Earlier this week, the New York International Auto Show wrapped up its annual stint at New York City’s Jacob Javits Center. However, we can’t stop thinking about one of this year’s highlights — and it’s not the flying Terrafugia Transition. (Although wow wee, that was pretty cool!)
Instead, we’re talking about the Ford Skyliner Transit van, which was outfitted with more technology than we’ve seen in a lot of high-end homes. The concept car was designed as a luxury home theater on wheels, with options from Crestron, Kaleidescape, Stewart Filmscreen, Marantz, and much more.
Everything featured in the van is tied into a Crestron control system. Access is easy, via three docked iPads and two 5-inch in-wall (in-van?) touchscreens near the driver’s seat and in the rear bulkhead. Those options can control the van’s lighting, shades, HVAC, AV systems, security, and power seating.
If that’s not entertaining enough, Ford equipped this van with a Kaleidescape movie system, which can play back movies downloaded from the Kaleidescape Store or imported from disc. That hefty collection is displayed on a 52-inch retractable FireHawk screen from Stewart Filmscreen. Rounding out the AV setup is Wolf Projectors’ SDC6 3D 1080p projector with an outboard scaler, a KVH DirectTV satellite system, the Marantz AV 7701 Theatre Controller, and a Focal Utopia 7.2 surround sound with speakers handmade in France. All of that equipment means that the van also has support for AirPlay, Pandora, and more.
For those long rides, the Skyliner Transit has 487 cubic feet of interior space and four plush leather theater seats. Other features include a built-in bar and the Crestron Digital QMT shade motor, a brushless DC motor with solid-state control.
Ford worked on the concept vehicle with Galpin Auto Sports. However, when it came to putting in the audio, video and control, The Source AV Design Group was called in for the job.
“The Crestron RMC3 controller gave us the capability to provide integrated control of all the vehicle’s systems through the familiar, user-friendly interface of an iPad or Crestron’s TSW-550 wall-mounted touchscreen,” says Jason Lord of The Source AV. “Its small footprint allowed us to mount the RMC3 in an equipment rack in the rear 18 inches of the van, along with the Kaleidescape server, theater controller and amplifiers, packing a lot of technology into a compact space.”
While Ford doesn’t seem to have any plans to sell this van anytime soon (or ever), the real Ford Transit will go on sale this summer.
Ready to take a ride in this dream car? Check out our slideshow for “Ford Rolls into NY Auto Show with Crestron and Kaleidescape.”
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