If you love your iPhone and wish Apple made an iCar, that dream is one step closer to becoming a reality. Apple and Volkswagen have teamed up to make a new version of the well-known car: the iBeetle.
Apple and Volkswagen teams both worked to create the iBeetle, which sources noted looks pretty much the same as the classic car model. The car, which recently made its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show, is geared up to hit the market in early 2014. The car features a special iPhone dock in the center of the dashboard and is the first car model that uses the iPhone as an integrated component.
“The colors and equipment features of the iBeetle are stylistically linked to the Cupertino-based US company, bringing its iconic smartphones into harmony with what is certainly one of the world's most iconic automotive designs,” Volkswagen stated. “In a nod to the iPhone's color scheme, the new iBeetle can be ordered in 'Candy White,' 'Oryx White Mother of Pearl Effect,' 'Black Monochrome,' 'Deep Black Pearl Effect,' 'Platinum Grey,' or 'Reflex Silver.'”
The iPhone's role in the new iBeetle
So how exactly does the iBeetle incorporate the functionality of the iPhone into the car's design? Well, drivers can access all their favorite apps and stream music through their car's speakers from Spotify or iTunes. Drivers can also have the car read their Twitter messages out loud to them and send geo-located materials like postcards to their contacts.
According to ABC News, there is a special Volkswagen app that integrates the iPhone with other services of the car. For example, the app's Expert area allows users to view information about the car itself, including information about the vehicle's oil and coolant temperatures. The Trainer section of the app lets users compare driving distances and times. The phone is also integrated with the car's audio system and microphone, allowing drivers to make easy calls and issue commands to the device.
Volkswagen explained that once the phone is snapped into place in the car's dock, basically all iPhone functions can be used inside the car. Damage to your iPhone can occur anywhere, including inside your car, making iResQ's iPhone repair services an attractive option for extending the life of your favorite devices. While we can't promise we will be able to repair your Volkswagen, we've got all iPods, MacBooks, iPhones and iPads covered.