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Textron Automotive Captures Honorable Mentions For Automotive Innovations

17 June 1999

Textron Automotive Company Captures Honorable Mentions For Automotive Innovations

    TROY, Mich., June 16 -- Textron Automotive Company Inc.
gained honorable recognition as an exceptional contributor to the automotive
industry for its standout product innovations in the development of ASCTec(R)
(Active Surface Control Technology) seat comfort system and Envirosoft(TM)
(Cast Moldable Aliphatic Thermoplastic Urethane) at the fourth annual
Automotive & Transportation Interiors Design & Technology Awards.
    "The Design & Technology Awards recognize achievements in the areas of
automotive interiors design and technology," says Richard Lebovitz,
publisher/editor of Automotive & Transportation Interiors magazine.  "We
established the awards to stimulate creative thinking and encourages
innovation in the interiors industry."
    Out of the 22 outstanding entries for the 1999 awards, Textron Automotive
Company qualified for two of the 12 finalist positions.  This is the first
time Textron Automotive Company has applied and been nominated for this
distinguished honor.
    A division of Textron Automotive Company, McCord Winn Textron's ASCTec(R)
seating comfort system is the first truly adaptive seating system that adjusts
the seat surface to the size and movement of the occupant.  The system can
provide massage and occupant detection and can be integrated with other
adjustable features to tailor the seat to the occupant.  As one judge
commented, "Best for innovation and value."  The ASCTec(R) seating comfort
system is currently available on the Cadillac Seville STS, and is now being
developed with other OEMs.
    The development of Textron Automotive Company -- Trim Division's
Envirosoft(TM) increases durability and allows the use of CO2 laser to score
the backside of the instrument panel skin providing an invisible engineered
tear line for a passenger side inflatable restraint.  This new process
provides the customer with a soft, smooth and aesthetically pleasing
instrument panel that exceeds federal safety requirements.  "A major step
forward in the continuing search for the perfect invisible air bag door," is
how one judge described this development.  This innovation currently appears
on the 1998 Chrysler LH programs, which consists of the Dodge Intrepid,
Chrysler Concorde, LHS, and 300 series vehicles.
    With $2.4 billion in annual revenues and manufacturing locations in
thirteen countries, Textron Automotive Company Inc. is a leading, global
supplier of instrument panels, cockpit modules, exterior and interior trim,
plastic fuel tank systems and automotive systems and components.
    Textron Inc. is a $10 billion, global, multi-industry company
with market-leading operations in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial, and
Finance.