The rumors have been a’flyin lately when it comes to Apple’s intentions in the auto industry. The tech giant recently hired Johann Jungwirth, former president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz->ke187 Research and Development, as Director of Mac Systems Engineering. Not only that, it’s also been reported that hundreds of Apple employees are currently working on a mysterious project codenamed “Titan,” with lots of action taking place at a secret automotive research lab. Throw in sightings of Apple-leased minivans wandering the Bay Area with complex equipment attached to their roofs, and you get predictions of a fully autonomous electric vehicle coming from Apple sometime in the future.

Well, here’s some more kindling for the rumor bonfire: investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis believes Apple will purchase Tesla Motors->ke1842 in the next 18 months for the unbelievable amount of $75 billion. Calacanis cites the recent reports listed above as potential indications of a buyout.

To quote a recent article from TechTimes:

“Given Tim Cook's ‘obsession’ with renewable energy, Calacanis says it only makes sense that Apple is interested in buying Tesla. He also believes Tesla's plan to take its five-inch thick batteries out of the Model S and into people's garages to provide cheap electricity could further convince Apple to lay the $75 billion for Tesla. And given Apple's reputation for introducing revolutionary new products in every market it enters, notwithstanding its lack of experience -- think music, smartphones, and retail, Calacanis says Apple is the only company Musk will not be able to turn down.”

Click past the jump to read why rumors suggest Apple could buy Tesla.

Why it matters

While $75 billion might seem like an absurd amount of cash, Apple has the funds to do it. The issue is that Elon Musk is not exactly interested in money. He’s an inventor, far more interested in making things work than acquiring wealth. 

Still, for all intents and purposes, Apple certainly appears to be interested in doing something with the auto industry much grander than mere infotainment software. If the iCar is to become a thing, it would make sense to acquire a successful company like Tesla, rather than start from scratch, especially when you consider how ferociously the two companies have been swapping employees.

And the rumor mill keeps spinning…

Tesla Model S P85D

It might sound like a blender, but the Model S singlehandedly revolutionized the electric vehicle industry when it was launched in 2012. It doesn’t look like a box, it’s got huge range, and maybe most importantly, it’s unbelievably fast.

The heart of the vehicle is the dual electric motor drivetrain, which combine to create an AWD platform capable of throwing down 691 horsepower and 687 pound-feet of torque. That imbues this Buzz Lightyear rocket ship with a 0-to-60 time of 3.2 seconds, a quarter mile time of 11.8 seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph for the 85 kWh model. When the battery packs are topped off, its range is 275 miles.

What’s more, it looks like a normal sports car. It’s swoopy, pointed, low and wide, just as it should be. The interior is nicely appointed with excellent materials, a large center console control screen, and technology like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automated braking.

The top-range P85D starts at $120,170, while the 60 kWh and 85 kWh models go for $75,070 and $85,070 respectively.