Visteon reveals e-Bee 2020 mobility concept

Visteon has unveiled its new e-Bee concept at the Electronica 2012 Trade Fair in Munich.

The e-Bee is a study of mobility in the year 2020 and explores alternative transport ideas such as car-sharing and short-term rental as well as intelligent mobility.

Predictable vehicle architecture is transformed by moving the climate system outside, reducing the e-Bee's weight, increasing the cabin space as well as providing easier access to comfort and infotainment features.

The e-Bee uses touchscreen controls and sends data using Cloud-stored information demonstrating ‘intelligent mobility'. Three displays – a main display for journey information and two smaller touchscreens – are easily accessible, with the touch screens located either side of the steering wheel.

The driver can check basic driving information using a projected head-down display while the standard rear-view mirror has been replaced with a display showing shots from a panamorphic 180-degree camera.

Users can personalize the e-Bee in three ways: by region – displays, storage options and perceived taste can be customized according to the region; by individual owner – ‘physical apps' can be added, each offering a style and function such as cup holders and wireless charging devices; andby individual user – personal preferences used to define the look and layout of the display for each user can be stored in the Cloud and retrieved automatically upon entry.

By Rufus Thompson