Send to a friendDon August 30th, 2007 3:19 PM Link
Why do I have visions of Swatch dabbling with Daimler-Benz dancing in my head?
Is There an “iCar” in VW’s Future?
Written By: Seyth Miersma
Looking to be the latest company to capitalize on the lightning-in-a-bottle that is the iPod brand, reports have surfaced of an interest by automaker Volkswagen to work with Apple on an “iCar.”
Apple’s Steve Jobs and VW chief Martin Winterkorn met in California recently to discuss the possibility of merging the brands for an automotive product. Apple already works with Volkswagen, along with several other automakers, creating integrated in-car iPod hook-ups. The iCar project, would presumably take that project to the nth degree, spreading the cool (white perhaps?) Apple touch on a VW product.
Volkswagen teaming with another iconic company to produce a special edition vehicle is certainly nothing new, the company has been engineering corporate mash-ups for years, with varying levels of success. Echoing that, German financial magazine Capital estimate that a compact car upgraded with Apple products would pique the interest of young target groups.
With the iPhone still box-fresh and drawing its share of criticism, we wonder how many hits (and ensuing consumer frenzy) iProducts have left in them.
What do you think, would a 2008 “Apple White” Rabbit put you behind the wheel? Have your say in ‘Comments’.
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15 Comments
The Stig August 30th, 2007 4:22 PM Link
Uh huh. Doesn’t make sense to me and certainly wouldn’t sway my opinion of VW but I’m just one person.
Scratch August 30th, 2007 4:52 PM Link
Considering both brands command a premium price in the US, I can only imagine what something like that will cost.
CHARLES G. August 30th, 2007 4:57 PM Link
That apple looks a lot like the one Eve took a bite out of. We all know how that worked out…
dante August 30th, 2007 6:21 PM Link
Great, it will probably be as unreliable as my ipod was. A perfect match up.
JayTee August 30th, 2007 6:30 PM Link
Sounds like a perfect match! I love my iPod mini, no problems, and I love my 2001 GTI GLX. Maybe this could be the replacement for both of them!!
pete August 30th, 2007 6:51 PM Link
I bet you’ll only be able to fill it up at Apple gas stations. They’re really convenient, friendly and clean, but gas costs $10/gallon.
Nonsense August 30th, 2007 10:24 PM Link
And the battery will fail after 18 months!
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon] August 30th, 2007 10:46 PM Link
@ Nonsense,
Yup, but even though the battery will die around that time, by then, the 2nd gen model will be out and ready for you to splurge on.
smokyburnout August 30th, 2007 11:03 PM Link
@ pete
and, you’ll have to fill the radiator with a special ‘G12′ coolant, which you can only get at VW dealerships.
oh, wait… that already do that.
jkh August 31st, 2007 6:49 AM Link
if apple will completely rethink the user experience of the car, why not?
sounds much like the swatch mercedes hook up - but the time is much better now for that and one can learn from the mistakes made.
make it an extremely affordable small car with design as innovative solution not as premium price tag and you have got a winner.
Ducati Minor August 31st, 2007 7:35 PM Link
Anyone remember the Pikachu Beetles Nintendo was flashing around?
bmwloco September 3rd, 2007 3:51 PM Link
I sell VWs and this is coming from a iMac G5. My iPod is plugged into my keyboard. Customers grock on it all the time.
Will it fly? Maybe. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 2 years of selling VWs, the company sends what it will send to the US in it’s own sweet time.
Winding Road » Archive » Minimalist Tech: The Citroën C-Cactus Concept is Coming to Frankfurt September 4th, 2007 3:20 PM Link
[…] The C-Cactus’ focus on technology, though clearly freeing the cabin of clutter and moving parts, doesn’t really simplify so much as condense the features of an average car. Though the wisdom behind such ultra-tech solutions may be debatable, the strength of the design statement is much more clear. Rendered in smooth white and silver tones (shades of iCar, anyone?) the Citroën hatchback is pure show car fantasy. Effecting designs in cork, recycled leather, and acres of white lacquer, the C-Cactus offers a breezy and upbeat cabin. […]
Winding Road » Archive » Video: A First Taste of iCar in Volkswagen’s Concept? November 19th, 2007 11:48 AM Link
[…] between those two companies. One potentially positive sign as to the march towards some kind of iCar, is this video highlighting the display functions in VW’s newest Up! concept, shown at the L.A. […]
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