THE KONSORTIUM

Green, Lux Autos

From GQ

The German government has been pressuring automakers to produce eco-friendlier cars of late, and as the models on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show (which runs through Sunday) demonstrate, responses have ranged from acquiescence to outright hostility. ("This is the German way of giving the finger," one exec said of his gas-guzzling offering.) Thankfully, the bad vibes didn't spill over to the designs, which remained as forward-thinking as ever. Here are five standouts (some eco-friendly, some defiantly not):

BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid
Bimmer's first hybrid packs a powerful (and green) kick: Its rumored 410-hp gas-electric power train gets about 20 percent better fuel economy than the company's conventional V-8. Sadly, it's not slated to go into production till 2009.

Ford Verve Concept
Unlike many in its compact class, Ford's new Verve is neither retro nor goofy. In fact, we dare say it's almost sexy. No word yet on when we'll see one on the road—but given Ford's current financial predicament, the sooner the better.

Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept
Powered by a tiny 1.8-liter, four-cylinder DiesOtto hybrid engine that cranks out 238 horsepower while getting 44 miles per gallon, this dolphin-shaped full-size sedan (above) suggests that in the future, luxury can come with a clear conscience.

Lamborghini Reventón
Only 20 of this absurdly powerful 650-hp V-12 supercar are being made, each available for a cool $1.4 million. The outlandish, stealth fighter–inspired body is covered in matte gray paint, and the vehicle is charmingly named after a bull that killed a Mexican matador in 1943.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang
This special-edition 1,001-hp beast (the name means "pure blood") is even more exclusive than the Reventón—only five are being made, at a price of two million bucks each. It reaches 252 mph, but gets only three miles per gallon. There are absolutely no plans for a hybrid version.

The New Moto RAZR, Pro and Con

Three years—and 50 million units sold—after releasing the era-defining RAZR V3, Motorola has finally put out a sequel. After the even-more-annoyingly-named ROKR, RIZR, and KRZR failed to catch fire—and following Apple's low-key entry into the market—Motorola could use a hit. So is the RAZR 2, which is just hitting shelves now, more Empire Strikes Back or Matrix: Reloaded? Well, it's a little bit of both. The new model looks fantastic: It's two millimeters thinner than its predecessor and boasts a flashy (if easily smudged) brushed-steel and aluminum finish, plus a sizable two-inch exterior screen. Motorola is releasing several models, each tweaked for a different carrier, and choosing one is confusing at best: Sprint customers are stuck with the V9m (left), which can't send or receive email, while Verizon's V9m offers email for an extra fee. AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers, meanwhile, get the V9 and V8, which have email capability as well as CrystalTalk technology, which adjusts call volume to counter ambient noise. (Though for some reason the V9 has far less talk time than the V8.) Whew. All versions have external touch screens that confirm each button selection with an odd little vibration—half cool, half creepy-feeling. The bottom line? The RAZR 2 is a solid if unspectacular phone housed in an unbeatably sleek package. Hey, it worked the first time.

Motorola RAZR 2, from $250 with two-year contract, hellomoto.com. And purists will be pleased to learn there are no plans (yet) to stop selling the original RAZR.

— Mark Ellwood

The Sky Lodge - Park City

From UrbanDaddy

Like corporate takeovers or anniversary gifts, your next vacation shouldn't be planned last-minute.

With that in mind, you should know that reservation lines opened this week for Park City, Utah's newest destination, the five-star Sky Lodge—and the doors unlock December 26, just in time for the Sundance Film Festival.

The "Rocky Mountain Loft"-style building has 22 suites—some of which can be split, so there are actually 33 rentable rooms. You'll be most interested in the three-bedroom townhouses (some with theater dens, so you can screen your new masterpiece for Redford) and, of course, the sixth-floor penthouse, with views (like the one in the picture above) from the highest vantage point in the city.

After you overexert yourself on the slopes, there are two therapeutic ways to get over the pain: a rub-down at the Amatsu Spa, or a stiff drink before the soaking grotto in the private Sky Club Lounge. And since nothing says seafood like the mountaintops, you'll find a rotisserie catch of the day at Fin, the fine-dining-est of the four restaurants on the property.

To most, the Sky Lodge will function as any hotel would—but you investing-types can buy into the suites as well, which grants the owner 35 days a year on the property. (Think of it as a luxe condo, but with complimentary car service from the airport, a ski valet and all other hotel services at your disposal.)

In case you want to buy a month's worth of winter.

The Sky Lodge, 201 Heber Avenue, Park City, Utah, 888-876-2525

Tod's boots

On the other side of the Atlantic, traditional country footwear has always been ankle boots or brogues, which makes this combination of the two from Tod's a perfect fit for fall.

Tod's Dandy Boots in Leather, $445, available at Tod's Boutiques nationwide, (800) 457-TODS, www.tods.com