We’re gaga over these renderings of Zaha Hadid’s proposed Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi. We haven’t heard much about how green the building will be, but we’re excited to see more and more star architects inspired by natural and organic forms (check out the leaf-like windows!). The Performing Arts Center will be part of a multi-billion dollar cultural district with other buildings by Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, and Tadao Ando. In her own words, Ms. Hadid describes the structure as a “biological analogy” whose primary components (branches, stems, fruits, and leaves) are then “transformed from these abstract diagrams into architectonic design.” We can only hope that such poetic biomimicry will be translated into green functions, materials, and technologies as well.

Vitra Fire Station

An early design for a fire station for the Vitra furniture complex in Germany by Zaha Hadid.

Congress Station

Hungerburg Station

“Each station has its own unique context, topography, altitude, and circulation. We studied natural phenomena such as glacial moraines and ice movements – as we wanted each station to use the fluid language of natural ice formations, like a frozen stream on the mountainside.”Zaha Hadid

BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany, 2005

Zaha Hadid

Maggies Centre, Fife, Scotland, 2006

Zaha Hadid

Size+Matter: Zaha Hadid

One of the highlights of the London Design Festival was the inauguration of the South Bank as a cultural hub, the crowning moment of which was Zaha Hadid being awarded the first London Design Medal on Monday night. We were on hand to find out a little about how she manages to work as she does, and to hear about ‘Urban Nebula’, her graceful, concrete (two words that don’t often appear together) installation on the Southbank

Tree of knowledge

Zaha Hadid unveils final design of ‘Pierres Vives’

This project captures the unique combination of three civic institutions – the archives, the library and the sports department, the spectacular design is inspired by the idea of a ‘tree of knowledge’ as an organizational diagram. The archive is located at the solid base of the trunk, followed by the slightly more porous library, with the sports department and its offices on top. These various parts of this “cite administrative” share several functions at the heart of the building, with auditorium and meeting rooms combining in a huge cantilever canopy above the entrance. The branches projecting off the main trunk on ground floor, articulate the entrances into the various institutions. All the public entrances are located on the western side; whilst the service entrances for staff and loading bays are on the eastern side. In this way the tree-trunk analogy is exploited to organise and articulate the complexity of the overall “cite administrative”.

commercial and housing complex

We don’t often bring news of projects without at least an inkling of the actual design, but sometimes we just can’t resist: Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi Pritzker Prize winning architect, is set to design Melbourne’s, and Australia’s, greenest and probably most expensive commercial and housing complex. A tall order, considering that Melbourne is already home to CH2 and 40 Albert Road, which have been the only two buildings in the country to achieve the highest 6-star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

While the design is still shrouded in secrecy (the image above is just an artist’s impression of what the design might look like, and is not the official design of the development), a few facts have already leaked to the outside world. The design will be composed of four buildings, Docklands’ tallest tower, elaborate civic spaces over two sites, and decking over Wurundjeri Way pedestrian river paths.

The proposed tower will be 50 to 60 levels high and would occupy the site once earmarked for the failed Grollo Tower. The design is set to be so green, that according to The Age, an Australian newspaper, “it would deserve an eight-to-12-star energy rating” something which is impossible under current Green Star guidelines, and would be the equivalent of a rating three or four times above LEED Platinum.

We have featured Zaha previously when we spoke about the Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi. She is of course quite famous for her extreme designs, which vary from being quite angular and sculptural, to her more recent biologically-inspired shapes. Whatever one may think of her work, you cannot deny that she is doing some very interesting and exciting projects. We can’t wait to see what the final design for the Melbourne Docklands will look like and hope that the final design is as green as it is claimed to be.

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Kjerag mountains, Norway

Kjeragbolten is one of natures wonders and it is certainly one of the most amazing natural motifs. It lies at the end of a strenuous 3-5 hour hike on often muddy terrain.  Kjeragbolten is a big rock that has fallen into a crack in the mountain and there it has been wedged into the crack. The rock is located about 1000 meter above the fjord.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

Mon State, Myanmar

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, a Golden Rock, is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Myanmar.
It is about 15 feet high, and is situated on the hill of the same name on the ridge between Sittaung and Thanlwin. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life-time of the Buddha over 2400 years ago by two Burmese spirits. The pagoda is believed to contain a hair of the Buddha.
It has been reported that a thread can be passed under the base. Some believe that this is evidence that the boulder does not touch the base, but floats above it, in part due to its holy nature.
Women are not allowed to touch the boulder, and to be within proximity of the pagoda.

Split Apple Rock

Abel Tasman

Split Apple Rock in the Abel Tasman, the South Island of New Zealand, is a popular sightseeing destination. It is also a favoured sunning spot for seabirds.

Meoto Iwa

Futami

Meoto Iwa, the “Wedded Rocks”, are two sacred rocks in the ocean near Futami. These rocks represent husband and wife and are joined by a heavy rope of rice straw, which weighs over a ton and is 35m long, and must be replaced several times a year in a special ceremony. The rope was attached to the rocks about 650 years ago. The rocks symbolize the union of creator gods Izanagi and Izanami. The rocks therefore celebrate the union in marriage of man and woman.  The larger rock, said to be male, is 9m high and 39.6m around. The Wife Rock is 4m tall and 9m around. The distance between the rocks is 9m.

The best time to see the rocks is at dawn during the summer, when the sun appears to rise between them.

Rock City

Minneapolis, Kansas

Rock City is a tiny park which contains about 200 huge Dakota sandstone concretions. The spheres are up to 27 feet in diameter. Rock City has been made a registered Natural Landmark.

Balance Rock

Queen Charlotte Island

Balance Rock is a 2-metre widebolder left behind from the glacial retreat of the ice age.
Some people refer to Balance Rock as the centre of spirituality. It is one of the many natural spiritual forces at work on Haida Gwaii. The best time to view the rock is at low tide.

Balanced formations in Garden of the Gods. Arches National Park, USA

Mushroom Rock State Park 

Kansas

Mushroom Rock State Park contains mushroom rock formations in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas. They were formed by the erosion of a harder rock on top of a softer rock. The rock contains Dakota Sandstone. There are two mushrooms and a giant shoe rock, as well as numerous other rock formations.

Mushroom Rock in Egypt

Mushroom Rock

Pedra da Galinha Choca

Quixadá

Pedra da Galinha Choca is the most famous monolith in Quixadá, around which a legend revolves, saying that this is the mother of all other rocks and that it was not always in today’s location. The rock may be seen from any part of the city.

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This Chinese crested pooch was spotted at the International Dogs exhibition in Moscow. Sorry, dog, no tongue is big enough to cover that ugly face.

Hairless Cat

Some things to look for on this cat: fox snout, shaved belly, awkward pose, rat tail. So much to see…

Matamata Turtle

The matamata turtle is one of the ugliest animals on the planet. Though they are soft-shelled, they are accomplished hunters. That smile is so misleading. Good camouflage

Hairless Dogs

This photo is getting us one step closer to rounding out our Sam collection. Look at the sidebar categories for more.

Long-beaked echidna

The Long-beaked echidna a species closely related to Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna from the Foja mountains in New Guinea.

Primates

Of the roughly 125 species of monkey out there, most are known for being mischievous and naughty, not for being evil. Any primatologists know what this fello is? I think this species will provide for a few more posts, and a few more nightmares.

A Frilled Shark

What you’re looking at is a frilled shark. This fish is rarely seen alive because they live at a depth of around 600 meters or more. That’s pretty deep. This particular specimen was accidentally caught by a Japanese fisherman, who then called the authorities. I can’t imagine what went though his head as he brought this eel-like shark to the surface. Frilled sharks, like many of its cousins, give live birth. It is estimated that they are pregnant for one to two years, which would give them the longest gestatation of any vertebrate – even longer than elephants. That is a claim to fame I’m sure no mother wants.

Baby Slenderloris

Perhaps, the most evolutionarily unique and endangered animals on the planet. Such animals include this slender loris, the pygmy hippo, and the bumblebee bat. Each of the species targeted have been identified as ‘one-of-a-kind,’ meaning, they are very distinct, evolution-wise. This uniqueness is being combined with their numbers in the wild (or lack thereof) to create a better plan to preserve them. I like the effort. I’m behind it. The world is full of kittens and puppies. We could use more bats and loris’ and pygmy animals.

Hatchet Fish Scales

This fish is colored dark on top, pale on the bottom, and silver on the sides. That makes it very difficult to see from any direction, at least underwater. I’m thinking of devising my own clothing line based on this camouflage principle. I’m just afraid it’s going to take a lot of hatchet fish scales to make even a simple trench coat – could be expensive.

Ribbon Eel

You’re looking into the face of the ribbon eel. This subset of the moray eel clan leads a very interesting life. For one, they are known to be the most sociable and peaceful of the morays. But get this: they start out blue and male. But as they mature, they become yellow and female.

Coconut Crab

I try to take my garbage cans to the curb during the daylight hours. That way I can see any spiders that might be lurking on the handles (and I’ve found quite a few, so my fears are warranted!).
But I would have to add a kevlar vest, a welder’s shield, and butcher’s gloves to my routine if I had to contend with the coconut crab. I can’t get enough of these monsters. I wonder if they make for good guard crabs. I’m sure they need less attention than a dog.

Chupacabra

I can just imagine myself going for a swim in a Mexican river, a nice carne asada taco in my belly. I’m cruising along and enjoying myself when I stick my head underwater and see this staring back at me. I would assume that I had encountered the aquatic version of Chupacabra. I’d then prepare for my trip to the Underworld.

Blobfish

Axolotl

Hagfish

Aye-aye

Pygmy marmoset

Tarsier

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Looking at photos like these scares and fascinates in equal doses. The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are. It’s an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mine in the world. At 525 meters deep with a top diameter of 1200 meters there’s even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters being sucked in.

The red arrow in the photo below is pointing to a huge truck.

Kimberley big hole – South Africa

Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meters deep mine yielded over 3 tonnes of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

The amount of earth removed by workers is estimated to total 22.5 million tonnes.

Glory Hole – Monticello Dam

Glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir.

This is the glory hole belonging to Monticello dam in California and it’s the largest in the world, its size enabling it to consume 14′400 cubic feet of water every second.

The hole can be seen at the top left of the photo above. If you were to jump in for some reason your slightly damp body would shoot out near the bottom of the dam.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. in its current state the hole is 3/4 mile deep and 2.5 miles wide.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

Situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize is this incredible ‘geographical phenomenon’ known as a blue hole. There are numerous blue holes around the world but none as stunning as this one.

At surface level the near perfectly circular hole is 1/4 mile wide, the depth in the middle reaching 145 meters.  Obviously the hole is a huge hit with divers.

Diavik Mine, Canada

This incredible mine can be found 300km northeast of Yellowknife in Canada.

The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it even has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It also looks equally as cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

Sinkhole, Guatemala

A sinkhole is caused when water (usually rainwater or sewage) is soaked up by the earth on a large scale, resulting in the ground collapsing.

These photos are of a sinkhole which occurred early this year in Guatemala. the hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.

Officials blamed the monster of a hole on a ruptured sewage pipe.

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The name Khajuraho may be derived from khajura (date palm), which grows freely in the area and perhaps because there were two golden khajura trees on a carved gate here. The old name was Kharjuravahaka (scorpion bearer), the scorpion symbolizing poisonous lust. The temples were built under the late Chandela kings between 950 and 1050 AD in a truly inspired burst of creativity. With the fading of Chandela fortunes, the importance of Khajuraho waned but temple building continued until the 12th century at a much reduced pace. Far removed from the political centres of the kingdom, the location of Khajuraho minimized the danger of external attack and symbolized its role as a celestial refuge. Khajuraho’s temples were ‘lost’ for centuries until they were accidentally ‘discovered’ by a British army engineer in 1839. Of the original 85 temples, the 20 surviving are among the finest in India

Golden Temple

Amritsar is the holy city of the Sikh religion, because it is home to the Golden Temple. That’s real gold on the outside of the temple; when wealthy Sikhs die, they often leave their money to the church to buy a little more gold for the temple. We happened to arrive just after a months-long project in late 1998 and early 1999 to polish all the gold plating on the temple.

Very few tourists go to the Golden Temple, and on the days we went there people would stop and stare at us openly. You have to remove your shoes and walk through a little water trough to clean your feet, and you have to cover your head before entering the temple grounds. They have loaner scarves to put over your head if you don’t have a hat or a turban.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The Taktshang (the name means “Tiger’s nest”) is the most famous of monasteries in Bhutan, built on a cliff at 3,120 metres above the bottom. It comprises seven temples, that can be reached on foot. It is interesting that a special permission is required for non-Bhutanese to visit the monastery. Enjoy these images.

Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun is very different to any of temple you are likely to see in Thailand. A lifetime project of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the temple has a fine blend of traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. The temple is almost entirely white – no other colours are used at all. It is though decorated with small pieces of mirrored glass which add substantially to the temple’s spacious and airy feel. Designed to be viewed in moonlight, if you can manage to get there when the moon is out it’s worth the effort – very nice indeed. This temple is certainly worth a visit unless you have limited time.

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US$5,000

The most outrageous and crazy keyboard in human history. How much good dough are you ready to burn for your PC keyboard? Most computer geeks are pretty stingy. They refuse to spit out more than the miserable amount their grandmas had spent to buy a washboard 50 years ago. So when you hear some people are eagerly paying more than US$5,000 to buy a keyboard, you will shake your head and murmur: “Oh my, this world’s gone mad”!

2000-IS-DT, 2000-IS-PM Stealth Computer

$2,200.00

Going to war with your keyboard? Stealth Computer makes devices to reduce risk of failure in hazardous areas, the 2000-IS-DT & 2000-IS-PM come enclosed in non-corrosive stainless steel with an optical isolated barrier ensuring NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) 4X protection. What other keyboard has a temperature range of -40F to +194F (-40C to +90C)? Stealth makes many other expensive steel NEMA keyboards, but this one looks like the costliest. We’ll ignore the rest for the sake of making this article more interesting.

Optimus Maximus

$1,564.37

Introducing the world’s coolest keyboard … that you cannot afford. The Moscow based design firm, Art Lebedev Studio, must have made a calculation mistake when they converted the price  $1,564.37. Regardless of the price, this keyboard will be a must-have gadget once its price comes down and it hits the mainstream market. The Optimus Maximus keyboard is essentially an infinitely customizable keyboard, since each key is its own OLED display, measuring 10×10 mm with a resolution of 48×48 pixels.

TouchStream LP, Fingerworks

$1500+
These mystical keyboards originally retailed for $340 but since FingerWorks has been bought out and no longer produces keyboards, TouchStream LPs in great condition have started selling at inflated prices to fanatics.

Dual Handed Ergonomic 3D, Maltron

£375.00, £435.00

Get your Maltron keyboard in Qwerty, Maltron or Dvorak layouts! There are also US English, UK English, French, German, Norwegian/Norsk and Swedish versions available. The letter keys are angled inwards to match natural finger movements and the keys for the longer fingers are recessed. Getting a trackball on your crazy 3d keyboard will cost you an extra £65.

Professional II, Datahand

$675.00

What if a keyboard could be adjusted to fit the size and shape of each person’s hands? We’ll you’d have a Datahand! The unique finger and thumb switches change the 4 different typing modes.

Keyless Ergonomic Keyboard, orbiTouch

$399.00

The orbiTouch Keyless ergonomic Keyboard creates a keystroke when you slide the two domes into one of their eight respective positions. You type the different characters by sliding the domes to create letters and numbers. The orbiTouch Keyless ergonomic Keyboard also has an integrated mouse, so moving the domes gives you full mouse and keyboard capability.

Comfort Keyboard, Comfort Keyboard Systems

$349.00

The Comfort Keyboard is separated into three sections, which can be adjusted easily and locked into place. The Comfort Keyboard also features complete key reprogramming and a programmable “rest period indicator”, which reminds users to take a break?

Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, Microsoft

$249

This media keyboard, otherwise known as the Ultimate Keyboard, due out in May features a magnetic dock with 4 USB ports. The ultra-thin ergonomic design was reportedly influenced by inspiration from details found in Cadillac and BMW interiors. An aluminum finish makes this keyboard quite attractive.

Virutal Laser Keyboard

$179.99

Need type something quick on the road, maybe a blog? Instead of struggling typing with those tiny QWERTY keyboard, how about a full size keyboard generated from a device the size of a cellphone?. It’s called the I-Tech Virutal Laser Keyboard. It’s infrared and laser to project an image of a keyboard onto a flat surface. The device is blue-tooth enabled; therefore it worked with laptops, PDA and cellphone that support blue-tooth. Here is the complete list of supported devices. In addition, it also create sound effects (clicking) and a smart time-out feature to conserve battery life.

From the company website: You can use the VKB (Virtual PC Keyboard) with both your laptop and PC or with a compatible mobile device, Smartphone and PDA. The I-Tech VKB reacts exactly like a real keyboard. Direction technology based on optical recognition enables the user to tap the images of the keys, complete with realistic tapping sounds(!), which feeds into the compatible PDA, Smartphone, laptop or PC.

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$5 million

Diamonds are not only the girl’s best friend. They are also an economical man’s worst enemy! It is no secret that diamonds and diamond necklaces as well as diamond jewelry are costly. The ordinary you and I might wish to have a necklace with small, cheap diamonds just to tell others we have diamond necklaces as well, but well, otherwise, the more exotic diamond necklaces with large stones or many stones are simply not for average folks.

How about a diamond necklace that has a pear shaped diamond, about 75 carats? The necklace looks simply stunning with the diamond in it, and it costs only about US $5 million. There is also a diamond ring that is quite cheap – about $1 million. A beautiful diamond necklace, by Stefano Canturi, costs only about &750,000 – $1 million.

The Blue Diamond

$7.98 million

It is the ultimate diamond in the rough. And if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it. A rare
and flawless blue diamond has set a record as the most expensive precious jewel of its kind ever sold. The gem, which is 6.04 carats and sparkles with an unusual blue hue, is almost as breathtaking as the
price it fetched at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.

Diamond of Hope

$180,000

Cartier wanted a lot of money,” says Washington Post Columnist Sarah Booth Conroy, “and Evalyn was hesitant. So Cartier added, ‘Well, we’ve fixed it up now with a wonderful setting and you’ll like it.

Why don’t you keep it for a few days?’ And so she put it on her dresser and she looked at it and she looked at it…” “For hours that jewel stared at me,” remembers Evalyn in her autobiography, “and at some time during the night I began to really want the thing. Then I put the chain around my neck and hooked my life to its destiny for good or evil.”
The deal closes at $180,000; Cartier’s elaborate sales pitch has worked. The Hope diamond is the largest and most perfect blue diamond in existence, but for the young and impetuous heiress, its fascinating past is the hot selling point. “Besides that,” says Conroy, “she thought things that were unlucky for everybody else would be lucky for her, because she was an exception

Chopard Blue Diamond Ring

$16.26 million

Blue diamonds are among the rarest of naturally colored gems. That’s why this oval-shaped diamond ring, with triangular-shaped diamond shoulders and a pave-set diamond band in 18-carat white gold, will set you back about $1.7 million per carat. A pricey and unique alternative to the typical engagement

Heart of the Kingdom Ruby

$14 million

This 40.63-carat, heart-shaped Burma ruby, mounted on a 155-carat diamond necklace, claims top spot in the British jeweler’s collection. Got a débutante in your family? The diamond necklace can be transformed into a tiara. The stone is accompanied by two independent Swiss laboratory reports that verify its rarity.

Diamond Drop Earring by Harry Winston

$8.5 Million Earrings

Harry Winston is the ‘jeweler to the stars’ and you can find him, where else, at the House of Winston at 371 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California. Every year Harry Winston lends out hundreds of millions of dollars worth of jewelry to the stars so they can look good at the Oscars. For 2006 the House of Winston created a pair of ‘Extraordinary Diamond Drop Earrings’ consisting of two pear-shaped diamonds in a platinum setting totaling 60.1 carats of wallet emptying glitter. If you’re interested in buying the world’s most expensive earrings be prepared to shell out a cool $8.5 million USD

Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace

$3 million-plus

A virtual cascade of white and green, this Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard’s “Haute Joaillerie” collection will keep all eyes on your sweetheart, whatever the occasion. There are 191-carats worth of Columbia’s most beautiful emeralds on there, completely set by 16 carats of rose-cut and drop-shaped diamonds. Though officially “price upon request,” you should figure on spending $3 million-plus.

Regal Pear Shape Diamond Pendant

$2.5 million

Showstopper or credit-limit topper? Either way, Tiffany’s Majestic Diamond Necklace will be center stagShowstopper or credit-limit topper? Either way, Tiffany’s Majestic Diamond Necklace will be center stage wherever it’s displayed. With a fluid design that lies softly on the neck–and really, what other way is there?–this glittering choker evokes breathtaking glamour, with a 41.4-carat, pear-shaped diamond accompanied by a multitude of round and pear-shaped diamonds. Each stone is top-of-the-crust in color and clarity, of course, as is the pretty blue box it comes in

Emerald Cocktail Ring

$2.14 million

Luxury watch and jewelry manufacturer Chopard’s collection includes many high-priced pieces. But this bold cocktail ring–with half-moon diamond shoulders holding up a 33.02-carat solitaire emerald on a pave-set diamond and platinum band–outshines its rivals.

Novo Yellow Diamond Ring

$1.35 million

Of all the pieces one might find inside that famous blue box, this 25.27-carat novo yellow diamond ring set in platinum and yellow gold is priciest. Its beauty and its cost make soon-to-be-engaged girls swoon, and their beaus shudder. Can’t make it to the New York City location? Tiffany’s efficient online catalog makes ordering from home easy.

Diamond Engagement Rings

Engagement rings are traditionally known as a symbol of love and proposing. When a man asks a woman for her hand in marriage and in life, this ring is offered. Tradtionally, any ring is usable because the ring itself is a continuous loop symbolizing eternity. But as victims of society, now every man is pressured to use the most expensive piece he can afford, typically a diamond ring. The general rule of thumb is two to three month’s salary to show his dedication and sincerity.

Diamond rings became a tradition when the first one was given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. Now it’s become a widely practiced ritual by nearly every culture in the world. More than 250 tons of earth is mined before a single 1 carat gem quality diamond is uncovered. The best quality diamonds are usually set into platinum bands for people who perfer the best of the best.

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$1,700,000

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph).

It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders.

According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric hp (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing “1001 horsepower” in both the US and European markets. This easily makes it the most powerful production road-car engine in history.

Ferrari Enzo

$1,000,000

The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari.

It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

Pagani Zonda C12 F

$741,000

The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12.

Power is increased to 602 PS (443 kW/594 hp) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (478 kW/641 hp).

The company promises a 3.2 second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h, a top speed over 374 km/h (225 mph) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0).

The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 521 bhp/ton (384 W/kg) . Compare, for example, the Enzo Ferrari which has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg

Koenigsegg CCX

$600,910

The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X.

The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations.

The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio.

The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.

Porsche Carrera GT

$484,000

The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW).

Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

$455,500

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume “SLR” to stand for “Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport” (German for “Sport; Light; Racing”). The car’s base price is £300,000 or $455,500.

The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 – 5000 rpm.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

$320,000

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a luxury saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a BMW subsidiary. It was launched in 2003 and is the first Rolls-Royce model made under the ownership of BMW.

It has a 6.8 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) of torque.The engine is derived from BMW’s existing V12 powerplant. It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium spaceframe and the Phantom can accelerate to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 s.

Maybach 62

$385,250

The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand’s revival by DaimlerChrysler.

They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow (which was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan).

DaimlerChrysler attempted to buy the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque when Vickers offered the company up for sale. When this attempt failed (they were outbid by BMW and Volkswagen respectively) they introduced the Maybach as a direct challenger in 2002. Both models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile.

The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimeters; the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind. The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, generating 550 hp.

Lamborghini Murcielago

$279,900

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a GT and supercar automobile made by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and designed by Luc Donckerwolke.

It was introduced in 2002 as the successor to the Diablo. The body style is a two door, two seat coupé. The LP640 version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2006. It features a 6.5 L engine, now producing 640 bhp, improving performance substantially

Aston Martin Vanquish

$255,000

V12 Vanquish is a supercar manufactured by Aston Martin since 2001. It rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including active camouflage which rendered the vehicle virtually invisible.

The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque.

It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed ‘paddle shift’ or semi-automatic transmission. A special V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Auto Show with the power upped to 388 kW (520 hp) and 577 N·m (426 ft·lbf).

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