Interiors specialist Johnson Controls has unveiled a number of innovations at the Detroit show.

Some of the ‘surprise and delight’ items are:

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  • Moveable armrest for door panels – the unique, movable door panel armrest provides up to twice as much storage as traditional door panels, while also improving comfort and ergonomics, creating additional personalisation opportunities.
  • Vertical sunglass bin – a development resulting from the ‘Stuff in Cars’ study in which consumers indicated they wanted a place to store their sunglasses. The bin door opens with a drop-down vertical motion and features increased usable storage by 20%, as well as improved ergonomics and appearance.
  • Innovative ambient lighting / illuminated patterns on fabric and perforated leather – new interior lighting technologies enable automakers to create various colours, patterns and shapes. Backlit perforated leather allows light to shine through the perforation and illuminated patterns on fabric surfaces are integrated with woven light guides. Both technologies give designers more freedom to create a distinctive, elegant interior ambience.
  • Multi-track storage – based on consumer desire for floor consoles with larger, organised storage bins, the multi-track innovation provides a unique and configurable approach adding multiple injection moulded interconnected tracks to traditional tambour door construction, resulting in optimised storage capacity that consumers can customise for greater convenience and easier access.
  • Vertical adjustable armrest – to address consumer demand for increased armrest comfort, a robust, lightweight, vertically adjustable armrest offers greater functionality than standard armrests, making it possible for the consumer to customise the armrest height.

Johnson Controls is also interpreting such trends as consumer desire for a more premium look to their interior and developing innovative cut, sew and wrap capabilities with seamless leather and direct back foaming, as well as live stitching of moulded formed skins to address the trend in a more affordable manner.

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