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App Store Functionality Planned for Audi, To Debut in Audi A2 Says Audi Board Member to Financial Times
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on 06-03-2010 at 03:32 PM (3264 Views)
The Financial Times is reporting today that Audi board member Pter Schwarzenbauer recently commented about the upcoming Audi A2 and a likely 'app store' that would go along with it. According to FT, the A2 is aimed at consumers who dwell in large cities over 5-million people. The mentioned app store that supports the A2 would be an online entity where owners of the car can download apps from their own home and allow them to customize the car's interior, driving sytle and add new features.
Earlier rumors around this next-generation A2 have suggested the car will make use of a more cost-effective steel platform being developed by the Volkswagen Group and seen in concept form as used for the Up series of concept cars. The FT report suggested otherwise and that, materially at least, the A2 may utilize materials such as magnesium and carbon fiber to keep weight down. While already putting these materials to use in new cars such as the A8 and R8 Spyder, including them in the A2 may bring the cost (and thus price) of the A2 back up.
So what do we think?
The source is Schwarzenbauer so the intel is most solid. We've also chatted about this sort of thing with Audi staff familiar with future Audi infotainment because, frankly, we'd love to see apps like oil pressure guages, ECU program control, radio tivo-style app and more added to our Audi today. Our sources say this sort of thing is coming and could even go 'open source' much as Apple's own app business has gone.
Read more at CNET after the jump.
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