Apple's iPad comes to the car

New city car uses an iPad to open doors, control cabin functions

Geneva International Motor Show

There's now another reason to be annoyed at overjoyed Apple iPad owners – pretty soon they'll be able to control the basic functions of a car with their personal compact computer screen.

With an iPad they'll be able to open their car's door by touching the screen on approach – and then click the iPad into the dash where it acts as the touch screen for the vehicle's cabin controls.

There's only one catch: the car isn't on sale yet. The Tata Pixel was one of the concept-car stars at the Geneva motor show overnight.

It's the latest tiny car made by Indian car making giant Tata designed to take-on the world.

The Tata Pixel has seating for four and Lamborghini-like 'scissor' doors that swing up so it's easy to get in and out of tight spots.

It also has an ingenius rear wheel axle design that enables the Pixel to do a complete U-turn within the space of its own shadow.

It's a concept car only for now, which means it is at least three years away from showrooms – but Tata is serious about bringing the Pixel or a car very much like it into production.

It is based on the same underpinnings as the Tata Nano – the world's cheapest car – but has been designed with European regulations (and taste) in mind.

It's powered by a rear-mounted 1.0-litre diesel engine that meets the latest emissions standards, the company says.

When asked if the Tata Pixel would come to Australia, Tata automotive boss Karl-Peter Forster told the Carsales Network: "Well, it will be made in right-hand drive, but are you sure Australia is a city-car market?"

Given that Tata already has Jaguar and Land Rover offices in Australia, the infrastructure would be in place to introduce the car locally "if it was deemed the right thing to do", he said.

"We would have to look at it," he said. "Of course, we can sell it in Australia and we have the support there already, but it's yet to be decided if this car is suitable for Australia. It is still only a concept so it's at least a few years away yet."

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