(Credit: Shutterstock / Songquan Deng)
Apple initially envisioned its long-rumored iCar as more of an iVan.
In his weekly PowerOn newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman shared some of what Apple had planned for a vehicle, including its design.
According to Gurman, Apple’s pre-2020 design for the vehicle resembled the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, which is a futuristic-looking car with rounded edges, which echoes a German report from around that time period. Gurman says the vehicle had black windows with an adjustable tint, an all-glass sunroof, and an identical front and rear so it always looked like you were driving forward, even when you were headed in reverse.
He notes that the car’s interior changed multiple times but “many of the car designs included a giant TV in the center to show videos and handle FaceTime.” Other versions of the vehicle had iPad-sized displays suspended from the roof. Seats in the vehicle were similar to what you might find on a private jet and would be able to recline and include footrests.
Air conditioning within the vehicle was also unique. Rather than push air into the driver’s face, the vehicle’s air conditioning system would push air along the sides of the cabin similar to some newer airplanes.
Prior to the Canoo-like version, Jony Ive reportedly designed a vehicle dubbed internally as “Bread Loaf” that resembled a 1950s VW bus. Later, another version looked similar to Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz. The last major redesign to the vehicle reportedly added winged doors similar to those found on Tesla’s Model X.
All in all it's an interesting look at what might have been. Late last most Apple reportedly scuttled its car project, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any of these designs come to fruition.