Luxury
The most expensive TV in the world
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October 28, 2006 On display for the first time at the recent IFA show in Germany and also in New York earlier this month at an exhibition promoting Italian craftsmanship was the Yalos Diamond, a EUR 100,000 (US$130,000 in round figures) television set by Neapolitan (from Naples) Keymat Industrie s.p.a. The 40 inch LCD TV has provision for 1080i and 720p high definition picture formats and is as technologically sound as is humanly possible with a picture contrast ratio of 1200:1. The really expensive bit is the workmanship, the design and the fact it’s plated in white gold and studded with 160 diamonds (4 gm) of diamonds. Read More
The world's most expensive chocolates
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October 26, 2006 It’s one of those days for quirky news, and they don’t come much quirkier than the products of Swiss company DeLafee International which creates the most expensive chocolate in the world. DeLafee’s Swiss chocolate pralines are covered with 24 carat edible gold leaf hand-applied to each chocolate. Not surprisingly, there’s no economy pack, with the Intimacy Box costing US$36.90 and containing two pralines (pictured), while the celebration Box of eight is US$98.40. Why is the gold edible? All gold is apparently edible, being totally safe when ingested and famous for its non-allergenic properties (otherwise it wouldn’t be used in tooth fillings). Both the European Union and United States authorize the use of gold to decorate food products and in several cultures gold is regularly used in foods. India is the world's largest consumer of gold in food products, eating its way through 12 metric tons of gold per year. Gold leaf is used to decorate pastries, which the wealthy offer as gifts for special celebrations like weddings or holidays. In France and Italy, celebrity chefs use gold leaf to decorate their most refined dishes. In Japan, gold leaf is mixed with sake on New Year's Eve to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year and in Europe the same tradition apparently exists with champagne, though we can’t vouch for either practice. Read More
The world's most expensive bottled water - US$40 a bottle
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October 15, 2006 Just how do you differentiate a product like bottled water? It’s an important question when you realise that Americans drink more than 25 billion litres of bottled water a year at prices greater than gasoline. Bottled water sales have risen 50% per person in less than a decade, which isn’t bad for a core product that varies little, and is at least a thousand times more expensive than tap water which is readily available as an alternative. In Europe, water is even bigger business – Western Europeans drink more than half the world’s bottled water. The winning answer to the differentiation question in 2006 was to add a magazine to the bottle, but there are thousands of brands out there and some of them are very clever. For all those people for whom only an ostentatious display of wealth will do is Bling H2O. Available in US$40 750ml and US$24 350ml versions, the frosted, corked bottles are emblazoned with hand-applied, Swarovski crystals. Not surprisingly, the newspapers are reporting that the Goddess of conspicuous consumption Paris Hilton “has tasted the water” as has her dog Tinkerbell. (she sure gets a lot of press for a gal that don’t do much). The drink has also shown up at the Grammy's, Emmy's and MTV Video Music Awards in the hands of celebrities such as Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey and Shaquille O'Neal. Bling H2O is the creation of Hollywood writer-producer Kevin G. Boyd who knows the importance of image and what your choice in bottled water conveys to the public. In Hollywood it seems the bottled water one carries has become an important prop and it has become the land of the upmarket waters - bottles are becoming statements of coolness and Bling H2O was fashioned to make a defining statement. The mission was to offer a product with an exquisite face to match exquisite taste. The product is strategically positioned to target the expanding super-luxury consumer market. Bling H2O has been featured at many recent celebrity events including the MTV Video Music Awards and television’s biggest event, The Emmys. Our favourite quote on the subject was Adjab, which said that it proved the old adage that it's really easy to get rich people to fork over cash for stupid reasons. Read More
Luxury designer homes for dogs
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October 4, 2006 Italian designer Marco Morosini has squeezed a lifetime into a third of a century and we suspect his next few decades might yield, well, almost anything, given the prolific and outstanding body of work he has assembled already. Some of his projects such as NoCopyright and BrandinatheOriginal are well worth a look, but if you’re a canine fan, his collection of designer doghouses that can be found at dogisagod are faaabulous! So faaabulous indeed that two of his luxury pet home designs have been manufactured in limited quantities specifically for the annual collection of fantasy gifts in the 80th (2006) edition of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. The retro-style Nomad is designed for transport, featuring wheels and crafted of poplar with an interior rug and coordinating wallpaper. The ultra-modern Good Life provides the perfect setting to receive guests -- inside its minimalist 44- inch crystal case is your pooch's very own plush armchair of Italian leather. Both homes will accommodate pets up to seven pounds and are carefully handcrafted by Italian artisans for indoor use. The exclusive editions are limited to only ten of each style, and each will be numbered and signed by the Marco. They cost US$5,000 and US$7,000 and we think it’s a shame they didn’t make them all, because some of his other pampered pooch bedrooms are just as good.
The new Audi S3 – luxury compact hot hatch
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August 3, 2006 The hot hatch segment gets more crowded every day, and Audi’s new premium compact class contender the S3 spans several segments. It runs a specially developed version of Volkswagen’s 2.0 litre Turbo FSI engine featuring a new turbo charger with an enlarged turbine and compressor rotor and modified intercooler to produce 265 PS @ 6,000rpm and 350Nm of torque from 2,500rpm to 5,000rpm running through a six-speed manual gearbox to the quattro four-wheel-drive system. First deliveries are expected in Europe in January 2007 at UKP27,000 OTR. The new S3 will run 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds with a top speed limited to 155mph. Read More
GoldVish Luxury Cell Phone launch at Millionaire Fair Cannes
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July 18, 2006 GoldVish is a new name in mobile communications but one we suspect most people will rarely see on an actual product. Aiming at the very top of the market for personal communication devices, the Geneva based luxury communication goods company is about to launch a collection of the most exclusive and up-market cell phone collection ever created! At the stratospheric end of the range is the amazing limited production ‘Piece Unique’ which features more than 100 carats of D/E-color and VVS-1 clarity grade diamonds and will sell for EUR1,000,000 (US$1,254,100). Prices for the regular GoldVish phones start at EU18,950 (US$23,761) and go up to EUR120,000 (US$150,468) for a full pave diamond version. There will also be 100 Limited Edition pieces specially made for collectors for EUR145,000 (US$181,808), but these are expected to all be snapped up when the collection is previewed to the public for the first time at the elite Millionaire Fair in Cannes in September. Read More
The world's most expensive mobile phone
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July 16, 2006 Russian company JSC Ancort has teamed with celebrity jeweller Peter Aloisson to create a very upmarket version of Swiss Crypto Telecommunication Security’s Crypto Smart telephone which will sell for US$1.3 million and in so doing, become the world’s most expensive mobile telephone. Designed to attract attention to the issues of mobile phone privacy, the solid platinum Brilliant Crypto Smartphone uses a symmetric 256 bit cryptographic algorithm and Windows CE operating system. In addition to the platinum body, the Ancort logo and the navigation key are made of 18 carat rose gold, as is the navigation key which also carries 28 round cut diamonds. Aloissen is well known for his personalisation and bejewelling of popular mobile phones such as the Nokia 8210 and Sony Ericsson T68, increasing their sale price to more than EU32,000. The phone can also be ordered with the platinum treated with a black rhodium process to give it a black, shiny look. Read More
The Wothahellizat – a go anywhere, 6X6 luxury motorhome
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July 16, 2006 The possibilities of living a geographically unchained lifestyle have never been greater – if you earn your living on-line, the world is now your neighbourhood. Similarly, if you live within your means, it’s quite possible to wake up to a different view every morning. Indeed, we suspect that becoming a digital nomad is very appealing to Gizmag’s readership because every time we run a story about a clever mobile home concept, Concepts such as the Airstream Skydeck, this converted London double-decker bus, General Motors’ mobile home concept, or this ingenious relocatable home it rates like crazy. However none of them have rated as well as DRACO, an expedition class AWD motorhome and we suspect that’s because it offers a home anywhere required – all modern conveniences in a wilderness setting. Now there’s a similar vehicle for sale that will appeal to many people as their dream home – the aptly named Wothahellizat is attainable for just AUD$350,000 (US$263,000) with everything you need to go just about anywhere you want as long as you’re prepared to pick it up in Australia. Built by Australian photographer Rob Gray, it was created with the aim of getting to nice places and staying there for long periods. Built to carry three months of supplies, it can and regularly does spend months at a time in the vast Australian outback and as a 6X6 turbo diesel AWD it gets to better, quieter, and more secluded campsites because it can handle rougher terrain than the average motorhome. Read More
The most expensive luxury coach ever built
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July 13, 2006 It’s a mighty big claim but Featherlite Luxury Coaches has announced its newest motorcoach, the Vantare Platinum Plus, with the claim that it’s the most expensive luxury coach ever built. The Platinum Plus has a triple slide configuration and its spacious interior is defined by the finest grade of finish materials in the world. Designed by renowned interior designer and luxury coach owner Karen B. Horton, the fine detail of every item that has gone into the US$2.5 million Platinum Plus really has to be seen to be believed.
The new Mercedes-Benz CL-Class luxury coupe
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June 27, 2006 The launch of the new CL-Class in autumn 2006 will see the latest iteration of the Mercedes-Benz coupe lineage which now stretches back 50 years. The luxury two-door traditionally combines exclusivity, design and cutting-edge technology and this latest version raises the bar in vehicle safety with the PRE-SAFE brakes - a system that automatically brakes the Coupe before an imminent rear-end collision. Furthermore, Mercedes innovations such as the Active Body Control (ABC) suspension system, the Intelligent Light System with five lighting functions and PRE-SAFE anticipatory occupant protection all come as standard. Buyers have the choice of 8 or 12 cylinder engines, both delivering a notable increase in output and torque. Read More
The world’s most expensive mousemat
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June 19, 2006 It’s hard to imagine someone paying UKP260 (US$481.55) for a mousemat but that’s exactly what punters will be able to do now that Formula 1 has developed its very own merchandising range. Merchandising brings in millions to each of the 11 teams that compete in the world’s most expensive sport and most watched sporting series, so it was good sense to develop a whole range of polo shirts, watches and keyrings designed to reflect the stellar brand values and upmarket price tags that go along with the F1 circus. The carbon fibre and leather mousemat was designed “using state of the art automotive 3D modelling software” and is hand-made in England by specialist composite technicians who make Formula One monocoques. Slightly cheaper but looking perhaps even more the part is a solid carbon fibre mousemat (there isn’t a square millimetre of leather anywhere near a Formula One car or driver) which sells for UKP250 (US$463) but unfortunately, the beautiful carbon fibre weave surface isn’t compatible with optical mouses – so make sure you check the image library so you get the right one – it’d be a shame to sell the kids for a mousemat that wasn’t compatible with your Microsoft Mouse. Read More
New Gold and Silver MOTORAZR V3i by Dolce and Gabbana
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June 2, 2006 UPDATED IMAGES Following the huge success of the limited edition MOTORAZR V3i by Dolce & Gabbana, the Italian designers have again teamed with Motorola to create a new version of the device in luxurious gold and silver, with an engraved Dolce & Gabbana logo. Further glamour is added with an exclusive pendent featuring the gold DG initials. Inside the new phone offers further customised features, such as special backgrounds, screensavers, MP3 ring tones and unique animations. Read More
Six seat luxury mobile office concept for the corporate commando team
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May 14, 2006 There are many companies in the world that create luxury goods for high earners, and there are just as many who create specialist tools for the finest exponents of their trade. Becker Automotive does both, pushing the very edge of luxury vehicle design. Using SUVs and vans as the base of their designs, Becker can create mobile environments for almost any purpose, from luxury offices through stretched (height and length) mobile entertainment areas, though the exterior of the van remains remarkably incognito, giving no hint of the technology, opulence and status of the occupants. What sets Becker apart, is the level of luxury craftsmanship, which is equivalent to that you’d find in a private luxury jet or yacht, and the range of options, which covers … almost anything. Though Becker Automotive is located in California, their vehicles are regularly shipped across the world. Our favourite is Becker’s six-seat mobile office concept for the corporate commando team (pictured) with full electric seating, high-speed wireless internet and … ballistic armouring should it be required. Read More
The World's Most Expensive MP3 Player - US$20,000
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April 5, 2006 German audio and storage company TrekStor, has received an order from Russian-Canadian billionaire and owner of the Midland Formula 1 team, Alex Shnaider, to develop the world's most expensive MP3 player. This luxurious piece of jewelry, valued at approx. US$20,000, is cast in 750 gold and adorned with numerous diamonds and a valuable chain. The idea to develop the world's most expensive MP3 player came to Shnaider while negotiating a sponsorship deal with TrekStor CEO, Daniel Szmigiel. Shnaider was so fascinated by the i.Beat organix – a handy, 40g player with full-bodied sound and winner of eleven accolades – that he placed a special order for the unique, custom-made device on the spot. Read More
The limited-edition Academia Differential Tourbillon
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April 2, 2006 The world's leading Watch and Jewellery Show is held in Basel, Switzerland in March each year and this year BaselWorld kicked off on March 30 showing some of the most outrageous concepts and limited edition watches ever seen. This year one of the masterpieces on display was available for purchase for the first time – in a limited edition of just 25 pieces. The Academia Differential Tourbillon concept was awarded the Premier Prix Innovation at the 2005 Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie de Geneve in December – the highest award for innovation in the industry. Spurred on by this recognition, the De Witt Manufactory set the exceptional limited edition piece in titanium with sparkling semi-precious stones, a first of its kind. Avant-garde in its combination of titanium, rubber and red gold, it attracts attention with its refined setting and a movement equipped with a patented differential system. Read More
The US$240,000 Helmet
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March 23, 2006 It’s one of the most serious high tech toys on the planet and all you’ve got to do to get your hands on one is graduate all the way to ultra-elite flight crew level. Boeing’s Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is used on U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Air National Guard F-15 Eagles, USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons, U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, as well as the most mission-critical fighters of five international air forces. The system offers the ability to rapidly acquire and designate a target simply by looking at it. By placing an aiming cross, projected on the helmet visor, over the desired target and pressing a button, the pilot can quickly and easily aim weapons and sensors to designate and attack airborne or ground targets. JHMCS also displays aircraft altitude, airspeed, gravitational pull and angle of attack on the visor, as well as tactical information to increase situational awareness. How good? So good that Boeing has just received its third full-rate production order of more than 400 JHMCS systems, expanding production capacity for the second consecutive year and the total number of systems in the field to more than 2000. The JHMCS not only makes the pilot and aircraft more lethal, but it also makes them more survivable because it reduces the time the pilot and aircraft are exposed to potential enemy fire. Very serious! Read More
BMW and Airbus work together to create luxury aircraft interior
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March 19, 2006 If you wanted to give airline business class customers a feeling akin to the luxury they experience with a luxury automobile, the logical people to work with are the people who design luxury vehicle interiors. Airbus prides itself as having the “widest, tallest and most comfortable cabins of any corporate jet” and when it unveils a mock-up of the cabin for its new A350 twinjet at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2006 exhibition in Hamburg next month, it will be work done in just such a partnership - with BMW Group Designworks. The cabin features new lighting features and projects ambient images onto the ceiling which, along with a host of other technologies, helps to create the mood required. Read More
The World’s Fastest and Most Powerful Luxury Sedan – the 730 hp, 1,320 Nm and 340 km/h Brabus S V12 S Biturbo
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March 8, 2006 Brabus has released images and details of the world’s fastest and most powerful luxury sedan. The 340-km/h high performance automobile is based on the new Mercedes S 600 and is powered by a Brabus S V12 S Biturbo twelve-cylinder engine with 730 hp / 537 kW and a peak torque of 1,320 Nm. The Brabus S V12 S Biturbo engine is a prime example for the old adage that nothing can replace displacement except more displacement. A special crankshaft with longer stroke, forged pistons with a larger diameter and an increased cylinder bore result in a displacement increase from standard 5.5 to now 6.3 liters. Read More
US$3,500 White Lake USB Memory Golden Stick
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March 4, 2006 The luxury goods market exists because people will always enjoy having exquisite objects, showing their status and wealth and expressing their individuality. That’s why people will pay hundreds of dollars for a cigarette lighter, thousands of dollars for a pen, and tens of thousands of dollars for a watch. So it was inevitable that when flash drives became personal, that we’d see an upmarket version, similar to the Vertu range of high end mobile phones. Flash drive manufacturers White Lake have created a top-of-the range USB flash drive named the Golden Stick which will be showcased at CEBIT next week. The Golden Stick is made of 14 carat gold with five embedded diamonds, though you can have it in 18 carat gold if you wish, but it’ll cost more, and if you think the diamonds are a bit gauche, you can leave them out and reduce the price from EUR 2,950 (US$3,550) to EUR 2,400 (US$2,885). We’re not so sure about making top shelf items in the rapidly moving technology fields – having a 4GB Golden Stick might not be so cool this time next year when everyone else has 16GB. Read More
The diamond encrusted US$20,000 Kodak Easyshare camera
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March 2, 2006 Being nominated for an Academy Award is an indication of excellence at the highest level in the profession of filmmaking. Landing a nomination for one of the major awards also brings with it a bag of goodies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars including trips, stays at exclusive hotels and some exclusive jewellery, clothes, and gadgets. For example, each Best Actress nominee in the upcoming 78th Academy Awards will be treated to the “Ultimate Luxury Suite at The Four Seasons Hotel” which brings with it an array of goodies including a KODAK dual-lens EASYSHARE V570 digital camera. Normally, the V570 runs to US$400 but each of the five nominees (Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Huffman, Keira Knightley, Charlize Theron and Dame Judi Dench) will be getting a camera personalised with their initials in 75 brilliant-cut diamonds raising the cost to around US$20,000. What we'd like to know is why everybody (including the bookies) seems to think that Reese Witherspoon (those are her initials on the camera) is going to win. See the links at the bottom of the article and you'll wonder along with us! Read More
Audi’s US$6,300 Concert-Level B&O Sound System
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February 6, 2006 What’s the one automotive accessory that is used close to 100% of the time a car is occupied? The answer is of course, the sound system. So when Audi set out to build its flagship A8 and S8 sports limousines, it decided to offer an optional, state-of-the-art flagship audio product to match. In order to create the system, Audi teamed with Danish audio specialist Bang & Olufsen and the design pays heed to the actual acoustic characteristics of the car interior, such as internal space, shape and materials used, driving speed, the corresponding wind effect and the friction between asphalt and tyres are also taken into account. The system uses fourteen active high-end loudspeakers, B&O Acoustic Lens Technology and two sets of amplifiers (a high performance amplifier and a Digital Signal Processor) to supply a combined output of more than 1,000 watts. When the system is activated, two lens speakers automatically emerge from the dashboard, giving perfect sound to every seat in the car with precisely aligned horizontal emissions. Read More
Volvo’s new S80 – luxury, V8 Power, AWD Poise
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February 1, 2006 Volvo's all-new S80 will be revealed to the public at the international motor show in Geneva on 28 February and is scheduled to arrive in European dealerships during June. Performance and power are entrenched priorities in the ultra-competitive luxury sedan segment, and Volvo Car's commitment to delivery these qualities yields an enthusiastic and refined combination of 235kW V8 power and all-wheel-drive performance.
Lexus LS 460 Flagship: ultra luxury and an eight speed auto transmission
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January 8, 2006 Statistics suggest that this year will see Toyota become the world’s top selling automobile manufacturer, so the launch of the flagship LS 460 model of the company’s ultra luxury Lexus brand took on more significance than in any of the LS’s previous 17 years. The most significant technological achievement with the new LS460 is the use of the World's first eight-speed automatic transmission and for the first time we will also see a long wheelbase variant. Read More
The Phaeton Lounge - 6.8m 4WD ultra-luxury stretch limousine
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December 23, 2005 Volkswagen showed a 6.8 metre luxury four-wheel-drive concept vehicle named the Phaeton Lounge at the luxury-conscious Dubai Motor Show last week. Based on a Phaeton and stretched an additional 1.8 metres, the 420 bhp, 600 Nm W12 was built up from three Phaeton bodies and strengthened accordingly.
The luxury cabin has just four seats, each fully electronically adjustable including individual climate control and adjustable footrests. There’s a wine cooler between each set of seats, plus an extensive mini-bar, a Humidor cigar cabinet, two 17 monitors for the entertainment system, an iPod dock, and passengers can surf the internet while driving thanks to a computer and broadband access built into the trunk of the car. Each seat has a fold out wooden table for other activities .
The supreme sports sofa – just US$30,000
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December 8, 2005 This looks to be the ultimate environment for the ultimate couch potato. It’s being offered by Domino's Pizza to apparently reflect the desires of pizza-loving sports fanatics, nearly 500 of whom were surveyed about what they wanted in the supreme sports sofa. The Domino's Pizza Man Cave Couch has it all. It serves as a high-end entertainment and food-and-beverage center where everything is within a hairy arm's reach. The couch features two flat screen TVs, a DVD player, an Xbox with three controllers, a refrigerator, an Electric Red MP3 player, an XM Radio with one year of free service, a NEXTEL cellular phone and a NASCAR headset and two Domino's Pizza Heat Wave hot bags to keep your pizzas warm. Read More
Famous coachbuilding name returns with a new spin on mini luxury
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In the Swinging Sixties, the Mini was huge; as a fashion and personal statement by women who had been liberated from centuries of sexual oppression by the pill and as an automobile representing the second coming of the British automotive industry. Forty years ago, London coachbuilder Harold Radford made the original Mini a celebrity icon with his hand-crafted Radford Mini de Ville offering a distinctly up-market version of the diminutive machine - all four of the Beatles had Radford Minis, and Peter Sellers had a personal Radford Mini which was used in the film "The Pink Panther", buying a second one for Britt Ekland. Now Harold Radford Coachbuilders (London) is applying its coachbuilding skills and individual expression to the BMW Mini to create a stunning 265bhp, GBP30,000 version of the Mini Cooper S. Read More
The Combat T-98 Armoured Luxury SUV
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October 31, 2005 What would you drive if you knew that the bad guys were coming after you? For many wealthy businessmen across the planet, assassination and kidnap are real possibilities. It’s why the American military built the Smartruck and Smartruck III, and why Labock built the Rhino Runner. Now there’s a new vehicle targeting this niche, designed to transport VIPs in luxury and safety both on- and off-road. The Combat T-98 is the fastest armoured 4WD in the world, and was built from the ground up to be the most capable non-military armoured luxury vehicle in the world. The 8.1 litre 340 bhp Vortec V8 can push the T-98 along at over 180 km/h, and in addition to sumptuous leather and woodgrain fittings, you can order almost any level of active safety feature, from gun ports to a full roof ring to carry a machine gun. In the protection area, you can specify an additional layer of ceramic armouring between the double steel layer monocoque chassis. Even the electric windows are 50mm thick and capable of stopping an armour-piercing bullet . Prices start at US$138,000 for the base model, and you can spend an extra US$100,000 just improving the grade of armour to anti-tank level. If the security of the occupants is paramount, this little baby will ensure they reach their destination in comfort, regardless of whom or what they encounter en route. Read More
Akino Concept - luxury, unconventional, compact people mover
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October 5, 2005 Chrysler has released more details of the Akino Concept it plans to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. The original sketches of the vehicle were covered here, but with more detail and imagery now available, it’s worth another look as the car is seeking to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. The Akino was designed with a small super-efficient powertrain to enable the designer freedom to create a new solution for future transportation and the result is a compact car with a roomy and unconventional luxury interior – it has a single door on the driver side, and two doors on the passenger side that open in opposite directions, allowing the interior to have a booth-like rear seat with a swiveling passenger seat. Read More
Tiret New York's 26.5 carat diamond "Second Chance" wristwatch
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July 14, 2005 It must be the right month for outrageous diamond watches. A fortnight ago TAG Heuer trotted out Uma Therman wearing the red satin EU100,000 euro Diamond Fiction watch bracelet dripping with 879 Top Wesselton diamonds and now luxury watchmaker Tiret New York has designed its newest watch with 26.5ct of EXIRE diamonds from Belgian diamond manufacturer Inter Gems-Claes. New to the luxury watch scene, Tiret was launched in 2003 by Damon Dash and Daniel Lazar and has wasted little time in making itself very visible on the wrists of celebrities and sportspeople in the New York scene. Dash, Jay-Z and Biggs Burke formed Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996, and have created a juggernaut in rap music, clothing, liquor, publishing, film, and the hip-hop community in general since then. Thirty-two-year-old Dash is the business brains behind the Roc-A-Fella empire and has the connections and Midas Touch to seemingly make any brand successful right now. He appears to be doing just that with the Tiret name and the completely over-the-top “Second Chance” collection. With five times the carats of TAG Heuer’s Diamond Fiction, we weren’t game to ask the price. Read More
TAG Heuer’s “Diamond Fiction” watch bracelet
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June 27, 2005 TAG Heuer’s latest creation, the Diamond Fiction watch bracelet was recently shown for the first time by the elite brand’s latest Ambassador, Hollywood star Uma Therman. With TAG Heuer’s 2005/2006 Year of Diamonds theme, a stunning ladies watches collection was shown but the Diamond Fiction stole the show. It looks like a bracelet of red satin positively dripping with Top Wesselton diamonds (879 to be exact) but when you press a button on the side, some of the diamonds change colour to red offering the time in a digital display. Only three single and exclusive timepieces will be created at the TAG Heuer workshop at the Chaux-de-Fonds with a value of EU100 000 euro each. Read More
Tulip E-Go Diamond – US$350,000 laptop
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The Tulip E-Go Diamond notebook is inlaid with solid palladium white gold plates in which thousands (80 carats) of top-quality, brilliant cut diamonds have been pave set with surgical precision. The magnificent end result also incorporates a unique square cut ruby set in both Tulip logos and costs 283,000 Euros (US$355,000). Without the bling, the E-Go (short for easy going) computer is even more innovative, using overmolding to enable fabrics, leather, wood, and metals to be incorporated into interchangeable, lifestyle-oriented covers that enable the laptop “look” to be changed on a daily basis as a fashion accessory. The original idea arose to develop a product from the perspective of a woman that at first glance looks more like a fashion accessory than a notebook. The resulting product is an elegant handbag with numerous novel features. The enclosures have been designed and developed for six fabric and leather laptop versions, a foretaste of what will become available in October 2005. In addition to changeable/personalized covers, the product is also expected to feature complementary accessories such as design bags and mice. Read More
The TAG Heuer Tiger Woods professional Golf Watch
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April 27, 2005 TAG Heuer has announced a limited-edition launch of the world's first professional golf watch - a watch light and durable enough so that you can wear it to the tee without fear of compromising your shot. Fusing sports and glamour, the TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch is the result of a partnership between Tiger Woods and TAG Heuer and a limited run of just 8000 pieces will be released worldwide next week. Read More
Limited-edition Mercedes CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur” - 55 units with particularly exclusive equipment
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In cooperation with the Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, Mercedes-AMG has developed an exclusive model known as the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur”. Only 55 units of the unique four-door coupe will be produced. The car has a powerful AMG 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine and boasts exclusive equipment details. The design of the newly designed AMG instrument cluster is based on the new “Ingenieur” watch family from IWC, which is making its world debut at the Geneva watch show in April 2005. The 55 units of the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur” will each be customised at AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, and the first deliveries will be made in autumn 2005. Read More
Lexus Hybrid Luxury Sports Sedan announced
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March 24, 2005 Lexus has unveiled another luxury hybrid vehicle. The 2007 Lexus GS 450h is the world's first hybrid luxury sedan and the first full hybrid vehicle with a front engine and rear wheel drive. With the world's first gas/electric hybrid-powered luxury SUV, the RX 400h, going on-sale next month, the announcment of the GS 450h indicates an acceleration of Toyota's hybrid program, with availability slated for just over 12 months from now - the second quarter of 2006. A completely new Lexus Hybrid powertrain was created to power the new 450h. The system combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a high-output, permanent magnet electric motor—all driving the rear wheels. Combined power output will be well in excess of 300 horsepower, with zero-to-60 acceleration in less than six seconds. Read More
The World’s most advanced (and expensive) Sony Playstation peripherals
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One of the star attractions at recent motor shows around Australia has been Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution rally simulators, even if judged solely by the length of the queues waiting to strap into the genuine rally seats, in the genuine rally cars that simulate the rally driving experience with more authenticity than you would have thought possible. The simulators were developed for Mitsubishi by technophiles Rodney Robertson and Associates and began with two Mitsubishi Lancers and got waaaay more complex from there. The idea was to build two linked rally car replicas and have them side-by-side with the choice of two very large rear projection screens in front of the cars, or where space and circumstances dictated a lesser set-up, two large bonnet-mounted Plasma panel displays. The experience is VERY realistic.
