PrinceAlbertOfMonaco

Russian Dartz Kombat Grenade-Proof Luxury SUV

The other day we told you about the awesome $1.5 million armored Rolls-Royce Phantom. If you're looking for something a little more utilitarian (and less expensive) though equally anti-ballistic, feast your eyes on the new Russian-made Dartz Kombat T98 SUV. The Hummer lookalike, a sort of tank-meets-luxury SUV, features heavy steel plated doors and 3-inch windows, and is impervious to everything from AK-47s to rocket-propelled grenades. Powered by an 8.1 liter Vortec V8, capable of 110 mph, it's priced at about $200,000. Prince Albert of Monaco was spotted checking the vehicle out at the recent Top Marques Monaco auto show.

Tags: armored car, ArmoredCar, bulletproof, Monaco, Prince Albert of Monaco, PrinceAlbertOfMonaco, security, SUV, Top Marques Monaco, TopMarquesMonaco

Monaco Shelves Multi-Billion $ Expansion Plan

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

The tiny Principality of Monaco, which trumped London in September for the title of the world's most expensive luxury property market, has shelved multi-billion dollar plans for an ambitious land expansion into the Mediterranean. The plan hatched by Monaco's Prince Albert called for a 3 million sq. ft. artificial peninsula to be built, housing luxury apartments, boutiques and tourist traps. Expected to cost $5 billion - $10 billion, the peninsula would have added 5% to Monaco's territory.

Two world-famous architects, Lord Norman Foster and Daniel Liebeskind, were competing for the project, which had been slated to begin construction in 2011. Now however, Prince Albert has called the whole thing off. "In the current climate, it would be irresponsible to launch a project of this scale," the Prince explained to the AFP, citing concerns both financial and environmental.

Tags: Daniel Liebeskind, DanielLiebeskind, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, Monaco, Norman Foster, NormanFoster, Prince Albert of Monaco, PrinceAlbertOfMonaco