Filed under: Concept Cars, Gadgets, Volkswagen
Is this the iCar? Nah, couldn't be
Last August speculation begin to swirl about a joint collaboration between Apple and Volkswagen to produce the unofficially named iCar. All the rumors were based on a report by a German publication that claimed Apple CEO Steve Jobs had met with Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn. Volkwagen confirmed the meeting, but provided no specific details about what was discussed. Topics could have ranged from Apple assisting the German automaker with the user interface of its new touchscreens, as Engadget had discovered that the VW had used a touchscreen UI very similar to Apple's Cover Flow UI in its up! concepts, to a full blown collaboratively developed car, aka the iCar. As is often the case with Apple rumors, the iCar was likely more a product of what people wished for rather than what the facts suggested. The newest issue of Autobild, however, features a never-before-seen VW concept joined on the cover by an iPhone. Is this the iCar? Who knows. It will likely pop up at some point during the next auto show season and all questions will be answered, but the Apple rumor machine will likely provide us with some outrageous explanations in the meantime.[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
zamafir 12:01PM (6/13/2008)
so the meeting had nothing to do with the awesome apple-esc interface on the Up! i played with at the LA auto show? nothing at all? Even the frontrow? No? Some mythical not yet confirmed car vs an obvious show car which already showed collaboration? sounds a lot more plausible. [/sarcasm]
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Alex 12:09PM (6/13/2008)
Its the world's smallest limousine! Going by the pictures, it looks like the bottom of the rear seats can be positioned for forward or reverse seating or there is seating for four in the back, facing eachother. Really odd...
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jgp 12:11PM (6/13/2008)
My German is a bit rusty, but does that say "The VW of Morning"? WTF?
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Das Boese 12:14PM (6/13/2008)
Almost.
It's "The VW of tomorrow" ;)
jgp 12:19PM (6/13/2008)
Ah. That makes more sense.
Pengwin 12:13PM (6/13/2008)
i thought it was going to be a big click wheel with door..hmmp oh well.
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Das Boese 12:14PM (6/13/2008)
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Do not, ever, trust anything you read in Auto Bild.
That they use a picture of the iPHONE to illustrate the sentence "As easy as an iPOD (The VW of tomorrow)" perfectly illustrates the quality of journalism you can expect from that rag.
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jgp 12:20PM (6/13/2008)
Well, it could be an iPod Touch...
gotsmart 12:44PM (6/13/2008)
That is an iPod Touch. The iPhone has more application icons.
Das Boese 5:28AM (6/14/2008)
In that case, I stand corrected.
Mark Rowland 7:47PM (6/16/2008)
Yeah, thats definitely an iPod Touch in the corner. The iPhone bezel is silver. The Touch's is black.
Avinash machado 12:18PM (6/13/2008)
Auto Bild seems to be sort of like an automotive tabloid. Similiar to Auto Express in the UK.
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Qugeist 1:02PM (6/13/2008)
Both ends of the car looks like the front. although I think the one with the iTouch scanned image looks more "frontish".
AutoBild is alright to me... they were pretty accurate on the Audi A5 last time.
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rouse42 1:03PM (6/13/2008)
it better have a camera better then 2mp.
hahaha
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Eddy Alvarez 1:03PM (6/13/2008)
am I the only one that finds it sad that Apple wouldn't try and collaborate with a fellow domestic company?
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john riley 1:19PM (6/13/2008)
Limo? Taxi maybe?
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Torrent 1:21PM (6/13/2008)
I was just thinking about this yesterday.
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efmvii 2:00PM (6/13/2008)
an iCar would probably look boxy (like a first gen scion xB), devoid of curves, much like its current product lineup. the way it should be ;)
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Moose 2:52PM (6/13/2008)
Did a Hobbit design the door?
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Temple 4:21PM (6/13/2008)
Mitsubishi already has the "iCar"
And its amazing. Mid-engined RWD, 660cc-turbo, weighs less then 2,000lbs, seats 4, and gets 45 mpg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0si6djA7ED0
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