Gizmodo
A Volkswagen spokesperson told German magazine Capital that an iCar may be on the way. Steve Jobs and VW Chairman Martin Winterkorn got together in California a few days ago to "plan an intensive co-operation with the building of vehicles." It might even be called an iCar. This is against a background of chatter we heard floating around last month, but we're not thinking Apple's going to get into the car business.
This will probably be another exercise in incorporation, where iPod functionality is integrated into the car as it was on BMW 7 series. We're hoping it's considerably more substantial than the iPod integration into the Honda Civic Hybrid, which we've tested here and had a hard time getting enthusiastic about.
But if rumors from last month are true, we might see additional niceties on board, such as Wi-Fi and maybe even a Mac mini, totally driving drivers to distraction. Just don't check your email at 80mph, please. [Capital, via MacRumors]
Comments
I'll accept an iPhone, an iPod, and an iMac...But an iCar? Pretty soon Apple fanboys will be living in iHouses eating their iFood going to iWork.
Macs are for hippies. VWs are for hippies. The only thing that's missing is a nice cup of Starbucks in the cup holder.
Careful, BMW owns "iDrive". (And man it sucks)
">>more" link is dead
Please God, NO!!!
I've had it up to here with Apples stupid naming scheme.
that image is ... scary
Soon after: A Microsoft/Buick co-branded 1982 brown Skylark with built in 2400bps modem capabilities and an integrated Packard Bell, Intel 286 PC.
I wonder if I can just get my paychecks direct deposited to Apple, Corp.
They really are getting a lot of mileage out of Jesus' cute lil iGuy.
Ha! Get it? Mileage? iCar? No?
Nevermind.
I consider myself to be as close to an Apple Fanboy (actually I prefer "FanMan" since, well, I'm not 8 years old anymore) as one can get while still having some perspective and clarity of mind and this whole naming convention of Apple's is starting to get a little iRetarded...let's ease it up on tossing a freaking "i" in front of everything...seriously...no, like for realzie's this time...seriously...please?...I have delicious candy treats.
So it's not a Le Car?
I would HATE to take my car to the genius bar for repair..
Good or bad, it will sell millions... But I rather have an after market option done my Pioneer or Alpine rather than those WV & Clarion or someone like that...
And you won't be able to activate the stereo unless an 18 year old kid in Jersey hacks it first.
Nice, I agree with that. I wonder what an iHouse would look like...@StockOption:
this is great, and pretty much not different at all from the microsoft/ford thing:
[gizmodo.com]
No iCar, but I could easily see Apple getting involved with in-dash technologies. Automobile interfaces are notoriously hideous in design and execution. It isn't a matter of what's good vs what's bad, it's a matter of what's better than the most of the rest.
I could appreciate an Apple-spawned touchscreen interface with iPhone and iPod technologies in it that could handle a vehicle's systems. And I could see Apple wanting to get into that arena with gusto. It's clearly an arena where there's no true stand-out leader and it screams for the type of design elegance and execution that Apple is known for.
Great, two companies with the most over-priced products joining hands...
"Oh sure OprahMac, iI still iLove my iMate. We've been iOne for over 30 WWDC's now. She's still the Apple of my i; a Leopard, a Tiger, and a Lynx; and when the 30 pin gets docked (if you know what i'm saying)...well, it's still Revolutionary!"
YES! VW and Apple perfect match.
@JOE how is VW over priced compared to say mercedes or bmw?
I would consider VW one of the "cheaper" car companies.
iPod/iPhone controls could be sweet. Imaging remote start, temperature adjustment, lock unlock. Notification of alarm going off and navigation. You could replace your fob with your iPhone and have one less thing on your keychain. Plus, a built in mount that would be almost like a detachable face for your stereo. Even the front row integration that synchs from your device.
Haha the image makes me feel warm and fuzzy. I want to jump into a car of happy iPhones. Maybe that's the medication speaking...
And if I have the money when it comes out, I'll be all about the VW iCar. Sexiness.
With all the potential iStuff that could be stuffed into the iCar, there is bound to be an increase in the amount of iAccidents, due to people paying more attention to the iStuff than the the road. I wonder if AppleCare will cover the damage or will you have to buy iInsurance?
I agree with SGODUN
Auto tech interfaces are abysmal. I imagine apple will get into the auto game via onboard iPod / iPhone interfaces that directly tie into onboard computer / GPS systems. Add a touchscreen in the passenger area, plus your iphone, you have a sweet mobile internet experience.
I'm not aware of anyone with integrated mobile (auto) internet at the moment. Is anyone else? Personally, I use my iPhone all the time while on the road (not driving) to look up directions, phone numbers, and to compare prices on products. If integrated into a GPS / Entertainment system, this would be a killer app. that would appeal to a lot of people, not just tech geeks.
All the components are here. They just need to be packaged together into a coherent unit.
@TrueSkool: Think Ikea, but with electronics.
Oh, great. Now we're going to be overwhelmed [or underwhelmed] by posts about the JesusCar.
That is one of the lulziest shops I've seen in a while.
just imagine the awesome sound you hear when u start the car
You know what would be cool, iHouse. Every wall is a multitouch display hooked up to a Mac Pro super computer. Stick gadgets to the wall, and bigsceen movies!!
The first to leverage an intuitive interface into their vehicles (display and navigation) and offer seamless use of gadgets wins...that's all i'm sayin..
Sweet, so do you think Audi will be getting the Apple hookup as well? I hope so!
apple is probably just gonna deal with the electronic aspect such as the radio and cd player or something allowing you to wireless connect your phone and use the screen as a dialpad. maybe they'll throw in a free ipod/iphone? idk just my own speculation.
September 5th, Apple will announce the iCar!
Does anyone else feel insane rage seeing so many ^_^ faces?
Some people in the Cars.com offices went out and bought an iPhone the day it was released. They love their shiny little phones, and now it seems they may have reason to run out and get a new VW if rumors about an Apple/Volkswagen marriage are true.
@drewkkake: "macs are for hippies". Yes of course, we've all seen that long bearded dude in the VW Bus with painted flowers and peace signs swerving down the road because he's trying to link his iphone to his macbook pro.
That photo is really, really, creepy. I'm going to wake up screaming from a nightmare about iphones popping up in my car while I'm on the highway.
awesome picture. as a mac and vw fan that would be complete bliss. but very $$$
At last, Apple has found a good use for its 'wheel' interface.
Man, that photo is good, old-fashioned, grade-A, 99 44/100% pure nightmare fuel.
Wait wait wait, an iCar? Ahahahahahahahhha, you've gotta, you've got to be kidding me, bwahahahhha, it's just, it's just hil... ahahahahahahaha....
Steve is going to join the iCar with Leopard's Time Machine and revolutionize time travel!
mirolator, sgodun, and mayor mcrib all make good points. Come next week, we'll see a 5" ipod 'icar' with GPS and bluetooth (modem?) hookup with your iphone. Heck, they could even give it HSDPA (ha!) and make your car a wifi hotspot, then when your iphone detects that network, it unlocks and starts your car.
Why would apple restrict themselves to one car maker? It's not like Volkswagen bends customers over on data charges for 2 years.
One thing is for sure if Apple is involved, it will be horrible for the environment.
This has nothing to do with this post, but I just imagined if they came our with a Microsoft car.
"You are trying to enter your car. Allow or Deny?"
@StockOption: Dude, when Apple starts building iHomes you can bet I will buy it - you can come over and hangout whenever you want.
That'll be in iTown, iSt 9021X - BYOB
I bet the engine will die in 18 months and then you will have to pay a fortune for VW/Apple to replace it for you only to see that after you had paid that a lawsuit was won and that Apple would replace them for free.
And then the windshield will scratch when you turn on the windshield wipers.
@odnet:
Not sure if VW vs. BMW/MB is quite a fair comparison. Try VW vs. Ford/GM or even Toyota/Honda, not to mention Hyundai. You'll see how VW's over-priced.
(Don't get me wrong, I really like their cars. I drive one. But I was caught in a dealer war and got a great deal. :)
VW owners have a way higher likelihood of owning a Mac than the general population. This is an obvious cross promotion since fans of VW like Apple and fans of Apple like VW. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I own a PowerBook, VW, and an iPhone. :(
They all rule though.
Ah VW. So easy to make fun of. Only people with boyfriends drive a VW. Mechanics saying: Hitlers revenge!!
This will be cool technology. I own the domain names icartalk.com and icaroffice.com . I have held these for years. Maybe these names will be attractive for a Company or I can use them for this new technology.
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