Better than a Lamborghini Poster

Who says you can’t be rich and white trash? Newport Beach’s Richard Moriaty takes the concept of putting that old-car-on bricks-in your-front yard thing to a whole new level.

When we first came across this story, we were ready to declare Richard a complete idiot. Bolt a Lamborghini to the wall? Sacrilege. This is a car that should be driven. This is worse than the guy who only puts 6 miles a year on it. But then we discovered that Richard did drive it. A lot. And it got old. And he got sick of it breaking down. And towing it.

So, he had the wall space. And access to a seven ton crane. And, well, we have to say, it’s a pretty darn good piece of art.
BTW, the Lamborghini’s 12 cylinder engine now lives as a coffee table in the same room. (To be sure, a copy of the children’s book Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel sits atop it.)

The Fisker Karma

Talk about the right car at the right time. Legendary car designer Henrik Fisker has unveiled his hybrid sports car, the Karma. Not only will the Karma hit 60 mph in under 6 seconds, but when operated properly, it will consume only one tank of gas a year. And we're not talking about George Jetson stuff, this car will be available next year.

The first of its kind four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars.


The Fisker Karma will offer partly self-contained climate control, as consumers will have the option to purchase a full length solar roof that will help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin while the car is parked. Additionally, Fisker Automotive will offer consumers an option to purchase a set of solar panels for their roofs or garages where they can generate electricity during the day to charge the car overnight…again cost and emission free.

Armor Horse Transpo

If you’re not rolling a 10-ton, bullet proof, blast protected armored car limo, then you’re not rollin’. The beefed up limo offers gun ports, LCD satellite TV’s, bullet resistant glass, emergency escape hatches, two bars, sound dampening walls and a retractable stripper pole. The XXL can be yours for $149,000 and will hold 25 people. Or, wait until 2010, when the XXXL premiers and seat 45 (yes, 45) of your closest friends. About the only person I can see buying this is Shaq- oh wait, he already has one--
"I use the Vault whenever and wherever I have the chance and I believe they are the wave of the future, because I am not the only one who wants space, style and security."
--Shaquille O’Neal

For more information, check out www.armorhorse.net.

Upgrade

We don’t think there’s anyone in the world that would argue coach seats on any airline give adequate space when paying hundreds of dollars for air travel. (Jetblue’s extended legroom comes the closest). American is hilariously atrocious. Sit in a middle seat for 13 hours to Japan and you should be awarded a medal when you get off the plane. And we hear there’s an actual room at Guantanamo where they place the enemy in a coach seat, surround him front and back with hopped up 3 year olds, sit him next to a failed Jenny Craig testimonial and then charge five bucks per beer with a two beer limit.

That said, here’s the most opulent, who-cares-what-time-we-get-there first class cabins currently offered-

The best of the best—Singapore Airline's A380 FIRST CABIN

Close runner up: Emirates planned first and bar

Qantas' A380 first

And United's more utilitarian but still spacious first

Preview: 2010 Porsche Cayenne

Porsche has always been a smart company—back in 2002, standing within the crosshairs of a mad dog purists revolt, Porsche bravely introduced the Cayenne SUV—which has since then become its best selling model. Now with demand falling for big, thirsty SUV’s, Porsche is re-tooling their money tree SUV. Debuting in 2009 (as a 2010 model) the new Cayenne will be smaller, faster and more fuel-efficient. The good news is that the vehicle will be even more Porsche-like, the bad news, it will lose some of its off-road capability.

The 2010 Cayenne will be substantially downsized as well—being built on the Audi Q5 architecture, regulating it to the midsize SUV category. These latest spy shots visually confirm that the Cayenne will adhere to an even sportier image with superior handling and dynamics to the current car. Engines will remain the same but look for a hybrid (26 mpg) Cayenne to join the lineup in late ‘09.

The Octopus

When the biggest issue of the day becomes: Which helicopter should I take... off my yacht?
You know you've got it good.
The Octopus is currently the world's 8th most expensive yacht, 2nd for a person other than a head of state. That person is Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. This 414’ puppy cost 200 million to build, hosts a full time crew of 60 (including Navy Seals), carries two helicopters, seven boats and 2 submarines. Operating costs per year? 20 mil.

The Swimming RV

By the year 2000 weren’t we supposed to be zooming about in flying cars, taking day trips to the moon and teleporting ourselves to Moscow? It’s nearly 2010 and what do we have to show for it? Where’s all the dreaming engineers, the ingenuity, the passion to further mankind’s technological world dominance?

It’s here:
The Terrawind Amphibious RV—part RV, part houseboat, all money. Talk about impressing the opposite sex. It’s the Clark Griswald of 007.

The 42’ RV/ hippo will cruise the interstate at 85 mph or plow through a lake at 7 knots. To make the transition from lizard to frog, simply place the automatic transmission into neutral and shift the marine transmission into gear. (Interestingly enough, the fine print warns against doing this in oceans.)
$1.2 million as shown
Visit Terrawind.com to learn more about their Amphibious Motor Coaches designed to meet the needs and desires for the land, the lake and the luxury.
Now that’s progress.

The Gulfstream G650

The next time you’re squeezed into a middle seat in coach for 10 hours, comfort yourself with the knowledge that not everyone has to endure that same torture. Some fly, like this:

The Gulfstream G650 private jet.

The all new G650 is the largest non-airliner business jet in the market with an array of the most sophisticated electronic systems for passengers and pilots alike. It’s the world’s fastest civil jet and is capable of traveling non stop for distances up to 13,000km.

Interesting note: The FAA standard for flight-critical structure and system reliability is 109, which equals one in a billion. Gulfstream's chief of programs and engineering, Pres Henne, has decreed that essential cabin systems will meet a 107—one in 10 million—reliability standard. What that means is that the toilet will always flush, water will always flow and drain, voice communication from the cabin to the ground will always be available and no single point failure can deprive the cabin of power. The goals will be met in the same way flight-critical standards are, by adding redundancy and isolating system components so individual failures do not cripple an entire system. It is a radical concept, until you consider the G650 can fly nonstop between most any civilized points on the globe, and its passengers must be properly cared for over those vast distances.

The jet will be delivered in 2012 at a cost of 60 million dollars each.

Mobile Communique

Cell phone communication has come a long way since the heavy beige brick device of the early nineties. With evolution, of course, you have your works of art and you have your dogs. Worse, you have your gold encrusted, bling-bling attempts at art (see below). But every now and then something beautiful (like the Motorola Aura) or something functional (like the Blackberry Storm) come along to get fired up about.

Vertu Boucheron 150

The new Vertu Boucheron 150 cell phone is made out of solid gold, took over 1,000 hours to shape, 700 to hand polish, and another 500 hours to hand build and it’s only $30,000. Could you really talk on this and walk down the street?

Mobiado 105 GMT

Mobiado, known for their ultra high-end phones, offers this: The 105GMT mobile, made out of 18 carat gold with a limited release of just 50 units. And yes, that is two self-winding Swiss watches built in underneath.
Price-- Not yet announced but likely will be astronomical. Why two watches? Why not.

The Motorola Aura

Unique, fashionable, almost affordable. The Motorola Aura has a 62 carat sapphire crystal lens that is scratch resistant, a rotating blade mechanism made of Rockwell 50-55 steel gears and a liquid crystal display in circular form. The creators got their inspiration from a luxury watch design and the end result is a pretty tasteful, functional work of communication art.
$2,000

The Blackberry Storm

IPHONE killer? Launched under the Verizon platform, the new Blackberry Storm is set to do battle with Apple’s Iphone. Not only is this a death match between the Berry and the Iphone but also between Verizon and AT&T. (If you remember, Steve Jobs originally approached Verizon to own the Iphone product, they turned him down—and somebody lost their job) Now the stage seems to be set for both Verizon and Blackberry to enact their revenge upon Mac.

The Storm is a good start. Everything you’ve come to expect from blackberry but with an added (and no doubt Apple inspired) touch screen (although it works better than Apple’s and it should-- The Storm’s touch screen provides tactile feedback to confirm your selection and isn’t quite as cramped as the Iphone). The Storm offers dual mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities, 3G speed on the Verizon network, GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera.
$600 retail but only $200 when you sign a 2 year contract with Verizon.

And want a phone that costs a million bucks?
Here it is:

The Goldvish Le Million

Made the Guiness Book of Records for world's most expensive phone. Much like the barnacle- laced bottom of a boat, this diamond encrusted device is made of 18 carat gold and comes in pink, yellow or white. Seems it's only function is to appear in rap videos, though it's tough for me to see even P-Diddy player-hating on this.

The Lamborghini Reventon

Indeed, Justification for a Higher Education.

Lamborghini’s Reventon is the Countach for the new millennium with a 6.5 liter V12 engine, 650 HP and 487 pound feet of torque. Rumored to be based on the F-22 Raptor, it has a fighter jet pricetag as well at $1.6 million. But that seems to be a well-spent fortune. The Reventon will be difficult to get, even if you have the money, as only 11 are said to be headed for the states, twenty worldwide—and all are spoken for. Although it does have a speedometer, the only gauge on the instrument panel you and your friends will be trying to focus on will be the G force display.

With the Reventon as its poster boy, there’s still other Lambo’s to be had. The Gallardo LP560 comes in just as exotic, and a bit more reasonable at $198,000 and rents daily for around $2,300 in major US cities (minus the supermodel sitting gun).
Or check out Road and track live- where, for $3,500 you drive 6 different exotic supercars in one day in your area.
Lastly, to satisfy the racecar driver within, there’s the legendary Bob Bondurant School of High Performance driving. 1 to 4 day programs racing everything from supped-up Corvette Z51’s to CTS's to Formula cars. I did it. It’s worth it. Trust me. Go to Bondurant.com for more info.