ah luxuries: February 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

J.W Marriott Airport Hotels in Mumbai

This luxury property is further away from the airport - around 15 minutes by car - and is located near the water. It features a bright, spacious lobby and includes several sea-facing rooms. The Asian-Fusion restaurant Spices is highly regarded.

Hyatt Regency Airport Hotels in Mumbai

With its unusual glass enclosed building, the Hyatt cuts a welcoming picture. Large rooms with wooden floors and spacious bathrooms are some of the highlights of this hotel. The Italian restaurant STAX is well spoken of.

Le Meridien Airport Hotels in Mumbai

Another Starwood Hotels member, this is a smart boutique property within a stone's throw of the Grand Maratha.

ITC Maratha Airport Hotels in Mumbai

Part of the Starwood Hotels Group, this hotel has luxury written all over it. Combine that with world-class restaurants such as Dakshin and Dum Pukht and you don't need to step out of the property.

Leela Airport Hotels in Mumbai

A survival guide for the weary international traveler who arrives at an unearthly hour in Mumbai, India's financial capital and a global business hub.

International flights typically arrive or depart late at night or in the small hours of the morning. Getting around at those odd hours can be inconvenient, even dangerous, especially for one who is not accustomed to travel in India.

Whether you are on business or on leisure, airport hotels are a great way to unwind and reset after a long haul flight. Or to relax before one. Nothing beats the pleasure of a hot shower and meal before heading out to the airport, barely 5 minutes away.

The airport hotels also serve as an oasis from the hustle and bustle that is Mumbai.

Mumbai has a suite of hotels to suit every budget. For the smart international traveler, we list our choice of Top 5 Airport Hotels in Mumbai. 4 of these properties are within 5 mins of driving from the international airport.

The Leela

A luxurious oasis within a stone's throw from the airport, it features exquisite Indian touches in its bright and cheery lobby. The rooms are smartly appointed. The Indian restaurant Jamavar and all-day dining at Citrus are standouts.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Future electric cars could be powered by their bodies

Electric cars that store charge in their bodies, rather than batteries, could be common place ten years from now.

The car bodies would be made from a composite material of carbon fibres and a polymer resin being developed by researchers from Imperial College London and their European partners, including Volvo Car Corporation.

The material will store and discharge large amounts of energy much more quickly than conventional batteries. It will also provide better strength than steel.

Hybrid cars using the composite will be able to charge quickly and run for longer distances before needing to recharge. Their operating costs would be reduced because there will be no need to periodically replace batteries.

The project co-ordinator, Dr Emile Greenhalgh, from the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London, says:

"We are really excited about the potential of this new technology. We think the car of the future could be drawing power from its roof, its bonnet or even the door, thanks to our new composite material.

Current electric cars need a large number of batteries to power the electric motor, which makes the vehicle heavier. As a result, the car uses up more energy and the batteries need regular recharging at short intervals.

Battery powered cars are constrained by the weight of their batteries which typically weigh one third the total weight of the car.

Eliminating the battery altogether would not only reduce weight but also dramatically improve efficiency.

With usage and time, chemical batteries degrade and lose their capacity to store charge.

The composite material does not use chemical processes, making it quicker to recharge than conventional batteries. The recharging process causes little degradation in the composite material, because it does not involve a chemical reaction.

The material could be charged by plugging the car into household power supply.

The researchers are also exploring other alternatives for charging it such as recycling energy created when a car brakes.

Jaguar to unveil XKR Special Edition

Jaguar will unveil the latest evolution of its supercharged XKR coupe at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new XKR Special Edition features bold exterior styling changes and delivers a significantly raised maximum speed, 174mph (280km/h), creating the ultimate supercharged Jaguar.

The 2011 XKR is powered by the acclaimed AJ-V8 Gen III R direct-injection engine, the most advanced and efficient supercharged engine Jaguar has ever produced.

The new XKR Special Edition with Speed and Black Packs will be unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show on March 4th, 2010.