Autoblog

While cruising through the enormous American Racing display area at SEMA, we spotted a pretty cool Mustang that made us stop for a closer look. While the car itself will be detailed elsewhere, one of its trick features really stood out. There was a keyboard on the passenger seat. Thinking it might have to do with a programmable engine management system or something, we were told that it was actually controlling a fully functional Windows XP in-dash computer. The computer system is made by a company called Infill and this was its newest G4 offering. The system features a 40 GB hard drive, 1.5 Ghz Pentium 4 CPU, 512 MB RAM, 800 X 480 6.5" Sharp touch screen display, wireless internet, a 3-second boot up time, built-in GPS, 3 USB ports, rear-view camera display compatibility and a DVD-ROM (What, no Blu-Ray?).

It also features steering wheel controls to operate the integrated 5.1 channel A/V system. And if you want to control any of the computer's functions while under way, it also has text-to-speech capability and advanced KT-HUVOIS speech recognition. Not that we'd recommend using it while in motion, but this system can turn your vehicle into one heck of a mobile office or den. The entire thing is also entirely self-contained in the dash-mount unit -- no remote HD or peripherals – which is impressive. The company promises a 40-minute install in most applications at any decent install shop. We'll try to get you more details when they become available, but for now you can get more by clicking on the Read link below or the image above.

[Source: Infill]

Click image to enlarge

Flights of fancy in the form of concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show are to be expected, and Nissan has released initial info and a sketch of its entry for this year, the NV200 van. The concept demonstrates an innovative use of space in a light commercial vehicle. A modern-looking panel van with a stylized front end from the outside, the NV200's gee-whiz feature makes itself known once the vehicle is parked. The cargo storage area is actually a movable pod that slides aft and hangs off the rear of the van. The space it vacates turns into a mobile office, as the front seat swivels back to face a drop-down computer table. Sounds pretty trick.

Since this is a concept car, there's a theme attached to it. In this case, the NV200 is designed for underwater photographers -- a very key demographic, obviously -- and it has wet/dry storage areas and other related features. Naturally, the pod could be configured to suit any number of purposes were the feature ever to become a production item. Whether or not there'd be a substantial real-world demand for such a thing is another question, entirely. Our Tokyo-bound team will bring you all the details on this and the other goodies from the show floor in October.

[Source: Nissan]

Ford unveiled its concept of a mobile office last year at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and as of today the system, dubbed FordLink, is available for the 2007 F-150 and Super Duty models at all U.S. dealerships. The dealer-installed accessory features a ruggedized touchscreen tablet computer running Windows XP Professional with wireless broadband, and workers on the go can purchase additional accessories like GPS navigation, a printer, digital camera and credit card scanner for taking payments on the spot. The package is the result of collaboration between Ford, Microsoft and mobile solutions company Azentek. Word from Ford is that the system will cost around $3,000, though prices may vary depending on the dealership.

(Ford's full press release can be found after the jump)

[Source: Ford] Thanks for the tip, RJ!

While the notion of drivers that want to access the Information Superhighway while motoring on the interstate highway concerns us greatly, we're reasonably sure that we're outnumbered. In fact, its likely only a matter of time before Bill Gates and friends are hanging out in our center console, jockeying for space with HVAC systems and cupholders brandishing venti Frappucchinos.

Oh, you've seen in car computers before. Most stabs at putting the computers in a four-wheeled environment have started with ultra-posh showcars, resulting in hyper expensive technological tour de forces. But that's not the case with PC Magazine, which inexplicably went and turned a humble 1998 Toyota Corolla into a mobile office.

Of course, with a scanner at the ready (visor resident, no less), a laptop hiding underneath the driver's seat, printer armrest, rudimentary heads-up display and apaper-shredder in the glovebox, there's probably more money in added silicon horsepower in here than there is Toyota horsepower, but that doesn't seem to bother the PCM folks. 

Be afraid, children... be very afraid.

(Top-tip, J!)

[Source: PC Magazine]