352 Media Group Creates Dashboard and App Design for Microsoft Mustang from West Coast Customs

GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A car powered by cell phones, videos games, and tablets may seem farfetched, but it's closer to reality than you might think.

Microsoft teamed up with West Coast Customs and 352 Media Group to bring this concept car to life to inspire developers to build apps and technology for the future, according to a recent 352 Media Group press release.

Codenamed "Project Detroit" while in development, the 2012 Ford Mustang is a 1967 fastback body that's been tricked out with everyday consumer products including Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox 360, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Windows Azure, Bing, Ford Sync and more. 352 Media Group designed the dashboard, heads up display, and the Windows Phone App.

"This is my dream car: I love it," said Walid Abu-Hadba, Corporate Vice President — Microsoft, when he saw the final product. "…It's a great marriage between technology, art, and machinery and when they come together, you produce a fine-tested product."

For the dashboard, 352 Media Group designed three instrument clusters that you can swipe between: a 1967 vintage design, a 2012 modern version, and a Metro style.

"The vintage is definitely the winner," Daniel Fernandez, Director – Microsoft, in the episode that aired on Discovery Channel on March 25.

You can see photos of each of these dashboards at 352 Media Group.

These instrument clusters run on a Windows 8 tablet embed behind the steer wheel and appear as virtual gauges in the Mustang's dashboard. Each of the designs includes a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, temperature gauge, MPG readout, fuel level, and more.

The heads up display is a dashboard-embedded display that reflects onto the windshield. The Windows Phone App connects to the car and includes a key remote and access to Kinect cameras. It also gives you the ability to watch the instrument cluster with live data, send a voice message to the car, and choose what type of horn the car should have. You can see all of these in action in this YouTube video.

"We were extremely excited to be selected to design the user interface for Microsoft's Project Detroit Mustang," said Geoff Wilson, president and CEO of 352 Media Group. "It's amazing to see all of our hard work come to life in this amazing project."

About 352 Media Group

352 Media Group delivers a better experience. As a full-service Web development and digital marketing company, 352 Media Group provides a complete approach to business development, including Web design & strategy planning, Web and mobile application development, and Web and social media marketing. Headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, 352 Media serves clients nationwide with offices in Atlanta and Tampa.

MEDIA CONTACT Erin Everhart, [email protected], 877-352-6334

SOURCE 352 Media Group