The construction bill for One World Trade Center, the skyscraper under construction at Ground Zero in New York, has risen to more than $3.8 billion, making it the world’s most expensive new office tower, according to Fox News.

The massive bill, up $700 million from the latest public estimate, marks another obstacle in the rebuilding process of the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which has been marred with political challenges and ever-lengthening construction delays.

One World Trade Center is being built by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the regional transportation agency that owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site.

To cover the series of cost increases at the site, which has totaled billions since construction began, the area’s economy has taken a hit in the form of higher bridge and tunnel tolls and reduced spending on transportation infrastructure.

Continuing delays have also caused the construction site to be boarded up for more than 10 years.

The driving forces behind the latest increase in the construction bill estimate are construction-cost overruns and a decision by the Port Authority to now include leasing expenses in its public estimates, which are higher than the Port Authority had privately anticipated.

One World Trade Center’s construction is much more expensive than a traditional office tower, largely due to security costs associated with building the tallest building in North America on a site that has been the target of two separate terrorist attacks (the site was also bombed in 1993). Once known as the Freedom Tower, the 1,776-foot skyscraper sits on top of a heavily reinforced, windowless podium. It also has a thick core of concrete and steel around its elevator shafts.

By comparison, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower located in Dubai, was built at a cost of $1.5 billion.

But despite financial and political obstacles, construction on the world’s tallest office tower is proceeding. A memorial plaza opened on the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Construction of One World Trade Center has reached 90 storeys, and 4 World Trade Center, a 72-storey office tower being built by private developer Larry Silverstein, has risen 61 storeys. Both are due to be completed at the end of 2013.

When first proposed, One World Trade Center was expected to cost about $2 billion. The most recent public estimate, from 2008, was $3.1 billion.

A stretched Audi R8 is set to become the world’s fastest limousine.

Limo Broker in the U.K. recently announced plans to build the world’s first Audi R8 V10 stretch limousine.

The street-legal version of the Audi R8 will feature a massive V10 engine that powers the car from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds.

The V10 produces 500 horsepower and a top speed of 197mph.

The Audi R8 limousine is set to easily break the current 0-60mph limo speed record of 6 seconds held by a Ferrari limousine.

The Audi R8 limousine will comfortably fit eight people, and is expected to the hit road by summer 2012.

Limo Broker has not yet revealed the cost of the world’s fastest limousine, but we can assume it’s going to be considerably more than the standard Audi R8 V10’s $149,000 price tag.

Check out this sneak peek of the Audi R8 limo:

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It is that time of year when we’re feeling optimistic and making plans for the foreseeable future. Maybe you are preparing to go back into the office with renewed confidence and give your career a boost. Maybe you are getting ready to be a better parent, husband or wife. Maybe you have no clue whatsoever of what to do with your life next.

For those of you who are feeling a little lost, here are a few people and companies developing cool stuff out there that may inspire you to think outside the box – and who knows, maybe break some new ground?

Copenhagen Suborbitals: Space Travel Amateurs

There has been a lot of talk about space travel in recent years. We have all heard of Virgin Galactics of course, and know fully well that the governments of the US, Russia and China are active in space through various programs. But what you may not know is that there are independent, uncompromising inventors out there who want to send people into space too – and they may just succeed in the next few years.

One such project that we want to hear more from is Copenhagen Surborbitals, started by two guys – one mechanical engineer/inventor who before he started crafting space capsules built submarines and one architect with a specialty skill in space travel. And don’t for one second think that these boys aren’t serious. Their program, funded by donations and volunteers, is well under way with test flights already happening and by 2016 or 2017 we may well hear about them orbiting somewhere like 150 to 200km above planet earth. www.copenhagensuborbitals.com

Sealander: Water Cruising Caravan

Forget about that typical holiday in the forest or up in mountains, now you can soon go for camping trips not just by the water but ON it. Thanks to German inventor Daniel Straub this fun camper’s dream will take you cruising in style, and you can even take the roof off on sunny days. We can’t wait to see this in production and on the market in the near future. Just someone please explain to us how the fact that it is an electric vehicle operating in water works? www.sealander.de

Innespace: Wild Submarines

Since we’re already in the water, let us stay there for a while and look at submarines fit for anyone who feels the need for speed – and aquatic adventure. Innespace has for a few years now been building boats that look (and to certain extent behave) like sharks and dolphins. We heard of their latest killer whale inspired submarine called “Seabreacher Y” that supposedly can power you forward at a roaring speed of 90km per hour, take dives at speeds of 30km per hour (yes, that means dives DOWN INTO the ocean) and can jump more than 5 meters out of water, and we were pretty impressed. We hear the waitlist is pretty long. www.seabreacher.com

Peraves: Sexy and Clever Electronic Cars

They brought us the covered motorbike “MonoTracer” before, and now Swiss inventors Peraves are presenting the eTracer, a two-wheel electronic car that can take you further than 300km on one battery charge. That is, if you maintain speeds at or below 100km per hour. If you want to step on it though, and don’t mind to stop sooner for a charge, this modern car will cruise at speeds as high as 250km per hour.

The prototype for eTracer won Peraves the 2011 Progressive Automobile X Prize for best two-seater electronic car, so we’re pretty excited to see how it does when available to the general public. After all, who doesn’t want to be able to drive 100km on the equivalent of 1 liter of gas? www.peraves.wordpress.com

Purdue University: Tiny Electronic Oxygen Generator for Treating Cancer

Apart from above inventions that keep our dreams alive, there are of course countless genius visionaries who power forward in chemistry, physics and medicine to keep us healthier and physically more fit too – and while they deserve a thousand articles celebrating their bravery, we wanted to mention one in particular here today.

Most of us are directly or indirectly affected by the horrors of cancer during a lifetime. What you may not know is that many treatment methods are highly inefficient without oxygen – and that oxygen in some kinds cancer tissue is very scarce. To find a way around this problem researchers at Purdue, a US University, have developed a tiny, 8mm long oxygen generator that can be surgically inserted into tumors, where it turns water into oxygen via electrolysis.  Thank you, we say. This is definitely an invention we want to keep an eye on.

You could easily be excused for thinking you’re in a scene from Minority Report with the recent invention of a window that doubles as a computer monitor.

Samsung has created the remarkable Transparent Smart Window — a window that works as a computer monitor too.

The unique invention was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 in Las Vegas, US, and will be going into production in a few weeks.

What appears to be just a standard window can actually load weather apps, Twitter and email icons that can be moved around with the swipe of a finger — similar to touchscreen technology used by Tom Cruise in the hit sci-fi film Minority Report.

When you want to block the sunlight coming in from outside, the Samsung Smart Window can even be used as an electronic blind, which can be closed with the slide of a finger.

The transparent touchscreen LCD can fit a window of any size up to 46ins and deliver a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, allowing full user interaction at the same time.

Samsung said the Smart Window can be used to watch TV, as a picture frame, or simply as a standard window.

And there’s no need to worry about peeping Toms with the Samsung Smart Window either. Outsiders looking in won’t be able to see you because it operates as a one-way mirror from the outside.

Developers of the ground-breaking technology said it could also be used in car windscreens so readout displays such as the speed and petrol gauge can be displayed on the screen in front of the driver for easy access and simply swiped away when not in use.

No price has been revealed for the Samsung Smart Window as yet, but Samsung said they would like to release their latest creation by the end of the year.

Check out this video of the awesome new Samsung Smart Window at the CES 2012:

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Porsche only revealed their new 911 Cabriolet at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show earlier this week, but the carmaker has already unveiled another convertible: the new 2012 Porsche Boxster.

Porsche has described the 2012 Porsche Boxster as faster, lighter, cleaner, more economical, and better looking than its predecessor, and said it will be officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, before going on sale in the UK on 28 April 2012.

It will come with a choice of smaller 2.7-litre (265bhp) and same size 3.4-litre (315bhp) flat six engines and will cost £37,589 and £45,384 respectively.

When compared to its predecessor, the new 2012 Porsche Boxster has a longer wheelbase, widened track and bigger wheels (18-inch on the Boxster, 19-inch on the Boxster S).

The 2012 Porsche Boxster’s shorter front and rear overhangs and more steeply raked windscreen create a streamlined profile. As with previous models, the roof is made from fabric, but it now sits exposed behind the cockpit when its lowered.

There’s also been improvement in the performance department too. The Porsche 2012 Boxster accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds – a tenth of a second faster than its predecessor, while the Boxster S takes exactly five seconds – an improvement of two tenths.

A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard, but if you want to extract maximum performance and the best possible fuel economy, the optional seven-speed PDK gearbox is required.

Standard kit on the Boxster includes an Alcantara interior, remote control hood operation and a seven-inch touchscreen. The Boxster S adds partial leather and Xenon headlights to that.

Check out the 2012 Porsche Boxster in action in the clip below:

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Sometimes the simple things make for pretty good travel accessories or companions. While there may be a whole universe of gadgets and fashionable devices out there, we decided to think of stuff you can actually buy – and use.

We hope you enjoy these suggestions for items to make your next trip a little more comfortable.

Passport Panties

Nothing can ruin a trip as much as being stripped of you money, credit card or passport. Sure you can get robbed… but also, by keeping your valuables in your hand or handbag there is a high risk you will forget them somewhere or just drop them when you loose focus. But we are all so very tired of those ugly waist bags and horrid pouches that turn us into obvious tourist targets wherever we go. So what to do then? Luckily there is a company out there that has thought of creating underwear with big pockets for your credit cards and passports. Supposedly they are both comfortable and safe, and come in a range of cute colors. Just remember to put them on, and not throw them into the washing machine without first emptying… – well, you know. www.clevertravelcompanion.com

3D Binoculars & Film Camera

Hurray! The world’s first digital binoculars came from Sony earlier this year and not only do they let you see things up to 20 times closer, and feature both stereo sound and the renowned Sony SteadyShot stabilization technology, they also come with capabilities to shoot 3D films.  Take them on all your trips, whether that means bird watching or snowboarding. Arigato! www.sony.com

Victorinox Airboss 2011

When you’re trying to catch a flight or a train, nothing matters more than time. So, what could be a better travel companion than a high precision watch? While there are thousands of options out there, the Victorinox Airboss 2011 really caught our attention. Waterproof and featuring the finest mechanic heart, it is inspired by the extreme needs of flight controllers. That means that if you wear this watch you should have as sharp an eye on the time as any captain of the skies. www.victorinox.com

F49 Fringe Backpack

Made by the Swiss brand Freitag, this bag had us at hello. Not because it looks cute and modern, but because just like Freitag’s other bags it is made from recycled old truck tarpaulins that have lasted through and survived thousands of miles on the highways of Europe. This is a bag we would put our trust, and our most precious belongings, into.  www.freitag.ch

World View App

For those who are feeling a little bit too lazy to travel at all, or who simply want to make sure they see their destination before they book, “there is an app for that”. This one is called World View and it boasts fresh pictures from more than 12,000 web cameras around the world. Just imagine yourself seeing what the neighborhood crowd looks like before you book a hotel in a city you have never visited, if that beach town is as picturesque as your friends keep telling you – or just what the traffic is like at the end of your road trip. Ah bliss. www.worldviewmobileapp.com

The LA Auto Show provides an essential stage for carmakers to show off their latest models, since California is by far the largest car market in the U.S.

At the 2011 LA Auto Show, held last month, a host of new models and concept cars made their world debuts. Here are some of the most notable cars that made their debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show:

Cadillac XTS

General Motors Co.’s luxury brand unveiled the replacement for its old land yachts, the DTS and STS. The company promises space and elegance with technology for a new generation of buyers. It looks like a larger, rounded version of the CTS, and is powered by a 300 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine. The all-wheel-drive sedan will hit showrooms in the Northern spring.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

The convertible version of the fastest Camaro ever. It’s due out this Northern summer as a 2013 model. The ZL1 sports car has a 550-horsepower, 6.2-litre supercharged V-8 and recently hit 170 miles per hour on a German test track.

Fiat 500 Abarth

Italian automaker Fiat SpA rolls out a high performance version of the round and cute 500 mini car. The car, which seats four, is more aggressive looking and its turbocharged 1.4-litre engine cranks out 160 horsepower, 59 more than the base version of the car. It has aluminum racing wheels, a heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission, a spoiler and a racing stripe at the bottom of the door. The Abarth is due to be released in the first half of 2012.

Honda CR-V

Honda unveils a new version of its five-seat crossover, which is one of the most popular vehicles in a fast-growing segment. This is the CR-V’s first update in four years. Expect modest updates to styling and power that should help keep the vehicle competitive.

Honda Fit Electric

The electric version of the Fit subcompact, which was shown as a concept car at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show, is expected to go around 100 miles in a charge. It goes on sale in the U.S. next year.

Hyundai Azera

The Korean automaker rolls out a new version of its larger midsize car with a sleek body design and side creases. It comes standard with a 3.3-litre six-cylinder engine with gasoline injected directly into the cylinders for higher efficiency. Hyundai claims it will have best in class combined city-highway fuel economy of 23 mpg.

Infiniti JX

Infiniti launches an all-new seven-passenger crossover with an exclusive new feature: A system that automatically engages the brakes if the driver is about to back into something crossing behind the vehicle.

Subaru BRZ

The automaker famous for rugged all-wheel-drive cars and small SUVs enters the sports car market with the rear-wheel-drive BRZ sports car. Subaru is showing off a concept that will look a lot like a BRZ slated for production in the spring of 2012. It’s sleek and low with an aerodynamic front spoiler and a rear wing. The BRZ will have a new direct-injected 2-litre Subaru Boxer engine.

By now you’ve read all the lists that will tell you what to pick up people at the last minute for the Holidays. But what about those things that seem like good ideas at the time, but are definite no-no’s when giving gifts? What about coming up with a list of gifts that may mean one thing to you, but something else to another?

And don’t forget all those the gifts we simply shouldn’t punish anyone – not even our enemies or in-laws – with. Where are those lists? Well, here’s one now:

Personal Massager

In concept, this seems like a good idea. Maybe you’ve seen your grandmother grasp at her wrinkly, tension-ridden neck in obvious pain, but because you didn’t want to touch it yourself, thought it would be a good way for everyone to benefit. But who’s kidding whom here? These machines have an alternative use that can be completely inappropriate, and really really awkward – no matter how appropriate a gift it may actually be. But that’s all for someone private place, behind closed doors.

Alternative: How about a spa day?

Anything from the Airline Catalogue

You know what’s worse than hoping that a big chain store will present a gift solution to you? It is a store that brands everything it sells with its name (yes, Sharper Image, you), despite the fact that it doesn’t really make anything it sells.  While in the 80’s, this kind of approach screamed ‘Premium Brand!’, nowadays it just means that you were too lazy to do any kind of real research, and walked into a store so that some sad sales guy could take your black card and just put a bunch of stuff on it for your generic friends and family. And now, you can do it on an airplane. It’s no secret – they will find out.

Alternative: Go to Amazon. No one will know the difference where you got it.

Shake Weights

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Just remember, a gift sometimes say more about you than the person you’re giving it to. So if you’re one of those clever types, who thinks that even after everyone else in the world has made fun of an oddity, they can STILL turn it into an original joke, think again. Shake Weights are not a useful fitness tool for people – it will just support this company to keep making terrible products. And you think you can excuse yourself for giving away one of these because it’s ‘funny’? It’s not funny. It’s useless. There are children starving somewhere. You are awful. Ok, it is funny. Just save your money. Trust us.

Alternative: How about a gift certificate, somewhere. Anywhere?

Singing Christmas Tree

To begin, let us point out that this gift can end up being offensive to anyone from any culture that doesn’t celebrate Christmas. But on top of that, if you really boil it down, this type of motion-activated caroling tree is no more technologically advanced than a singing greeting card. Ultimately, it will be one of those sad one-off toys that the recipient tolerates for a few days, then gives it back to you somehow, you’ll try to justify it until you throw it in the basement, forget about it, and then the tree will end up plotting its revenge for the next time you go down there. This is actually on this list because we received one of these in the past… once.

Alternative: We would rather just get a hug.

Homemade Anything

Yes, you can argue that this is a heartfelt type of gift. You know, something personal and unique. Something that took your own blood, sweat and tears to forge. But most likely, it’s going to be a piece of junk. Unless you are Iron Chef Morimoto hand delivering a sushi platter, Jay-Z writing and performing a personalized song a cappella, or Picasso who has come back from the grave with a doodle, forget it.  Not only will you likely miss the mark with your recipient, it also ends up being a big time waster for you if/when they don’t like it.

Alternative: A nice card with your sentiments will do. We promise.

A retired couple managed to get their prized 1956 Bristol 405 Drophead Coupe through a world trip unscathed, but it was a trip to their local Sainsbury’s car park that ultimately put a dent in their classic car.

Geoffrey and Hilary Herdman took 16 months to complete the trip that they described as a “wrinkly gap year” in their 1956 Bristol 405 Drophead Coupe, of which only 42 were made.

Despite taking on some of the toughest roads in the world without causing any damage to their beloved car, it was once they got home and parked the Bristol in a Sainsbury’s car park that they ran into trouble.

After popping into the supermarket, they returned to find another motorist had dented their prized car.

Mr Herdman, a retired chartered accountant, said while they were travelling they were constantly warned about the dangers – from theft of the vehicle to kidnap and worse – but other than a few minor repairs, including a couple of punctures, they did not have any problems.

“It was very nice reflection on human nature. The bad thing is when we got back I leave the car in Sainsbury’s car park and find there is a large dent in the front wing,” he said.

“A car is for using, it’s not a work of art … well, it is a work of art, but it is to be used rather than put in a glass cage and admire. And so these are things you have to face up to.”

During the couple’s first 24,000 miles of their world trip, they only had to spend US$125 on repairs, while the dent caused in the car park could cost them around £300.

“I was just walking back towards the car and I thought ‘gosh, that doesn’t look right’ and there was a large dent in the near-side front wing, someone had obviously overly crocked it parking next to me and put a dent in,” Mr Herdman, 68, said.

Mr Herdman finished off the restoration of the Bristol – started by its previous owner – after buying it in 1999.

In April 2001, Mr Herdman, a member of the Royal Automobile Club and president of the Bristol Owners Club, got the classic car back on the road.

The car, which is the 29th to roll off the production line, is now believed to be worth around £90,000.

Mr Herdman has travelled 135,000 miles in the car since 2001 and believes it would have completed around 500,000 miles in total.

“We love driving it to bits, it’s a very, very comfortable car, both of us can fall asleep when the other one is driving,” he said.

“It’s just a lovely car to drive.”

Mr Herdman and his wife, 70, a retired lawyer, started their incredible journey in July 2010 from Miami, driving up the east coast of North America to Halifax before crossing Canada and then heading south down the west coast.

After a couple of months in South America, they headed across to Australia before the car was shipped back via Turkey for the drive back home to England through Europe.

The couple, who are from London and currently living in Sussex, eventually returned to England in November.

The Wazuma V8 has become the world’s most expensive quad bike with a price tag of €200,000.

Built by French company Lazareth, the one-off Wazuma V8 can hit a top speed of 241km/h and is so powerful, it is only permitted to be driven off-road.

The special bike boasts a Ferrari engine with 250bhp and handlebars from a BMW M3.

Manufactured this year, Lazareth describes the quad as an ‘atypical three-wheel vehicle’, with the rear two wheels linked together.

Weighing in at a relatively light 650kg, it also features huge 18-inch wheels with racing slick tyres.

“The Wazuma offers matchless driving sensations with a unique design,” a spokesman for Lazareth said.

“It is designed to be simple, aggressive and high-performance. It is first of all a masterpiece of engineering, a sculpture.”

It is up for sale for €200,000 on luxury website JamesList.

Check out the world’s most expensive quad bike in the video below:

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