New Zealand's Definitive Design Destination

This week Audi will officially launch its highly anticipated A5 Sportback to the New Zealand market. To highlight the new model's affinity with great design, the Audi A5 Sportback will be launched at the celebrated and awarded Ironbank building. Audi will also be announcing their new Design Ambassador on the night - no prizes for guessing who this might be.

Sir Richard Branson is at it again—whether it’s luxurious trips to outer space or stylish underwater adventuring, the Virgin Mobile tycoon wants to be the first to market it. Virgin Limited Edition announced it will be going underwater with its new Necker Nymph aero submarine. The Necker Nymph a DeepFlight three-person aero submarine. “Gliding on the water’s surface like an aeroplane on a runway, one of the three pilots will operate the joystick to smoothly dive down, and the thrilling experience begins,” the company says. “Uncover ancient shipwrecks, fly side-by-side with dolphins, or spyhop with whales; the options are endless.”

The Nymph is available to hire for $25,000 a week, but only if your spend at least $88,000 for seven nights on the Necker Belle—we’re going to guess Sir Richard’s motto might be similar to “go big or go home.” The sub is expected to be delivered on February 20th of this year.

I couldn't agree more with the judges of the 2010 iF Product Design Award, in awarding the SLS AMG Mercedes the winner in the Transportation Design category. This is one hot sleek mod of transportation - the perfect ride for a design publisher. Sign me up.

There is something inherinetly dorky about recumbent style bikes. So it is with some surprise that I actually find what Ben Wilson has done with his Artikcar Bike actually quite cool. Artikcar is a four-wheeled recumbent-style bike with a bubbly rider profile that is laced with bright neon lighting.  Beyond its bold design sensibility, Wilson’s Artikcar is as much about safety as it is about style.  That neon wrapping will ensure that the drivers you share the road with will be well aware of your presence.

The latest car from Merecedes Benz is part sustainable car part homage to the first gasoline powered automobile. The F-Cell Roadster is based on the 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car, designed by Karl Benz, with three large spoked wheels and an open carriage style body. The F-Cell has an emission free fuel system, electronic control systems and a joystick that takes place of the conventional steering wheel. While it's large spoked wheels and structure take influence from the 1886 design, the front bonnet is inspired by the nose of Formula 1 cars. It;s arm-like doors open upwards - reminiscent of the classic Mercedes Gullwing. Though the F-Cell may never make it into production it is encouraging to see that early automotive history can still be influential over design.