Jan 11

tata nano

Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, displaying the Nano in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo by Money Sharma/European Pressphoto Association)

Tata Motors (same company that is buying Jaguar and Land Rover) in India just revealed their solution to motorizing the masses in India. The car will sell for $2500. The Nano, offering seating for 4-5 people, is 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, a little more than 5 feet tall. What makes the car so cheap is a very minimalistic design: no power steering, no air bag, no power windows, and use of plastic and adhesive instead of welding. Extras for an additional cost include air conditioning, radio, and sun visors.

Dec 25

Hennessy

Very limited edition cognac (100 quantity in the world). The price? Over $200,000! Baccarat crystal bottle contained in a wooden chest embedded with mirrored glass and aluminum surrounding. A bronze key unlocks the box, triggering a switch to make the bottle rise up on a velvet tray. The drink is blended by Hennessy’s cellar master Yann Fillioux from reserve cognacs between 50 and 100 years old.

Several bottles have been sold, to anonymous buyers in Asia, Europe and America.  A bottle is also displayed as contemporary art work at the Galerie Nichidou in Tokyo.