Petrol Talk

An evening full of insights

How does a media brand emerge that doesn’t simply view cars as cars – and, over the years, develops a world of its own centred on design, culture, style and a way of life?

Michael Köckritz, founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of ramp.space, explored this question in depth and took guests behind the scenes at ramp, rampstyle and Co.

Photos
Matthias Mederer · ramp.pictures

Two dads meet outside the nursery. One is in a Porsche. The other is in a Lamborghini. Spoiler alert: The two hit it off straight away. And they’re on the same page. It’s time to rethink the concept of a motoring magazine. So they simply take matters into their own hands. And get started. Everything is completely fresh and highly experimental. The outcome? Still to be seen. But they’re aiming for at least four issues. Today, 19 years later, one of the two fathers was a guest at the Petrol Hour at the Drivers & Business Club in Munich and spoke about what has become of that nursery moment: the independent, internationally recognised media house ramp.space. His name: Michael Köckritz, the man in charge, publisher and editor-in-chief of ramp, rampstyle and the company’s other media brands. Was there plenty to talk about that evening? That goes without saying.

“At its heart, it’s always about creating a space for what really matters – for intelligent conversation, powerful ideas and brands that embody values and character.”

Michael Köckritz

What began as four planned issues has now grown into more than 70 editions of the Auto.Kultur.Magazin ramp. Alongside it stands the men’s lifestyle magazine rampstyle, with its 38 issues, a similarly spirited and opulent companion, just like the line extensions rampdesign and rampclassics. And then there are the books, which, alongside their distinctive aesthetic, seek depth of content with editorial dedication. Just published: ‘The Art of Ferrari’. A work in which one can lose oneself in silence for half a day, as a journalist friend of mine – a very eloquent one – admitted. Or ‘Crazy About Rolex’, which explores the stories behind the iconic models through striking imagery. There are plenty more like them. And the ramp spirit now feels just as at home on digital channels as it does at bespoke events that bring the media house’s stories to life for the world. Just like this evening.

“Taking pleasure in maintaining an open, holistic outlook and fostering a rich, meaningful exchange with people we find fascinating – that’s simply part of our ramp DNA.”

Michael Köckritz

More highlights from the evening:

1/8

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The first 30 orders will receive four high-quality art prints free of charge!*
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65,00 EUR

To mark this milestone anniversary, this cult book on the cult Porsche explores the inspiration behind the body design, reveals the development process and traces the evolution of eight generations of the 911 – all featuring exclusive material from the Porsche archives.
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rampstyle #31 Isn't That Something?

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rampstyle #30 Blue Skies

20,00 EUR

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ramp #62 Wild Things

20,00 EUR

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Director’s Cut: Luxury

80,00 EUR

125,00 EUR

Luxury is enticing and exciting, polarizing and provocative, not to mention that it is good for the economy. But the essence of luxury goes far beyond the material. Luxury appeals to our senses, our dreams and our desires. It immediately evokes images that are as precise as they are diverse. Luxury also triggers some pretty clear opinions – both favorable and unfavorable.
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rampstyle #29 All Summer Long

20,00 EUR

Barcelona in summer. With Alvaro Soler - and a Porsche 911 SC. An approach to the phenomenon and the person Yves Saint Laurent. We spoke with Udo Kier in Palm Springs, and Luc Donckerwolke in his garage. And then there's the cover - and the associated story of House of Spoils.
Porsche 911 Everlasting Love Stories

99,00 EUR

Sixty years of the Porsche 911 – sixty years that stand for very personal, highly emotional relationships of love involving this sports car. Stories marked by love, lust and passion. Captured in this high-quality illustrated book.
ramp #61 Love Is in the Air

20,00 EUR

Blue skies, the scent of fresh grass, the warmth of the moment – but above all: sunshine. The light of the sun’s rays, scientists say, is the decisive factor at the beginning of the warm season that triggers the merry mix of happiness hormones which energetically drive us headlong into the summer.
rampstyle #28 Into the Great Wide Open

20,00 EUR

An exclusive fashion editorial with Tim Bendzko. Unseen pictures by photographer Anouk Masson Krantz. A conversation with star director Guy Ritchie and a somewhat different interview with musician Dan Auerbach. All this and much more awaits you in this issue of rampstyle.
rampstyle #27
By the Way

20,00 EUR

Did you know that between thirty and fifty percent of all scientific discoveries are the result of coincidence? Velcro, Viagra, X-rays – sometimes people find things without even looking for them, but they are rewarded with an unexpected alternative.
The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. An overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
Director’s Cut: The Lamborghini Book

100,00 EUR

Author texts, expert interviews and aesthetically pleasing imagery do the brand justice in all aspects and make the book a must-have for all car fans and Lamborghini enthusiasts. Alongside exclusive design sketches, an overview of all series models with full technical specifications completes this extraordinary and ambitious book project.
ramp #60 Too Cool to Handle.

20,00 EUR

A magazine about coolness? Among other things. But one thing at a time. First of all, it’s off to the movies. There’s this businessman from Boston who helps relieve a bank of a substantial amount of money. The insurance companies are on to him, but they can’t prove a thing. That, in a nutshell, is the plot of...
ramp #59 Tomorrow Is Yesterday

18,00 EUR

“Tomorrow Is Yesterday” was the title of an episode of the television series Star Trek, and although it was the nineteenth episode overall, it was the first to flicker into German living rooms fifty years ago this May. The story revolved around timelines and time travel.
rampstyle #26 Good News

15,00 EUR

Two thin ovals far up inside a circle, a curved arc below, sketched on sunny yellow. In a split second, our brain has combined the elements into a smiling face, instantly putting us in a good mood. Wonderful! A smiley like that just feels good.
Men’s manual - Best of rampstyle by Michael Köckritz

29,90 EUR

Existential questions are answered here: How do I build the perfect sandcastle? How do I start a band? Is there a perfect record player? (Spoiler Alert: yes, there is). Men´s manual is a supergroup of sorts: ramp and teNeues throw together their concentrated expertise in lifestyle.

An evening full of insights

More highlights from the evening:

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Everything We Love About Rolex. And More.

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