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Report: London Mayor Boris Johnson hits Obama’s motorcade with congestion charge

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Cadillac, UK

Cadillac 1 in London

Rules are rules, and they apply equally to everyone – including the President of the United States. Especially when he’s on foreign soil.

After President Barack Obama’s famous Cadillac limousine – known as The Beast – got stuck exiting the US embassy in Dublin, it was shipped across the Irish Sea to England, the next leg of the president’s European road trip. Now the mayor of London is demanding Obama pay the congestion charge for his limo and the rest of his motorcade.

A notorious car nut and onetime automotive journalist, Major Boris Johnson insists that the £10 ($16) charge applies to each of the president’s vehicles, and that the bill is currently being tabulated. The fees are only the latest part of an ongoing dispute between the city’s transportation department and foreign missions like the American embassy, an issue that Johnson reportedly raised directly with Obama during his visit.

London insists that embassies in the British capital city owe some £51 million ($83m) in congestion charges for driving through the city during peak hours, of which the American embassy’s share is estimated at £5.3 million ($8.7m). Diplomats view the fee as a tax from which they are exempt under international law.

London Mayor Boris Johnson hits Obama’s motorcade with congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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 Concept

Gallery: Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

Johnson Controls ie:3 Interior Concept

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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