Visteon brought a Euro-market Ford Focus C-Max across the Pond for Chris’s perusal at CES. It
is one of two prototypes. Visteon’s ICP (Visteon-speak: Integrated Control Panel) is installed in the Focus, which
features the company’s new “Adaptive Haptic Controller (basically a touch screen with feedback).
Pushing a “button” generates an electro-mechanical vibration for tactile feedback. Different frequency
‘buzzes’ could be programmed to allow different levels of feedback depending on the button pushed or, say, more
vibrating as the volume gets louder.
Follow the jump to learn more about this potentially
interior-alterating technology…
Visteon’s system integrates HVAC, nav, and satellite/terrestrial radio on one 8.4″ screen. It also includes
a USB plug-in. They had a memory stick plugged-in with MP3s, which then showed on the dash.
Two basic
knobs govern many of the functions (they also have varying levels of feedback), while a small control stalk on the
steering column can active voice commands. Chris reports that his voice wasn’t even trained in the system and it worked
very well for navigating menus, changing radio stations, dialing calls, etc.
The ICP system with
Adaptive Haptic Controller could govern ‘higher’ functions like suspension settings and so forth, if an OEM
desired. Even pumping in the internet is possible.
No production plans (date, cost, specific
applications) are available yet, though Visteon is attempting to place its technology with a suitable supplier.
This Focus C-Max is also equipped with a center cooling console from Visteon and the company’s new
“Dockable Family Entertainment System” – essentially a removable gaming system partnered with Nintendo.