VW Says L1 Hybrid Is ‘Most Efficient’ Car in the World [CARS]

I'm a fan! Clocking in at over a 150 miles/gallon, I'm a HUGE fan. Check video of the car here.

FRANKFURT — The green theme of the Frankfurt auto show was consistent throughout the first news media day, and it reached its pinnacle at about noon, when Volkswagen introduced “the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world.”

No one argued.

Calling it, the L1 concept an automobile is something of a stretch, although it does seat two and moves on four wheels. But that’s where convention ends.

The bullet-shape L1 — perhaps the first-generation Honda Insight reinvented? — sips diesel to the tune of 1.4 liters per 100 kilometers (61 miles). It is a hybrid, and the diesel engine is supplemented by an electric motor. The carbon fiber-reinforced body shell weighs only about 280 pounds, and the whole car checks in at about 650 pounds, thanks to its aluminum brakes, carbon-fiber wheels, titanium hubs and ceramic bearings. The fuel tank — tank, indeed — holds just 1.7 gallons of fuel.

The L1 is incredibly small. In photos, it looks like a car. In the metal, it has the appearance of a small plane, to which someone forgot to attach the wings and a tail. Walter de Silva, Volkswagen’s head of design, says the shape “redefines classic and aesthetic vehicle traits. All of its moving parts are integrated so accurately that the body resembles a rocket or jet.”

Ergonomically, the interior offers a 180-degree view of the instruments and controls, and a round start button doubles as a shift lever for the seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox transmission. For the display screen in front of the driver, VW uses high-contrast OLED (organic LED) technology.

VW says that the L1 hybrid will be available in 2010, in limited numbers.

via NYT

Prince Charles Named World's Best-Dressed Man [FASHION]

How much does being royalty play into this?

British Esquire has declared Prince Charles the world's best-dressed man. "He is perfectly turned out in a double-breasted suit," they claim. "Admirably, the prince keeps his wardrobe in appropriate style: we're told he has a room laid out like a tailor's shop."

President Barack Obama came in fourth place while artist David Hockney came in seventh, tennis player Roger Federer came in eighth, and rapper Andre 3000 of Outkast came in tenth.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has a fondness for purple ties, was named one of the world's worst-dressed because he once "turned up in the Iraqi desert wearing black lace-ups."

via HuffPo

Beyonce's Oscar Nipple Slip [PHOTOS]

Not quite Janet at the Superbowl, but whatever. Check the high-res at Egotastic.

Obama's Grandmother Dies At Age 86

On the eve of the election this is the statement from Barack and his sister Maya:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.


"Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Via HuffPo