Visteon's New Vehicle Concept Makes its North American Debut at
2013 International CES
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2013 /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-centered 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 to customers and media members at the
Visteon booth (CP#20) in the Central Plaza during CES.
The e-Bee challenges conventional vehicle architecture by
rethinking 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. "This is
just the second leg of a world tour where we're showcasing the
vehicle at customer and industry events. The e-Bee 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 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 is maximized for
occupants – the result of 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 fiber 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-mold decoration for the touch screens and thin film
overmolding, and demonstrates Visteon's InSkin process – all of
which provide differentiation without re-tooling 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),
subscribe to our
YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/visteon and read blog posts
at blog.visteon.com. For more information on the e-Bee,
view http://e-bee.visteon.com.
SOURCE Visteon Corporation