If I Were A Superhero, Here's How I'd Roll: The Tramontana R-edition

Talk about a car Batman would drive!! Spain's just released Tramontana R-edition doesn't even look like a real vehicle, but it is.



Not only does it have the design and aesthetics of a vehicle not of this earth (lots of carbon fiber), but it combines aeronautical technology with a Formula 1 Race car. It has a top speed of 720 Hp and goes from 0-60 mph (100Km/h) in 3.6 seconds! In a limited edition of 12 and costing a cool half million dollars, I've got tons of photos for you here.




a.d. Tramontana is an European Company located on the Costa Brava (Spain) which manufactures an exclusive tailor-made supercar called Tramontana. It is a combination of a Formula 1 racing car and a fighter jet powered by a V12 engine which produces a maximum of 720 hp.

Photos of the Tramontana R-edition:


The whole car is made by using the finest materials and in order to achieve an extremely light and stiff car the chassis and the bodywork are completely made of carbon fibre.

Exterior (still):






Exterior (motion):








Exterior (details):







Interior:





For the Gear Heads:








Technical Data:
Engine:
12 cylinder V 60º Biturbo
5.513 cm3 displacement
Cylinder diameter 82 mm
Compression 9:1
Turbo pressure 1.4 bar

Max. Power Selector:
550 Hp – 404 kW at 5.000 rpm
720 Hp – 529 kW at 5.250 rpm

Max. Torque:
890 Nm at 3.500 rpm
1100 Nm at 4.000 rpm

Transmission:
Longitudinal mid engine
Rear wheel drive
Traction control (4 positions)

Gear box:
6 speeds sequential

Brakes:
Carbon ceramic discs, ABS
Front 380x34 mm 6 piston callipers
Rear 380x34 mm 6 piston callipers

Rims:
20” Carbon fiber rims & Magnesium core

Tires (tyres):
Front 245/40 R20” (Y)
Rear 335/30 R20” (Y)

Suspension:
4 wheel independent suspension
Double wishbone with push-rod
Variable ride height, 85 / 135 mm

Structure:
Carbon fiber Monocoque (cockpit)
Carbon fiber bodywork

Dimensions:
Length: 4.900 mm – Width: 2.080 mm – Height: 1.300 mm
Dry weight 1.268 kg.
Fuel capacity 100 ltrs.

Performance:
Max. Speed: 325 Km/h. (limited)
Acceleration: 0-100 Km/h.: 3,6 sec.
Weight to power ratio: 1,76 Kg/Hp

Wanna see it in person?

It debuts at Top Marques Monaco in April.

all photos and info Copyright 2008 © a.d. TRAMONTANA.
Carretera de Garrigàs a Sant Miquel s/n - 17476 Palau de Santa Eulàlia (Girona - Spain)
Telf.: (+34) 972 568 164 - Fax.: (+34) 972 568 320

Spend Ten Minutes In The Graveyard, You Won't Be Sorry

The Graveyard is a very short computer game designed by Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn. You control an old lady who visits a graveyard with your keyboard or joystick. Not the type of computer games you may be used to. There's no Wii controller, no jumping around in your living room, you just make the old woman walk around, sit on a bench and listen to a song. It's more like an exploring a piece of art than playing a game. An experiment with real time poetry, storytelling without words.



The game’s developer, Tale of Tales, helps explain the “point” of the game:

The purpose of Tale of Tales is to create elegant and emotionally rich interactive entertainment. We explicitly want to cater to people who are not enchanted by most contemporary computer games, or who wouldn’t mind more variety in their gameplay experiences. For this purpose, all of our products feature innovative forms of interaction, engaging poetic narratives and simple controls.

In the trial version of the short PC/OSX game (which you can download free here), players slowly guide a hobbling elderly lady through a cemetery, towards a bench. Alone and without ever saying a word, the woman sits on the bench while a poignant song, sung in Flemish but presented with English subtitles, plays.



The full, paid release (only $5.00) is nearly identical except for one feature -- the possibility of death for the aged woman.

Chris Kohler of Wired magazine says:
"Interactivity is a powerful thing. The Graveyard could have been a short film on YouTube and lost none of its presentational qualities, or its message. But the very limited interaction you have with the character -- you can walk her forward and backward, or turn -- instantly makes the connection deeper and more powerful than it would have been if you were simply watching."

"(Designers) Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn are determined to explore the potential of interactive media. They believe that for the medium to grow (up), designers need to have the courage to abandon the game format and dare to explore other types of interaction, other types of emotions, stories, etc.," writes Tale of Tales in their press release for the game.

The following interesting images are from the game's post-mortem ( a report about the making of the project):

Early concept sketch:

The inspiration for the environment:

Early working version:

The character was modeled in Blender:

The final game as displayed in the authoring app, Unity:


CREDITS:
DATA DIRECTOR: Auriea Harvey
PROCESS DIRECTOR: Michaël Samyn
ANIMATIONS: Laura Raines Smith
MUSIC: Gerry De Mol
SOUND EFFECTS: Kris Force

Download the free trial version for PC or intel based MACs here

Purisme: Light Luxury Products With A Heavy Price Tag

PURISME CARBON LUXURIES is the first global brand for design products made of carbon fiber and aims strictly at the premium market. PURISME GmbH in Vienna, Austria was founded by three designers and one business economist and has joined a strategic partnership with a leading carbon-processing company.

Their products are luxury design products, made of highly iridescent carbon. Light as a feather, yet stronger than steel. At the moment, they have four products. An award winning letter opener and a limited edition smoking pipe-- both available for purchase, with a super hefty price tag. Soon to be launched is a YoYo and a Bracelet-- undoubtedly pricey as well.

The Purisme letter opener:


The PURISME letter opener made a spectacular debut in the world of luxury design: Immediately after its first introduction, the PURISME Letter Opener, was awarded the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award and earned a similarly prestigious place as an exhibit at the 21st Biennial of Industrial Design 2008 at Lubljana, chosen by an international jury from 421 entries.


price: $447.00 USD

The Purisme pipe is a limited edition:



A delicate combination of choice straight grain bruyere wood with hitech carbon material gives the PURISME Pipe an irresistible aura, and delicately curved lines. PURISME has translated an age-old shape into hypermodern powerful dynamics, bringing ergonomics to ultimate perfection along the way. One amazing design detail is the unique "UpsideDown" pipehead: On it, the PURISME Pipe stands upright in perfect, safe balance wherever you set it down.


Price: $2,415.00 USD

The YOYO and bracelet have yet to launch, but will be available for purchase soon:




PURISME combines traditional craftsmanship with latest serial production technology. Each single product undergoes meticulous controls during production and an additional final inspection by the designer who signs his approval on the quality certificate without which no PURISME product can go on sale.


PURISME GmbH
Neustiftgasse 6-8
1070 Wien
T: +43 1 522 3497 10
F: +43 1 522 3497 11
contact@purisme.com
www.purisme.com

Matryoshka Madness (Or Babushka Bounty) Part 2 - Updated August 2009!

To jump to the newest additions as of August, 2009, please scroll about two thirds down of this post.

Just about a year ago, I did a very large post on the popularity of Russian Nesting Dolls aka Matryoshkas, Metroshkas, Babushkas, etc. Designer versions, hand painted artist versions, modern versions and their appearance on everything from textiles to jewelry.