Crestron and Kaleidescape Roll into the New York Auto Show in Style
Apr 25, 2014
Ford Skyliner Transit custom van sports home theater and control systems designed and integrated by The Source AV Design Group
New York, NY, April 24, 2014 – A new custom Ford Skyliner Transit van, designed as a luxury home theater on wheels, rolled into the New York International Auto Show held at New York City’s Jacob Javits Center on April 18 and will be featured there until April 27.
The van features an integrated Crestron control system for adjusting lighting, shades, HVAC, AV systems, security, and power seating through dual 5”, in-wall touch screens near the driver’s seat and in the rear bulkhead, as well as via three iPads conveniently docked throughout vehicle. It is also equipped with a Kaleidescape movie system so users can enjoy movies in full Blu-ray quality, downloaded from the Kaleidescape Store or imported from disc -- taking the ultimate home theater experience on the road.
Four custom-designed, plush leather theater seats adjust to different configurations for the maximum in flexibility and comfort. When passengers are ready to enter the van’s high-tech “theater” mode, they can access the Crestron control system via iPad to close the van’s shades, lower a 53” Firehawk screen from Stewart Filmscreens, fire up a movie on the Kaleidescape system to run through Wolf Projectors’ SDC6 3D 1080p projector with outboard scaler, sit back and enjoy the show.
The van is one of the first installations of the Crestron Digital QMT shade motor, the first-of-its-kind brushless DC motor with solid-state control. The small size, energy efficiency, and virtually silent performance of the state-of-the-art motor makes it the perfect choice for motorizing these unique window treatments.
Passengers also enjoy 7.1 surround sound through custom loudspeakers handmade in France and based on Focal Grand Utopia technology. When not being used for a multimedia experience, the sound system can play music from Apple devices via AirPlay, Pandora and other Internet radio stations through the Marantz AV 7701 Theatre Controller, and CDs that have been imported to the Kaleidescape server.
The ultimate in media on-the-go.
The Ford van, a one-of-a-kind concept vehicle designed by Galpin Auto Sports, the custom vehicle division of Van Nuys, Calif.-based Galpin Ford, is the creation of Melvin Betancourt, Staff Designer for Ford Motor Co. “Mad Mike” Martin of Galpin Auto Sports designed the mechanical systems, lighting layout and HVAC relay interface and The Source AV Design Group of Torrance, CA, designed and integrated the audiovisual and control systems.
The Source AV carefully selected equipment that would offer a seamless user experience and flexible control from a single system due to limited space and power requirements. “The Crestron RMC3 controller give 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 touch screen,” 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.”
Top-of-the-line moving home theater.
Could such systems be the next phase in technology for luxury limousines or even family automobiles? Many of today’s production model vehicles already boast feature-packed infotainment systems with Internet radio, dual second-row DVD players and Bluetooth connectivity.
The custom Ford Skyline, with Crestron control and a Kaleidescape movie system as part of a top-of-the-line moving home theater, represents the ultimate in comfort, control and convenience in upscale transportation options.
“The new Ford Transit Skyliner custom van shows that luxury transportation can be outfitted with the same level of luxury and convenience found in the highest-end homes,” says Crestron Marketing Director Tom Barnett. “From the complete home theater to the motorized, near-silent window treatments, many luxury residences would envy the technology in this van.”
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About Kaleidescape
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Kaleidescape elevates home entertainment with its award-winning movie servers, the world’s first and only Blu-ray quality movie download store, and its intuitive Movie Guide that unlocks the magic of motion pictures in entirely new ways. Kaleidescape is the entertainment system of choice for many of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, actors, and the world’s most ardent movie buffs. The Company’s products, including the world’s only digital store for Blu-ray quality movie downloads, are available through custom installation dealers and the world’s finest audio/video retailers. Learn more at www.kaleidescape.com.
Kaleidescape, Cinema One, and the Kaleidescape logo are trademarks of Kaleidescape, Inc. and are registered in the United States and certain other jurisdictions. Other trademarks and trade names are owned by third parties and may be registered in some jurisdictions.
About Crestron
For more than 40 years Crestron has been the world's leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems, innovating technology and reinventing the way people live and work. Providing integrated solutions to control audio, video, lighting, computer, IP and environmental systems, Crestron streamlines technology, improving the quality of life for people in corporate conference rooms, hotels, classrooms, auditoriums, and in their homes. Crestron’s leadership stems from its dedicated people who are committed to providing the best products, programs and services in the industry. In addition to its World Headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Crestron has sales and support offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. Discover the world of Crestron by visiting www.crestron.com.
All brand names, product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography.
©2014 Crestron Electronics, Inc.
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