A pick of the best, the latest, the greenest, the quirkiest, the most luxurious that money can buy
Launch
Drink vodka, fight AIDS
Belvedere Vodka has partnered with (RED)™ for the launch of a special edition to raise proceeds for the Global Fund™, financer of programmes to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Fifty percent of profits from the sale of the special edition Belvedere(RED) — available at the Mumbai and Delhi duty free shops from October — will go tothe Fund. Belvedere Vodka is made from the finest Dankowskie Gold Rye and is quadruple distilled.
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Murray’s Baby
Gordon Murray, designer of the iconic Mclaren F1, claims that his T27 city car is the world’s most efficient electric car. The tiny three-seater has a central driving position and a Mitsubishi petrol engine driving the rear wheels. It weighs 680 kg, can do 0-100 kmph under 15 seconds and can run at a top speed of 105 kmph.
gordonmurraydesign.com
Home
Clean sweep
This is not a fan, it’s a movie star! Having made its debut in I, Robot, Enigma is a statement piece, with style. Made of an ABS plastic body, this one-of-its kind fan has a single swooping blade to cause a powerful airflow and can be controlled remotely.
fanimation.com
Jumbo Cause
Sotheby’s will be conducting their first jewelry auction in India, exclusively for the ‘Emeralds For Elephants’ project, designed to create awareness and raise funds for the protection of the critically endangered Asian Elephant. Ethical mining company Gemfields, The World Land Trust and the Wildlife Trust of India have collaborated with 10 world-class Indian Jewelers to create a bespoke Zambian Emerald Jewellery Collection for the event.
When: October 14
Where: The Taj Mahal Hotel
Steam Machine
Designed by Italian firm Pininfarina, responsible for some of the most gorgeous Ferraris, the Lavazza LB 1100 isn’t decked in fire red but a sober shade of cream. This coffee maker, much like Italy’s most well known auto-export, runs only on quality fuel: Lavazza’s patented coffee capsules that make sure your lattes are full of flavour and aroma.
lavazza.com
(This story appears in the 07 October, 2011 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)