iCar
Sleek on the outside, clever on the inside, the Audi-Apple iCar is TT-terrific.
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You knew it had to happen. In a world where Apple’s industriousness compels us to envision an “i” preceding everything of material value, we cannot move forward without first considering an iCar. In late August, bloggers began reporting that Apple and Volkswagen were working on a partnership, so we fast-tracked our iCar concept for a grand unveiling in this month’s issue. You were expecting an Apple-fied VW Beetle or Jetta? Sorry, we don’t see it happening. The Beetle is too femme, and the Jetta, well... We look deep into its headlights and find no soul.
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So Volkswagen must turn to its Audi brand to launch the iCar, tapping the TT Coupe, which made an almost Apple-like design statement of its own when it launched in 1998. The iCar concept retains all the lines of the latest TT, but adds some coy exterior features that leave no ambiguity about Audi’s gene-splicing experiments with Apple DNA. The body, wheels, and brake calipers are painted iPod white, while the side skirts and front splitter are clad in iPod chrome. The TT’s side mirrors are simplified into half-spheres, giving this one-off design study an extra touch of round-edged-ness and symmetry. And because we’ve always wanted to see the G5 grille protecting a car’s radiator, we did exactly what you’ve been thinking about doing since 2003.
Form always follows function in the world of iDesign, so when folks pay the extra $3,800 for the iCar option package, they also get cockpit controls that broadcast “I am the car of the future!” to anyone lucky enough to slide into the leather front seat.
iCar. This is it. We can now move forward in the growing world of iDesign with closure, confidence, and peace of mind.
Click to enlarge
The iCar cockpit redefines how we interface with traditional automotive controls. The tach/speedo cluster is an LCD that can be customized using the center console’s Settings menu. Whether you want numerical readouts or a traditional analog look and feel, the choice is yours, with skins and color options galore. The speedo here is set to display a large number for whatever 10 mph speed threshold you’ve just passed. The orange line is a visual of your current speed, while the red line is your own user-defined nanny marker—when orange passes red, you know you’ve surpassed your comfort limit.
The steering wheel features two scrollwheels so you can thumb through menu choices without using the touchscreen in the center console. There’s also an iSight located in the steering wheel hub, so that your iChat AV buddies can see you during calls on the road. (Wireless data networks of the future will make all this happen!) To help eliminate accidents caused by iChat AV convos, your friends can see what you see when you’re driving (notice the inset of your road view on the center display). This way, when you’re trying make a left-hand turn in rush-hour traffic, they’ll see what you’re doing and shut the heck up.
Controls for music, driving directions, communication, and climate are all accessed via the center touchscreen. iPhones and iPods nestle snugly in their very own dock. Once you experience this state-of-the-art UI, you’ll never be able to drive old-school again.
willj2047
September 15, 2010 at 3:51pm
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April 20, 2010 at 7:59am
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Anonymous
May 24, 2008 at 7:43pm
OMG I want a squidget but I think the diameter of it should be like 2 inches more.
Anonymous
May 12, 2008 at 8:31am
I think there should be a scroll wheel for the windows..... It would be so cool!!!!
Mob
April 20, 2008 at 2:59am
It is good that someone writes articles which really matters something. Thank you for this article, it’s full of knowledge which is hard to find in tons of rubbish in our famous world wide web. Regards and good luck!
Anonymous
March 26, 2008 at 6:44pm
I WANT ONE SOOO BADLY! DOSE N E ONE KNOW IF AND WHEN IT WILL BE COMING OUT?!?!?!?!??!?!
Mohammad
February 15, 2008 at 4:17am
Where can i buy an iCar from saudi arabia
Can i find it in the audi shop
icar is a prodotypw
March 29, 2008 at 6:05pm
it is just a prodotype
mohammed's luver
February 21, 2008 at 5:07am
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surfer33
January 28, 2008 at 5:35pm
The Squidget looks soooo cool! I can't wait for that to come out!
Anonymous
February 11, 2008 at 4:07pm
To 75% of everyone who posted above... THIS ISN'T A REAL PROTOTYPE! Mac|Life is just trying to show possible prototypes! THIS THING IS NOT "COMING OUT" ever! Its not even being planned to being planned to consiodered to think abnout to decide if it even has a chance to become a REAL prototype! Capishce? ....having said that, I STILL WANT THE iPROTECTION!
alexandrastinson
January 27, 2008 at 9:04am
i soo want a squidget when it comes out my parents will buy it for me!!!!
Anonymous
January 23, 2008 at 9:35pm
i want the freakin ieye it is so awesome
Steve Jobs
January 22, 2008 at 6:54pm
I thought we shut down Think Secret!
Anonymous
January 20, 2008 at 5:45pm
Hey this is actually my very first time reading and subscribing to a Technical Magazine and i bought your guys magazine 3 days Ago and noticed the SQUIDGET!! Now you might think this is sooo silly but me and everyone i showed the Squidget to would buy it. And let me tell You i showed ALOT OF PEOPLE!! And i was wondering are you guys goin 2 submit this idea to Apple? If not then I will JK but seriously i really need One!! I SERIOUSLY NEED AND WANT ONE PLZ TELL ME U R GOING TO TELL APPLE ABOUT THIS GREAT INVENTION!!?
Anonymous
January 11, 2008 at 11:10am
This is just fake !!!!!
Squidget?
January 09, 2008 at 10:06pm
When is the squidget going to vow out?
Anonymous
January 06, 2008 at 5:05pm
im telling you, apple is planning on taking over the world! first the iPod, then the iPhone, next is the iCar, then the iHouse, then iRobot. then we are all dead.
alyssa
January 06, 2008 at 1:03pm
I think the squidget is so cool and it's perfect for teens! I def. can't wait for it to come out but I think they should make a pirates of the caribbean faceplate instead of preppy burberry...
Anonymous
January 09, 2008 at 8:21pm
I've been trying to figure out when the squidget comes out because I'm so excited...do you know when it'll be released?
Anonymous
January 03, 2008 at 11:29pm
I thought that all of the products were great but they each had their own flaws
The Squidqet- MAJOR FLAWS! It is a law suit waiting to happen. First off if this product is reaching out to tweens myspace should not be there (if you need myspace so bad, go on the safari). Tweens AND teens should not be included as a main feature. SMS texting is ruining the purpose of the product for parents. $12.99 a month is not what parents want, they want thier kids to get this so they dont hhave to pay for a cell phone. Replace the SMS with iChat. (idea- add in an iSight JUST for video chatting, nothing else)
iEye- not really any flaws, just i think that photobooth effects should be added in.
iProtection- I laughed at first but i eventually saw how great it is. Only one flaw just in case it rolls in a backpack, purse, ect. it should have a special protective front so it doensnt tazer you
iCar- TO MANY FLAWS TO EVEN COMMENT ABOUT!
They all had some graet things too.
GuerrillaMonsoonDan
January 02, 2008 at 6:09am
Who the hell thought it would be a good idea to merge the iCar concept with a Ferrari? (below)
As if they don't cost enough already!!
I like the concept though, looks awesome! They'd need to offer a range of cars with the option though methinks, I can't afford a TT now, let alone if it had an Apple package.
They could release the Squidget in limited edition gold with a free Argos 'gold' chain, it'd sell like hotcakes to the tracksuit and trainer wearing contingent! Haha
Anonymous
January 02, 2008 at 2:28am
I think that all of these product ideas would do well. I think that Mac|Life should definetly give these to apple. Apple has already gotten alot of people to use their products, and with these ideas put into action even more people will use apple products. With this kind of creativity put into action the future could be an Apple World!
Anonymous
January 01, 2008 at 7:27pm
I have to have the Squidget. It looks sooo cool! That would be awesome. I wonder what else Apple will think of!
Anonymous
December 31, 2007 at 12:48pm
i have a friend that works for apple. Not one of the highest people, but pretty well into their ranks=)
he told me a few weeks ago that apple will venture into the camera department. If its anything like the prototype above, I'll be one of the first to buy it.
alexandrastinson
January 27, 2008 at 9:12am
tell him or her to tell apple to make the darn squidget
Anonymous
January 02, 2008 at 6:43pm
Are they sure about the squidget and everything they said in Mac-Life?
Oh, and is the a iProtection a joke? Please tell me it is. I can imagine the commercial now-
"It's an iPod- THAT CAN SHOOT 20,000 VOLTS INTO A MUGGERS
----!"
(1 2 3 4 softly playing in background)
KSW, Atlanta
December 23, 2007 at 7:10am
I think you missed the biggest part of iCar.
A million mobile wireless sites all with access to iTunes/iTV.
Apple could establish a global wireless network through the
use of auto's capable of 'extending a network' to millions on
the street or walking around. Paid for by the Auto Co's and drivers.
BRILLIANT! All hail Apple!KSW
Anonymous
December 20, 2007 at 2:56pm
Apple wouldn't fare well if they entered the digital camera industry. There are too many well sedimented segments and niches within the consumer market alone for Apple to land one huge product with the kind of effect had by the iPod. The strategy of revolutionizing should be preferred over jumping bandwagons.
Nick
December 19, 2007 at 8:54pm
are these REAL prototypes??? if so...when will they be coming out? if not...you should work as hard as you can to at least send the squidget idea into mac. it is the most genius idea i have EVER seen in my life! i would definately buy one...is the squidget just txting or a phone too...cuz i have had the idea to make a cheap text only product that looks really neat...looks like youve managed to do that! also for the squidget...does it have a built in iPod as well??? please reply!
Anonymous
January 18, 2008 at 1:55pm
the squidget has a tiny part of it dedicatted to song but there isn't a lot of memory for a bunch of songs but it can hold probably a few hundred around there...
Anonymous
January 09, 2008 at 8:25pm
Yes, the squidget has a music feature...it's more like a music player than a texting device anyways. And I don't believe it is a phone.
Anonymous
December 30, 2007 at 1:30pm
i agree. the squidget is awesome. but it wouldn't matter if it had an iPod becuause i already have one, but not everyone does.
Anonymous
December 18, 2007 at 10:16am
hy es5
