Visteon's New Seat System Turns Minivans Into Mobile Entertainment Centers
8 January 1999
Visteon's New Rear Seat Entertainment System Turns Minivans Into Mobile Entertainment Centers LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 -- Kids in the back seat driving you crazy?
No problem. Just pop their favorite video or computer game into Visteon
Automotive Systems' Rear Seat Entertainment System and relish in the sudden
quiet of your brood.
Visteon introduced its Rear Seat Entertainment System at a news conference
during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Visteon will co-
market and promote its new Rear Seat Entertainment System with Nintendo of
America, a leader in the children's gaming industry.
"Our consumer and trade customer research indicates that there is a
tremendous demand for this type of multimedia product," said David Peace,
director of Visteon Global Aftermarket Operations. "We believe that this
option will quickly become very popular and will eventually help turn today's
vehicles into mobile entertainment centers."
Rear Seat Entertainment is a mobile entertainment system specifically
designed to keep children entertained during short or long trips in a vehicle.
The system is comprised of a 6.4-inch, rear-facing, flip-up LCD screen; video
cassette player and video game plug-and-play capability, all of which is
integrated into a high-quality center console designed to look like original
equipment and withstand the harsh environment found in vehicles.
"It's designed to original equipment quality, styling and appearance,"
said Lisa Bahash, accessories program manager for Visteon Global Aftermarket
Operations. "Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System is unique because it
was designed to completely integrate with the interior of the vehicle. This
unit looks like original equipment and will add value to the vehicle."
Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System will be available beginning
April 1 through Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers for approximately $1,300.
Initially, the system will be offered as a dealer-installed option on Ford
Windstar and Mercury Villager minivans. It will be available on most
minivans, conventional vans and sport utility vehicles manufactured by all
automakers by the end of 1999.
"Both parents and children see the benefit of having a vehicle equipped
with this exciting accessory," Peace said. "Kids will enjoy having this
activity center in the vehicle and parents will have greater peace of mind
knowing their kids are busy being entertained or educated."
In addition to a variety of superior product benefits, Visteon's Rear Seat
Entertainment System also features significant finance and service advantages.
For example, consumers can have the price of the Rear Sear Entertainment
System integrated into the monthly payment of their new vehicle, making the
system very affordable.
Moreover, consumers can take advantage of the convenience of one-stop
shopping at the dealership by having the unit installed the same day they
purchase it. Because the unit is installed at the dealership, the Rear Seat
Entertainment System will maintain the same warranty as the new vehicle.
Visteon has dubbed Rear Seat Entertainment as "Smart Fun" because it
integrates all of these product and service benefits, Peace said.
"We're positioning Visteon's Rear Seat Entertainment System as the fun and
intelligent choice in mobile entertainment options because our product offers
superior design features for improved appearance and optimum user
friendliness," he added.
Visteon is displaying this innovative system at its exhibit in the Sands
Convention Center (Booth Number 18424).
Visteon has 82,000 employees and 120 manufacturing, engineering, sales and
technical centers located in 21 countries. Visteon's corporate headquarters
is located in Dearborn, Mich.
