The Pininfarina Bluecar is the first car in the world to have an iPhone as a remote control. The electric vehicle, which can travel 155 miles on a charge and has a top speed of 80 mph, will feature an iPhone remote control which can be used to check up on the battery charge remotely or ‘pre-heat the car’s electric drive system’ before you get in. Very flash. A full charge will take 6 hours from a standard power socket, but there’s a nifty fast charge which will offer 25 km of travel after a 5 mins charge, useful for city hopping.

The styling is typical Italian designer, and things like the solar panels in the roof to power the electrics provide a nice touch. You won’t be able to buy the car, though, only lease, at around €333 ($418) a month when it’s released in 2011. More images on the Pininfarina site.

 Produced at BatScap, a subsidiary that was set up specifi cally for that purpose, the L. M. P. battery provides a number of advantages: it can store fi ve times more energy than a traditional battery weight for weight and can be recharged in a matter of hours. Its “solid-state” technology makes it safer too and its lifespan should outlast that of the car that it powers. Last, but not least, by combining an L. M. P. battery with an array of super-capacitors, the outcome is greater power for acceleration, a longer range thanks to the recycling of braking energy, and a longer lifespan for the battery thanks to the smoothing out of sudden power drains.