Audi Urban Concept

Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces. The technical study being presented at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt does not fit under any of the conventional categories - the Audi urban concept combines elements of a racing car, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept. In addition to a Sportback model, Audi is also presenting a Spyder variant.



The Audi urban concept is not based on any previous model - its development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion.



The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights. The highly concentrated look of the technical study, with its forward-urging lines, is dynamic and emotional - it lends Audi's design language a completely new impetus.



On board there is room for two people, their position slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level. All controls and materials are subject to the dictates of ultra-lightweight construction in order to ensure that the sensory experience they convey is unique and compelling. The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his own body measurements. Characteristic features of the Spyder include its low, continuous window area and its doors that open diagonally to the top.



The technology in the Audi urban concept reflects the full capabilities of the brand, especially when it comes to ultra-lightweight construction. The cockpit consists of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both seats. The Audi urban concept rolls on wheels with a 21-inch diameter.



Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion - providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy - ideal for extended city tours.



For more information, please visit http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/company/news/company.detail.2011~08~the_audi_urban_concept.html

Que tal enviar uma lata de sopa personalizada a um amigo doente?

O Outono está a chegar e, com ele, as descidas de temperatura e os dias mais cinzentos e chuvosos, propícios ao despontar das típicas constipações. Para “suavizar” esta questão, a marca de sopas Heinz está a desenvolver no Reino Unido, através do seu perfil de Facebook link externo, uma iniciativa que permite aos consumidores enviar aos seus amigos que se encontrem doentes uma lata personalizada, com desejos de rápidas melhoras.

Para participar na campanha, intitulada “The Get Well Soup”, os interessados devem ser fãs da insígnia na rede social. Criada pela agência londrina We Are Social, como informa a revista Contagious citada pelo Marketing News, a iniciativa dá aos internautas a possibilidade de escolher um sabor - creme de frango ou creme de tomate - , e incluir na lata o nome do amigo doente. Entre três e quatro dias, o amigo em questão receberá a sua lata de sopa, com o rótulo personalizado. O custo do serviço é de 1,99 libras (2,30 euros).

De referir que a Heinz não é a única a embarcar na tendência de personalização de embalagens. Também o braço australiano da Coca-Cola lançou no Facebook uma campanha em que utiliza no packaging da bebida os nomes mais usuais nesse país. A Heineken, por sua vez, criou uma aplicação que permite aos fãs do perfil da marca no Facebook fazerem parte da nova embalagem, a que a insígnia deu o nome de “Your Heineken Facebook”.

Microsoft Turns Your Body Into A Touchscreen

Microsoft Research has revealed a technology that allows for any surface to be turned into a ‘touchscreen,’ including the human body. Referred to as the OmniTouch, the gadget was presented during the UIST 2012 symposium in Santa Barbara, USA. The OmniTouch combines a laser-based pico projector and a depth-sensing camera.

Hrvoje Benko of the Natural Interaction Research group at Microsoft said the team ‘wanted to capitalize on the tremendous surface area the real world provides.’ The device would essentially turn tables, notebooks, palms and walls into a touch screen surface.

See a Demo:
http://youtu.be/Pz17lbjOFn8

via PSFK

BMW 650i Convertible

BMW has long offered fine driving cars for every luxury budget, though most have been high on door count. The BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are for those seeking Bimmer performance with two-door style in a high-end package that's a bit more extravagant than the company's other offerings.


When reborn in the mid 2000s, the 6 Series featured a controversial, avant garde design, along with agile handling, a composed ride, strong engines and a well-crafted cabin. The current car now boasts more traditional styling and slightly beefed-up proportions, but its many dynamic virtues have largely been maintained or enhanced.

Be it new or used, the BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are among the more interesting luxury two-doors on the market. They have faults, to be sure, and several very compelling competitors are definitely worth consideration, but then having to decide between high-end luxury coupes and convertibles is hardly a situation where you can really go wrong.

Current BMW 6 Series
The current BMW 6 Series was completely redesigned for 2012. An all-new, aluminum-intensive structure based on that of BMW's 5 and 7 Series sedans lends greater structural rigidity and keeps weight down. It keeps it light, but not svelte, as this new 6 Series also grew in size. The biggest changes are to the styling (which is toned down to be less adventurous) and to the engines. The new twin-turbo V8 is now almost as quick as the old V10-powered M6.

As before, the 6 Series is available as a coupe and soft-top convertible in a single trim level known as the 650i. The convertible is significant for its clever soft-top roof design, which features a separately controlled rear window. Lower it with the roof up for added ventilation, or raise it with the roof down for use a wind deflector.

Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Every 6 Series is rear-wheel drive and comes standard with an eight-speed automatic, though a six-speed manual is still available.