If Microsoft built cars...
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:04 am
Computer software giant transforms a Ford Mustang into the ultimate connected car.
Microsoft has built a retro-rod with Windows power.
The "Project Detroit" custom car has been co-built with Microsoft to showcase what is possible when a car is equipped with the maximum amount of computing gadgets - essentially, it's a muscle car with brains.
The car is adorned with numerous Windows gadgets, including a touch-screen digital instrument cluster display with eight unique "skins", and a tablet for the front passenger to browse the internet or play Xbox games - all of which can be displayed to other road users in the rear glass section. It can even send other road users a message: for example, Microsoft claims you could tell someone who is a bit too close for comfort to "Stop tailgating me please!"
It's equipped with a WiFi hotspot running on the 4G phone network, and telemetry such as the car's speed, engine revs and its fuel level are stored in a server in the cloud. The driver can also track the location of the car via GPS, and even unlock and start the car from a Windows-equipped Nokia mobile.
Like a police car, the Mustang is fitted with an external audio system (something of a PA system) that can blare music outside of the car, be used to talk to other road users, or even to warn people - or inquisitive canines - to stay away from the car. It also gets Kinect cameras at the front and rear of the car, the vision from which can be viewed via a phone or tablet app.
The vehicle was built by car modification experts West Coast Customs, and while it may look like a classic 1967 Mustang Fastback, that's just the replica body on top. Underneath and inside the car is actually a 2012 model Ford Mustang.
The already stunning styling of the classic Mustang has been turned up a notch, with integrated blue LEDs behind the brakes and the grille, which also features Windows logo. There's even a neat little Xbox 360 logo in the tail-light, and the matte black paint is all kinds of sexy.
Sadly for the petrol-headed geeks among us, there's no information available on what engine the car runs. However, if it's to live up to its "Project Detroit" name, we'd expect a big burbling V8 under the bonnet.
