Pro-ID

Something I've seen a lot of on my nocturnal Manhattan dogwalks: Idling ambulances and parked Lincoln Town Cars with the drivers in them, heads always inclined downwards at the same angle, eyes open, faces lit from a bluish-white source below. Get closer and you see they're on laptops, killing time while waiting for their next call to come in, and with their vehicle strategically parked near a building with good wi-fi.

As I used to drive an ambulance myself, I can tell you that these drivers are working-class guys for whom a laptop is a huge improvement over the dog-eared issue of the Daily News or El Diario that used to suffice as a time-killer. It's also a recent-enough phenomenon that having to wedge it between your lap and the steering wheel has probably not yet registered as a hassle.

But that's in the front seat. For wealthy passengers who ride in the backs of cars, that won't do. This, on the other hand, will:

That's the interior of the iBusiness, a bespoke Mercedes S-Class by aftermarket company Brabus. As you can see it's been tricked out with dual iPads, headrest monitors and a freaking fifth screen that folds out of the ceiling. The iPads control the car's audio and telephone systems, in addition to the navigation, though that latter feature doesn't make much sense. There's a Magic Mouse on the armrest, Bluetooth headsets next to each monitor, and hidden away are a 64 GB iPod and a Mac Mini in the trunk connecting the whole operation.

The car is presumably outrageously expensive, but perhaps if this catches on I'll see one late at night, with the driver stealthily slipping into the backseat between rides.

via autoblog