Apple (Marek Szandurski/Bigstock.com)

Having pioneered the most reliable home computers ever made, then led the world of smartphone development with the iPhone, Apple may be about to turn its attention towards the car.

The late Steve Jobs had tabled the idea of an “iCar” many years ago, but until recently, there has been no hard evidence of such a project.

But it has recently been rumoured that the Cupertino-based tech giant is in the early stages of designing a car that will "give tesla a run for its money."

The Mac Observer has made claims that Tesla employees with vehicle development experience are in the process of – or already have been – poached by Apple.

One source puts the chances of an Apple car being developed “at 80 per cent".

Business Insider's Sam Colt puts the chances “at 100 per cent".

While from a mechanical viewpoint Apple may need to buy-in talent, the firm has the computer hardware and software side pinned down. In a world of increasingly tech-reliant cars, one might say that few other companies would be able to re-imagine automotive computer technology quite like Apple.

But would an "iCar" really be the most reliable vehicle ever? Or would owners be well advised to buy breakdown repair insurance for such a purchase?

Time will tell of course, but not everything Apple touches turns to gold. Its Power Mac G4 favoured style over functionality (to its detriment) while the firm's circular mouse didn't fit any human hand.

But considering how much money will be needed to create an Apple car from scratch, let's hope they can make a vehicle that both looks and acts the part.