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Khaleej Times
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Look: Gold-plated sports car steals show at Sharjah jewellery exhibition
A gold-plated car is a rare sight anywhere in the world, but in the UAE, it's not too surprising, especially when it makes a dramatic appearance at major events. At the 55th edition of the Middle East Watch and Jewellery Show in Sharjah, one exhibit left visitors with their eyes wide open — a 2014 Nissan GT-R fully covered in intricate 24K gold-plated engravings. Nicknamed 'Gold-Zilla' for its looks and powerful performance, the car has been turning heads. This one-of-a-kind creation was designed by Kuhl Racing and Japanese artist Takahiko Izawa, with the entire body hand-engraved before being finished in gold. It took over 2,000 hours to complete the detailed work. From the bonnet to the fenders, mirrors, doors, and even the rear, every inch of the car is carefully carved and then coated in 24K gold. 'We treat it as a piece of art. It's extremely rare, and only two of these were made, one in white gold and the other in yellow gold. We have the yellow gold version,' said Mohsen Dhaibani, deputy regional manager at Al Romaizan Gold and Jewellery in the UAE. While the base car is a 2014 Nissan GT-R, it has been heavily modified for looks and performance. With a twin-turbo V6 engine pumping out between 850 and 900 horsepower, custom titanium exhaust, aftermarket wheels, and a wide-body kit, the Gold-Zilla still holds its power under the hood. 'Yes, it can be driven, it's fully functional. But we don't drive it. We bring it only to exhibitions and display it at select showrooms,' said Mohsen. 'Even the interiors are gold-plated, from the door handles to the AC vents. Everything is handcrafted.' Valued at over $1 million, the car is not for sale. 'We haven't measured the amount of gold used because it's quite massive. But the purpose was never about weight or price. It's about craftsmanship and uniqueness,' he added. 'This car is like jewellery on wheels. It reflects the same attention to detail and luxury that we showcase in our gold collections,' said Mohsen. While the car stole the spotlight, it was far from the only highlight at the event. 500 exhibitors from 26 countries According to the organisers, this year's show is one of the largest and most diverse to date, bringing together more than 500 exhibitors from 26 countries, including around 90 new participants. 'We have seen tremendous interest from international companies this year,' said Sultan Mohammed Shattaf, chief commercial officer at Expo Centre Sharjah. 'Our goal has always been to curate the finest collection of jewelry and watches for both B2C and B2B clients.' The exhibition features thousands of kilograms of gold, with jewelry ranging from traditional Arabic styles to European, Indian, and other global designs. 'We ensure a rich variety to cater to every taste, with pieces crafted from platinum, white gold, silver, and a wide selection of diamond jewellery,' he added. Shattaf also said that hundreds of unique and limited-edition watches are on display, drawing keen interest from collectors and enthusiasts. 'We have had a great number of visitors so far, including many from neighbouring countries, and we are proud to see how this platform continues to grow as a regional and international hub for luxury and craftsmanship.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former Polk deputy skips trial in fatal Courtney Campbell DUI crash
TAMPA — A former sheriff's deputy accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed two men on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in 2022 is now a wanted man. Joshua Kyle Roelofs failed to show up for what was scheduled to be the first day of his trial Monday morning in Tampa. He was expected to enter a guilty plea to DUI manslaughter and other charges. Instead, for almost an hour, court officials waited for the defendant. When he still did not appear after bailiffs called his name, Hillsborough Circuit Judge G. Gregory Green issued a warrant for his arrest. Roelofs, 35, had been out of jail on $19,000 bail since his arrest in May 2022. Tampa police determined he was driving an orange Nissan GTR at more than 100 mph early the morning of April 13, 2022, on the causeway, a bridge that runs across Old Tampa Bay between Clearwater and Tampa. The Nissan slammed into the back of a Kia Sorrento, which flipped over and came to rest on its side. Kris Koroly and Ricky Gongora, roommates who worked together at Salt Cracker Fish Camp in Clearwater, were both thrown from the Kia and killed. The driver, William Camacho, and another passenger, Jessica Perez, were both seriously injured. Koroly and Gongora, who were both 44 when they died, had out-of-state family members listening in to Monday's court proceedings by videoconference. They'd eagerly anticipated that three years of legal proceedings might come to an end. 'My mind is racing right now,' Gongora's sister, Victoria Negrete, said after Roelofs didn't show. 'We just want justice. And this coward, the whole time, did not take accountability. And now he didn't even show up.' 'I knew this guy was a flight risk,' said Koroly's sister, Rachel Pell. 'I am in shock. I am just in complete shock.' Roelofs' blood alcohol content was pegged at 0.69 about five hours after the collision. The limit at which state law presumes impairment is 0.08. Prosecutors presented paperwork showing that Roelofs visited two bars in St. Petersburg in the hours before the crash. Roelofs, of Mulberry, attended prior court hearings in his case. State corporation records indicate that he owns a solar energy business. From 2010 to 2015, he worked as a Polk County sheriff's deputy. He was fired after he was caught repeatedly filing inaccurate timecards to receive extra pay, sheriff's officials previously told the Tampa Bay Times. In recent weeks, his attorneys had unsuccessfully argued for a judge to suppress some of the evidence in the case. It had been anticipated that Roelofs would plead guilty and leave his sentence for a judge to determine rather than go to trial. Now, though, his case's outcome is uncertain. If he is found and arrested, he will likely be jailed without bail until his case is resolved. He will also need to obtain a new lawyer. After he failed to appear Monday, his attorneys, Deborah Barra and Glen Lansky, withdrew from representing him further. Anyone with information regarding Roelofs' whereabouts can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.
