Continuing the trend of wild
Cupertino-related rumors, while simultaneously bringing to mind an old joke about Microsoft and GM, a German magazine is claiming that
Apple and
Volkswagen have entered into discussions over a concept vehicle to be dubbed -- you guessed it -- the iCar. If you believe what they say, the two companies are in the early stages of planning for an
entire line of new VWs that would incorporate Apple-sourced designs and features. Given that we've seen the firms
collaborate in the past, this isn't too far out there -- though we wouldn't go wagering on this rumor, either. As you can see below, the Engadget gang chimed in on the news, but what do
you think the iCar would be like?
Ryan: "Can hit 100Mph, can't hit 100Kbps."
Evan: "The scroll wheel would be hard to steer in sharp turns."
Paul: "Give it a few weeks and you should be breaking 25Mph no sweat."
Nilay: "It only uses one kid of gas!"
Josh: "I hear it doesn't have 3G either."
Chris: "Internal combustion engines were stupid until we decided to use them."
Dante: "White."
[Via
AppleInsider, image courtesy of
Chris3D]
posted Aug 29th 2007 at 8:26PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Simon P @ Aug 29th 2007 8:29PM
Prevents you from removing family from back seat and transporting them in any other kind of car...
Mr President @ Aug 29th 2007 9:50PM
Yea, it would also be much like a Civic: overrated, overpriced and somehow still popular.
mikey @ Aug 29th 2007 10:02PM
also comes with a non-user refillable gas tank. must be sent into service for replacement. Loan iCar available for a nominal fee.
Zak @ Aug 30th 2007 12:00AM
I bet it wont be at all "creative"
Matt @ Aug 29th 2007 10:48PM
It would have an assortment of widgets on the dashboard. :)
Terc @ Aug 29th 2007 11:44PM
@mikey
If the gas tank didn't need to be refilled for over 2 years with normal driving habits, I'd be sold in a second.
f14tomdog2 @ Aug 30th 2007 1:28AM
If you get into an accident (even fender bender) it cannot be repaired, only taken in and replaced for 1/3 of what you paid for it.
Brad @ Aug 30th 2007 4:32AM
It would run at 120mph and get 300mpg, but would only allow you to drive on 3% of the roads, many of which aren't connected.
Everything from your driving gloves to the clothes you wear while driving must be Apple or Griffin branded.
It will come in white and black.
The headlights will be Apple-logo-shaped headlights. They turn themselves on at 7pm and off at 7am without fail, even if it's dark earlier, or you aren't in the car at the time. But that's one less switch you need to deal with!
Chris Macdonald @ Aug 30th 2007 6:44AM
Anybody care to explain why the picture says 1999 on it? That might lead someone to believe that it was drawn 8 years ago. It wasn't... right?
Chris Macdonald @ Aug 30th 2007 6:46AM
multi-touch HD windshield :D
twlack @ Aug 30th 2007 7:58AM
Chris, it is designed in the likeness of a clam shell which is no longer in production. Probably was drawn in 99. Good catch.
Forrest @ Aug 30th 2007 10:21AM
It will have only one pedal, which is the brake.
You'll have to push down on the horn while pressing the pedal to accelerate.
sr1329 @ Aug 29th 2007 8:30PM
Does it have to be shipped to China to fill the gas tank?
Yankees368 @ Aug 29th 2007 8:31PM
Yankees368: Sound system only has 1 speaker (for those of you who don't get it, no A2DP)
sr1329 @ Aug 29th 2007 8:36PM
Well it could be an analogy for a one-button mouse.
Hugh @ Aug 29th 2007 9:09PM
Leopard=A2DP
3rdsun @ Aug 29th 2007 9:32PM
No fm radio cuz who needs radio
Justin @ Aug 29th 2007 8:32PM
No removable battery.
Jonathan Keim @ Aug 29th 2007 8:33PM
Will it blend... yes the whole thing.
Jean-Michel Decombe @ Aug 29th 2007 8:34PM
There's only one pedal to accelerate, brake, and shift.
sr1329 @ Aug 29th 2007 8:39PM
Ha Ha!
cibyr @ Aug 30th 2007 5:55AM
The gearbox is completely automatic - it guesses when you want reverse.
To brake, you have to hold down the horn and then press on the gas.
alphadeltaviii @ Aug 29th 2007 8:34PM
Will it be OSX based? Will it be announced September 5th!?!?!
fhyageu @ Aug 29th 2007 8:36PM
Breaking from tradition, includes 2 button horn.
Sander de Regt @ Aug 29th 2007 8:35PM
It will probably come with a nice translucent flower vase next to the steering wheel.
Jean-Michel Decombe @ Aug 29th 2007 8:36PM
Every time you use a feature for the first time, the synthesized voice of Steve Jobs says "BOOM!"
cradle @ Aug 30th 2007 3:47AM
synthesized? who are you...do you still play micheal jacksons moonwalker on your sega genesis and love the "micheal" sound bites?
cradle @ Aug 30th 2007 3:52AM
wtf! im a king again!
zoot ziit
Dmnkly @ Aug 29th 2007 8:38PM
Only turns right, because also turning left would be too complicated... and who needs to turn left, anyway?
Dan @ Aug 29th 2007 9:31PM
"I turned left!" - Derek Zoolander
Lazerface @ Aug 30th 2007 12:05AM
NASCAR, that's all they do
Sander de Regt @ Aug 29th 2007 8:38PM
Before being able to drive off, the iCar will check for the latest Firmware upgrades, that don't guarantee backwards compatibility with existing roads.
Señor Swanky @ Aug 29th 2007 8:40PM
Running bootcamp, your family will be locked in the car and can't find a way out.
Dmnkly @ Aug 29th 2007 8:40PM
Correction... why turn left when you can make three rights, instead?
Nick @ Aug 30th 2007 9:09AM
sounds like FEDEX to me.
Arathon @ Aug 30th 2007 9:47AM
Maybe you mean UPS?
LikesGadgetsWillTravel @ Aug 31st 2007 3:09PM
No, it's DHL. And while there... why delivery a package by setting it on the porch, when you can just toss it in the driveway and break it for sure.
xVortex44x @ Aug 29th 2007 8:42PM
I can't say much for the car,
but I'm sure it would only come in a few colors, be only available at 1 dealership
and anyone who waits in line to buy one wont shut up about it
Hugh @ Aug 29th 2007 9:09PM
Hmm... Sounds familiar:)
Terc @ Aug 29th 2007 11:48PM
Comes in white, and black... only black paint adds a 7% premium on the price.
billyboy @ Aug 29th 2007 8:43PM
you guys are choads. Does Microsoft get this kind of treatment for all it's automotive collaboration?
I guess you all just got apple envy. It's really very sad.
Dmnkly @ Aug 29th 2007 8:45PM
Cripes, Billy... if you lighten up a bit, you might actually get a chuckle out of some of these. Go on... give it a try! You can do it!
Hugh @ Aug 29th 2007 9:09PM
Billy, Billy, Billy!
tf @ Aug 29th 2007 10:39PM
i'm a "fanboy" and i still find these hilarious.
amlevy @ Aug 30th 2007 3:25AM
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYY!!!!!
(Jim Carey in The Cable Guy)
rip @ Aug 29th 2007 11:16PM
Are you kidding, If Microsoft did a car it would get MORE attention...
OF course it would be stuff about only driving for 5 minutes before having to restart. Or the car coming with 12 different floormats that are only partially usable until you pay an activation fee and can only be partially removed if you don't want them.
And don't even get me started on a zunecar.
fyi, I dig the image engadget used. Any car that looks like it was designed by Dr. Suess is ok by me.
Trace The Hedgehog @ Aug 31st 2007 5:10PM
AWww, look at teh pwetty fanboyyy
ethana2 @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:53AM
A microsoft car? Oh, wow. I'll start this one off for you:
"AAAHHHHH MY TIRES ARE FRAGMENTI-WHAMWHAMCRUNCHWHAPBAM."
"No, officer, seriously-- the _car_ crashed, not me! No really, see first the.."
... @50mph:
Your car has failed the Microsoft Genuine Advantage test. Now initiating reduced functionality mode. "What the-- MY BRAKES DONT WORK!! AAAAAAAAAA---"
Wow, that car looks niiiiiice. Hey, what kind of engine does it have?
--A two stroke V3, why?
Yeah, my back windshield got cracked...
--Oh, you probably got hit by a bug.
js @ Aug 29th 2007 8:45PM
Isn't the iCar the Mercedes SL500 without the license plate?
Sander de Regt @ Aug 29th 2007 8:44PM
iCar: a new motivation for hackers to hack OSX. "Warning. A security threat has been discovered that will allow 3rd parties to take control of your iCar while driving it."