Starbucks continues an aggressive expansion into new markets with the announcement of its latest venture—Refreshers fruit-flavored energy drinks.
Despite being carbonated and fruit-flavored, the drinks are stil made with coffee—more specifically, a virtually flavorless extract of green, unroasted coffee. They also contain less caffeine than energy drinks made from roasted beans.
Refreshers will be available initially in Raspberry Pomegranate, Orange Melon and Strawberry Lemonade flavors. The drinks should be rolling out to 160,000 locations by the end of April. If you want to give it a shot, a $1-off coupon is currently available on the Starbucks website.
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Last week at the Portland Home & Garden Show affordable furniture giant Ikea unveiled the “Aktiv,” a prefab home which will set you back $86,000 and arrive by trailer in either one or two pieces. When the home arrives it will be partially furnished and have the pipes, light fixtures, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom already installed – you get to pick the colours.
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The giant of DSLR videography hopes to continue its reign with the introduction of the Canon 5D Mark III ($3,500). The full-frame, 22.3 megapixel camera will feature a 61-point Auto Focus system, 6 fps continuous shooting speed, and improved video with 1080p 24p/25p/30p HD recording modes.
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Starbucks explained that recently removing the word “coffee” from its logo freed up the company to branch out into new products. One of those products appears to be alcohol as the company looks to expand on this offering to new locations in Atlanta and Southern California. They also plan on boozing-up select Chicago locations by the end of 2012.
Starbucks began selling beer and wine in a handful of Seattle-area Starbucks locations starting in 2010.
“As our customers transition from work to home, many are looking for a warm and inviting place to unwind and connect with the people they care about,” Clarice Turner, Starbucks’ senior vice president of U.S. operations, said in a news release.
Starbucks noted that it does not expect to bring beer and wine sales to all of its 11,000 cafes, but it’s clear that they plan on taking the offering nationwide.
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These maki-inspired Sushi Cake Pops are the handiwork of freelance designer and confectionery aficionado Kris of kCreative Cake Pops. Crafted using skillfully applied fondant and choice candy pieces, these pieces and their artistic topping conceal a dark, moist centre of chocolate cake.
Carefully created using some mind-bending fondant-wielding skills, kCreative’s Sushi Cake Pops are almost too adorable to eat.
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On Dec. 6, an anonymous bidder decided to pay $203,150 for a red Hermès Crocodile Birkin with White Gold & Diamond Hardware sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. This transaction has broken the record for the sale of a handbag at auction.
Birkin bags are handmade treasures by Hermès. The bags are somewhat symbols of great wealth because they are not easily obtained by the public. The bags were named after English-born actress and singer Jane Birkin and can typically fetch a price of as low as $9,000 to as high as $150,000, according to reports.
The price of the Birkin increases depending on the material it is made from.
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The Zenvo ST-1 supercar has finally gone on sale with a price tag of $1.8 million for each unit. Produced in a limited number of just 15 cars, these cars will be entirely created out of the company outlet in Denmark, which has currently released just 3 editions for the United States.
The distribution shall be undertaken by Emporio Motor Group, who reportedly is facing an aggressive pursuit of these 3 cars.
When Jasper Jensen and Troels Vollertsen created Zenvo Automotive in 2004, they had a single train of thought; to create exclusive handmade cars, which would stand out for the designing and exclusivity factor.
This is precisely what they have done with the ST-1, which will have only 15 models ever to be produced for buyers around world.
The United States are lucky to get the first lot of 3 editions. Making the car special, will be the 1100 HP engine, which can take the car just about 3 seconds to reach from 0-100 km/ph. With 7.0 liter V-8 design, it can take the vehicle up to 375 km/ph of electronically controlled top speed, which matches F1 standards pretty easily.
Other notable additions include the triple mode driving settings, head-up display, auto-dimming rear view mirror, hydraulic height control, carbon fiber-tinted glass, crafted leather interiors, and carbon wheels. The use of carbon fiber has ensured that the car is only 1378 kgs in weight, making the engine even more efficient at generating power to the highest of speeds.
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Lexus has released the first teaser image of a new concept vehicle set to be unveiled at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Toyota-owned brand said that the new concept model will showcase a new design direction for the brand, developed by its team in California.
Believed to be a sports model, it appears to signal something of a departure from the understated styling that Lexus has been known for in recent years, with sharp lines and an aggressive appearance.
That’s an aim also being embraced by Lexus’s parent company Toyota, which unveiled its new sports car in late November in a bid to shed its rather staid image.
The model will be officially revealed January 9, on the first press day of the show ahead of its public opening, which takes place January 11.
www.lexus.com/
BMW debuts its answer to the CLS (and the A7) with the new 6 Series Gran Coupe. The car will hit USA showrooms with three models: a 3.0L 315 hp Twin Turbo V6, a 4.4L 415 hp Twin Turbo V8, and all wheel drive "xDrive" model with the same V8. The former engine will hit 0-62 in 5.4 seconds while the top of the line V8 will reach 62 in just 4.6 seconds.
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