Scheduled to be on display at the Detroit Motor Show, the new Audi A7 is set to fill the gap between the A6 and the A8 with a very sporty, swooping design, much like the A5 has done to fill the gap between the A4 and the A6.

The Audi A7 spy sketch thats posted above, highlights the massive wheels, the long swooping design and a short aggressive front-end. Keeping intune with the Audi’s naming schemes, the A7 will be launched as a premuim vehicle that will NOT be driven by plebs, so perv people!

This is a very good list of useful CSS tools by Smashing Magazine. Theres a lot of new ideas that I have not thought of coming through which is really great. I have certainly learnt quite a bit just by looking through the list of tools, let alone USE them!

Some designs look great on paper, but after thinking about this image for a little bit, I must say that I’m not entirely convinced that it is going to be usable. I own a Nokia E71, so I can relate to the basic form factor of this device.

Many designs get submitted for patents every year and its quite common that the applied for designs don’t make it to market, but it’s always interesting to see the trait of thought within the Nokia camp. I for one am glad that they are looking at a QWERTY solution with a large screen!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duLds-TZMGw[/youtube]

The car above went on show earlier this year at the British Motor Show as a concept. Dubbed the Ford Focus RS, it’s basically a reworked Ford Focus ST with a new suspension system and an overhauled version of the 2.5litre turbocharged that pumps out 300bhp.

Its a front-wheel drive though, so it’s not THAT wow, but a 300bhp engine is enough to rip through a Mitsibushi Evo and there are no official specs for this beast out yet, but I’ll bet that it pulls through the sub 6sec category on a 0-100km/h sprint. Ford tends to stop the fun at  250km/h though in most of their cars, but they MIGHT wanna go all the way and take the Focus RS to market uncapped.

Check out the lil video for more visuals of the car:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaoumVAszf4[/youtube]

Dear Porsche,

Thanks for the offer, but after looking at the pictures for longer than fifteen seconds caused wretching and nausea, I would like to say, “No Thanks!” to this 4 door mantis-resembling, nightmare-indusing Porsche.

Not only is it ugly, but it also pushes the boundaries of perhaps being the ugliest car yet, beating the SsangYong. Please do us ALL a favour and don’t send the Porsche Panamera to South Africa. We’re good!

Yours,

DChetty

These are some really great #FAIL cases. I’ve swiped them from Fail Blog, which is dedicated to massive #FAILS!

Ok, so I’m confused. Daily, I hear about global recession. I hear about MASSIVE job cuts both internationally and even here in SA. Apparently times are so tough, that Naspers will be retrenching 20% of its printed media staff this month!

Everyday, bank repossesion auctions are packed with goodies to flog and few buyers! Bread and milk prices scare the daylights out of me!

Fair enough, there are rumours that the interest rate will be dropped a few notches VERY soon, petrol prices have come down our currency has VERY mildly recovered. But why, WHY, are car companies launching new models NOW? I just don’t get it? Cars sales have been shocking ALL year long with a distinct 28% drop in sales this year!

• BMW is flogging their new 3-Series,
• Audi launches the new A4, a new S3 Sportback and a the new TTS,
• Ford launches the newest revision of the Fiesta

And thats just off the top of my head. What market research has suggested to these companies, that now would be a good time? Is there a sheer desperation for these companies to get there models out before christmas that they are forced into doing so?

I would have seriously thought that car sales die down as the year ends as people would prefer to take delivery early in 2009 and thereby spare their cars from the overly depreciated 2008 models.

Am I missing something?

I found this article on ITWEB today. It basically talks about the higher adoption of open source software expected in 2009 because of cash saving exercises.

My only response is – DUH!

This device reared its head at Barcelona at Nokia World in a presentation. Now this could just be a template to aid the presentation along, or it could be the first clue at the unnamed device coming to the fore.

Sporting a edge to edge touchscreen, its simplicity marks its sexiness. More importantly though, is the emergance of a completely new interface! Symbian S60 version 5 dissapointed some, is it because all the smart developers were off on THIS project?