Amid rumors that Apple might be interested in buying Tesla Motors, the Cupertino based IT giant is planning on unveiling a new way to connect on the go: "iOS in the Car."

If buying a car that runs the iPhone's operating system sounds outlandish, consider this: mobile communications technology and the automotive industry have historically gone hand in hand.

For example, the first true mobile phone was the Motorola car "Radiotelephone," which launched the first mobile telephone service (for those who could afford it) in 1946. The first widespread cellphones were launched as a built-in feature of high-end cars in the 80s. Soon after, the only mobile phones cheap enough for the average consumer were specifically intended for use in the car -- since these "bag phones" weren't small enough to carry around without looking like a crazy person.

You might think that since mobile tech is now small enough to carry around in your pocket and Bluetooth already allows seamless interaction between smartphones and car stereos, there's no point in embedding it into cars. Apple thinks different.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Apple has made a deal with three car companies to embed a version of its iOS platform into their cars. Apple's choice of partners reflects the tech company's high-end nature: Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz will be the first to produce automobiles running "iOS in the Car."

The official announcement of Apple's partnership with these automotive manufacturers is reportedly scheduled to take place at the Geneva Motor Show next week, according to FT's unnamed sources. Apple and the three car companies did not comment.

This news comes after leaks about iOS in the Car hit the internet, according to SlashGear, including an unofficial video demonstration of Apple Maps' functionality on a simulated dashboard system.

And while certain iOS functions, like calling, music, and hands free Siri access, are already part of some cars, the new software suite appears to be more customizable for a car's dashboard hardware.

Some of the purported features of the iOS in the Car version of iOS 7 include support for multiple resolutions -- giving car manufacturers more choice as to what touchscreen hardware they can use -- along with several other automotive-specific tweaks.

The tailored operating system will likely have no keyboard input, instead using voice recognition only. It will also purportedly support hardware buttons and wheels on the dash for navigation through the OS, which will be pared down to a few specific Apple apps without multitasking. (Safety and simplicity seems to be a premium for iOS in the Car.)

Some of the iOS in the Car functionality is reportedly already baked into iOS 7.0.3, but it's not accessible by default. It's possible that a more fully fleshed out system could arrive with iOS 7.1, which is likely to be released sometime this month.

If you're excited about a fully native iOS experience in the driver's seat but Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, or Volvo isn't your style (or in your price range), don't worry. There are likely many more automotive manufacturers that will also eventually feature iOS in the Car, if Apple's June 2013 WWDC announcement is still accurate. There, Apple said it was working with the three carmakers already mentioned, along with Acura, Infinity, Jaguar, Opel, and the more accessible Kia, Honda, Nissan, GM, Chevrolet, and Hyundai.

Of course, if you're not an Apple fan, there's also no need to worry. Google, Nvidia, and GM, Audi, Honda, and Hyundai also announced the "Open Automotive Alliance" at CES 2014 -- a similar plan to bake Google's Android operating system into cars and trucks soon.