Visteon Premieres New Vehicle Concept, Demonstrating Vision for
Mobility in 2020
MUNICH, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing
Visteon Corporation's (NYSE:VC) vision of mobility in the year
2020, the e-Bee vehicle concept is designed to explore new and
alternative ways of using a vehicle, including car-sharing, private
ownership and short-term rental. Using touch display-based controls
and Cloud-centred profile storage, the e-Bee's features are
designed to be immediately familiar and intuitive for each
individual user.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO
)
Fully compatible with electric vehicle and hybrid platforms, the
e-Bee demonstrates intelligent mobility – gathering and
disseminating useful driving-related data, acting as part of a
wider mobility-enabling network and integrating technology and
design that is simple, flexible and frugal.
The technologies featured in the e-Bee concept range from
advanced development to application- and commercialization-ready.
The vehicle will be available for demonstrations at Visteon's booth
in Hall A6 throughout Electronica.
The e-Bee challenges conventional vehicle architecture by
re-thinking the position of the climate system, resulting in
reduced weight and a substantially increased cabin space. The
integrated climate module combines the heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) unit with the refrigerant system, including an
energy-efficient heat pump. Its position outside the cabin allows
for new interior design options including an easy user experience
with the vehicle's electronics and comfort features, designed to
mitigate distraction.
"From its driver interface to its compact and innovative climate
system, the e-Bee is an exercise in efficient, forward-looking
design for new mobility uses," said Tim
Yerdon, Visteon's global director of innovation. "The
vehicle will be showcased at customer and industry events
throughout Asia, the U.S. and
Europe, where it will be the
centerpiece in Visteon's discussions with customers and partners
about future technology trends and needs."
Defined User Experience
The e-Bee's driver interface consists of a set of three
displays: a main display for journey information and two smaller
screens with touch-sensing capability. The touch screens are
located within easy fingertip distance on either side of the
steering wheel, providing simple and immediate interaction with
both vehicle controls and social connections. The car also features
a projected head-down display for accessing basic driving
information. In place of the traditional rear-view mirror, a
display shows images from a panamorphic 180-degree rear-view
camera.
Complete and Immediate Personalization
Designed to address the needs of each individual user, the e-Bee
offers personalization on three levels:
- By region: Using a global base interior structure, the
control architecture can be customized for each region. This allows
for unique regional preferences regarding display types, storage
options and perceived quality tastes.
- By individual owner: An ideal environment can be created
by adding a range of 'physical apps' – or clip-on modules –
each providing a style element and a particular function. These can
include cup holders, wireless charging devices, cameras and other
items.
- By individual user: A set of preferences for each user
can be stored in the Cloud and retrieved when the driver enters the
car. These preferences are used to define the look, colors and
layout of the display-based human machine interaction (HMI),
ensuring that e-Bee's interface will always be immediately
intuitive and familiar for users who alternate between cars.
Improved Passenger 'Life on Board'
Each occupant has access to a door-mounted control module,
allowing for control of the climate system and individual climate
zones, as well as a personal headrest-mounted audio system. Audio
content can be played from a Bluetooth® wireless technology-enabled
personal device set in its own wireless charging bay in the
door.
Compatible with electric and hybrid vehicles, the heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is focused on 'smart
energy' management and a positive user experience. Features of the
system include an electric compressor, pre-conditioning and a
cooled shopping box in the trunk. For user comfort, there is a
gentle air diffusion feature, a cluster ion generator and a
fragrance auto diffusion system.
Free Architecture
With driver priorities in mind, the cockpit space has been
maximized for occupants by fundamentally re-thinking the technical
elements of the interior. The EV-ready HVAC system is located in
the engine compartment; the airbags are positioned in the
headliner; and the driver displays and controls are supported
locally by a structure of composite material, rather than a
full-steel cross-car beam.
Interior Sustainability
The e-Bee's interior is designed for sustainability. It
incorporates recycled and bio-based resin and natural fibre hybrid
materials and also uses recyclable expanded polypropylene material
to reduce vehicle weight.
Additionally, the car has digital decoration (laser etching) on
hard parts, in-mould decoration for the touch screens, thin film
overmoulding, and demonstrates Visteon's Inskin process – all of
which provides differentiation without having to re-tool parts.
High-resolution images and videos are available at
www.visteon.com/media/multimedia.
About Visteon
Visteon is a leading global automotive supplier that designs,
engineers and manufactures innovative climate, electronics and
interior products for vehicle manufacturers. With corporate offices
in Van Buren Township, Mich.
(U.S.); Shanghai, China; and
Chelmsford, UK; the company has
facilities in 28 countries and employs approximately 22,000 people.
Learn more at www.visteon.com.
Follow us on Twitter @VisteonCorp (www.twitter.com/visteoncorp)
or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/visteon. For
more information on the e-Bee, view http://e-bee.visteon.com
SOURCE Visteon Corporation