Visteon Touts Adaptive Car-Controls Concept

Visteon Corp.'s new e-Bee concept car uses five displays two with touch screens to customize the vehicle's controls to suit an array of drivers.

The technology, which makes its North American debut this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, enables a car to instantly configure itself to the user's cloud-stored preferences.

Visteon envisions the system being used mainly by car-sharing and by-the-hour rental services to make the controls of a variety of vehicles immediately familiar to their short-term users.

The e-Bee, which is based on the Nissan Leaf electric sedan, features a large central display for navigation information. Two five-inch capacitive multi-touch/multi-gesture screens flank the steering wheel and provide 3-D controls for such vehicle functions as lighting, audio, HVAC and communications.

A head-up display atop the center instrument panel reveals such basic information as vehicle speed. A camera and fifth display replace the inside rearview mirror, providing the driver with a 180 view of traffic and obstacles immediately behind and to either side of the car.

Visteon says the e-Bee uses an open-source audio, data and entertainment platform so it can quickly adapt to telematics advances over the life of the vehicle. The modular architecture platform makes it easy to customize the vehicle to suit the needs of regional markets.

The concept's interior is designed so owners and temporary users can customize the vehicle with such clip-on items as cell phone chargers, cupholders, rear-seat work desks and personal tablet mounts.

Dynamic lighting changes color to signal such events as a traffic hazard or incoming phone call. Proximity sensors turn on courtesy lights to illuminate an interior door handle, for example as the occupant's hand draws near.

Each door contains its own climate controls and wireless recharger for a cell phone or portable music device. Occupants also can play audio content via Bluetooth through their own headrest-mounted sound systems. Four intercom microphones in the cabin help occupants converse while the vehicle is moving.