MAYBACH BEGINS MANUFACTURING OF OPEN-TOP LANDAULET

MAYBACH has approved the Landaulet open-top sedan for production. The 62 S-based Landaulet design study was first shown in November last year, and its open passenger cabin coupled with a closed chauffeur’s area harkened to the classic luxury era from where the brand tderives its name.Favourable reaction to the Landaulet at auto shows led to its being put into production, like the show car, the hand-built Landaulet will be based on the Maybach 62 S. The fifth Maybach model line’s distinction comes from the rear roof section, which has been replaced with a powered soft top and glass window. Two exterior colours are offered: Baltic Black or Nevada Silver.

The 20-inch wheels can be polished or matched to the body color. Interior treatments are similarly limited, with three leather choices and two trim finishes. The Landaulet ’s passenger cabin is subtly upgraded, with a wind deflector and larger rear headrests that also reduce turbulence. The twin-turbo V12 also gets a slight horsepower boost, to 450.

A statement from the auto firm said: “The tradition-laden Maybach luxury brand is adding a fifth model to its line-up. The new Maybach Landaulet resurrects the legend of the classic luxury landaulets, a feature of which is that only the chauffeur’s area is closed.

“An extra-large folding roof opens up over the pampered rear-seat passengers when required, leaving no obstructions between them and the blue sky above. The Maybach Landaulet thus offers a majestic open-air experience currently unrivalled by any other automobile.

“Boasting a certain romantic quality and allowing its passengers the opportunity to savour a closeness to nature, this exceptional vehicle also features the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication and as such sets the new standard for the world’s most exclusive luxury vehicles.

“In November 2007, Maybach revived the aura of the grand carriages of days gone by with its Landaulet study. The response from the public to this masterpiece was overwhelming, so much so that Maybach decided to offer the hand-built Landaulet based exclusively on the customer’s own specifications. A limited number of vehicles will be built in the Manufaktur workshops in Sindelfingen over a restricted period.

“The finest materials are painstakingly handcrafted by select craftsmen to meet the customers’ exacting requirements – just as the discerning Maybach clientele would expect. According to the latest Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI), a survey of 531 United States (U.S.) millionaires recently voted Maybach the most prestigious luxury automobile brand.

“The Maybach Landaulet is a masterpiece of automotive engineering and comes with its very own exciting yet distinguished, authentic style. While the chauffeur’s workplace is appointed with high-grade, smooth black leather and trim elements in glossy piano lacquer, the passengers in the rear with its optional contrasting colour scheme enjoy their place in the sun. They travel on opulent reclining seats upholstered in exquisite Grand Nappa leather in an environment of utmost luxury and exquisite style.

“Maybach Landaulet is based on the Maybach 62 S – which can claim to be the world’s most powerful series-produced chauffeured saloon. Maybach technicians have removed the rear roof module in order to afford passengers an unobstructed view of the sky above. The sidewalls have been invisibly reinforced with an integral tubular steel structure. These measures have not altered the silhouette of the luxury saloon, the generously dimensioned doors and the complete interior with reclining seats remain unchanged.

“When closed, the black soft-top of the Landaulet rests on the roof frame formed by the longitudinal roof arches and is wind- and weather-proof. When requested by the passengers, the chauffeur operates a switch in the centre console. Fully automatically, the electro-hydraulic system then opens the roof, the top is folded and gently laid onto the parcel shelf in the rear, together with its integral rear windscreen made of safety glass.

“The chauffeur is able to enclose the folded roof with a fine leather tonneau cover, which both conceals the roof mechanism from view and completes the overall picture of outstanding elegance. The tonneau cover comes in the same colour as the interior of the rear compartment, thereby ensuring consistent styling and creating a harmonious link with the exterior. A logo reading “Maybach Landaulet ” in the colour specified by the customer is embroidered onto the cover, where it is visible to following traffic.

“Designed specifically for open-top motoring, Maybach has adapted the luxurious rear compartment to the requirements of open-top motoring. For instance, the rear head restraints are slightly larger than on the saloon and effectively help reduce wind turbulence. Another slim wind deflector is automatically raised at speeds above 70 km/h to further reduce the risk of any uncomfortable draughts.

“The deflector, which measures around five centimetres, can be activated manually at any time. The switch is conveniently positioned for rear passengers in the centre console. The intercom in the passenger compartment is fitted with an additional handset in the centre console, allowing passengers to communicate with the driver at any time while the roof is down.

“The new Maybach Landaulet is painted in Baltic Black or Nevada Silver in a sophisticated process that ensures the highest standards of quality. Clients can choose from three leather appointment options, and a choice of two trim element finishes – black piano lacquer combined with either carbon-fibre trim or fine anthracite poplar. As testimony to its exceptional customer focus, Maybach also meets many customer special requirements at no extra charge.

“For instance, Landaulet clients can choose the individual appointments for their vehicle from the entire Maybach paint finish, leather and trim element range. An extra charge only applies to highly exclusive requirements such as special paint finishes based on the customer’s own specifications, select leather colours, trim elements in natural stone or the electro-transparent partition. Visual highlights are provided by 20-inch aluminium wheels, also available as an option painted in the vehicle colour or burnished to a high sheen in a special finishing process.

“The Maybach Landaulet is powered by an uprated V12 engine, developed for the Maybach 57 S and the Maybach 62 S. The V12 engine develops 450 kW/612 horse power from a displacement of 5980 cubic centimeters” said the auto firm.

HAUTE BRIDES

By Nike Sotade

AFTER the Lenten season, the wedding season begins in earnest and many brides-to-be would find it more convenient to start scouting for their choice wedding gowns as early as possible.

Well, for brides, who want to walk down the aisle in trendy updated looks, the international bridal catwalks have defined the looks for them this season.

From what obtained on the New York catwalks recently, the future of bridal wear is couture. Bridal gowns have gone high fashion.

Before the typical bridal catwalk always features bridal wears in shiny white dresses that are hypnotically similar and, what they lacked in creativity, the designers make up with rhinestones and other embellishments.

But this year’s bridal week that just wrapped up in New York showed off gowns that were more high fashion and less stereotypical.

Designers like Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuiller Elizabeth Filmore and Reem Acra all dared to stray from the usual formal looks, offering off-shoulder dresses, pleats and ruffles, even pastels. The catwalk also saw less of lace and satin.

Hemlines were either A-lines, volumes, tassels or long with moderate trains as paraded here in styles that any bride-to-be can modify to suit her personal style. Some also still flaunt the waistline corsage.

These couture styles captured at the 2008 Bridal Fashion Week are not meant for the bride, who has been fixated on her wedding gown vision right from a young age. These elegant floor-length gowns and short dresses are meant for the bride, who dares to be different on her wedding day!

FEEL GOOD FOODS

By Nike Sotade

Perform at optimum level by eating the right foods to boost your brain and body functions. Experts claim that the foods we eat actually affect our moods.

THE foods we eat affect our waistlines, for better or for worse. But did you know that eating that piece of cake or pie can make you tired or depressed and that eating carrots and celery sticks can fill you with energy and vitality.

These nutrition information, researched from the Internet, will go a long way in helping us to make the right choice of diet to boost our moods.

Dieticians and clinical nutritionists at New York University Medical Centre explain that bodies are like chemistry sets. Everything you put in your body has a chemical effect, which is why food can affect your mood. It gets broken down into elements that can raise your blood sugar or drop it rapidly.

That banana you’re eating, we forget about it but the chemicals in the banana affect us, good or ill. There are chemicals like caffeine that affect the neurotransmitters and affect whether we feel good or bad or energetic or tired.

A big dose of caffeine might make you feel better in the short term – but that’s not a healthy way to energise yourself as you can become jittery and dependent on that caffeine.

And beware of white grains and sugars as well, they say. The problem with white grains like white bread, white pasta, white highly sugared cereals is right after you eat it, it spikes up your blood sugar. Then your body compensates by pulling your blood sugar down.

A lot of us have to have that bagel or pastry and midmorning we get tanked and tired and fatigued and are running off to get more coffee. That becomes a cycle. What we want to do is fill our body with healthy fuel to keep that blood sugar, keep that energy level as consistent throughout the day as possible.

As you eat healthier and your body does not have to deal with fighting the bad things eat, it is able to run more efficiently and you feel happier. If it doesn’t have to keep controlling your blood sugar by producing insulin, it is not working as hard.

As for comfort food, the issue with comfort food is it tastes good immediately and distracts you from your mood. On occasion, it’s ok to do that, but you can’t do that every day, they advised.

But you can eat healthy comfort food. For macaroni and cheese, you can make it with whole grain pasta and non-fat cheese. It will make you feel good – and it won’t have the effect of raising your blood sugar the way regular macaroni and cheese would.

As for chocolate, bitter chocolate has some healthy components. But there’s really not enough of that in chocolate to make a real difference. You need to get healthy fats in your diet. And never lose weight too fast.

Eating small amounts of protein will help the brain develop more neurotransmitters. They will increase mental alertness and regulate mood. Some carbohydrates, eaten by themselves, will relax you and cause the brain to make more serotonin. Bananas, white meat, baked potatoes, chick peas tomatoes, spinach, brown rice, trout and tuna eggs are good examples. Some great protein for energy include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, nuts & seeds and soya based foods.

Since experts say what you eat can actually affect your mood, if you want to feel happier, less cranky and calmer, do check out these tips on the types of foods that help rev up your feel good hormones, making you operate at optimum level.

Clear your head: If you find it hard to concentrate and often feel like your mind is a big pile of load, try snacking on some protein-rich foods. Foods like cheese (stick with low-fat kinds), soya bean products, and lean poultry are great for making you feel alert, energised, and ready to take on the day. So if your brain’s feeling a bit foggy and you find it difficult to concentrate, nibble on some low-calorie string cheese, a vegetable burger, or some boneless, skinless chicken breast. You may be thinking more clearly in no time.

Cheer up: Everyone knows a little chocolate can fix anything, because chocolate really rocks! And not just because it is sweet, delicious, and creamy. Experts say chocolate actually has the ability to boost our moods and make us feel more content. Here’s the scoop: Fat, sugar and an endorphin-releasing substance called phenylethylamine, all found in chocolate, raise both serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. The result? Your mouth-and the rest of you-will be happier.

Stabilising mood swings: Do you go from laughing to crying in a matter of seconds? Curbing mood swings may be as easy as drinking water. That is because dehydration can play a big part in our emotional stability. If you don’t get those recommended 8 to 10 cups of water a day, you might just find yourself sweating the small stuff. If you find it hard to get water down, try drinking it at room temperature. It is easier to guzzle that way.

Don’t be nervous: Feeling stressed, nervous or anxious? Calm down with some low-fat dairy or a handful of almonds. Both foods are rich in calcium, and calcium is great for reducing anxiety and making you feel calm and relaxed.

Hot temper: Feeling angry? Instead of lashing out at the cat your house-help or a co-worker, reach for a grapefruit, some grapes, or some carrots! All three of these yummy and healthy foods are rich in pectin, a soluble fibre that lowers cholesterol. Another pectin plus? When you’re angry, your body kicks into fight or flight mode; and your heart rate, adrenaline levels, and blood pressure increase. Pectin reverses the effect anger has on the body and helps your system return to normal.

An additional list of foods to add to your diet to support your mood are vegetables, fruit, swimming fish, nuts, beans, non-fat dairy products, egg whites and whole grains. Bad foods to avoid include caffeine, alcohol, sugar and white flour.

Samsung F210

A music device or not

Minuscule is the word that best describes the F210.weighing just 72g, with a height of 9cm and available in blue, purple or pink ,it is more or less a pocket sized cutie although a bit superficial.FEATURESIGB memory and 1GB card to go with it. Tunes can be accessed when handset is closed. With the click of a wheel you can glide through music although it can be a bit uncanny. SOUND QUALITY——-average. KEYS AND SCREEN SIZE—–pinhead and tiny respectively. Making texting uncomfortable. Dual capacity of phone and mp3player.Included in the package is a lousy 2 mega pixel camera and an FM radio.If you are looking for a gizmo with features that are breath taking and that justify the effort and cash expended in purchasing it—my advice—look elsewhere because the F210 will leave you wanting.

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HI-DEF REVOLUTION

The Hi-Def revolution is here with the Sony blue ray spearheading it. Watching your favorite movies and flicks has never been more enjoyable, this is home entertainment at its best in eye stroking clarity. There is room to accommodate budgets of different sizes, whether u are new to hi-def technology or an AV enthusiast.

A great entrance point into the Blu-ray Disc universe is the Sony BDP-S300 with which u can see pictures at six times the clarity of regular DVD. Also letting you watch movies in their proper state is the 24p True Cinema technology. Audio is delivered with all players capable of 7.1 channel surround sound and BRAVIA theatre sync. Sound in its most exhilarating form. Included in the BDP-S500 to give true cinematic sound is the Dolby trueHD decoding. With the bdp-S500 comes the ability of playing back BD-R/RE making it possible to include your home movies and watch them in Hi-Def.With the backing of major studios and its outselling HD-DVD’S blu-ray is it. A wide range of movies including your favorites are readily available in this format, moreover your regular DVD’s can be up scaled and watched in hi-def.so don’t get left behind , join the hi-def revolution train. Grab yourself one.