Johnson Controls' Innovative Kion Concept Interior Makes its North American Debut
8 January 2001
Johnson Controls' Innovative Kion Concept Interior Makes its North American Debut
Supplier's unique consumer-driven concept is unveiled
at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit
DETROIT, Jan. 8 What might a vehicle interior look like if
designers allowed the consumer's voice to drive the development process? It
may look like Kion -- an innovative automotive interior concept from Johnson
Controls that made its North American debut yesterday at the North
American International Auto Show at Detroit's Cobo Center (room D2-15).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010108/DEM014-a
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This unique concept features many interior innovations that help bring
touches from the home into a vehicle interior -- and provide enhanced comfort,
functionality and flexibility -- targeted at the small to mid-size vehicle
segment.
"Johnson Controls' designers developed the concept after conducting
extensive research on consumer preferences," said Bill Fluharty, vice
president of industrial design, North America for Johnson Controls. "The goal
was to find how people live, work and spend their leisure time, and then
create an integrated interior solution that blurred the lines between the home
and car."
As a result of this "connecting cars to life" approach, Kion's design
offers materials in warm, friendly colored materials and a layout that
reflects contemporary trends in interior architecture.
Every aspect of the Kion design points to the core of the interior.
Centered between the four seats, the Kion communication center is the
concept's electronic and social hub.
The electronic center can be adapted to suit the individual requirements
of different users, as personal data storage media -- shaped like credit cards
-- can be fed into the communication center's computer system. Adaptability is
achieved with plug-in modules, through which the central computer software can
make appropriate changes to accommodate users.
Four infotainment-system communication pillars -- located to the left and
right of the instrument panel and at the sides of the rear seat -- create
links across the vehicle interior and to the outside world. Every passenger
has his or her own pillar, which can be equipped with an individual display
monitor, as well as a microphone, loudspeakers, lap top computer and ports for
connecting electronic notepads.
The communication pillars are connected with the infotainment system's
central computer via Bluetooth technology, so that every vehicle occupant has
direct, wireless access to the software. Bluetooth eliminates the need for
fixed installation of the cellular phone and allows for hands-free
communication via a microphone in the communication pillar.
The Kion communication center is equipped with Johnson Controls' portable
AutoVision(R) video entertainment system, with an integrated touch-screen
feature. AutoVision enables rear-seat passengers to watch television, play
video games or surf the Internet during a trip.
The Kion cockpit has a clean, simple appearance. Particularly noticeable
is the dual-plane instrument cluster, which Johnson Controls developed with
Sagem, one of its Peer Partners. With its unique design, the instrument allows
the primary vehicle information, such as odometer and fuel level readings, to
be separated from secondary information, such as engine-temperature and oil
pressure data.
The instrument panel also provides ample storage space. The front-seat
passenger cockpit is equipped with three storage compartments, which can be
removed separately and taken out of the vehicle. A small, fold-away table with
cup holders is integrated into the middle of the cockpit.
Comfort and safety are also optimized with a new concept seating system.
Kion seats offer an intuitive adjustment feature, which electronically adapts
to specific, predefined seating positions. Seat cushions and backrests can be
electrically controlled to adjust to the best-possible ergonomic shape for
every body position. To provide optimum protection to the occupants, the seats
feature integrated safety belts, side airbags and anti-submarining devices --
which help keep passengers from sliding under their seatbelts in a collision.
Instead of being attached to rails on the vehicle's floor, both front
seats in the Kion are fixed on three "feet." This gives vehicle-users a
completely new feeling of spaciousness when they enter the car. The concave
shape of the rear seats makes it easier for backseat passengers to establish
eye contact and communicate with one another.
The rear seat back can be pushed over the rear seat bench and slid forward
against the front seats. In the process, the rear bench-seat cushion
disappears into the rear-seat floor space. This means larger objects can be
transported with ease, without dismantling or removing the rear row of seats.
Alternatively, the backrest can also be pushed into the middle of the seat
cushion, creating more room for cargo in the trunk, while passengers sit
comfortably on the rear seat.
With Kion, the doors provide individual storage space for such items as
newspapers or cups. There are no B-pillars, and the doors open from the middle
of the vehicle, providing easy access and a feeling of spaciousness.
The indirect, ambient lighting integrated in the vehicle's A and C pillars
creates a pleasant, home-like atmosphere. The SunTracker(R) sun visor runs
along a rail over the front windshield to the side windows and can be operated
manually with ease. A single movement positions the sun visor to the desired
position.
More trunk space is provided, thanks to a new suspension specially
designed for Kion by Michelin, and Michelin's PAX-System "run-flat" tires,
which eliminate the need for a spare tire.
Synergies between Johnson Controls and Michelin enabled the design team to
generate "intelligent space." The new rear-compartment definition supports
customer platform strategies, by reducing "body-in-white" modifications for
different vehicle body types. In addition, fold-out partitions ensure more
order in the trunk space. Kion also comes with three removable shoulder bags
attached to the back of the rear seat.
To meet various consumer requirements and expectations, Johnson Controls
has developed virtual models of Kion for two other types of vehicles -- a
minivan and a coupe. The minivan solution has six seats. The middle and rear
rows of seats each can each be separated in the middle, so larger objects can
be transported without difficulty. In addition, the third row can be folded
down so it is level with the floor of the vehicle. With four seats, the coupe
version has a futuristic-looking center stack, such as fold-out boxes and
partitions, ensure that the interior also meets expectations with respect to
storage capacity and flexibility.
Kion made its world debut at the Mondial de I'Automobile show in Paris,
France on September 28, 2000.
The Plymouth, Michigan (U.S.A.)-based automotive business of Johnson
Controls -- which employs more than 77,000 people at 285 facilities worldwide
-- achieved US$12.7 billion in sales for the 2000 fiscal year. In model-year
2001, it will supply interior products for more than 23 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls
, founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(U.S.A.). Its sales for 2000 totaled US$17.2 billion.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and
additional company information, visit the company's web site on the World Wide
Web at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com .
CONTACT: Bill Dawson, 734-254-5925, or Debra Lacey, 734-254-5735, both of
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547