Apple Launches iCar

Following their success in the consumer appliance market, Apple have joined forces with Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota to create a designer vehicle for the 21st century.

In an effort to improve the driving interface, the traditional steering wheel has been replaced with a circular touch pad for single finger driving convenience.

The dashboard consists of an innovative central display, also controlled by the touch-pad interface in conjunction with it's central menu button.

Features such as accelerator, brake, opening windows and doors, changing gears, turn indicators, a/c & heating controls, rev counter, speedometer, fuel gauge, GPS navigation, windscreen wipers, seat and mirror adjustments as well as access to over 98,000 songs can all be selected through a simple menu hierarchy.

At the launch, Steve Jobs announced, "People loved the interface to our portable music players. It's only natural that we would look to other devices where this interface can be applied".

The iCar features a sealed engine compartment which may cause issues down the road as wear and tear leads to maintenance requirements. Apple dismissed these fears as unwarranted and points to a similar situation with the iPod where users simply discarded the old one and bought a new one.

Critics of the new vehicle were quick to complain about the restriction that only iGas stations can be used to fill up with fuel. However, Apple argues that this gives them the opportunity to maintain a consistent quality 'fill-up' experience for their customers.

Demand for the iCar has exceeded expectations as die-hard Apple fanatics formed a 10 mile queue outside the first iCar showroom in San Francisco to catch a glimpse of the latest must-have lifestyle device.

Although not on sale until next Monday, third party companies have already jumped on the bandwagon, offering compatible add-ons such as real steering wheels, indicator levers and a full set of pedals for consumers who need more time to adjust to the new interface.  We were unable to verify claims by a mechanic in Minnesota who wished to remain anonymous, that he has developed an adapter to allow the iCar to use traditional gas stations.

Jobs, closing the launch, stated "The human-car interface has remained in the dark-ages for decades, it's time there was a better way. It's time to Think Different".