Autoblog

Bentley putting Executive Interior concept into production on Mulsanne

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Bentley, Luxury

The Bentley Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept has officially dropped the "Concept" portion of its name. Making the most of the rear quarters in the Mulsanne, the boffins at Bentley have installed power-folding wood veneer picnic tables that are topped by iPads and Bluetooth wireless keyboards, additionally controlled by Apple's Magic trackpads. In the armrest are a telephone and a Tibaldi pen, and in the trunk is a Mac Mini computer.

None of that counts the eight-inch screens in the headrests or the 15.6-inch screen that drops from the roof. Those are controlled by the Bentley app installed on the iPads, with listening handled by Bluetooth headphones.

It takes 170 hours for the craftsmen to complete the work of installation, and if you need to ask how much their time adds to the cost of a Mulsanne, then you already know the answer. More details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Bentley putting Executive Interior concept into production on Mulsanne

Bentley putting Executive Interior concept into production on Mulsanne originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brabus hearts Apple, launches iBusiness luxury sedan

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Brabus iBusiness - Click above for high-res image gallery

The folks at Brabus have always been known for fitting ridiculously high-powered engines into the full line of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but this new creation has more than just staggering performance to offer. The latest products from Apple, including the iPad, have all been integrated into a Mercedes-Benz S-Class to create the Brabus iBusiness. Not only does it promise to be exciting to drive, but the rear passenger compartment is fitted with enough tech to make an Apple junkie's head explode. ~~John Neff~~ Steve Jobs, your stupid-fast luxury sedan has arrived.

Under the hood, Brabus has shoehorned in a twin-turbocharged 6.3-liter V12 that produces 750 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque, though the torque output has been electronically limited to only (only!) 811 lb-ft. Hitting 62 miles per hour takes just four seconds, and with your pedal pressed firmly to the floor, you'll hit 211 mph when all is said and done. Power is routed to the rear wheels by a five-speed automatic transmission and Brabus offers a custom limited-slip differential to maximize overall traction. It's staggeringly quick, this iBusiness.

The most unique thing about this car, however, is its interior - mainly, the rear accommodations. In addition to the cushy leather seats and Alcantara headliner, the rear compartment is stocked with two Apple iPads, two seat-mounted multimedia screens, a 64GB iPod Touch and a 15.2-inch headliner-mounted Mac display. Not only can these products be used for personal use, but the two iPads also control the car's Command system, encompassing the radio, navigation and telephone systems. The whole Apple setup is powered by an ultra-small Mac Mini in the trunk that is housed in an electronically deployed drawer.

We think we've found our new mobile office.

Hit the jump to read the whole list of details in Brabus' press release, and scroll through the high-res photos below to see the iBusiness for yourself.

Gallery: Brabus iBusiness

[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Brabus hearts Apple, launches iBusiness luxury sedan

Brabus hearts Apple, launches iBusiness luxury sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why the new AppleTV should be in your car

John Neff — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, I.C.E.

When Apple's low-cost Mac Mini computer debuted, it wasn't long before industrious hackers took advantage of its small form factor to create some incredible in-car installs. There have always been some major limitations, however, to installing a Mac Mini in your dash, the most significant being how to interact with it. Driving around with a keyboard and mouse in your lap isn't very ergonomic. Enter the new AppleTV, a device that despite having only been on the market for a week or so has become the most hacked Apple device ever. It has not, however, been installed in a car yet. Here's why it should be.

The AppleTV is a device that's designed to be used in conjunction with a Mac or PC running iTunes, which, let's face it, most computers do. It connects to your desktop via an 802.11 wireless connection and syncs video and music purchased from the iTunes Store onto its own 40GB hard drive. In essence, it acts much like a screenless Video iPod that syncs wirelessly with your computer. Instead of connecting it to an HDTV as it was designed, one could easily envision hacking the video input of a car's in-dash screen to accept the video output of an AppleTV. If successful, you could theoretically pull into your garage and wirelessly sync the video and music on your desktop computer to your car (assuming the range of your wireless network reaches the garage). Once on the road, all of the AppleTV's functions are controlled via a tiny Apple Remote, so there's no need for a keyboard, mouse or other exotic input device.

Continue reading Why the new AppleTV should be in your car

Why the new AppleTV should be in your car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man mates Mac Mini with Toyota Prius

John Neff — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Technology, Videos, Toyota

We've reported in the past about hacking one's Prius in the search for higher mileage, but what about what about diving into the hybrid's matrix of bits and bytes in search of a more enlightening computing experience? (In the interest of full disclosure, I'm blogging this on a Powerbook G4, have an iMac G5 in the other room and am at the mercy of no less than three iPods.)

Regardless of your operating system preference, one has to appreciate the hack job of Jeremy Kusnetz, a systems architect from Leesburg, VA. Kusnets states his original motivation was to devise a way to take his entire iTunes library on the road with him and have and also for his young daughter to watch DVDs on long trips. I won't embarrass myself by attempting to explain how he did it, but the result is a Mac Mini installed in a cubbyhole of the Prius's center console. Not content using the Apple Remote to control the interface of Front Row on the Mac, Kusnetz programmed the Prius's touchscreen to handle commands for the computer.

You can check out a video of the MacPrius in action here on the designer's website.

[Source: Kusnetz.net]

Man mates Mac Mini with Toyota Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think Different. Apple + DeLorean

John Neff — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology

Who knows why DeLoreans often find themselves the canvas upon which mad scientists paint their insanity? Doc Brown and his flux capacitor notwithstanding, Ryan Brandys decided to take Apple Computer to task and think different when it came to building a custom carputer.

As we all know, the invention of the Mac Mini computer resulted in a renaissance of custom computer installs in automobiles, but all have been limited by the tiny 7-inch or so LCD screens that are able to fit in modern day dashes. Brandys came up with the ingenious idea of using a projector to cast a 37-inch diagonal screen on the underside of the DeLorean's open hood. While surfing the net becomes a difficult task while driving, one that might results in certain death, all of OSX's visual glory can be much better appreciated on the oversized screen.

Follow the jump for a shot of the entire vehicle and video of Brandys' DeLorean in action as a computer.

[Source: DoLoreanMacMini via Digg.com]

Continue reading Think Different. Apple + DeLorean

Think Different. Apple + DeLorean originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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