Following years of speculation, Alphabet have announced that their Apple Car will be available for purchase in 2018. As expected, the vehicle will be all-electric, and well-appointed:
- Auto-tint Windows
- Surround Siri – available to all passengers
- Surround Sound
- Lab-grown Leather Seating – suitable for vegans
- Surround Lighting
- Solar Graphene Body – every inch captures solar power, with great weight/strength ratios
While they will be mass-producing cars, Alphabet have indicated that their primary source of income is expected to be from patented innovations (some of which were via acquisitions). They listed seventeen in total, including the following:
- Smart Cruise Control – aligns the car’s speed with local speed limit signs. The feature can be set to Off, Freeway or Auto
- Hydrophobic Windscreens – wipers are not needed
- Reverse Headlights – full lighting available when reversing – and as a source of light when camping, for example
- Intelligent Towing – accurate monitoring and planning for vehicles towing a trailer or caravan
- Air Quality – sensors decide whether air-con uses outside or inside air based on quality and comfort indicators
- AR HUD – augmented reality integrated into the head-up display. Navigation initially, with other Siri features to follow
- Built-in Ride Sharing – connects with Uber, Lyft and other services for independent taxi operators
- LIDAR – laser radar for low-speed navigation, and to be integrated into future self-driving systems
The entry-level price will be $39,995 after rebates. There will be two initial versions – a medium SUV and a taxi. Test-drives of prototypes can be booked online and deposits are being taken. Alphabet are bypassing the dealership model.
Power, speed and mileage figures are unavailable at this stage. Alphabet say that they will be at least comparable with their competitors, and are expected to improve substantially by the realease date.