BMW with iPod to hit Europe 'this autumn'

BMW and Apple have announced they will be bringing their pairing to Europe from this year, with new iPod-compatible Beemers that will let drivers flick between songs without taking their hands from their steering wheels.

The cars will connect to the iPod, with drivers able to charge up their music players or listen to songs on their iPod through the car stereo, with the iPods designed to sit in the BMW's glove box.

For the BMW X3, X5, 3 Series and Z4, the steering wheel will come with an iPod control built in, based on the familiar interface from car CD players. Other BMW models will be able to recharge an iPod and connect it to the car's stereo but won't come equipped with the steering wheel control.

The iPod-BMW tie-up has already gone down well in the US. North America has been able to get hold of the iPod-compatible model 5 from July and an Apple spokesman said there's still a six-week waiting list over the Atlantic for the cars.

BMW isn't the first car manufacturer to bring iPod-friendly models this side of the pond. Smart cars made by Mercedes have been available with iPod functionality in Germany since this June.

While no definitive date has been given for the release of the iPod Beemers, Apple has said BMW will fully support the iPod from this autumn.