Apple could be collaborating with German car maker Volkswagen over an “iCar,” according to the Financial Times Deutschland. A Volkswagen representative confirmed to the German-language paper that talks were at an “early stage,” and that Steve Jobs met with VW CEO Martin Winterkorn several days ago to discuss the concept further. As of right now, the Financial Times says that there are no concrete plans, although it says that VW is planning a new subcompact car that would ring up for under $10k.
Our take? Apple and Volkswagen have always had a friendly relationship, and many VW cars already come equipped with iPod-compatible connectors. It’s probable that the talks between Jobs and Winterkorn are merely to go over extensions to that particular partnership—VW could be working on further iPod integrations in its cars, or newfangled iPhone integration.
Or, you know, the two could be working on an iCar.
Or the iPod and iPhone hookups already in Audis are working their way down to the masses.
On the other hand, car geeks are grumbling that they discovered this project months ago – and it wasn’t picked up by the media or bloggers as a big deal.
Spy photo. Car geeks are crazy about “spy photos”
Whats with the “This is not a GATE” sign on the photo?
Should it say…
“This is not a GATE its a JOB” ???
Cheers
Why not?
Swatch worked with Mercedes on the “Smart” car..
The project idea was originally supported by Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch, and was nicknamed the “Swatchmobile”. The name SMART is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_(automobile)
http://www.iht.com/articles/1994/02/21/swatch.php
http://photo.net/photo/pcd0796/smart-swatch-car-38.tcl
#22 Because their aren’t any people pushing their Swatches into other people’s faces saying how much better their Swatch is!
I can just see all these smug people with their iCars now…
#13, 14 LOL! You have to press the one button for the turn indicators AND one on the dash at the same time, but don’t take your finger of the clik wheel while you do that! And the exhaust doesn’t stink!
Give me a break! LOL
Cheers
#3 come to think of it, it will be a full retro experience. Everytime you went to Texaco and fill up your oy!Car’s tank, all the pump attendants will stop doing whatever they were doing and start clapping and cheering you on your way in and out of the station. That would be a sight.