On Friday, recent rumors about an Apple-branded automobile exploded with allegations that a staff of "several hundred" employees was working on an electric car inside of Apple headquarters.

The Wall Street Journal's report cited "people familiar with the matter" in describing a project named "Titan," and while the report acknowledged the possibility that such a car might never see release, or at least take years to launch, its sources claimed that the specific people put onto the Titan project—including former Ford engineer and current Apple product design vice president Steve Zadesky—were a sign that "the company was serious."

The report also noted that Apple recently hired former Ford designer Marc Newson; if Apple is indeed building a car, then Newson's hire starts making even more sense. In addition to his watch design efforts, Newson designed the stunning 021C concept car for Ford. To further cement its assertion, the WSJ report claimed that Apple executives have held meetings with "contract manufacturers for high-end cars."

Rumors about this car, which the WSJ said resembled a minivan, began to break on Monday of this week thanks to a Business Insider report that quoted "an unsolicited e-mail" from an Apple staffer about the company hiring engineers away from Tesla to work on "vehicle development." That report didn't go so far as to claim the reason was a brand-new car; rather, Mac Observer made that assertion a day later thanks to the site's "own sources."

This news comes roughly a year after Tesla founder Elon Musk confirmed that he had held "conversations" with Apple, but he wouldn't confirm anything about plans or suggestions that his company be acquired.