Ferrari ART.ENGINE

With the Ferrari stamp of approval, David Weiner Ventures' ART.ENGINE audio system has a look that will bring EHXers to a screeching halt. The ART.ENGINE is an audio product that bears the Ferrari name.

Shaped like a speaker, it's actually a stand-alone audio system that can be connected wirelessly or via RCA inputs. Its primary signal input is wireless streaming of music files or radio via iTunes running on a computer with wireless functionality. It can also be used with conventional line level sources such as CD players, tuners and iPods.

Steve Gorski from DWV rep The SG Group (booth 2757) calls it the first audio product for lifestyle that Ferrari has ever licensed. He says the DWV team worked with Ferrari to develop it, then got it approved and licensed.

On display at EHX is a red version of the product. At the base is a Ferrari logo and at the top is quintessential Ferrari engine start button. As striking as it is, it doesn't require much in the way of installation expertise and attendees might wonder what the appeal is for their clients.

"It's a lifestyle piece," explains Gorski. "Very high end. About 50 percent of the people we talk to actually want this for their garage with their cars."

Many of those customers, Gorski says, are Ferrari owners and most are car enthusiasts.

"It's a statement," adds Gorski. "It's not taking anything away from an installer. It's giving them one more tool that they can offer their high end clientele."

The EHX appearance marks the DWV ART.ENGINE's Southern California premiere, according to Gorski. The car company, he says, is strictly enforcing a limited edition distribution of 1,000 units with a retail price of $20,000