Save space with Cuisinart's latest blender/food processor

Today at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, Cuisinart has introduced a new multitasking small appliance called the Velocity Ultra Trio 1 HP Blender/Food Processor with Travel Cups. The gizmo is set to cost $149 -- international pricing and availability has not been announced.

As its name suggests, it was built to tackle blending as well as food processing. The Velocity (model number BFP-650) isn't the brand's first hybrid kitchen device, but none of the similar Cuisinart models offer travel cups too.

For your money, you'll get a 56-ounce plastic blender jar, two 16-ounce to-go cups and a 3-cup food processor designed to slice, shred, puree and chop all of the stuff that the blender's shorter blades might not be able to reach. Plus, its LED-illuminated touchpad display lets you select various options including low, high, pulse, smoothie and ice.

The Velocity has a 1-horsepower motor. That converts to 745 watts, which is on the low end of the blender power scale. The impressive, but low-powered Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender has 700 watts. On the other end of the spectrum, the Blendtec Designer Series WildSide Blender , Ninja Ultima BL810 and Vitamix 7500 have 1,560, 1,500 and 1,440 watts.

745 watts doesn't necessarily correlate to poor performance, but the Velocity blender probably won't be able to make nut butter, shred cheese or handle any other heavy-duty stuff. But who knows, that could be where the food processor shines.

Check out Cuisinart's site for more information on the Velocity and stay tuned for updates as we track down hands-on photos and video at the International Housewares Show.