Apple continues to pursue its own car project, but readers should not expect savings to vanish overnight. The so-called Apple Car is not arriving before 2026, and even that deadline has shifted by a year in some reports. For now, the vehicle remains distant in the horizon, with updates arriving in small, incremental ways.
Details circulating about the car point to an advanced driver assistance system that would enable highway-like control. Lidar and radar sensors are expected to monitor the road and feed data to a processor code-named Denali. insiders describe Denali as a processor with capabilities rivaling Apple’s strongest quad-core chips, geared toward real-time sensing, decision making, and safety functions.
Aside from the high-tech assist features, the Apple Car would maintain a traditional driving setup—steering wheel and pedals—an arrangement many observers consider reliable and familiar. The project has persisted for about a decade. In 2016, Apple briefly paused the effort before resuming development, a pattern that has continued as the company weighs partnerships, hardware choices, and software ecosystems.
Over the years, multiple reports have claimed Apple explored collaborations with automakers to manufacture a car under contract. Negotiations with Hyundai and Nissan reportedly did not come to fruition, and partnerships with Toyota, LG, and Magna did not mature into formal programs. At times, speculation has extended to site acquisitions and talent hires, including a Chrysler proving ground near Phoenix and the recruitment of a veteran from Lamborghini who has overseen chassis work and driver assistance systems in high-performance cars. Such tidbits illustrate the breadth of options Apple has considered, even as no final deal has emerged.
A newer thread in the chatter suggests a price point around $100,000 for a consumer model, with currency conversions placing a similar ballpark in rubles. These numbers reflect market expectations rather than official pricing, and the actual price may shift with feature sets, manufacturing choices, and regional regulations. [Attribution: industry rumors and media speculation tracked by technology press]
Meanwhile, enthusiasts are invited to participate in a broader conversation about the year’s car novelties. A public poll titled Behind the Wheel Grand Prix invites participants to vote on standout debuts and innovations. As a token of appreciation, three ferrets are being offered as prizes to survey completers, with registration open through late February. This activity is presented as a lighthearted engagement rather than a formal industry forecast. [Citation: reader engagement initiative described by organizers]
Complete the 2023 Driving Grand Prix questionnaire—an explicit call to action embedded in the coverage—aimed at capturing opinions on new car technologies and trends.