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Bentley Mulsanne Concept Includes Built-In iPads and Mac Mini

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macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,708
31,138



Bentley Motors revealed a new connectivity concept for its flagship Mulsanne sedan at the Frankfurt Motor Show today. The company built two iPads with Apple Bluetooth Keyboards into the retractable "picnic tables" mounted in front of both rear passengers, and a 15.6" LCD screen that flips down from the roof of the car.




The additions to the Mulsanne are intended to allow passengers to "conduct business on the move or just unwind between meetings". Alasdair Stewart, Member of the Board for Sales & Marketing, comments:
Many customers use their time in the Mulsanne to keep on top of their business commitments or simply take a few moments to relax. This fully functioning concept highlights the Mulsanne's potential to help busy executives to communicate effectively and quickly whilst travelling. As you would expect from Bentley, all these features work in harmony with the handcrafted cabin and can be displayed or hidden at the user's discretion.
Click to expand...



The concept includes:
Key entertainment and business features

- Two electric-powered, foldable wood veneer picnic tables in the rear cabin, each with Apple iPad and Apple Bluetooth keyboards.
- The twin iPads enable the Apple Media Centre to play video files and music, provide access to personal and work e-mail as well as the internet (via W-Lan).
- Apple Mini Mac stored in boot compartment enables integration of iPad with Bluetooth keyboard and iPod acts as control panel in rear console.
- Roof console with 15.6 inch High Definition LED dropdown monitor. Plays videos (from both DVD changer and Mac Mini) and watch Television.

Comfort, control and stowage features

- Illuminated rear centre console fitted with twin, individual armrests offers true, spacious 4-seat configuration.
- Rear console also houses Apple iPod (control panel), two cupholders, tissue box and large stowage area.
- Apple iPod controls - Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) and audio system, Apple Media Centre, plays music and access to internet.
- Two USB connectors provided for the Apple system and one Apple interface connector for the iPod.
- Bespoke control keys on rear console operate picnic tables, reading lights, control HD LED screen and select video and audio options.
- Armrest contains Tibaldi pen and Privacy Telephone handset.
- Bespoke bottle cooler in rear centre console with illuminated, double-glazed frosted glass door.
- Additional, multi-directional reading lights are provided for each rear passenger and can be operated with Apple devices.
- Sophisticated mood lighting in the rear centre console (using multiple soft glowing LEDs) ensures the stowage areas are lit and the docking station and cupholders are also illuminated for extra convenience.
Click to expand...



Availability and pricing of the concept weren't detailed. The Bentley Mulsanne starts at $291,295.

Article Link: Bentley Mulsanne Concept Includes Built-In iPads and Mac Mini
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/13/bentley-mulsanne-concept-includes-built-in-ipads-and-mac-mini/
S

smokestack

macrumors member
Feb 12, 2008
82
14
I know this is exciting for Apple fans who want Apple gear, but for $300,000 isn't it a bit surprising that this car has 'off the shelf' electronics rather than some in-house Bentley electronics solution?

The bottle cooler is bespoke, not Thermos brand... are the super rich satisfied with peasant (i.e. upper middle class) computing?
 
Lesser Evets

Lesser Evets

macrumors 68040
Jan 7, 2006
3,527
1,294
Put in a couple potty seats back there and it's worth the price: you can use it as a home. Dining is continual drive through, purge on the move, you have computers, phones, TV... trunk for clothes. Shower in the car wash. DONE.
 
B

Bob Knob

macrumors 6502
Mar 20, 2003
271
0
DAMN IT!!!
I just took delivery of my Microsoft Sync Zune HD outfitted Bentley Mulsanne, I knew I should have waited.
 
M7ck

M7ck

macrumors member
Dec 6, 2010
35
2
Glasgow
Will just cancel the order on my Volkswagen and get one of these instead. :D

Although on a similar note, Brabus have been including ipads in some of there builds for the past year.
 
V

vrDrew

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2010
1,376
13,412
Midlife, Midwest
smokestack said:
I know this is exciting for Apple fans who want Apple gear, but for $300,000 isn't it a bit surprising that this car has 'off the shelf' electronics rather than some in-house Bentley electronics solution?
Click to expand...

Bentley doesn't reinvent the wheel.

Just for argument's sake, how much do you think it would cost for Bentley to create an "in-house" tablet solution? $50 million? A hundred?

And then, what operating system would it use? One that Bentley created, that had no apps its customers could use?

For years automakers used proprietary car stereo systems and components, and people hated them. You can thank the iPod for coming along and ensuring that most decent car stereos these days have (at least) a line-in jack - if not complete Bluetooth and/or 30-pin connectivity.

Lastly, its worth noting that the car shown is a Concept Car, meaning its not in current serial production. And that the iPads and Mac Mini don't come standard with your regular $300,000 Mulsanne. On the other hand, Bentley does offer extensive customizing (they call it Bespoke) options and services. So, if you are prepared to write a check for an extra $50 or $100 thousand - you can have whatever tablet computer you want in the back seats.

But somehow I don't think anyone other than the Chairman of Samsung is going to order one with Galaxy Tabs built in.
 
M

macman312

macrumors 6502
Oct 10, 2010
319
102
Melbourne, Australia --> Cincinnati,OH
jmann said:
So I have to drag my MBA into the car to sync/restore these built-in iPads? Assuming I could afford a Bentley, that is.
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Ummm if you could afford a 300,000$ car then I am sure you would have a butler to sync your computer with the ipads in the car already for you to get in and driven where ever you want.

I am also
Fairly sure Landrover announced a similar setup for the range rover....
 
ChrisTX

ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2009
2,690
54
Texas
smokestack said:
I know this is exciting for Apple fans who want Apple gear, but for $300,000 isn't it a bit surprising that this car has 'off the shelf' electronics rather than some in-house Bentley electronics solution?

The bottle cooler is bespoke, not Thermos brand... are the super rich satisfied with peasant (i.e. upper middle class) computing?
Click to expand...

Do you think Bentley, a luxury car brand can build a tablet, and computer offering better than Apple? You are delusional if you believe this. Hell, even other electronics companies can't seem to do this. All I know, is that my Bentley better be integrated with all of my Apple gear, I wouldn't have it any other way! The only suggestion I might make to Bentley, is to swap the black iPad 2 out for the white one. :D
 
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