iPhone integral part of Land Rover LRX concept

Well, would you take a peek at this? Not even a month after we pored over Volkswagen photos that certainly had a hint of Apple about them, images of the Land Rover LRX are surfacing and giving us the same kind of vibe. In a press release issued by the automaker, it notes that the concept vehicle will boast a couple of touchscreens, one of which is used to "control the LRX's iPhone facility." Additionally, you can catch an iPod docking station and a set of removable speakers on the tailgate, though we can't say that's the most convenient location we've ever heard of for such a device. Nevertheless, we should find out a whole lot more when it hits the Detroit Auto Show floor next month, and oh yeah, we hear Jobs has a wee gig of his own to handle around the same time.

[Thanks, ssco]
Read - Land Rover LRX press release
Read - Land Rover LRX images

[Sandy @ Dec 14th 2007 12:06PM]

I wouldn't be seen dead in that car.

[riggs @ Dec 14th 2007 12:11PM]

what kind of freaky fetish is that? j/k

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 14th 2007 12:07PM]

It's the iFlux capacitor.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Dec 14th 2007 12:38PM]

Note to self: Write iFlux Capacitor app for iPhone in February. :-)

[Ireland @ Dec 14th 2007 3:05PM]

Yeah, February 1955 :P

[riggs @ Dec 14th 2007 12:12PM]

i can see myself in that rover, and meh @ the iphone

[gt2378b @ Dec 14th 2007 1:42PM]

I can see myself with that iPhone, and meh @ the Rover.

[Jason @ Dec 14th 2007 12:14PM]

I actually like the car itself, as for the iphone in it.. based on the images, it looks like it will be integrated to the point where you start the engine with it (my car has a push button start). The downside.. it appears pretty well integrated, and I do not like that idea....

[Anthony @ Dec 14th 2007 12:22PM]

What happens when new, smaller versions of the iphone come out? I mean- just think if you had an "integrated nano"? You'd have yourself a piece of outdated junk.

Land Rover's not known for a long life expectancy so maybe it's a moot point.

[Phil Perman @ Dec 14th 2007 12:47PM]

@ Anthony

Oh yeah definitely, what with an estimated 75% of all Land Rover Defenders ever built still running 'n all...

[St. Stephen @ Dec 14th 2007 1:28PM]

I seem to recall the British Army having good success with their Rovers in Afghanistan when I was there. Whenever I watch NGC, Discovery or History Channels I see Discovery 110s an 90s being used extensively in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East by explorers, scientists, etc. Finally, I think the Camel Trophy pretty much shows what these things can do and how reliable they are. But all that being said if one looks at the consumer safety/reliability history of these vehicles, the civilian versions have shown horrid reliability/repair issues over the years. Too bad BMW dumped them off to Ford. I think BMW would've been the best thing for the Rovers reliability/build quality wise.

[Pouya @ Dec 14th 2007 1:30PM]

Not to mention if I don't have/want an iPhone I'll have a big, empty, docking station in the middle of the cabin. . . interesting. The cut in iPhone pricing may be enough for Apple to meet its 10 million iPhone sold by the end of 2008 prediction, but even then it is too much of a niche product for a car company to design a significant part of the interior around. Moreover, the iPhone's lead in interface technology won't last long, it lags behind other smartphones in many ways, and Apple itself will most likely release future versions that will make the current iPhone look ancient (see, 6 generation of classic iPods, 2 generations of iPod minis, 3 generations of iPod nano, 2 generation of iPod shuffle, and 1 generation of iPod touch, and counting . . .). Not a good idea to design the interior around a short-term designed product. But, of course, this is a concept car and it is very likely (more so than not) that the production model will lack the iPhone facility.

[gt2378b @ Dec 14th 2007 2:19PM]

You guys do realize that the current Rovers only sort of look like the old ones, right? Check consumer reports on reliability and look at the staggering depreciation they suffer.

Now an old Rover, yeah - that would rock.

[Rob @ Dec 14th 2007 12:29PM]

Man, that's a nice shot.

[palehorse @ Dec 14th 2007 12:39PM]

Is that the new Apple 4G Flux Capacitor?

[paul34 @ Dec 14th 2007 12:42PM]

Won't happen. Remember, Jobs wants you to use your iPhone for.... buying his ringtones! There's no way they'd ever let me use my iPhone for this without hacking the device... which LR obviously isn't going to do.

"Land Rover LRX only compatible with versions 1.5.3 iPhone FW and below. Future FWs have been patched to prevent operation of your vehicle"

[insertAlias @ Dec 14th 2007 1:14PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/garageband-4-1-1-brings-custom-tones-to-iphone/
Maybe you haven't heard. Now you can use GarageBand to make custom ringtones for the iPhone. No hacks, no tricks, just use the Apple-provided software to add tones to your phone. But you were to busy spouting bullshit to have heard about that one, right?

[paul34 @ Dec 14th 2007 2:03PM]

And maybe you were too busy "spouting" irrelevant facts to notice that this article has nothing to do with something as simple as ringtones. =)

[insertAlias @ Dec 14th 2007 2:48PM]

I was replying directly to your comment, not the article:
"Jobs wants you to use your iPhone for.... buying his ringtones!"
Of course I realize that the article has nothing to do with ringtones, but since you brought it up, I just had to call you on it.

It pisses me off when people are this blatantly stupid.

[paul34 @ Dec 14th 2007 3:46PM]

It also "pisses me off" when people aren't smart enough to realize that ringtones are indeed still for sale.

You do realize that you can put your own, non-iTunes purchased music on the iPhone, right? But don't you think Mr. Jobs still wants you to buy his iTunes tracks?

That's what I was saying. Maybe you should stop and think about your own lacking thought processes before you start attacking others with such needless ferocity.

[insertAlias @ Dec 14th 2007 3:54PM]

Whatever...I just don't care enough to argue with you anymore.

[St. Stephen @ Dec 14th 2007 12:49PM]

eh, i really like the exterior the vehicle, but the neon interior lighting an such is too much for me. I'll stick to my benz, more reliable (no iFlux to iFuck up), an no flashy neon lighting. I'm not too keen on the integration of the phone to that extent (starting the vehicle) either. Syncing up with the radio/gps is enough for me. The shaved doors, glass roof, headlights an body lines are pretty hot looking though.

[riggs @ Dec 14th 2007 1:10PM]

im sure you have seen other concept vehicles with the same lighting and then the production vehicle not having it? well that goes for this as well.

[St. Stephen @ Dec 14th 2007 1:19PM]

I have and I am sure you've seen concept vehicles that never see the light of day, well this is probably one of them. The question remains, why would Land Rover, a prestigious company an vehicle, put flashy bullshit neon in their concept vehicle? I cannot imagine the English Crown or anyone else for that matter, riding around in one of these. Leave out the neon/iFlux and I'm willing to bet this thing would garner more interest, especially from those who could afford it.

[paul34 @ Dec 14th 2007 2:05PM]

It's probably either LED or cold cathode lighting. I'm not even sure anyone uses Neons anymore - definitely "so 1990s."

Sorry, I know its not a big deal, but it is a pet peeve of mine. People use things more modern than neons nowadays!

[Leonard Nimrod @ Dec 14th 2007 1:09PM]

Voted down for spreading FUD.

[fuma @ Dec 14th 2007 1:28PM]

nice coffee cup holder

[Mystic @ Dec 14th 2007 1:31PM]

Looks awesome! Too bad it's a concept which will never be made. I really wanted a Nissan Dunehawk!

http://www.iceposter.com/posters/cars/Nissan/Nissan_Dunehawk_Concept_2003/

[St. Stephen @ Dec 14th 2007 1:34PM]

nice! mine was the VW Bus haha..

http://www.vanagon.com/media/concept/

[Roshan Gurusinghe @ Dec 14th 2007 1:42PM]

that iPhone looks stretched.

[Ron Amadeo @ Dec 14th 2007 1:56PM]

oh christ. Ask yourself 2 questions. How long do you plan on keeping a new car? How long do you plan on keeping a new phone?

"hey man whats that big hole in your car for?"

"A gen 1 iPhone."

"Wow! gen 1? those things are ancient!"

Why are stupid people allowed to design million dollar concept cars?

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 14th 2007 2:02PM]

Finally! A car for douchebags.

[joey @ Dec 14th 2007 4:19PM]

But what if you forget to bring/loose your blow phone?

[DeoWulf @ Dec 14th 2007 4:52PM]

Why the heck would they make a phone of all things an integral part of the car??? And it's not even compatible with other devices, or even other iPods? After the iPhone gets outmoded (and it will!), there will just be an empty space. I hope they think to put in a real engine starter for those who don't even have an iPhone to begin with... or you just buy a car with no ignition.

[Brad @ Dec 14th 2007 8:56PM]

So now your car is really an $80,000 assurance that you'll not upgrade your phone, switch carriers, or leave Apple products behind until you get rid of the car? Or do you just get to "hope" that Apple decides future phones are worth supporting a contract they don't care about any longer.

Interesting. I like the ability to change my phone more frequently than my car. But that's just me. I'm sure the iPhone will be cool with soccer moms for years to come.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:54PM]

So is this car locked to AT&T too? With a two-year contract?

[Rocketboy @ Dec 16th 2007 10:01AM]

Ya, but can you replace the Land Rover's battery, or will that need to be shipped back to the factory as well?

[Nish Vamadevan @ Dec 18th 2007 7:11AM]

This is just stupid!