Cordero Studios/www.corderostudios.com
The Time Machine
June 1, 2007
When Mercedes-Benz released the
second-generation Sprinter Van last year, after spending $2.4 billion on its
development, Howard Becker had a new toy to play with. Having converted SUVs and
vans into armored limos, Becker had already transformed the original Sprinter
into a leather-trimmed corner office on wheels.
"Everything we learned in 2005 and 2006 make up a gestalt,"
says the owner of Becker Automotive Design in Oxnard, Calif. "And we’ve been
able to apply that evolution in luxury to the 2007 [model]."; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Photography by Cordero Studios/www.corderostudios.com. (Click image to enlarge)
Behind a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine, the new Becker
JetVan boasts independent rear suspension, electronic aviation blinds, an
S-Class exterior makeover, HDTV, high-speed Internet and mobile office
technology and Crestron software—a $60,000 interior-control system that affords
touch-screen access to climate, lighting, doors, seats and all audio-visual
elements (iPod, satellite radio, CD, DVD, front and rear TV, front and rear
camera and computer access). Alone, each addition would be a luxury; together
they transform the work-in-transit experience.
With Internet access and infinitely more class and comfort than
any cubicle, I could have written this article on a keyboard remotely connected
to an onboard computer and a 32-inch LCD monitor, e-mailed it to my editor and
then squeezed in a nap, plus massage, in a $6,500 leather recliner, before being
dropped off at home. Except the chauffeur is not included.
But this is not a problem for Becker’s clients—a list he says
contains "more billionaires than millionaires." He’s sold about 20 JetVans in
the past year, with prices ranging from $250,000 to $400,000. "The only thing
they can’t afford to lose is their time," Becker says.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
That’s why the JetVan offers the privacy of a limousine, from
tinted windows to the rear partition, but also connections for incessant
communication with the outside world. Suddenly, an hour-long drive becomes a
chance to brush up on meeting materials, refine a speech or just relax. (Click image to enlarge)
The aesthetics appeal more to the prudent than the flamboyant.
Aside from the Mercedes-Benz logo, the JetVan’s exterior resembles an ambulance,
cargo van or family wagon. Becker delivers S-Class style by replacing the stock
black bumper with one that matches the body and swapping the grill and lower fog
lights with those used in the popular sedan series.
Sleek and understated, the JetVan is modeled after the
Gulfstream G-IV and G-V interiors, and it feels like a private jet—from leather
seats, maple woodwork and aviation-composite paneling to a ceiling high enough
to allow one to walk from the backseat to the refrigerator and liquor rack under
the front TV.
With seating plans that accommodate between four to seven rear
passengers, high-speed broadband access and a camera for video conferencing as
well as the ability to idle quietly and comfortably for hours, the JetVan can
easily double as an impromptu boardroom.
"We’re not trying to compete with Bentley; we’re not trying to
compete with somebody’s home or private jet. But we are trying to keep them in
their own element," Becker says. "It’s about moving people in comfort and
style."
Becker Automotive Design
www.beckerautodesign.com
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