Last month we wrote about the Russian-made $1.5 million Monaco Red Diamond Edition luxury armored SUV, featuring gold and diamond accents and an interior upholstered in whale penis leather. The unnerving upholstery is apparently in tribute to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who had whale penis leather aboard his yacht the Christina. Now pneumatic actress and animal rights activist Pamela Anderson, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Federation have complained to Dartz, the company responsible, causing them to ditch plans for any whale genitalia to be used in making the insane vehicle. We can't imagine anyone but the Prince of Brothels would ever buy one anyway. Dartz's Leonard F. Yankelovich has now issued an unintentionally hilarious apology of sorts, in Russian-inflected English:

"We have no ideas to kill the whale or something like that," he insists. "All we want - to make just luxury car. Real luxury car which will be world number one car. We just looking for most expensive products for this car - and that's why we choosed whale penis leather when we checked it is most of most. After wave of protest we realised our mistake and make a decision not to use natural leather at all. We will focus on world most advanced nanotechnologies to achieve interior highest quality using artificial materials which also was never used for cars. We want to tell our hello to all whales: 'Our Sea Brothers! We all know that earth are stand on three whales - we will keep You live! We don't want Earth fall down to Ocean!'"

Question: When is a Ducati not really a Ducati? Answer: When it's an electrically-assisted pedal bike made by the Italwing Group. The machine is known as the City Pearl, and it will be available in both men's and women's (with a dropped top tube) styles when it goes on sale in January at selected Ducati dealerships in Europe.

There is a precedent set for a pedal-powered Ducati. The famed Italian marque's first two-wheeler was known as the Cucciolo, which was really just a small four-stroke engine that attached to a bicycle frame. Still, we do wish that there was a bit more of a direct connection between Ducati and the City Pearl – as it stands it seems Italwin is merely trying to capitalize on the Ducati name.

In any case, the specifications for the City Pearl are right in line with other comparable electric bicycles. Power comes from a six-volt 9Ah Panasonic lithium ion battery pack and motivation comes from a front-mounted 250W brushless electric motor that's capable of propelling the bike to 24 kilometers per hour (about 15 mph). A seven-speed Nexus hub from Shimano sends human power to the rear wheel. See both versions in our image gallery below.



[Source: Ducati]

Ever wonder what it is that sparks the mind of an entrepreneur? After all, lots of people have big imaginations and great ideas, but only a relatively small number of them actually follow through, create a company and design a product. Of course, we can add Henrik Fisker to that list of entrepreneurs, and we're definitely looking forward to seeing what else springs from his fertile mind.

So, back to the original question. In the case of Henrik Fisker, the inspiration for the Karma extended-range electric car came from none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Actually, the actor's Prius hybrid, to be specific. Says Fisker:

A couple of years ago it started, by people who were maybe a little ahead of their time. You saw some movie starts like Leonardo DiCaprio buying a Prius... He could have bought any car in the world, and I remember seeing that on television and thinking to myself, you know, when you've got a guy who could buy any Ferrari or Rolls Royce and he's buying a Prius, you know something is changing dramatically.

Interesting little tidbit, no?

[Source: Reuters | Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

Ever since that youthful Christmas when we drove our remote-controlled car into the pool, we've been focused on keeping battery-powered objects away from water. Today, though, Sweden's Nimbus Boats gave us hope that one day big, battery-powered craft can live in harmony with "H" and its two "O" friends.

The 27-foot Nimbus E-power is the first commercially available electric boat. A full recharge only takes four hours, a span of time could provide the perfect interlude for a siesta and a frolic in the lagoon at that little atoll just over the horizon. Or at least, it would when they equip the lagoon with a 400V electrical supply. If you're using the standard euro-version 220V outlet, you'll need 28 hours to see the gauge back at "Full."

Lacking that crucial step, you'll need to within the E-power's range of 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers), and probably go easy on the craft's top speed of 27 knots if you want a full day of fun (cruising speed is 22 knots). A tank of juice costs €5, so your wallet will love you, and the boat creates no emissions so the fish will love you -- at least the ones you aren't busy catching now that you spend so much more time on the water...

As much as we appreciate the style of vintage Vespa scooters, there's no debate that the old Italian air-cooled, two-stroke, single cylinder engines are extremely damaging to the air we breathe. Even though it's environmentally responsible, it still seems like such a shame to let all those pretty Italian scooters go to waste, which is one reason why we like electric scooter conversions like this one.

Another option for older scooters, especially ones that have no real shot at becoming roadworthy again, is to turn them into office furniture, as seen above. Not interested in doing the work yourself? We don't blame you. Fortunately, there's at least one company that will do the job for you.

Design studio Bel & Bel is now turning out these Vespa chairs that convert the leg shields from older Vespas into fashionable and usable art. From the looks of it, color choices for both the external structure and the actual seating surfaces abound, so there shouldn't be any problem coordinating the tone for your specific office.



[Source: Bel & Bel via Motorcycle.com]

BMW is known for offering premium automobiles and motorcycles here in the United States, so it comes as little surprise that the German automaker would plan to produce premium electric vehicles as well. According to British motoring magazine Autocar, those electric vehicles, which are currently being developed under BMW's Project i initiative, will be available with two-, three- and four-wheeled platforms.

Marc Gerard, head of interior design at BMW, explains that the automaker has yet to decide whether these Project i vehicles will "fit below Mini, between Mini and BMW or above BMW." Another issue that needs to be sorted out is whether the electric machines will break new styling ground or if the automaker will instead choose a more conservative path so as not to alienate any potential buyers.



[Source: Autocar]

We didn't believe it until we verified it with our own eyes – and amazingly it's true: Colorado is offering a $42,083 rebate on the 2009 Tesla Roadster until December 31st. Carry the one, move the decimal point... yep, that's a 38-percent discount on what must be the most desirable electric car currently for sale in the United States.

So, exactly how did this come about? Is the thin air up there distorting people's better judgment? Not exactly. The incentive actually applies to a slew of qualifying hybrid and electric vehicles and will be paid in the form of an income tax credit that's calculated by determining the difference in price of the alt-fuel car or truck as compared to a competitive gas-powered model. In the case of the Tesla Roadster, Colorado figures the EV costs a whopping $50K more than its competitive set... which we imagine might be the Lotus Elise.

Want to take advantage of the rebate but not interested in a fully-electric sportscar? Buyers can also get a $20K rebate on the 2009 Lexus LS 600h L or about three grand on either the new Honda Insight or Toyota Prius. See the complete list in PDF form here.



[Source: Green Car Reports]

Oceana, an international nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to protecting and restoring the world's oceans, celebrated the launch of Oceana New York on Monday night with a star-studded bash at the stunning penthouse of socialite philanthropists Alexander and Brenda Schweickhardt (above, far right). A tableaux vivant of mermaids entertained guests at the event, which was sponsored by Tiffany & Co., including Sam Waterston and Sue Cohn Rockefeller (above, far left), John Varvatos and wife Joyce (above, center) Jeff Goldblum, Gina Gershon, Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee, New York Jets tackle Damien Woody, New York Gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio, and socialtes Denise Rich, Bettina Zilkha and Jean Shafiroff. Since its founding in 2001, Oceana has achieved several major victories including protecting more than 640 million acres of ocean habitat.

At the moment it's only in the planning stages, but German firm E-Wolf's e-2 electric supercar concept (above) will be a real game-changer when it goes into production. The carbon fiber composite vehicle is the result of a collaboration between E-Wolf, the Saxony Lightweight Center and the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology at the Technical University of Dresden in Germany. The e-2, due in 2011, will feature four electric motors, one in each wheel, delivering a combined output of 544 hp and 737-lb.-ft. of torque in a chassis that is expected to weigh in at just 2,000 lbs., enabling it to hit a top speed of 155 mph - all without using a drop of gasoline.

When it comes to cosmetics, I like anything that goes near by eyes to be as natural as possible. So I was thrilled to see that Tarte's fall cosmetics line was packed with eco-friendly eye products. From eye primers to femme naturale eye palettes, the entire line was made from chemical free materials and put into reusable packaging. By far the best product of the line is the multiplEYE natural lash enhancer. I was a bit skeptical upon receiving a sample. The clear liquid, applied nightly claims to increase the appearance of your lash length by 152%. MultiplEYE is made from a HydroPlant Peptide which includes soy and amino acid proteins, the plant-thickening agent cellulose, and vitamin C. After six weeks, my lashes are longer, thicker, and most importantly feel much healthier after years of mascara abuse. The wand retails for $65 and is avaialable at Sephora, Henri Bendel, and Bergdorf Goodman.

Indulge your taste for luxury handbags without sacrificing the planet -- no guilt when shopping Matt & Nat as all of their creations are made with recycled plastic water bottle linings and some even have recycled material exteriors as well. The bag shown above, for example, made of 100% recycled materials and according to the website's count (they give you a bottle count for every bag) it took 49 bottles to create -- that's a lot of plastic kept out of the landfill. It's the Davis Green Vegan Handbag and features green faux suede on the outside and khaki faux suede on the inside, decorative stitching, antiqued brass hardware, and of course the Matt & Nat logo bar. $215

See more Matt & Nat creations in the gallery below.

Today is Blog Action Day, a day to celebrate greenness and highlight the need for a focus on climate change. To wit, small changes start at home, and can involve pet products too. Here are a few "green" brands that make pet products:

Eco-Me: products to keep your dog clean as well as with which to clean up, plus treats; more here

Natural Woof: exercise products, cleaners, toys & treats, beds & bowls, collars & outerwear, travel items, and homeopathic remedies; small-home dwellers, try this

Dress My Pooch: the name says it all -- clothing for dogs plus all kinds of other essentials

Zia & Tia: organics for every member of the family (humans too); pet lovers, go here for toys, beds, and apparel

Urban Leash & Treat: smaller, lower-priced items, but still all the essentials as well as some fun things (cat stuff too)

Metro Dog: all you'd expect for city dogs. Tip: keep them off your one sofa by giving them their own bed. You also can meet some real city dogs, who are allowed on the furniture, in my friend Shira's blog, Saving for Sesame. Follow The Real House Whippets of NYC on all their adventures!

If you need even more info on luxury pet products, some green (let's hope lots green), save the date for the Luxury Pet Pavilion, March 12-13, 2010, Los Angeles.

Organic wine has become more popular in recent years but for some wineries working in harmony with the environment is nothing new. Spottswoode in Napa Valley has been farming organically since 1985, and have been certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) since 1990. The winery also makes use of cover crops, beneficial planting and many other organic farming methods.

Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode says that they have done many things to be the "best possible stewards of our 45-acre estate property." In addition to organic farming they have also installed solar panels at the winery and vineyard. They also actively conserve and recycle and use have bees and bird boxes on the property. The 25th anniversary 2006 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon sells for $130 a bottle and the 2008 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc is $36 per bottle. The winery is also a member of 1% For the Planet, a group that has pledged to contribute one percent of sales to environmental groups around the world.

I have to confess that I have a lot of cynicism about hotels and their efforts to help the environment. There's hardly a hotel that I visit that doesn't give me the opportunity to save the earth by opting not to have my sheets and towels replaced, which does indeed save on water and detergent, but, I know it also saves the hotel serious dollars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against win-win situations, I'm just not getting too many green good vibes if doing less laundry is the only earth-friendly step that a hotel takes.

In fairness, it's often hard for a guest to tell what a hotel is doing for the environment, because most of the heavy lifting comes behind the scenes -- in the hotel's construction, energy supplies and so on. Here are a few fabulous properties that are also doing right by the planet, in ways you might not recognize.

• The Nines in Portland, Oregon. In the renovation of this hotel from its previous life as a department store, 90 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills for reuse or recycling. In addition, housekeeping employs green cleaning products and the hotel gets 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources including wind power and carbon offsets.
  
• The Westin Riverfront Beaver Creek, Colorado: This hotel just received Silver LEED certification, and it's saving energy in a variety of ways, including a building control system that allows the front desk to adjust the temperature in guest rooms so unoccupied rooms aren't heated or cooled unnecessarily. The hotel also donated a 5 acre zone along the Eagle river as a permanent public open space.
• The Ritz Carlton Highlands, North Lake Tahoe: This soon-to-open hotel was built with environmental factors in mind, from careful site planning designed to spare as many trees as possible, to the introduction of underground parking, which reduces the use of asphalt, allowing snow melt and rain to return to the water table. What's more, Northstar Resort, which the Ritz is a part of, is the first ski resort to be entirely LEED certified.
• Harbor View, Martha's Vineyard. One of the most luxurious places to stay on Martha's Vineyard also has a serious commitment to the environment, from its use of low-flow plumbing, to energy efficient appliances, to an active recycling program that includes replacing the distribution of plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles and water stations.

The Global Soap Project is a new initiative to recycle the bazillions of bars of soap that hotels throw away every day.

You know how some luxury hotels replace your bar of soap every day, even if you barely touched it? Derreck Kayongo, a former refugee from Uganda, saw this not as hopeless wastefulness, but as an opportunity. The Global Soap Project collects these partial bars of soap, sterilizes and reshapes them and redistributes them at refugee camps in Africa. How'w that for thinking outside the box?

There are currently 40 hotels participating in the Global Soap Project, one of which is The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta (above). The project is currently localized in Atlanta and serving Uganda, but both Kayongo and Ritz-Carlton manager Olivia Brown hope to expand it.

We at Luxist think this is a great idea and a great way to make hotels more sustainable!