Toys / Tools / Technology

LAFFITE X-ROAD SUPERCAR // laffitesupercars.com

The Laffite X-Road supercar is named for its designer, Bruno Laffite, the former Operations Director for Zarooq Motors. The design is a unique combination of sports car and off-road vehicle. Weird but cool.

The basic X-Road has a 470 horsepower GM LT3 V8 engine. The optional supercharged version has 720 horses under the hood, which you definitely will never need. You get 17 inches of wheel travel at every corner and a Dakar-ready Chromoly frame and suspension system. The luxurious interior features leather seats, carbon fiber, and aluminum.

I don’t usually get excited about sports cars, but I love the weird and chunky look of this one. Sad news for me, though: only 30 of these are slated for production, and pricing starts at $500,000 for the gas version, $545,000 for electric.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRIC SCOOTER // harley-davidson.com

You might be surprised to learn that Harley Davidson is making electric scooters. You might think the company best known for shiny chrome pipes and leather-clad bikers is a bit out of its lane.

Not so. The introduction of the LiveWire scooter suggests that Harley Davidson is thinking about the future and exploring electric options. LiveWire was first introduced as a concept vehicle and is now available for purchase.

It looks like a Harley, but accelerates quickly and quietly, like a Tesla. There’s no clutch to release or gears to run, though. You get power instantly the moment you twist the throttle. Just flick your wrist to go. The 105 HP (78 KW) engine can go from 0-100 km/h in 3 seconds.

Use the onboard Level 1 charger and power cord to connect to any standard household outlet and get a full charge overnight. For a faster charge, visit any public Level 3 DC Fast Charge station for 80% charge in 40 minutes or 100% charge in an hour. You can travel for more than 200 km on a single charge. LiveWire is available in a variety of colours, including an iconic orange and black. The removable battery pack is designed to look like the transmission case of another popular Harley model. Cruiser-style handlebars, a single halo headlight, hydraulic forks and spoked wheels complete the iconic look.

The price tag? A cool $40,000.

BLUICER PRO // breville.com

What do you get when you cross a blender with a juicer? A bluicer, that’s what. Fill Breville’s 3X Bluicer Pro with fresh fruits and vegetables. The juice flows down a chute and into the blender jug, where it combines with other ingredients to make smoothies, shakes, soups, and more.

This high-performance blender juicer features a contoured blade and bowl with an extra-wide chute. Patented Cold Spin technology protects the ingredients from heat as you juice. The Bluicer Pro can also be used as a standalone blender, with 5 one-touch programs and 10 precision controls.

The Bluicer Pro sells for about $500.

WOOD FIRED HOT TUB // tubmarine.co.uk

This beautiful wood-fired hot tub was a passion project. The designer wanted something different and stylish for his family to enjoy. The result was the Tubmarine.

The tub heats up in under two hours, provided you are a master of lighting fires. The Tubmarine is easy to maintain, requires no electricity, and is built using eco-friendly, high specification parts and materials. Each tub has a Kirami water heater from Finland and is outfitted in a wood manufactured in the UK called Kebony. The tub can fit up to four adults comfortably and comes with a 25-year guarantee.

Custom designs are available on request. See tubmarine.co.uk for details.

MOJO VISION SMART CONTACT LENS // mojo.vision

Is your TV screen too far away? Are you too cool to wear bulky glasses that show videos on the lens? Well, how about a system that displays images directly on your contact lenses?

A company called Mojo Vision presented their prototype “smart contact lens” at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Mojo Lens embeds a 14,000 ppi display in a hard scleral lens that can display information without obscuring your vision.

“Everyone needs help remembering the street number of the next appointment, latest sales projections or what work order to complete first,” says the company. “Mojo Lens helps you remember what matters most during important moments and maintain focus on your priorities without burying your face in a screen or getting distracted by a mobile device.”

Like the heads-up display in a video game, Mojo Lens will be an “eyes-up” display that puts information right in front of you, no matter where you look. Developed by a team of optometrists, medical experts, and technologists, Mojo Lens will be available first to those with sight disabilities, then later to consumers.

Keep your eyes peeled for Mojo Vision, coming soon.

ULTIMATE WATER GUN // spyraone.com

Super-Soakers beware. The ultimate water gun is here!

The Spyra One is fine-tuned for power and precision. It fires “water bullets” that are exactly 30 ml—about the size of a shot glass. Water bullets make clear marks on the target, like paint gun pellets but clean and clear.

Modern water guns are as much about range as power. Spyra One delivers, clearly hitting targets up to 7.5 metres away.

The best feature might be the quick auto-refill. With the push of a button, Spyra One refills the entire tank in less than 15 seconds. Spyra One’s pumping system has a builtin water filter so that you can refill from any clean water source.

Counting your water bullets and planning when to refill becomes part of the game. Spyra One’s digital display shows the exact number of water bullets left in your tank. When you shoot, it counts down, and when you refill, it counts up again. This way, you never risk running dry in the worst moment.

Hold up—this needs a battery? Relax! The battery is rechargeable, and easily lasts for a full day of water fights with at least 45 refill cycles and 1125 shots.

The ultimate water gun is best suited for adults with credit cards. Each Spyra One sells for about $200.

THE BOOK OF BUILDING FIRES // amazon.ca

Building a perfect fire is an art. Ask anyone who has spent an evening arranging and rearranging logs and watching them burn.

The Book of Building Fires invites you to master the art of the perfect fire. Straightforward directions and how-to illustrations teach you where to find the best wood, how to chop and store it, how to build and light it, and even how to cook over it. Learn about stoves, hearths, types of wood, and how to smoke meat.

This slim volume will teach you how to start a great fire and make it last. If all else fails, the pages of the book will burn, and the textured spine doubles as a match striking pad.

This handsome book is—by definition—a great housewarming gift. At just 160 illustrated pages, you can burn through it in no time. Get your copy on Kindle.

MORPHIE POWERSTATION GO // zagg.com

Morphie is a trusted name in mobile phone chargers. They make battery packs and phone cases with built-in battery packs. Morphie keeps you going when you’re nowhere near an electrical outlet.

The latest charger from Morphie does much more. Powerstation Go is a portable charger capable of jump-starting a full-size car or SUV. It has two USB ports for phone charging, Qi-enabled wireless charger, and a built-in three-prong AC outlet to power bigger devices like laptops.

Loaded with 44,000 mWh of power, it fits in the glove compartment and comes with a storage bag for the cables and accessories. Safety features include easy-to-read indicator lights, spark-proof cables, and automated safety checks. There’s even a built-in LED floodlight, so you can find your away around under the hood when needed.

The Powerstation Go sells for about $200.

JEEP E-BIKE // jeepe-bike.com

The first Jeep with two wheels is coming soon. The Jeep e-Bike is an electric all-terrain mountain bike designed for off-road adventures.

The e-Bike is built to live up to the Jeep name. The 750-watt Quietkat motor and 1.5 kWh battery give up to 40 miles of range, with enough power to master any trail. Fire-Link suspension front and rear with 4.8-inch fat tires give you flexibility and traction to spare, and hydraulic disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power.

The Jeep e-Bike is expected to ship later this year. See jeepe-bike.com for more information.

/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.