We have already seen an eco-friendly car manufacturer throw a free iPhone in with the purchase of a vehicle, and now a new concept car will be showcased next week at the Geneva Motor Show that will actually use the iPhone to control multiple car features.
The concept vehicle was created by Rinspeed, a Swedish automotive company that specializes in restoring classic vehicles and modifying modern ones. Every year Rinspeed's founder, Frank Rinderknecht, unveils a new concept car for the Geneva Motor Show. This year's concept car is called the iChange.
The iChange introduces a whole new aerodynamic concept where the body of the vehicle actually changes shape to accommodate multiple passengers. The three-seat vehicle also adapts to passenger weight by changing power output accordingly to make the vehicle as efficient as possible. It is powered by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.
All of that is great but the real prize is that the iChange uses an iPhone to run some of its most basic operations. Instead of a key, the iPhone acts as an ignition with a giant "start" button. The iPhone also controls many other simple features instead of using normal dashboard controls such as lights and the electronic roof section.
Imagine how bad it feels when you lose your car keys and now multiply that by one-hundred because your car keys are your iPhone as well. Ouch.
Rinspeed's concept vehicles rarely are mass produced so don't expect to see one of these rolling down the streets of your neighborhood anytime soon.
[via Wired]
