Tag: controls

Johnson Controls shows super-slim stowable pickup seats

Filed under: Truck, Technology

Johnson Controls slim seats

Johnson Controls super-slim stowable pickup seats – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ever wondered why the rear seats in pickup trucks are so bulky? Johnson Controls apparently had similar thoughts, as the supplier has unveiled a styling buck showcasing its super-slim stowable pickup seats.

The seats offer improvements in two respects. Johnson Controls says they’re lightweight, which should help improve fuel economy, and they take up a third less space, meaning that when stowed, the seats should allow for greater cargo capacity. The seats in the Johnson Controls mock-up also are also 3.9 inches lower than most standard seats, which improves rear visibility and passenger safety, though we wonder if that’ll also result in an awkward knees-up posture for the backseat riders. That said, the seats reportedly contain 50 percent more padding, which should translate to more comfort.

Johnson Controls claims that in addition to the improvements detailed above, the new seats are fully compliant with all applicable safety standards. Hit the jump to read the official press release, and have a close look at the low-profile seats in the gallery below.

Gallery: Johnson Controls super-slim stowable pickup seats

Johnson Controls super-slim stowable pickup seats

[Source: Johnson Controls]

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Johnson Controls shows super-slim stowable pickup seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: Johnson Controls ie:3 Concept reinvents the interior

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Technology, Design/Style

Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

All the fancy technology automakers are planting inside our vehicles needs to be supplied from somewhere… like, say, Tier 1 automotive supplier Johnson Controls. The supplier is using the Detroit Auto Show to show off some of its latest wares, and it’s packaged a slew of goodies in the hollowed-out shell of a Kia Soul and called it the ie:3 concept. The little ‘ute has had all of its guts removed, with the drivetrain replaced by a 23-kWh lithium ion battery pack that sits beneath the floor, which Johnson Controls estimates is good for a 100-mile range.

The IE in ie:3 stands for Inspired Efficiency, and the 3 means there are three main benefits to the design: delighting buyers, allowing automakers to differentiate their products and expanding sustainability. All that may be more a bit of marketing fluff, but there’s at least some substance to the claims. For instance, the single-piece stamped seats save lots of space, allowing the reclining rear seats to be mounted higher than the fronts. Also notable is the so-called FaserTec seat pads that are made from natural fibers and are easily recyclable.

More innovation can be found in the vehicle’s headliner, which acts as a large speaker that frees up storage space where the door-mounted speakers would normally be found. However, perhaps the coolest bit of tech is the Human Machine Interface, consisting of a transparent heads-up display that rises from the dash, a 6.5-inch transflective display that doesn’t wash out in direct sunlight and another 8.8-inch central display that can be controlled either through a touch interface or a haptic controller mounted on a sliding rail between the two front seats.

It’s all pretty impressive, and, despite the fact that it’s got so much technology baked in (plus an entire battery pack under the floor), Johnson Controls has still managed to substantially increase interior space. See for yourself in our high-res image galleries below, and read all the details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept: Detroit 2011

Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

Gallery: Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior ConceptJohnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

Detroit 2011: Johnson Controls ie:3 Concept reinvents the interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Johnson Controls buys Recaro

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials

Recaro seats

The automotive seat and specialty slice of Recaro officially has a new owner. Johnson Controls has snapped up Keiper Recaro Group – formerly owned by Putsch Gmbh & Co. KG – swallowing both the recliner manufacturer Keiper and the well-known automotive seat-maker Recaro in one fell swoop. In so doing, Johnson Controls is hoping to broaden Recaro’s OEM applications, serving up both whole seats and components on a larger scale than ever before.

Challenges facing such efforts include increased standardization and globalization in the industry. Meanwhile, the remaining faces of the Recaro brand will stay behind. The company’s aircraft seating, child safety and home factions are not included in the sale. A total of 4,750 employees across seven countries are included in the Keiper and Recaro Group sale.

[Source: Automotive World]

Report: Johnson Controls buys Recaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM to Investors: Internal financial reporting controls are ineffective

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials

General Motors Renaissance Center

Now that General Motors has submitted the necessary paperwork for its IPO to the SEC, Forbes read through the entire 734 page filing and found this curious tidbit: “We have determined that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting are currently not effective.” And yes, that means exactly what you think it means.

In case you think it’s only cautious puffery, the document goes on to say, “Until we have been able to test the operating effectiveness of remediated internal controls and ensure the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, any material weaknesses may materially adversely affect our ability to report accurately our financial condition and results of operations in the future in a timely and reliable manner.”

And there’s more, but the gist is that GM wants you to know that it might have to shuffle some of its past numbers at some future date. The problem seems to go back to early last year, when new accounting procedures were put in place to please the SEC. The General’s trip to Narnia bankruptcy and back, however, prevented it from fully vetting those procedures, so it can’t be 100% certain that they’re 100% accurate. It could actually just be caution on GM’s part, but nevertheless, some funny things are happening on the way to this IPO…

[Source: Forbes]

GM to Investors: Internal financial reporting controls are ineffective originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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