VC Visteon Corporation

Digital Audio ... Innovations For In-Vehicle Enjoyment DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Visteon Corporation is a leader in automotive audio systems. The technology behind enabling clear digital audio is Visteon's MACH(R) Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and its sound management capability. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) "The advent of digital audio in the consumer space led to an evolution in the automotive space," said Martin Thoone, Global Electronics Product Line Team Director for Visteon. "Our advancements in DSP audio technology are delivering solutions that bring digital audio to the automotive consumer." Recent consumer surveys suggest that audio quality is an important and often determining factor when making a vehicle purchase and that consumer demand for premium in-vehicle audio is increasing. In order to help manufacturers meet these consumer needs, Visteon provides in-vehicle audio systems that greatly improve the acoustic experience of the vehicle. An important example of Visteon's audio capabilities is DSP. This technology provides customized performance modes, personalizes sound options for driver, rear seat, front seat or all passengers, improves radio reception, enhances sound quality and removes distortion and noise. This technology, already integrated into many Visteon audio systems, is a software-based solution that implements radio circuits to receive radio signals and, using sound equalization and audio delays, processes those signals to produce a higher output. Because the output is controlled by software, it can be customized to match the specific needs of different vehicle interiors. Visteon's advancements in DSP played a key role in the development and introduction of HD Radio(TM) and together with leading chip suppliers, Visteon and iBiquity are leading the way for improved in-vehicle audio systems. Visteon's role in the development went well beyond the development of the DSP and included several of the early demonstration and development units that enabled local broadcast stations to verify the transmission of digital signals. HD Radio is coming, and people are ready. Consumer research shows 88 percent of respondents who purchase entry-level luxury vehicles want an HD Radio System, and more than 50 percent of respondents in all other car segments agree. Visteon is the leader in development of factory installed HD Radio(TM), being the first Tier I supplier to announce a factory-installed system for release next year for an automaker. The introduction of HD Radio enables consumers to receive a digital signal through Visteon MACH DSP(TM) radios. This technology provides CD-quality audio with crystal clear reception for FM signals. In addition, AM signal quality is enhanced to the clarity of today's FM signal. The combination of digital broadcasting and Visteon MACH DSP technologies provides the additional opportunity to transmit and utilize wireless data for a variety of consumer applications. The consumer applications could include station and program content, like song title and artist name, stock and news information, local traffic and weather. But the advancements in digital audio don't end here. While the auto industry wrestled with the issue of interoperability for satellite radio, Visteon developed the capability of providing a single radio that works with both XM and SIRIUS Satellite radio. Today, Visteon supplies SIRIUS Satellite radio systems to Ford Motor Company and others and will also provide both XM and SIRIUS Satellite receivers to Nissan for future products. Visteon will demonstrate its HD Radio capabilities at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV January 8-11, 2004. Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has about 75,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 180 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO DATASOURCE: Visteon Corporation CONTACT: Robin Pannecouk, +1-313-755-9121, , or Greg Gardner, +1-313-755-0927, , both of Visteon Corporation Web site: http://www.visteon.com/

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