The Apple Car could have changed the face of the auto industry،
Gurman said the design Apple was working on around 2020 was similar to the rounded Canoo Lifestyle vehicle. This is a pickup truck that, at the time, looks the same front and rear, so it always looks like the vehicle is moving forward. Gurman says the vehicle was unlike any other mass-produced vehicle at the time and was designed for full Level 5 autonomous driving.
At one point, the Apple Car would have looked like the 2017 VW ID Buzz prototype
Although Apple changed the appearance of the car's interior several times, the look was minimalist with seats that resembled those of a limousine or private jet; the vehicle could accommodate four people. Some versions of the interior featured a large TV in the center for streaming video and FaceTime video chats. From the roof of the vehicle, several iPad-sized screens were suspended to allow passengers to access certain controls. A special air conditioning system pushed air along the sides of the cabin instead of blowing it directly into passengers' faces.
A version of the Apple Car resembled the VW microbus
Two previous models for the Apple Car included the first which resembled the Volkswagen microbus of the 1950s; at Apple this design was known as Loaf of Bread. The second design of the vehicle resembled the 2017 Volkswagen ID Buzz prototype before VW presented its concept. The fourth design, the one that resembled the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, excited CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams.
But the newer design also included less ambitious Level 2 autonomy, requiring Apple to add a steering wheel and pedals. The sliding doors of the vans have been replaced by hinged doors. Nonetheless, all of this is moot at this point anyway and while Apple may have changed the face of automobiles in the same way it did with the smartphone, the company has decided to stick to his knitting because the project still had a long way to go and a lot more red ink to spill before it was ready to go.
