This Apple Car Will Have Tesla And Lucid Sweating From Their Heat Pumps

The Apple Car is perhaps the tech giant’s worst, and best, kept secret all together. Rumors of Apple working on a car (most recently with Hyundai/Kia) have been floating around since 2015, along with countless renders of what the Apple iCar would look like. Finally, it seems like Apple’s car, codenamed Project Titan, is set for a limited release in 2024. Though a 2026 launch for the Apple Car looks more realistic.

Almost as realistic as this render of the Apple Car cooked up by 3D visualizer Timothy Adry Emmanuel exclusively for HotCars. It takes everything we know about the Apple Car and packages it in a minimalist, industrial design that looks like something that could come from Cupertino.

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Considering how most of Apple’s products, from the iPhone to the iPad and M2 Macbooks, sit at the premium end of the market, it’s safe to assume the Apple Car will too. While we have no concrete evidence on which to base an estimate of how much an Apple iCar will cost, it’s safe to expect a Tesla competitor. Picture an electric car that will take on the likes of a Tesla Model S, the Lucid Air, or sit above a Tesla Model 3 at the very least.

But for a car that’ll likely integrate into the Apple ecosystem better than anything else out there, that might not be a very high price to pay. Imagine seamless handovers from your phone to your car, including Apple’s own infotainment on the go. Say what you will about a tech company branching out into cars, but the Apple iCar will likely be a game changer.

Related: How Next-Gen Apple CarPlay Is More Awesome With A New In-Car Experience

What The Apple Car Will Look Like

HotCars | Timothy Adry Emmanuel

At one point, it was rumored that Apple and BMW would work together to make the iCar. It was then thought that Apple could base its car on the electric BMW i3. Those talks haven’t materialized. But more recently, Hyundai confirmed that they were in talks with Apple to produce the iCar. It’s even rumored that Apple and Kia would work together on Project Titan.

Which is why this HotCars render of the Apple Car takes the best parts of excellent electric cars like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. You may even see a bit of the Lucid Air in there. But it all comes together for a futuristic, yet realistic, depiction of the Apple iCar.

HotCars | Timothy Adry Emmanuel

Having the wheels pushed to the corners of the car is the best way to maximize cabin space. That, and the shooting brake style panoramic glass roof that is. The coolest part of this concept is how the roof floats over the rear, acting as a spoiler to smooth the air coming over it.

The front and rear of this Apple Car concept are mirrored. In fact, the car as a whole is pretty symmetrical front to rear. We imagine that’s just how Apple would build it. The unique glasshouse then becomes the contrast point in differentiating the rear from the front. Think of it as the notch in this Apple design. Of course, the Apple Car will be available in signature Apple colors – Silver, Space Gray and Rose Gold.

Prices for the Apple Car are currently unknown. But when it comes to trims, we may just see something similar to Apple Car, Apple Car Plus and Appel Car Pro Max as a 3 model line up.

Now, the pop-out and slide over doors and pop-up roof may not be entirely production ready, but it is a concept favorite. Walking into your car, and then sinking into swivel-out seats really is the most natural way to do it.

Related: Awesome Car Prototypes That Never Made It To Production

The Apple Car Will Almost Drive Itself With Semi-Autonmous Abilities

Which brings us to the features of the Apple Car. Initially, it was believed that Apple would aim for full autonomous driving right off the bat. But as Tesla’s Autopilot has found, self-driving cars are exactly as complex as they seem. It’s probably safe to assume the Apple Car will instead aim for semi-autonomous driving, or the next step-up in advanced driver assistance systems.

Which is why this Apple Car concept still has a steering wheel, albeit a half-wheel. Large wrap-around screens on the dash will probably show up the instrumentation, and infotainment. We expect the Apple Car’s screens to be as easy to navigate as an iPad.

Speaking of, expect full Apple device integration. With next-gen Apple CarPlay ready to take over the entire digital space in the car, we expect nothing less with Apple’s indigenous automobile. From the infotainment, vehicle dynamics, digital dash and in-car controls, everything would run on the CarPlay platform. Think the ability to control Apple Music and Podcasts from your car as if it were your phone, and Maps integrations for all users. While ‘Siri’ takes charge as the virtual assistant. When you’re waiting to charge up, Ted Lasso can keep you busy and entertained on Apple TV+ .

Of course, Apple Car specifications are nothing more than a wishlist at this point. The Kia EV6 has a 77kWh battery unit and the Lucid Air Dream edition packs a 118kWh battery. We’d expect the Apple Car to be an electric vehicle packing at least a 100kWh battery pack, splitting the difference. Expect at least 500 miles of driving range, and fast charging. Wireless electric car charging isn’t a thing yet, unfortunately. But going the “Apple Way” maybe the Apple Car use an automotive version of MagSafe? One can dream!

Related: A Peek Inside The Kia EV6’s Hi-Tech Cabin

The Apple Car Will Be Gunning For Tesla, Lucid And Rivian

Lucid Motors

Like we said, the upcoming Apple Car will almost definitely go up against the premium end of the electric car market. The Apple Car will have the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air in its sights. But it’s also possible base models will slot in above cars like the Tesla Model 3 and the Kia EV6 itself. This makes sense for Kia to have an offering for people looking for a slightly more premium electric car.

HotCars | Timothy Adry Emmanuel

Ultimately, the biggest rival might just be Apple itself. Considering the delays in the Apple Car project, change of leadership and all the different directions it may take. Keep it simple, Apple.

And if the Apple Car looks like this one, expect really long shipping times for your pre-orders.