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Filed under: Wheels

There is no arguing with the fact that Aston Martins are absolutely gorgeous machines. They are also absurdly fast. But if you live in a crowded city like Manhattan, London or Tokyo they are utterly impractical. Like most exotics they can be hard to see out of and who wants to risk getting entangled with a bus or delivery truck? The crew at Aston Martin are now working on the solution.

The Cygnet by Aston Martin is a urban car concept that would give Aston owners a more practical alternative for when they need to head into the city center. The Cygnet is based on Toyota’s recently launched iQ micro-car. While Aston doesn’t have any confirmed production plans for the Cygnet yet, it could be offered in the future as an accompaniment to “standard” Astons, much like a dinghy for a yacht.

If only we could afford a “standard” Aston Martin on a blogger budget.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Goes Small With The New Cygnet Concept

Aston Martin Goes Small With The New Cygnet Concept originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels

February in Chicago would hardly seem like the appropriate backdrop for the debuting a new convertible but that’s exactly where Lexus unveiled the new IS. Fortunately the conditions for the IS-C’s on-sale date and first drives are somewhat more amenable to top down motoring. We recently had a chance to spend some time with the new IS convertible in both IS250 and IS350 forms.

Like the existing Lexus SC460, chief rival the Infiniti G37, and of course the BMW 3-series, the new IS C has a retractable hard-top that folds into the trunk. The IS is the second best selling model in the Lexus lineup and in the segment it competes in having a convertible seems a natural fit. Come along for the ride and find out if the IS convertible is for you.

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS Convertible

First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS Convertible originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All good habits begin from home. So instead of blaming the government and other citizens of this planet for abusing energy consumption, why not equip our own den with ZigBee’s Green Power spec. The company is rolling out an energy-harvesting specification that would enable switches and sensors equipped with its wireless home-control technology to operate without batteries and without a connection to a home’s power lines. This means that ZigBee-enabled on-wall light switches, dimmers, motion detector, moisture sensors and door sensors will be able to harvest energy from small solar cells, from heat or from the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. To make it simpler, let me explain to you with an example. To put on light, we press a button. This action will be converted into a small electrical charge, which in turn would power an embedded ZigBee transmitter. And the ZigBee signal would then turn on ZigBee-equipped lights.

[Twice]

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As dozens of new handsets are launched every day, people are tempted to swap them for their not-so-outdated models. Though discarded handsets lead to a threatening rise to e-waste heaps, their complementing chargers add on to the same. As every phone comes with a charger that can only connect to itself. However cell phone giants are planning to come together to put an end to this menace by offering a universal charger that fits any kind of handset. Apple, Nokia and Sony Ericsson along with Motorola, LG, NEC, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and the BlackBerry maker have given their nod to this agenda. Studies state that there are more than 30 different chargers in circulation in member states of the European Union, which estimates that 51,000 are lying unused. Such a move will not only help our environment but also reduce the clutter in our drawers.

[Dailymail]

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I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the limited edition 125th anniversary boots by Lucchese Boot Company. As a mark of celebration, 125 pairs of this classic pair of boots will be produced by the company. They are made from American Belly Alligator and manufactured in Lucchese’s matador construction. The hand-tooled scrolls, Lucchese logos and stars make the boots look exquisite. You can also expect covered side-seams and a fully hand-tooled and hand-painted quarters. The hand laced scallops look nice. The torero pullstraps will be overlaid in alligator, and grimini linings will be used on the inside of each pair. Every pair is sure to be hand-signed, numbered, and accompanied by an embossed, raised seal on a numbered certificate and logged by written record in a dedicated 125th Anniversary Edition Log Book. It’ll cost you $12,500 to get a pair.

[Luxist]

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Check out the extremely modified Hummer H1 if you want an eye sore. It looks so tacky and ugly in red that it’s almost a joke. If you think the exterior is ugly, you must see what’s in store for you inside. The numerous LCD’s surrounding the driver and the ostrich leather dashboard is not particularly hot. It seems that more than $185,000 were invested on this car. It runs on a tuned V8 diesel cranking out 195 horsepower and 430 lb-ft (583Nm) of torque. While I might not be interested, the car may just suit your taste. If it does then you can find it on eBay for $89,000.

[Carscoop]

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Dubai First’s Royale MasterCard is a luxury credit card that is only available for the creme de la creme of the society. It is a limited edition with only nine pieces being handed out per day and coming with high exclusive benefits and also high exclusive materials. The card itself is quite impressive with a gold border and a genuine certificated diamond embedded in the center. This card is definitely a status symbol. The benefits you will get include shopping, fashion, restaurants, hotel, helicopter & yacht charter, polo & golf club, and more. You can’t apply for the card, it is only offered to those deemed worthy of it. So don’t go holding your breath for an offer.

[Dubaiblog]

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If you want to see the most expensive bridal gown Vietnam has to offer, look no further. This gorgeous gown named “Bach ngoc xiem y” (gown with hundreds of gemstones) was showcased at he Ruby Plaza trading centre in Hanoi on June 28. It’s extremely unique and it has been created by designer Huy V. One look at the gown and it will capture your heart with 222 diamonds and 100 red rubies. Of course, its price tag has to match its beauty at US$117,000. The materials used to give this gown its stunning looks are white silk and satin. The icing on top is an exquisite flower made up of 22 big rubies and eight big diamond. The pistil is a huge water drop-shaped ruby, symbolizing love.
Effort worth of 320 hours, including 56 hours for idea and production, 240 hours for choosing and processing gemstones, and 24 hours for attaching gemstones to the gown totaling a grand 40 days went into making the dress. It received a certificate for being the most expensive bridal gown in Vietnam from the Vietnam Record Book Centre. It’s going to be modeled by first runner-up in Miss Vietnam 2008 Thuy Van on June 30. After that, you can catch it at the 3rd floor of Ruby Plaza.

[Vietnamnet]

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Prince Charles can now add ‘Hypocrite’ to the list of names given to him by the public. If reports are to be believed the Prince has sent the travel bills soaring with two of the most expensive trips in the history of royal accounts. Apparently the prince hired private jets for both these occasions and believe it or not these jets were to fly him to events designed to highlight environmental issues and global warming! And hence the new tag – Hypocrite. The tour on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Far East last autumn has cost taxpayers a whopping £694,081 ($1,161,811), including flights for staff. While his visit to South America in March conjured up a bill of £698,890 ($1,168,681)! Add to this £20,980 ($35,100) he spent on hiring a private plane to take him and wife Camilla from Scotland to Lincolnshire to watch Prince William receive his RAF wings. These expensive and lavish trips have surely made the tax payers sour.
Its time Prince Charles goes green and economical to avoid the fury of the mob that is already seeing red.

[Dailymail]

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If you are a fan of Formula One, then you probably own many Formula One Racing Books. But one book I strongly recommend you to buy is the amazing “Formula One Champions Opus” book. This incredibly oversized book celebrates Formula One racing in words and photos and is a must for every F1 fan. It is also the largest book ever produced on F1 racing and has been signed by every living F1 champion! This book will be the perfect addition to your collection of Formula One memorabilia.
This exclusive book is expected to ship from July and is available here for an expensive price of $40,000.

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I still am trying to come to terms with the untimely death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Besides the innumerable controversies surrounding his death there are also various news of how people all over the world are now trying to make money by selling various Michael Jackson memorabilia. One such item is this unique can of Michael Jackson energy drink which is up for auction on eBay. One of the rarest energy drinks it was supposedly sold at Jackson’s HIStory World Tour. The unopened can has been put up on eBay by a Swedish fellow who has been saving it for the past 11 years. The head of PR at Mystery Management (a tour sponsor of the HIStory tour) claims that Michael not only agreed to sell the drink but also played a major role in its recipe. In fact it was on Michael’s request that the manufacturers didn’t put anything artificial in this drink. So if you are a true fan and feel that you must own this can, the Swedish man is demanding a whopping $50,000 for it.
But here is some better news, apparently if you are resident of L.A. you can get this can at craigslist for just $800 or even get an empty can on eBay for just $10. It’s your choice guys. To bid for this can just click here.

[Examiner]

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In June 2013 the Queen will celebrate the golden jubilee of her coronation amid great fanfare and merriment. And if all goes well the Westminster Abbey will also sport a brand new look as part of the celebrations. There are plans to build a magnificent £10m ($16.6 million) corona – a crown-shaped roof – over the lantern that lights the heart of the church. The Queen and Prince Charles are aware of these renovation plans, but the dean, the Very Rev John Hall, said the project would only go ahead if it won public approval. If approved, this new roof would redefine the skyline of Britain and end the 1000 year long puzzlement of architects over finishing the roof. The plans would also allow visitors for the first time into the triforium, a spectacular if dusty secret world 70ft above the nave, with a view described by John Betjeman as “the best in the world”. There are also plans to shift the contents of the old museum into the new attic and also to convert the old museum into a visitor center. The new renovations would also include the first ever education centre in Dean’s Yard beside the choir school and a café.
The Abbey is displaying these proposed plans at Chapter House until September. Guess it’s up to the public to decide whether they are ready to finally let this landmark church undergo a drastic change.

[Guardian]

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Bicycles have been in the news off late for various reasons. Aside from the usual marketing schemes, the idea is to get every fat ass on the street to become healthy and also of course, use it as an alternative source to save the environment from the harsh carbon footprints. Hence, an architect firm designed this Bike Arc, a U-shaped bike rack to park your… bike! A few prototypes were installed in downtown Palo Alto in January and were an instant hit. The main idea was formulated by Jeff Seltzer, a bike retailer and advocate, and Joseph Bellomo, principal of Palo Alto–based Bellomo Architects. The Bike Arc is a simple curved unit that combines the space-saving quality of hanging systems with a much easier to maneuver roll-in-place design. The units can stand alone as the circular umbrella arc, incorporated into bus shelters or fully covered in the double-loaded tube design.

These racks are also designed in a way that no one can steal your bike’s wheels. According to the public relations firm that represents Bike Arc, the company is constantly developing new Bike Arc concepts, “including the use of more affordable materials and photovoltaic technology.”

[Archpaper]

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Various experiments, programs and tests are being carried out daily for alternative sources of energy. One company in Florida finally came to a conclusion that carbon dioxide can be used to MAKE fuel rather than be the curse. Algenol Biofuels and Dow Chemical said that they are building a pilot plant on the site of a Dow plant in Freeport, Tex., that produces carbon dioxide as a by-product of several different processes. The algae would be exposed to sunlight, in water mixed with carbon dioxide, and would give off ethanol and oxygen. Dow wants the ethanol as a feedstock for plastic, replacing natural gas. In that sense, the ethanol-producing algae would become another processing unit in a chemical factory.

If this process works well, the company will turn towards a coal-burning power plant, with the oxygen going into the combustion chamber. Also, coal burned in oxygen produces exhaust that is mostly carbon dioxide – which could go right back to the algae-growing tanks. So a molecule of carbon dug from the ground as coal would help create electricity when burned in the coal plant, and then be incorporated into ethanol, eventually being released into the atmosphere when burned in a car.

[Greeninc]

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AORA is developing the world’s first hybrid solar thermal plant. It will have enough capacity to power 70 homes throughout the day and night. It will have 30 heliostats that will track and reflect the sun towards the turbine tower, where the concentrated sunlight heats compressed air, which then drives a gas turbine. Through this process space is improved and energy is made more efficient. The company is also hoping to have plans in Jordan, where such a facility will provide great relief. They used solar thermal instead of the typical photovoltaic cells because the company feels that ‘solar thermal is a great technology for sunny areas, while PV can be more efficient in cloudy climates with indirect sunlight. When PV panels heat up, they lose efficiency, but in places like England, Japan or Germany, they [flourish]’.

The system also guarantees electricity and can run on any alternative fuel, on diesel, crude oil, natural gas or even green fuels like biofuel and biodiesel. Now we only wait for more governments to roll up their sleeves and follow suit.

[Reuters]

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The engineers at the University of Leeds are working on an entirely new range of armored vests that are made from cement. The vests are a combination of super-strong cement and recycled carbon fiber materials. This combination makes the vests very strong and effective against almost all types of bullets. It is still at an early stage and is being developed at the School of Civil Engineering at the University. It is good enough for security guards, reporters and even aid workers who are working at hot spots.

These vests are just one of a range of uses for the material that has been in use for 2000 years. Other ideas include cement based pump-less fridges, a new type of catalytic converter and improved bone replacements. The project has got GBP 100,000 (US$ 167,247) has funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

[ScienceDaily]

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This is a time of severe water shortages around the world. The summers are also getting hotter as every year passes by. Hence conservation for water in gardens is becoming very important day by day. This is where AIR-igator comes into the picture. This device collects condensates from air conditioners, storing it and the automatically drip waters the plants. So the hotter it becomes the more water you get for your garden. A fairly efficient three ton central air conditioner unit will produce up to 15 gallons of water every day. Moreover the condensate from air is free from chemical and is pure, it is ideal for micro-irrigation. The system is also very simple. It has a diameter of 245 inches and a 65 gallon capacity polythene tank which is buried in the ground and the condensate drain pipe is plumbed straight in. it also has a 120V 1200 GPH pump and a float control. When the tank fills, this float will start the pump and run till the tank is empty. The float can also act a signal timer for watering the garden at specified times. Water loss is kept at a minimum and also inhibits the growth of weeds. A complete set of AIR-igator costs $495 and is presently available through the Florida based manufacturer.

[Gizmag]

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Most of us don’t bother to keep a tab on the amount of water consumed during our daily activities. And who thought a seemingly normal hose could do that for you! Tobin Spann came up with this very intelligent design of a water sprayer that shows how much water you consumed while washing your car or watering your lawn. Considering we normally use 80-100 gallons of water per day, this seems like a very intelligent way to make us aware of the amount of water used and consciously avoid any kind of water wastage. A smart product indeed I must say!

[Yankodesign]

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A new solar trend seems to have caught everyone’s fancy these days and it was proved at the PV Japan 2009, an exhibition of photovoltaic technologies. This new trend is the tandem-type panel that consists of different kinds of solar cells and can convert light in a wider wavelength range to electricity. These panels are made of amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon and are suitable for industrial photovoltaic systems.

Applied Materials Inc (AMAT) of the US showed off a tandem-type thin film solar panel using an 8.5-generation, 5.7m2glass plate, priced at $1/W capable of achieving high grid parity and higher conversion efficiency. The tandem-type panels are black and hence they can use light in a wider wavelength range.

Companies like Sharp, Sanyo, Oerlikon and Ulvac have also announced their range of tandem-type solar panels to keep up with the trend. Solar power for industries doesn’t seem like a distant dream any more with the introduction of these tandem-type panels.

[Techon]

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Filed under: Wheels

Last week we reported that a third Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang, one of only five made and the world’s most expensive production car, had been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList. Now a fourth Pur Sang has surfaced for sale at Florida’s exotic auto dealer Forza Collezione. The car on offer is said to be the first of the five Pur Sang’s built and we’re told the pricetag is $3.8 million. This means only one of the five Pur Sang’s remains in private hands. The first was offered up in Abu Dhabi, and the next one surfaced a couple of weeks later in Frankfurt, Germany, where the car was originally unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The special edition supercar with exposed carbon fiber and aluminum bodywork sold out within 24 hours of its original announcement.

First Ever Pur Sang for Sale at $3.8 Million originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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