 540C you can easily put into options.

Different wheels or uprated brakes would be our recommendation with the 540C as it offers steel discs as standard whereas the 570S receives carbon ceramics. The 540C retails for AU$350,000 AUD on-road.

McLaren 650S

Finally, the prodigal son returns. Our old favourite, the 650S. We had previously experienced the 650S in Dubai on long sandy roads and zero traffic. Sitting on the wrong side of the car and road proved to be nothing short of challenging, but this time around we had some of Australia’s best roads and a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 pushing out 637hp of British power.

“You know things are really getting wild when the air brake spoiler deploys in the rear-view.”

The difference between this and the others? A world apart. The 650S is really an evolution of the very first 12C so it’s styling is somewhat older than the 540C and 570S, but what it lacks in dramatic looks it makes up for in unrivalled brotherly performance.

The 650S tends to give you plenty of ‘Oh Shit!’ moments with its abundance of power. And you know things are really getting wild when the air brake spoiler deploys in the rear-view.

There are a few discrepancies though. For what the 650S offers in brute power, it does feel a touch dated compared with the newer models – a point that Sydneysiders will no doubt pay attention to when shopping around for a sub-$500,000 car.

Both the 540C and 570S are less expensive alternatives to the 650S and to be honest, they do feel like a more current reflection of the brand; the evolution of an older sibling, if you must.

The Verdict

We’ll take the 570S thanks. Fast, drivable, refined but still intact with the unyielding McLaren creed, it’s the perfect balance of play nice and angry at an affordable supercar price point.  

Throw in a fairly reasonable list of what comes standard in the 570S and it’s an easy choice for what to get as your very first supercar.

The post McLaren Supercar Shootout – 650S v 570S v 540C appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Spoiler alert. If you’ve ever had the end of a TV series ruined for you by a bigmouthed friend, you’ll be familiar with the irrepressible anger associated with such betrayal. In fact, many wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy…but now you can, thanks to a new app that sends Game of Thrones spoilers in the ultimate act of revenge.

For a small fee of $1, Spoiled.io will text anonymous Game of Thrones spoilers to your enemies the moment the show finishes airing in the U.S. Ice cold.

Spoiled.io was created by Chicago-based developers Ross Hettel, Hunter Lane and Joe Mainwairing, and was inspired by the story of a woman who ruined GOT for her cheating ex-boyfriend by bombarding him with spoilers every Monday morning.

If merely knowing your enemy has received a spoiler isn’t sadistic enough for you, you can take it one step further by following the response and interaction on @spoiled_io‘s Twitter.

#spoiled victim response: “Bc you just ruined GOT for me this season…” #gameofthrones

— Spoiled.io (@spoiled_io) June 20, 2016

The post Send Game Of Thrones Spoilers To Your Enemies With This Evil App appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Designer label Micheal Kors is finally breaking into the men’s market. In London yesterday, the group announced their new partnership with the McLaren-Honda F1 team to make itself more enticing to men.

The teaming comes as a broader plan for the label to expand into the lucrative $1 billion men’s market, which is new territory for Michael Kors, in a bid to combat declining growth in the female luxury handbag and accessories department.

John Idol who is the CEO of Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. told Bloomberg that, “Michael Kors is really going deeply into the menswear business.”

“We’ve made a statement that we believe this will be the next great extension of growth for our company.”

The new McLaren partnership will see the fashion house release a limited edition line which includes a leather jacket made exclusively available at London’s Regent Street flagship store. The Michael Kors branding will also be emblazoned across the drivers’s uniforms and the MP4-31 race car.

The unexpected move into the men’s space comes from self inflicted damage when the brand began discounting its products, resulting in a slump in sales. To reverse this, Idol hopes that the menswear business alongside a host of new stores and products will be the key to its revival.

Idol revealed at a conference earlier this month that the goal is to reach the magic $1 billion mark in revenue. The label will also be extending its menswear line over time to include sportswear, leather goods and smartwatches.

The post Michael Kors Joins McLaren To Secure $1B Men's Market appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Clean lines. Low furniture. Simple colour palettes. These are the hallmarks of minimalist interior design, the look winning Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds across the internet.Minimalism is the art of having more – more comfort, more convenience, more style – by living with less. On the surface it looks easy, but achieving stylish simplicity is a task easier said than done. Designing an attractive and functional minimal home requires skill, restraint, and impeccable taste.Here are 25 striking examples to inspire your next interior design overhaul. There’s no place like home, especially if your home looks as good as these do.

The post 25 Striking Examples Of Minimalist Interior Design appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Stop staring into the eyes of the stranger sitting across from you. It’s awkward and there are far better things to do like reading this. Welcome to your daily wrap up of intriguing news, events and stories from home and abroad that you missed today.

Farmer Rides Horse Across Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge has been the centre of attention over the past few weeks with a rogue taxi passenger climbing it for no damn reason and then today when a farmer decided to take his horse across it…on the express lane. [9News.com.au]

Hollywood Bromancers Zac Efron & Adam Devine Coming Sydney

Get your teenage vocal cords on as Zac Efron and Adam Devine are flying into Sydney in preparation for their promotion of Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates on July 6 to walk the red carpet. [news.com.au]

Australian NBA Guard Matthew Dellavedova Courts $10M Per Season

After the Cleveland Cavaliers made history at the NBA finals earlier this week, Australian guard for the winning team Matthew Dellavedova is receiving massive offers from opposing teams up to $10 million dollars per season. [foxsports.com.au]

Australian Target Boss Will Make Zara, H&M & Uniqlo Pay

Guy Russo of Wesfarmers department stores has taunted the global fashion heavyweights by saying that a Target turnaround would damage their sales as he implemented in-store playgrounds and cafes to create a “clean” Target experience. He claims that the international fashion juggernauts did everything right except for price. [SMH]

Swedish Player Sent Off With Red Card For Farting

The post Daily Edit – Zac Efron Visting Oz, Dellavedova Gets $10M & Horse On Harbour Bridge appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Penthouses are often a fickle affair what with all that gleaming empty space to clean and the pesky peasants living below you cramping your style. Your life really couldn’t be any fuller of despair.

Thankfully there’s a solution in the belly of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – a private jet modified by aviation consultancy group, Kestal Aviation. Pierrejean Design Studios and Greenpoint Technologies who helped design the interior of the flying penthouse ensured that no nook or cranny was neglected with luxury bespoke appointments taking more than two years to engineer, fabricate and implement.

This leaves the lucky passengers with 223 square metres of prime penthouse space in the skies to play with during 17-hour non-stop flight times. If you’re a good friend, there’s even room for 39 of your best Snapchat pals.

The cost for ultimate bragging rights? US$325 million. Shut up and take my money. We’ll put the rest on credit.

The post Boeing's New 787 Business Jet Is The Flying Penthouse You Can't Afford appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you’ve cottoned onto the fact that boozing it up before bed isn’t going to be kind to your waistline but your still craving a nightcap or two, then you’ve come to the right place.Poor sleep is intricately tied to weight gain, skewed hormone levels, next-day munchies and blood sugar and insulin issues, according to Bridget Murphy of the NYU Langone Medical Center. In fact, what you sip on before you go to sleep can have a huge impact on your muscle mass, blood sugar stability and weight.Here are 5 before-bed beverages that will help you start counting sheep and keep the kgs down.

#1 Milk

Milk contains tryptophan and calcium which can help you sleep more soundly and avoid your 3pm chocolate craving the next day. Milk’s casein protein is slow to digest to help you build muscle and speed up your metabolism.

#2 Grape Juice

Did you know that a small glass of 100% grape juice will help you not only get some much-needed shuteye but burn fat while you dream. Research published in Cell Reports suggests that insulin secretion at night, caused by consumption of simple carbs like juice, regulates the body’s circadian rhythms. An antioxidant in grapes also converts calorie-storing white fat into calorie-burning brown fat for a double whammy effect.

#3 Chamomile Tea

There’s no doubt that a steaming hot mug of chamomile tea will put you to sleep but it actually increases your body’s levels of glycine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes your nerves and works as a mild sedative. It spikes your core body temperature so that your system drastically cools, lulling you to sleep. It has even been linked to improved glucose control and weight loss.

#4 Kefir

Kefir is a probiotic-rich beverage made from fermented milk that works on your gut microbiome to increase levels of healthy bacteria, promote proper digestion and help you soak up vitamins and minerals like a well oiled machine. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has also tied Kefir to improved sleep and better exercise performance, so you can’t really go wrong with this yoghurt-like wonder drink.

#5 Soy Protein Shake

Like milk, soy is brimming with the amino acid tryptophan. According to Birmingham University research, getting stuck into a soy protein shake before bed could improve your sleep quality by acting as a precursor to drowse-inducing melatonin. That magic little acid called tryptophan also decreases cortisol levels to help you battle the bulge.[via Women’s Health]

The post Best Drinks Before Bed That Can Help You Lose Weight appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

So you’ve just redecorated your bedroom. You bought new sheets, painted the walls, splashed out on some fancy memory foam pillows, and your bed sheets even match the pillowcases. However, there’s something you may have overlooked: the headboard.

Create a tempting bedscape for potential mates with the right headboard to suit your love nest. The following ideas will do more than orient your bed; they’ll turn a mediocre bed into an alluring space with tips on style, colour, size and texture.

#1 Material Boy

Fabric

Bed heads upholstered in fabrics like suede, grasscloth, tweed and flax linen will make your bedroom appear more comfortable, cosy and inviting. Don’t forget to match your headboard to the rest of the room’s furnishings for a cohesive and well-rounded result.

When it comes to fabric patterns, the general rule of thumb that ‘less is more’ applies. Don’t be distracted by intricate designs and stick with solids or stripes.

You can’t go wrong with a classic tufted headboard. They are timeless, classic and add texture and depth to the setting.

Leather

For the gentleman looking for something a little more sleek and modern, forgo tufting and opt for smooth leather varieties. Not only will it be easy to keep clean, leather tends to last longer than most other fabrics and is always in style.

 Wood 

To create a rustic chic bedscape consider wooden headboards. Any type of wood will work; glossy and polished, weathered and reclaimed, even an old timber pallet or pieces of driftwood can constitute a stylish bed head.

Metal

Going for an industrial, minimalist approach? Metal is one way to make a statement. Metal headboards that use aged or treated materials are ideal while faux rusty metal will deliver a grungy, edgy finish to your bedroom.

#2 Shape and Style

Whatever material you decide on, remember that clean lines and sharp angles tend to look more masculine than curved designs.

Traditional shapes including peaked, bevelled and stepped bed heads look more appropriate in a masculine setting than arched or scalloped models. In fact, the simplest shapes often make the biggest impact, so never underestimate the power of an effortless rectangular design.

#3 Colour

The headboard is a perfect example of how a seemingly unimportant interior can add a touch of masculinity to the overall ambiance of the room.

Masculine interiors don’t have to be synonymous with dark, sombre tones and textures. Indeed, stark white headboards work well in industrial or minimalist settings.

Choose colours that will compliment blankets and sheets you use regularly or buy a new set of bedding to match the headboard. Likewise, take stock of your bedroom’s other furnishings to ensure the new bed head doesn’t clash and look out of place.

#4 Storage Hunters

Hide magazines, books and anything you wouldn’t want a potential bed buddy to see with storage headboards. There are countless varieties on the market, with hidden compartments and drawers big enough to hold extra pillows or blankets. The choice will ultimately depend on your storage needs and bedroom design (and size).

Storage headboards offer a contemporary substitute to daggy side tables and nightstands that remind you of mum’s place.

#5 When A Headboard Isn’t A Headboard

Not into any of the ideas suggested so far? Maybe you’re more of a DIY man, in which case a ‘non’ headboard could be right up your alley. Some guys sleep with the fishes by placing an aquarium at the head of the bed, while nautical buffs might like to nestle under the watchful gaze of a pair of antique rowing oars. A piece of art is another alternative to the traditional headboard.

A floating or built-in shelf roughly the same length of the bed head is clever way to add structure to the bed while gaining extra storage space.

The post Headboard Heaven: 5 Bed Head Do's & Don’ts appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Carbs make you fat. It must be true, because it’s what all the trendy diets tell you. From Atkins to Paleo, carbohydrates are almost universally vilified – Public Enemy No. 1 for anyone trying to get ripped.

There’s just one problem: carbs are important. They’re an essential part of the human diet, and lumping all carbohydrates into the same category does them (and your body) an injustice. If you think they’re universally evil, it’s time to take a step back, distance yourself from the dogma, and get clear on the real rules of carbs.

What Are Carbohydrates, Really?

Carbohydrates are macronutrients, just like proteins and fats. They are the fuel that keeps your body running. In fact, they’re the primary source of energy for your body. Without carbs, your body can’t produce a sufficient amount of glucose. Without glucose, your cells become starved for energy. And when that happens, a whole host of undesirable effects kick in (like depleted blood oxygen levels, headaches, muddled thinking, and low energy).

Experts recommend consuming 45 to 65 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates to keep your brain, blood, and nervous systems functioning optimally.

But what about everything you’ve heard about excess carbs becoming fat? Isn’t cutting back on pasta and white bread key to keeping fit?

Quality And Quantity

It’s not just quantity that matters when it comes to carbohydrates. Quality is an important part of the puzzle.

Complex carbs – the kind in starchy vegetables and whole grains – aren’t a foe of fitness. They’ve been linked to healthier weight as well as decreased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Because they are more difficult for your body to break down, complex carbohydrates are digested slowly and the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream is stalled as a result. Cue a variety of benefits for your body.

First, complex carbs don’t cause blood sugar and insulin levels to spike to the point associated with body-fat storage. What they do cause is healthy gut bacteria, which can lower inflammation and strengthen your immune system. They also go hand-in-hand with high fiber, another boon for your body.

The Real Enemy

At the other end of the dietary spectrum are refined carbs. Those are the ones found in cookies, chips, and pastries, and as you can probably guess, they have the opposite effect of complex carbohydrates.

Gorging on refined carbs causes your insulin and blood sugar to skyrocket, and makes those little guys in your gut produce inflammatory compounds. So not only are you in for metabolic malfunction, you’re also setting yourself up for obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Eliminating refined carbohydrates from your diet is a must if you’re serious about watching your weight. Beware of “low-fat” products that often replace fat with processed sugar (also a carbohydrate, and more easily converted into body fat than unprocessed carbs) and aim to consume foods with the fewest ingredients possible.

The Bottom Line

But wait – if some carbs are bad, and it’s hard to remember which is which, isn’t it easier to eliminate all carbs, just to be safe? The answer is no, and here’s why.

For starters, while you may experience weight loss on a carb-free diet, it’s more from water than body fat. Secondly, carbohydrates are crucial fuel for high-intensity workouts and endurance exercise. You’ll never achieve peak fitness if your body is starved of its primary energy source. Your body actually needs more carbs if your exercise regimen is especially intense, like training for a triathlon.

The post Why Carbs Aren't The Enemy You Think They Are appeared first on DMARGE Australia.