Categories / Cars and Bikes

Final version of the new Fiat 500 unveiled

Fiat_500

We’ve followed the progress of the new version of the Fiat 500 for some months now, but the final version has now been unveiled – and it should be available from summer onwards.

The new Fiat 500 is very much out of the same mould as the original, right down to the classic badge on the front and the retro-styled interior. But at the same time it looks very much like a modern city car. And it’s still small – three doors and measuring 355cm long, 165cm wide and 149cm tall – however, it should seem bigger inside thanks to the glass roof panel.

It’s getting the official launch in Turin on 4th July, 50 years after the original 500 was unveiled, with the car hitting Fiat dealers in Italy soon after. Here in the UK, we’ll have to wait a little longer – the range will not be available until early 2008, with a convertible version expected in around a year’s time.

Future classic or another classic ruined? let us know below…

Fiat website

More images at the Auto Express website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Food and Drink, Homeware

Francis Francis! X1 classic espresso machine

X1

If you’re a coffee lover, you probably need an espresso machine in the home. And if you are a design lover, you will probably like the look of the Francis Francis! X1 classic espresso machine.

Fantastic retro styling that should impress friends and neighbours (the work of leading Italian architect and designer Luca Trazzi) and easy espresso from a machine that’s easy to operate for single servings without any mess. Or if you fancy a longer drink, a separate stainless steel steam nozzle heats milk for cappuccino and latte.

It’s available in a never-ending range of colours (including the ones above) or a stainless steel option from a number of high street stores. The coloured model retails for £375, with the stainless steel option going for around £475.

Find out more at the Francis Francis! website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech

Space age Music Sofa

Music_sofa_2

A while back, we featured the Sonic Chair, a modern-day take on Eero Aarnio’s Ball Chair with built-in speakers. And now, along similar lines, comes the Music Sofa.

Designed by Giongkun Wuqiongkun, it’s actually a chair more than a sofa, but has a superb space age design that would fit effortlessly into your 70s-style pad. But this is no ordinary chair – it has a built-in CD player and built-in speakers for your tunes. And it’s got a wireless connection, so you can stream music from around the house.

Clever stuff, but still a prototype right now, with production likely later this year.

Find out more at the Yanko Design website

Categories / Toys and Games

William & Son luxury Monopoly set

Luxury_monopoly

Monopoly is available today in an endless number of variations, as well as being available on various computers and games consoles. But you can’t beat the original – and you can’t get a more stylish version than the William & Son luxury Monopoly set.

It’s the Monopoly set for real property tycoons. This handmade leather set also comes with a leather dice shaker, a leather wallet for each player and some sterling silver pieces. All that’s missing is real money as opposed to the toy variety that comes as standard.

Available in red or a colour of your choice by order, it retails for £3,995.

Find out more at the William & Son website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Homeware

SEBO Felix Fun retro vacuum cleaner

Sebo_felix_2
Has there even been a retro vacuum cleaner? Well, there is now and it’s called the SEBO Felix Fun retro vacuum cleaner.

It’s very much the traditional cleaner, upright, but with a base that’s flat to the floor. And it’s got a telescopic handle to keep everything compact when you’ve finished sweeping up. It also comes apart to give you a mini-vacuum for cleaning stairs or upholstery.

But the big selling point is surely the design – in a superbly retro orange and purple colour scheme and pattern, adding a 70s slant to a very modern vac.

The Felix Fun costs around £230 and is available from many high street electrical retailers.

SEBO website

Categories / Music

Bid for Marc Bolan’s Flying V guitar at Christies

Bolan_v
The Christies’ Pop Memorabilia auction is always worth a close inspection and the first details of the forthcoming April sale are now available – including this guitar once owned by Marc Bolan.

The guitar is a 1970 Gibson Flying V electric guitar, used extensively by Marc Bolan in the 1970s, most notably on Top Of The Pops in 1972, performing his Get It On single. If you want it, you’ll have to bid between £30,000 – £50,000. And from a similar era, you can pick up one of the Ziggy Stardust costumes from 1973 (estimate £4,000 – £6,000).

Check out the Christies’ website for the full listings. The auction takes place on Thursday 26th April at the South Kensington auction rooms.

Find out more at the Christies website