Debut of Johnson Controls' new infotainment system in Fiat concept car at Geneva International Motor Show/Touch- sensitive materials for greater comfort and in

BURSCHEID Germany 03. 03. 2004 (ots/PROTEXT) - While theexterior of the new Fiat "Trepiůno" concept car may bereminiscent of the beloved old Fiat 500 - the interior of thesmall retro-look vehicle clearly points the way to the future.Instead of switches, the driver operates functions with a simpletouch of the smooth surfaces. Fiat will present its new conceptcar at the Geneva International Motor Show from 4 to 14 March, inconjunction with Johnson Controls, one of the world's leadingsuppliers of automotive interior systems, interior electronicsand batteries. For the Fiat "Trepiůno", Johnson Controlsdeveloped the center console with integrated MultiController, amenu-driven system for controlling vehicle functions, as well asthe corresponding screen in the instrument panel and the centralcontrol panel below the display.

New design featuring smooth surfaces

The key operating control in the new concept car is theMultiController. The designers at Johnson Controls integratedthis controller into the center console, where it can be reachedeasily for intuitive operation by both driver and passengers.Just like a computer mouse is connected to a monitor, theMultiController is linked to a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screenthat folds out from the center of the instrument panel whenneeded. And, similarly to the way in which a computer userfocuses his attention on the monitor and not on the mouse, theFiat "Trepiůno" driver has all the information he needs on thescreen within his field of vision. So there's no need for him totake his eyes off the road.

The MultiController has neither switches nor buttons. A shorttap on its translucent silicone surface is all it takes for thedriver to convey his wishes. This is made possible by "ElekTex",a new pressure-sensitive fabric that can transmit impulsesarising from a mere touch. This innovative textile can be freelyintegrated into a vehicle's interior surfaces. Buttons andswitches can be eliminated, without any reduction infunctionality. This opens up a host of new interior designoptions.

The MultiController incorporated in the "Trepiůno" is theproduct of some two years of development work at JohnsonControls. One outcome of this work was the "Sensory" concept,which the company first presented at last year's InternationalMotor Show in Frankfurt. This concept entails a projectdevelopment approach that focuses on appealing to the full rangeof human senses. Sensory stimuli have both a conscious andsubconscious effect on the emotional value of a car. "Wedeveloped Sensory based on our consumer research. For a longtime now we've been keeping a close watch on trends, in order tobetter understand what demands drivers place on new vehicles",explains Han Hendriks, Executive Director Marketing andIndustrial Design at Johnson Controls. The MultiController is anoutgrowth of the Sensory concept and is especially designed tomatch the form language of Fiat's new concept car.

Unified look and feel

In the central control field of the instrument panel, locatedbelow the monitor, the controls for HVAC, defroster, fog lights,hazard lights and "City Mode", which facilitates steering incity traffic, are also integrated into the surface. All of theseelements are equipped with LED illumination. When a function isswitched off, its light glows dimly, and as soon as the usertouches it to turn the function on, the light gets stronger.

The central control panel is covered in the same translucentsilicone as the center console. This allowed the designers toachieve a unified look and feel. "The harmony of materials andcolors in the interior was particularly important to us. Ourcollaboration with Johnson Controls helped us to achieve this inthe 'Trepiůno'", says Humberto Rodriguez, Head of Fiat Design.

Cooperation at Fiat Centro Stile in Turin

A team of designers and engineers from Fiat and JohnsonControls worked together at Fiat Centro Stile in Turin to createthe interior of the concept car. Han Hendriks emphasizes thefact that: "More and more, our customers are tending to involveus at an early stage in the development process. For thisconcept car, we already started working with Fiat during the pre-development phase. When we are brought on board early on, wehave an ideal opportunity to incorporate our ideas into thedevelopment process, resulting in the automaker being able topresent a better overall product to the consumer."

Photos will be available under http://www.johnsoncontrols-press.com.

Johnson Controls, Inc. is one of the world's leadingsuppliers of automotive interior systems and interiorelectronics, as well as in the areas of facility management andcontrol. In the automotive market, the company is a majorsupplier of vehicle seating and interior systems and batteries.For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls is one of theleading providers of building control components and systems aswell as energy management and facility management services.

Johnson Controls (New York Stock Exchange: JCI), founded in1885, has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Europeanheadquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. The company's worldwidesales for 2003 totaled US$22.6 billion, the Automotive Groupalone accounting for US$17 billion of this figure. In thecurrent "Industry Week" business magazine rankings, JohnsonControls has been listed as one of the top 100 best-runcompanies in the world for the sixth time in succession.

ots Original Text Service: Johnson Controls GmbH Internet:http://www.presseportal.de

Contact: Johnson Controls GmbH Automotive Group AstridSchafmeister Industriestraße 20-30 51399 Burscheid Germany

Tel.: +49 2174 65-3189 Fax: +49 2174 65-3219 E-mail:astrid.schafmeister@jci.com

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