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Filed under: Wheels

Sometimes, speed equals safety. Perhaps nowhere else is that more true than on a racetrack when you’re piloting the so-called safety car and you’ve got a pack of Formula One cars riding up your tailpipe. Good thing, then, that the newest safety car to be used for F1 duty is the 571-horsepower Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

Interestingly, that tailpipe is the only mechanical change made to the SLS AMG to bring it up to Official F1 Safety Car specs. Mercedes-Benz left everything else on the car, including the engine, suspension and carbon-ceramic brakes, stock. Not that you won’t be able to tell the difference between the Safety Car and a standard Gullwing - a new carbon fiber hood with front-mounted camera, rear number plate with a camera and 700 LEDs and an “aerodynamically optimised roof light bar” (for the first time using all LEDs) ensure nobody can miss this particular SLS AMG.

For what it’s worth, the SLS AMG replaces the SL63 AMG, which had been the Official Safety Car for the previous two seasons. Again, the F1 Safety Car will be piloted by former DTM driver Bernd Mayländer. Also, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate (that’s wagon to us Americans) will serve as the Official F1 Medical Car. Let’s hope that one doesn’t see too much track time, eh? Click past the break for the official press release.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Shows Off SLS AMG F1 Safety Car

Mercedes-Benz Shows Off SLS AMG F1 Safety Car originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels

Contemporary Mercedes-Benz automobiles have come a long way in terms of their sporty design since the conservatively-styled bricks they once were. But some are looking for a little extra flavor. Short of a full AMG performance model, Mercedes offers cosmetic AMG appearance packages, and has now added the MercedesSport program to the catalog as well.

The individualization catalog includes new aprons front and rear, side skirts, spoilers for the front, the rear and the trailing edge of the roof, as well as new wheel options. There are also upgrades available for the suspension, brakes and interior.

The package will debut shortly at the Geneva Motor Show, initially implemented only on the E-Class, including the saloon, Estate wagon, coupe and Cabrio convertible. After that, Mercedes will continue rolling out similar packages on other models.

Benz launches MercedesSport Customization Program originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Imagine wearing a jacket that would tell you if the area you were entering was too polluted. This fantasy is made true by Industrial design students, Genevieve Mateyko and Pamela Troyer at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Canada, who have designed the “Detectair” jacket. Although this concept has been realised previously by inventions such as the ‘Breathless Corset’, which could detect if the amount of CO2 present around you was too high, the DetectAir is a step ahead of its competition. Detectair gauges the presence of other toxins such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, nitrogen oxide along with carbon dioxide in the surroundings. It indicates the levels of these toxins by using an arrangement of LEDs that looks similar to human lungs and branches of blood vessels along with using small vibrators placed inside the jacket.

This jacket could be very useful to warn people who are sensitive to these substances. It could also bring in a new trend of being healthy while looking smart.
[talk2myshirt]

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The amount of data generated from various electronic devices is growing exponentially and storing this data is not the only problem faced by the digital world. Checking its validity is also equally important. Although accumulating data is a very difficult job, checking its validity requires more time and resources. However, in a recent record breaking experiment conducted by IBM researchers on the fourth most powerful supercomputer, 9 terabytes of data was analyzed in less than 20 minutes. This activity, which normally would have taken a day to be completed in the same system, was carried out by implementing a new method for checking the integrity of data designed by IBM researchers. That’s not all. This method used only 1% of the total amount of energy that would normally be required. Analysis of data is required in all fields ranging from traffic and water management to financial planning, and this method will be able to provide models with greater efficiency and accuracy.

This method lowers the complexity of the process of validating data and at the same time makes optimal use of all the computer resources available.
[physorg]

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All of us aware of the benefits of using wind energy to generate electricity. However, due the specific location and large space required, windmills aren’t widely used to generate electricity. The recently designed Secret Energy Turbine (SET) might soon change this situation. The SET windmills have all the advantages of regular windmills minus the hassles. It looks like a vertical chimney stack which consists of vertically mounted blades under the influence of two opposing magnets. When the wind hits the blades of the turbine it starts to rotate giving rise to an aerofoil, thus generating electricity. The SET stands true on its name by generating energy in a very efficient and silent manner. This device can be easily installed in houses and can generate 50 to 250 watts of power.

The SET is a technology which, if commercialized, can make all the houses in the world self sufficient in terms of energy required.
[earthtechling]

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Filed under: Wheels

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost is a pretty impressive vehicle but over-the-top exotic auto tuner Mansory apparently felt it could benefit from a whole bunch of gold. Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show, the ritzy Rolls is designed to combine “the most precious materials with elaborate performance, individual appearance and stylish interior refinements.” The car is first painted deep blue and then gold varnish is applied to the cross-beam in the new front skirt, the vertical gill between the headlights, various bits of trim and the modified radiator grill, capped by gold wheels. New stainless steel sheeting, a rear spoiler and rear skirt and a double sport exhaust system sum up the rest. Power has been boosted from the stock 570 hp all the way up to 720 hp, with torque tweaked to 1,020 Nm up from 780 Nm. That means it’s only 0.5 seconds quicker to 62 mph, but the top speed now clocks in at 192 mph. Inside there’s diamond quilted leather and an odd mix of carbon fiber and bamboo wood accents illuminated by a galaxy of LEDs.

Mansory Rolls-Royce Ghost originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels

Even among exotic supercars, the Pagani Zonda is a rare beast. The Zonda Cinque even rarer, issued (as the name suggests) in a limited run of five examples. But this is rarer still: the Zonda Tricolore.

Built to honor the Frecce Tricolori aerobatics squadron of the Italian air force, the Zonda Tricolore is based on the aforementioned Zonda Cinque, but carries a number of special touches. The titanium-carbon weave of which the Zonda Tricolore is built has been left exposed, tinted only by a clear blue lacquer, and accented by the red, green and white stripes running up the hood. The triangular air vents at the tail are unique, as are the LED headlights.

Only one example will be built and sold for 1.3 million euros, or about $1.75 million. The Zonda Tricolore will be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, presumably the last iteration of the Zonda before its replacement - currently under development with the C9 moniker - rolls in to supplant it.

The One-of-a-Kind Pagani Zonda Tricolore originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We all love music, and those hi-fi systems we use to blast out all the music our ears can take suck up a whole load of electricity. Here’s a great way to tap your feet and save the environment of its depleting resources at the same time. These speakers by Landport use solar power to play your favorite tunes. Its lithium-ion batteries are charged up using solar power harvested from solar panels on their bodies. It also features a USB port incase the sun doesn’t shine. Jack up you iPod and other devices thru its stereo mini input. These speakers measure 19.5 × 11.2 × 5cm and weigh 290g. They also offer a 2W x 2ch audio output. On a full battery charge, you can get up to 5-8 hours of music playback.

Japan’s first solar powered speakers will be available in March this year for about 5, 250 yen.

[Akihabaranews]

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Big boats have their uses all over the oceans and seas, and do considerable harm to the environment too. Well, here’s a friendly giant who loves the environment just as much as you do. And what makes this huge vessel so clean? It’s solar powered! The PlanetSolar measures 31 meter by 15 meter and when its flaps at the stern and side are included, it measures 35 meters by 23 meters. Now that certainly makes it the world’s biggest solar powered boat. It uses 500 square meters of solar panels to power up the monster in its belly that enables the boat to travel at a top speed of 15 knots. The boat can also easily play host to 50 people. Chiseled at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel in northern Germany, the PlanetSolar will be launched in late March before starring at Hamburg port’s 821st anniversary celebrations in May. Its world tour will begin in April 2011. Weighing around 60-tonnes, this giant will take around 140 days to travel 40,000 km around the globe.

Here’s wishing a safe and successful journey in future to the biggest solar powered water vessel.

[SBS]

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Do you love rock and roll? Itching to break that electric guitar of yours to impress your fans on-stage? Well, here’s a cheaper and more environment friendly way of breaking your guitar. No, you don’t need to smash your $400 Gibson anymore. Simply use the SMASH, the guitar created strictly for smashing purposes by a Japanese firm called K’s Japan. This electric guitar is like any other, except the fact that it is entirely recyclable once smashed and finished with. There’s more, the guitar also creates a smashingly devastating and destructing sound once smashed. After your done being all cool and angry with your smashed up guitar, simply send the parts back to the company and they’ll assemble it into a new guitar that will be given away to charity.

Available in black and white and weighing just 2.5 kg, this smash-able guitar costs just $60. Oh! And you need to be 18+ to buy one of these.

[Crunchgear]

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Honda is here with yet another hybrid vehicle. Eager to set the road ablaze, the CR-Z Hybrid by Honda Motor Co. Ltd will enter the markets in Japan on Friday, February 26, 2010. The car uses a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and Honda’s very own Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA®) system. The car looks as sweet as the fuel economy it delivers, which is a whopping 25 km/l. this car will do the environment a huge favor with its eco-friendly lifestyle. It is designed to offer a smooth and enjoyably clean ride. The name CR-Z literally means Compact Renaissance Zero. This speaks of Honda’s policies of starting a car from scratch and building it up without sticking to traditional company norms, hence creating a unique car each time. The CR-Z will also use the world’s first 6-speed manual transmission on a hybrid vehicle.

This awesome vehicle with enough storage space to carry all those belongings of yours on a green drive thru the woods is sure to win the hearts of people around the world.

[Honda]

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Energy is wasted everyday in owing to various reasons. We usually tend to waste a whole load of electrical energy by leaving the on switches for our unused gadgets. Connecting gadgets into a multiple socket device and then leaving some of them powered on is one of the everyday errors we habitually perform. Well, here’s a cool ambient device that will remind you to switch of those unused gadgets and save energy. So how does this work? The Saving Energy Multitap uses the wasted juice to power up a set on ambient lights that will remind you to switch off your gadget. These ambient lights are touch sensitive and can be fitted onto your wall. Designed by Dong Hoon Han, Hwa Yong Shin & Dong Jin Shin, the Multitap can be used for switching with its touch sensitive features.

Now here’s a device we’d love to have in our homes. Its eco-friendly and looks cool too!

[Yankodesign]

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Gold is no ordinary metal. It looks good when ornamented but it also represents something that you would fight for. And if you want to push the envelope further and bring the opulence of this shiny metal to your bath room, why settle only for a gold bath tub? Pull the plugs completely and go for a gold sink, tiles and fixtures! Designed by Olivier Gagnère the Bagatelle Collection comes with an elegant gold finish. Available in seven colors, the Hastings Tile & Bath’s porcelain tiles have surfaces with the animal skin design and Gold Leaf Glass. The sink has a unique rectangular octagon shape, and comes in three variants- a gold metal finish, natural copper or polished chrome.
Finally designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, is the Froufrou Collection of bathroom fixtures and accessories. This Collection is made out of white porcelain and custom gold fittings for a regal look. The accessories include the JACLO’s luxury grab bar collection which is completely customizable.

[Thanks David]

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Some chronographs pass the test of time and emerge as evergreen even after a passage on ten years. But some changes are inevitable. So after the jet-black Chanel J12 was launched in 2000, ten years on, a new model will be out to celebrate its successful 10 years. With the help of Guilio Papi, a new face of limited edition Rétrograde Mystérieuse J12 watches with an even more complicated mechanism. These watches will be available as 10 limited edition pieces each in 18 carat gold and 18 carat pink gold. Laced with a tourbillon movement, the hands will run in the reverse direction between the 10 and 20 minutes each hour only to come back to its position after 10 minutes.
During this time, you can see the time in the digital display located between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock on the watch dial. The dial itself is 47 mm in diameter made in black ceramic with an 18 carat gold bezel spotting ceramic inserts for hour-markers. The hands are Pierced skeletons in 18 carat gold. The case is made of dual-face crystal having an anti-reflective coating and a similar sapphire back case. The movement used is the CHANEL Calibre RMT-10, designed exclusively for Chanel by Renaud et Papi (APRP SA). The crown on the mother of pearl is made from circular-grained steel made in black ceramic and spots a “Clou de Paris” pattern in 18 carat gold. The strap is has 46 black ceramic l inked hindges with a CHANEL-patented three-part folding buckle in 18 carat gold. The watch has water resistance up to 30meters

[Worldtempus]

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Magic is an illusion and it tends to get a gothic feel when Criss Angel is around. Maybe that’s a reason a why the guys at Big Bear Choppers are creating custom bike skeleton bike for him! And this is not the first custom chopper for the mind freak; he already has six in his collection. The frame of this $100,000 baby is made out of a real human skeleton dipped in stainless steel. And no human beings were killed intentionally; the maker of the bike Kevin Alsop, says human bones can be purchased and often are used for medical purposes.

[Vegasdeluxe And Sbsun]

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When a new store is launched in a big city, the new fanfare has to include new collectibles, right? That’s how Fendi think as they unveil a new exclusive bag to commemorate the opening of their new store in Crystals at MGM’s CityCenter in Las Vegas. The peek-a-boo Trevi Fountain bag priced at $36,000 is made of luxe python leather which is dipped in 24-carat gold.

[Luxist]

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The Swiss really seem to love their planet and are out there to tell the world that pollution free technology is not a mere experiment, or a lab test but a very relevant and workable technology. That explains the solar powered boat “PlanerSolar”. This sea skipper can ride the high seas at top speeds of around 15 knots that too with 50 people on board! Costing a whopping $24million this 31meter long and 15meter wide white catamaran has 5,380 square feet top covered with black solar panels, and has the bright white cockpit in the centre.
This Swiss vessel has been constructed at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel in Germany, and the 2-crew 60-ton ship will be on voyage as close as possible to the Equator since is powered by solar energy. The vessel will go on a 40,000-kilometre journey for around 140 days on an average speed of eight knots.

Via - [Greenlaunches]

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With Baselworld approaching, a number of watchmakers are gearing to present and showcase their best pieces on this famed platform. Buben & Zörweg is one name that has always won the accolades of watch connoisseurs and collectors at this show. All set for another winning stint at Baselworld 2010, Buben & Zörweg will be presenting a collection of some of the best watch winders at this show. Some of the beauties that will represent the Buben & Zörweg collection at this show are as follows:
The Phantom promises to captivate the audience with its design that is styled after a racing car. The amazing case can house four or eight automatic watches in its stunning interiors that re made form the most luxurious materials like leather, macassar etc.
The Progression with Time Mover is one piece that will appeal to every watch collector. Meant to house four watches it boasts of a unique mechanism with a solid aluminum cylinder as the pivotal point.

The Safe Master also equipped with Time Mover technology and dressed in sky leather promises to keep your automatic watches ticking in any safe.

For larger watch collections, Buben & Zörweg will also be displaying models for 16 and 32 timepieces.

The Collector 16 is a beauty inlaid with macassar and featuring a new opening mechanism and high security German lock.

The Collector 32 is a design masterpiece and the perfect abode to display your timepieces. The beautiful Collector 32 is available with exquisite wood inlays in either walnut or macassar.

For your jewelry needs, Buben & Zörweg will be displaying the Cosmopolitan and Venice Deluxe luxury cases.

So be sure to visit Buben & Zörweg’s booth C62 in Hall 2.0 at this year’s Baselworld which is scheduled to commence on March 18th.

Thanks Martin

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Weapons are bad, bad and bad! But Mappin and Webb present the lighter (literally) side of the weapons of destruction. The Mappin and Webb Sterling Silver grenade cigar lighter made way back in 1918, is a unique lighter shaped in the form of a No. 5 Mills grenade. Complete with a detachable ring, folding clip etc, this grenade lighter is a rare collector’s item. What is more, this rare table cigar lighter even features rubbed engraving that reads, “To Brig. Gen Sir C. W. King, KCMG, MVO, from old members of this staff, R. N. M. and A. E. T., 1918”. The hallmark of Mappin and Webb is also visible.
Said to be in excellent condition, this unique lighter measure 4in and is currently available from Pullman Gallery in London for £9,500 ($14,500) (plus VAT).

[1stdibs]

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The iPhone 3GS has been dressed in a variety of materials. After dazzling in a rose gold body, this phone is now sizzling in a space age material, titanium! Looking stunning in this new material, the phone promises to be a hot favorite with luxury lovers everywhere. The titanium iPhone was designed by Martin Schritz who wasn’t happy with the plastic body of his iPhone. After spending several months in customizing the design that consisted of digitally measuring the original case he used CAD to design the new case. Martin opted for a special titanium alloy for his project as it was RF transparent and didn’t negatively affect signal strength. What is interesting is that the whole customization process was completed without dismantling his iPhone! Titanium which is a luxurious material that is generally used in high end products only (particularly for the racing/performance markets), has definitely added a unique touch of luxury to this phone.
Great job indeed, have a look at the pictures and video of this amazing titanium iPhone 3GS.

[Engadget]

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