Apple-car: rumors, concepts, photos

When it comes to the most anticipated new products from Apple, the car stands at one of the first positions. Apple is one of the few that can keep intrigue to the very end. The products of the "apple" corporation, which are in the embryonic state, remain in the bowels of the company until the release and are published only as a ready-made functioning solution. That's why rumors about new developments of the company are walking around the web with an enviable regularity and do not give rest to bloggers from various fields. The emergence of companies such as Tesla Motors, the general craze for electric cars and Google's development in the field of autonomous cars have led many to believe that the Californian company is also preparing something unusual to enter the car market. So, what is known about the Project Titan from Apple?

Rumors about the Apple car

News about the potential electric car from Apple appear on the profile resources (both dedicated to technologies and cars) almost every week. Rumors change each other, and company representatives, as always, keep silence about the details. The very fact that Apple is working in this direction has already been indirectly confirmed. Steve Kenner, who runs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told reporters that Apple has invested a lot of money in the development of this direction and believes that automated control systems can save many lives, preventing accidents. Many users believe that the Apple car will be similar to what Tesla Motors does, but analysts at Bloomberg claim that the main emphasis will be on autopilot. Moreover, there are suggestions that in the electric cupboard from Cupertino there will be no pedals and steering. The Apple car will be controlled with the help of Siri and move, guided by the brand-name navigation system Apple Maps. Artificial intelligence will monitor the situation on the road and guide the machine. You can open the car with the help of technology Touch ID (fingerprint sensor, familiar to iPhone users, iPad and MacBook Pro).

Testing

In April 2017, Apple received permission to test unmanned vehicles in California. One of these cars was later seen on the roads of Silicon Valley. The car was built on the basis of Lexus RX450 and is equipped with a lot of sensors, cameras, radars. Many believe that this is one of the Apple cars created to improve the company's mapping service Apple Maps, and not for testing unmanned control systems. On the other hand, this fact confirms the rumor that the company threw the idea with the development of its own machine, and concentrated on working with the software for these.

Concepts

A photo of the car from Apple, or rather its possible options and concepts, often flash on the Web. One of the most unusual and futuristic images was published by designer Ali Cam, who, he said, demonstrates his vision of the car "apple" corporation. Such a car, according to the designer, should move using magnetic levitation, and he will not even need a battery. Other concepts are much more modest and closer to reality and visually resemble the current compact electric cars.

Possible cost

Analysts from the research group Jefferies, without waiting for any announcements from the company, presented a 68-page report, in which the possible cost of an electric car was calculated. On average, its cost should vary within $ 55,000 for the basic equipment. It is also assumed that the car, akin to another product of the company - Apple Watch, will have several different bundles: from budgetary to premium.

A car or a navigation system?

Despite a lot of rumors and forecasts, there is still a question about whether Apple will really present the car or will be limited to software for it. In favor of the second says common sense and the presence of the California corporation of the navigation media system CarPlay. Kupertinovtsy also have in their arsenal a voice control system - Siri, own vector maps with navigation and developments in the field of artificial intelligence. That is, in theory, perhaps, Apple will only agree with other major automakers (like Tesla) and equip their cars with their own electronics, which is responsible for its functioning and support of branded services (maps, radio and so on).

Anyway, it's not necessary to wait for company representatives to clarify the situation until in closed labs Apple finally determines with the Project Titan concept and creates a working prototype.