Lamborghini Egoista Concept
Plenty of cars — even Lamborghinis — draw inspiration from aviation, but few take the concept as far as this. Created to celebrate Lambo's 50th anniversary, the Lamborghini Egoista Concept ($TBA) takes many of its styling cues from the Apache helicopter. Named after the Italian word for "selfish", this unique concept is centered around a single-person, carbon fiber and aluminum cockpit that's actually removable, and is designed around the driver, with a racing seat, four-point restraints, and a heads-up display. LED clearance lights replace traditional headlights, hidden xenon headlamps provide distance lighting, and flaps on the bodywork help increase stability and airflow to the 600hp, 5.2L V10 engine. If that wasn't enough, the body and wheels are made from anti-radar material, giving us just one more reason to believe that this beast won't be going into production any time soon.
Pivothead Video-Recording Sunglasses
Video-recording glasses aren't new. But video-recording glasses that you wouldn't be embarrassed to wear? Now that is novel. Pivothead Video-Recording Sunglasses ($300) employ an 8 megapixel Sony CMOS sensor and 8GB of built-in storage to let you capture video up to 1080/30p or 720/60p, still photos in bursts of up to 16 shots in a row, and works with an optional Wi-Fi dongle to communicate directly with your iPhone or iPad. With four different styles and multiple colors to choose from, you're sure to find a pair that suits your style.
Katin Surf Trunks
Hit the beach this summer in subdued style by donning a pair of these Katin Surf Trunks ($85). Created in collaboration with renowned retailer Club Monaco, these trucks feature a classic 16" outseam, a full nylon liner in a contrasting color, a drawstring waist, a four-snap fly closure, contrast eyelets, French seams, and a rear flap pocket with a Corozo nut button closure.
Type Letterpress Calendar
True, there are probably several gadgets on your desk that can tell you the date — but none of them can offer the old-world appeal of the Type Letterpress Calendar ($35). Printed by hand on a 1960s letterpress using 55pt 100% cotton heavy stock, this reusable calendar (new editions will be printed every year) offers outstanding typography, and comes with a stylish bamboo stand. Each card goes through the press twice — once for each color — and is then cut down with a die cutting machine, which also gives it rounded corners. In other words, each set is a handmade object that adds a nice touch of craftsmanship to your desk or countertop.
Timberland Earthkeepers Casco Bay Canvas Shoe
Prepare for casual summer days with Timberland's® Earthkeepers® Casco Bay Canvas Shoe. These lightweight, laid-back kicks will add a stylish pop of color to any no-sock, warm-weather look. Choose either a fun slip-on style or the one-eye moccasin style, with a choice of four colorways ranging from blueberry to poppy. See the entire collection here.
InReach SE
Used to be that if you wanted to stay in touch outside of cell phone range, a gigantic satellite phone was your only option. The InReach SE ($300) promises to provide off-the-grid communications without the need for a bulky phone. The SE itself is waterproof, dustproof, and impact-resistant, with a color screen, GPS, and a battery that lasts for up to 100 hours. It can send and receive texts (sorry, no voice communication), trigger an SOS signal that goes to the company's 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center, and track your GPS coordinates and share them via Facebook and Twitter. It also pairs with your smartphone or tablet over Bluetooth, giving you even more features while letting you take advantage of the larger screen — but just remember that while the InReach is fairly rugged, your smartphone probably isn't. [Scouted by Scott]
Vitsoe 620 Chair Program by Dieter Rams
They've been on the market since 1962, but the Vitsoe 620 Chair Program by Dieter Rams ($3,350 and up) is hardly the same product you could buy over 50 years ago. Completely re-engineered — with help from Rams himself — the chair is both elegant and comfortable, and like most Rams designs, a little bit clever. Thanks to its unique design, both the standard and high-back versions can be purchased as a single chair, and then expanded out to become two-, three-, four-, or even many-seat sofas in the future. The best part is that thanks to the superior craftsmanship, you'll have decades to work on building your dream sofa out.
Custom D-Tech Me Stormtrooper Action Figure
You've got the movies, you've got the authentic Stormtrooper helmet, and now the only thing standing between you and becoming a complete nerd true Star Wars hero is your own Custom D-Tech Me Stormtrooper Action Figure ($100). For that, you'll need to head to Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. Each weekend — May 17 - 19, May 24 - 26, May 31 - June 2, and June 7 - 9 — you'll be able to line up for a 10 minute experience that sees your face scanned with the world's highest-resolution, single-shot 3D face scanner, data from which will be used to make your custom figurine. The figure itself should arrive after the longest 7-8 week wait of your lonely life. Oh, and if the Dark Side isn't your thing, just get yourself cast in Carbonite instead. [via]
Olympus PEN E-P5 Camera
The company claims that "the only thing about it that's retro is its looks", and we tend to agree. Inside the classy, compact silver, white, or black metal body of the Olympus PEN E-P5 Camera ($1,000-$1,450) lies an advanced 16 megapixel TruePic VI Live MOS sensor that pairs with Micro Four Thirds lenses to become a formidable shooter. Features include fast Super Spot AF, a 5-axis image stabilization system, dual control dials, built-in Wi-Fi, a mechanical shutter capable of 1/8000th of a second shooting, 1080/30p video recording, and a sharp, tilting 3-inch touchscreen monitor. Coming later this month by itself, or in a kit with a 17mm f/1.8 lens and electronic viewfinder.
Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept
And here you thought your hatchback was fast. The Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept ($TBA) is a study in compact speed with looks to match. Wider and lower than a stock Golf, it's powered by a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 pumping out 503 hp — the regular GTI offers just 200 — that's mated to a dual-clutch DSG transmisison and an all-wheel drive system. The result? A 0-62 time of just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph. The exterior has also gotten a large makeover, with aggressive fins, a popped-out C-pillar, and 20-inch rims. We're pretty sure it won't be coming to a dealership anytime soon, but if you want a clue as yo the design direct of the next-gen GTI, this as close as you're going to get.
The Prophets of Smoked Meat
The title's more than a little pompous — anyone who thinks the Lone Star State is the be-all, end-all of BBQ has obviously never been to Kansas City, Memphis, or a whole swath of the Southeast — but that doesn't mean The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue ($20) isn't worth reading. Penned by Daniel "BBQ Snob" Vaughn, this nearly 400-page edition is the first in the Anthony Bourdain Books line, and takes readers on a culinary tour of the state, examining different meats, woods, markets, and restaurants, while offering up some recipes at the same time. Consider it inspirational reading for the summer cookout season.
Boatpack
Roof boxes are a necessary evil from time to time — so why not make sure they do something more for you than just carry your stuff? The Boatpack ($1,600) is an ingenious box that, as the name suggests, doubles as a boat. Crafted from Acrylic-capped ABS plastic, the 'pack is double-skinned, offers a capacity of 650 Liters, and can unclip from its base in seconds. As a boat, it weighs under 50 lbs., and includes a wooden seat, folding oars, and rowlocks. It's a great way to make your summer adventures a little more fun.
Kevo
We've seen add-ons for locks to try and make them smarter, but it's about time the locks themselves gained some intelligence. Kevo ($TBA) is the first we've seen. This smart deadbolt uses Bluetooth 4.0, your iPhone, and a companion app to let you open your door using nothing but your finger. A ring around the lock lights up blue when it senses your presense, and turns to green once you've unlocked your door. The set also includes a wireless keyfob that offers the same functionality, and should you need to resort to old-school ways, it'll still open with a standard key, as well. Coming this summer.
