Johnson Controls reveals futuristic interior

The interior of the future might include stadium seating, waterproof and recyclable materials and LED ambient lighting. And of course, it would be powered completely by electricity.

At least that's what Johnson Controls thinks, and it revealed a peek into the future of interiors on Monday at the Detroit auto show. Called the ie:3, the concept runs on the company's next-generation lithium-ion battery pack powered with 216 cells.

The small, boxy vehicle--which resembles a gutted Kia Soul--displayed a variety of ways interiors could be reconfigured to adapt and get ahead of future consumer tastes.

“Everything we see in this vehicle is ready for the next generation of automobiles,” Johnson Controls design vice president Michael Warsaw said.

The stadium seating allows the seats to be elevated enough to store a suitcase below the floor. The rear seats fold flat and can recline at a 45-degree angle, and the center console can hold a handbag.

The dashboard materials are recyclable and the seat pads are made from natural fibers.

The electronics are equally snazzy, with a 6.5-inch cluster display that rises in front of the driver so he or she can concentrate on the road while still observing vehicle info. There's also a nine-inch flat screen in the middle in the instrument panel.

There are six transducers under the headliner which replace traditional speakers for enhanced sound.

“It essentially turns the whole headliner into a speaker,” Warsaw said.

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110110/DETROIT/110119996#ixzz1AeEP8Y1k