Shanghai Auto Show: Apple and Volkswagen team up to create the ‘iBeetle’

By Nick Jaynes April 22, 2013

VW-iBeetle1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Volkswagen and Apple have come together not only to create a special-edition car but also a new app, tethering both companies together in both tech and design.

First off, the new app is (not so) slyly named the “Beetle App.” This ingenious new app includes a vehicle-integrated docking station for the user’s iPhone, allowing the smartphone to connect directly to the car.

volkswagen-ibeetle-iPhone-dock-dashboard — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once connected, the app can run any number of features, including; Spotify; Postcard (for sharing vehicle location) Photo (for sharing interior photos), Trailer, which allows drivers to compare driving specs with previous drives and other Beetle owners through social media, and Reader, which will read text and Facebook messages aloud.

Most distinctively, there’s Expert, which allows the iPhone to function as an extended on-board instrument cluster with dials and readouts including a “G-Meter for measuring lateral acceleration, oil and coolant temperature gauges for the engine, a chronometer, and a compass.”

While having Spotify and “Reader” are cool functions, we especially love the “Expert” addition to the app. We’d love to see smartphone and car integration lead to more than just hokey social media-based buzz features and more useful tools like this.

Beyond the app, which will be available to all Beetle and Beetle Convertible owners, is a new limited edition Beetle model called the iBeetle.

VW iBeetle3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Available early next year, the iBeetle will feature color schemes influenced by Apple products with 18-inch “Disc” alloy wheels and a “Chrome pack” that mimics the iPhone’s color scheme.

Sure, a new limited-edition Beetle is neat. But a new app that furthers driver and vehicle connectivity is tops.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Apple

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Mobile

The 6 best car phone holders in 2024

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Cars

Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?

Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.