Two iconic products will be forming an alliance later this year: the iPhone from Apple and the Beetle from Volkswagen. As a result, the smartphone will interface with the Beetle and Beetle Cabriolet’s vehicle functions via a specially developed app (Volkswagen Car Net The Beetle) and a docking station. This makes the Beetle the first model in the Volkswagen Group in which the iPhone will become an integrated component.
There are two routes to acquiring the interface: first as an optional feature, and second as a standard feature on the new iBeetle and iBeetle Cabriolet. The German carmaker will be launching these special models on the market in parallel with the iPhone 5 integration at the beginning of 2014. The app, docking station and iBeetle will celebrate their world premiere at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show (20th to 29th of April).
Located centrally on the dashboard of the Beetle is the newly designed docking station (cradle), in which the iPhone is integrated by simply snapping it in – similar to a mobile navigation system. Once in, essentially, all iPhone functions can be used in the Beetle; the iPhone can be used to navigate, telephone via a hands-free unit, listen to music from the media library via the audio system’s amplifier and loudspeakers, and much more.
When the app is launched, it can either connect the iPhone to the Beetle docked or undocked. As soon as the iPhone connects to the Beetle’s data network via the app and the docking station (docked), a menu with the following functions is available: “Spotify”, “Expert”, “Trainer”, “Reader”, “Postcard”, “Photo”, “Post” and “Milestones”.
Inside, the steering wheel accents are in “Galvano Grey”. This colour is also used for the horizontal instrument pad which is such a key Beetle design feature. The iBeetle is also upgraded by a customised gear shift grip, black sport seats in exclusive “Vienna” leather and contrasting seams in light “Ceramique”.
Source: VW
