Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

iCar: The merger of cars and smartphones is getting a boost from Volkswagen (PINK:VLKAY), USA TODAY notes. At an auto show in Shanghai, China, on Friday, the German car maker unveiled a new version of its popular Beetle compact car that includes dock for Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5 built into the dashboard. The dock allows the iPhone to integrate directly with vehicle systems. Volkswagen has also teamed with Apple to create apps specifically designed for the Beetle. Wireless connectivity between iPhones and the Beetle’s internal systems is also included. Beetle-specific apps allow users to stream music or online radio through the car’s audio system, compare route time and fuel use, monitor vehicle diagnostics, listen to messages read out loud and advise friends of the car’s current location. The Beetle revealed today will hit showrooms early next year.

Wrist Interest: If Apple ultimately does launch a smartwatch, it will find a significant number of consumers interested in the device, AppleInsider notes. In March, ChangeWave Research surveyed 1,713 North American consumers and found 5% who said they were “very likely” and 19% who said they were “likely” to purchase an iWatch. Additionally, 14% indicated that they were “somewhat likely” to buy an iWatch. 18% of “likely” iWatch purchasers expressed loyalty to the Apple brand as motivating their intention to purchase an Apple smart watch, while 16% cited convenience offered by the still-hypothetical device.

Pad Power: 82% of people who browse the web on their tablets use iPads, Forbes notes. That data comes from Chitika Insights, which surveyed ad impressions from tens of millions of Canadian and American tablet users in March. Apple’s share of web impressions rose from 80.5% in February. Chitika’s results support other data from MoPub, which found that mobile advertising dollars spent on iOS devices increased to 75% last month. iPhones now account for more than 50% of all monthly mobile ad spending.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.