$399
In 1928, a rocket-powered car called the Opel RAK2 hit a top speed of 142 m.p.h. Nearly a century later, the RAK e concept from General Motors’ Opel division only goes half as fast despite its rocket ship looks. The tandem two-seater’s electric motor provides a 61-mile range, a trip that will cost drivers only $1.36, says GM. The car will be affordably priced to appeal to younger buyers, the company adds, thanks to a body that uses low-cost synthetic material wrapped around a steel frame. gm.com
Rimmed by bluestone coping and a fire pit at one end, the pool Robert Gurney designed is suspended 20 feet above grade by massive concrete buttresses.
Think of the F125 concept car as the Mercedes Benz luxury S-class sedan for the year 2025. But instead of gasoline, the car runs on hydrogen for pollution-free operation. By then, company engineers reckon, the high-pressure cylindrical tanks required to store hydrogen today will be re-jiggered so that they can be integrated into the body of the car as structural components. One thing is for sure: Those gull-wing doors never get old.mbusa.com
by GQ
Yeah, we went there. Not a car at all, but an electric bicycle. Why? Bike sales more than doubled in Germany last year, and Mercedes, through its Smart brand, is keen to get a piece of the action. A 250-watt motor provides the power, and with a 62 mile range, the power assist feature is more than just a gimmick for lazy peddlers. Expect a price premium for the chance to be greener than any car commuter could ever be.
The station wagon isn’t dead—it just looks like a Ferrari. That look is intentional, says Fisker, the California builder of the Surf. The plug-in hybrid uses the existing framework of its Karma sedan to offer a vehicle with much more cargo space. The Surf is due in showrooms in 2013 and will likely be priced around $100,000. Specifications will be similar to the Karma, so drivers should expect a top speed of about 125 m.p.h. fiskerautomotive.com
Some things were just meant to go together, like peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, tea and... robots? Judging by the Robot Tea Infuser ($15), it certainly appears so. This whimsical kitchen gadget holds your favorite leaves inside while using its arms to ensure that it stays below the water.
Finding safe drinking water isn't always as simple as it sounds — so next time you head south of the border, take the SteriPEN Freedom UV Water Purifier ($120) with you. This highly-portable UV water purifier runs off an integrated battery that recharges over micro USB, and can destroy over 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in a standard-sized glass in just 48 seconds. As a bonus, it also features instant-on technology, and LED indicators that can double as a flashlight. Unless, of course, you like the idea of drinking nothing but Corona the whole trip.
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.
