Interior

Cars converse in largest-ever on-road ITS test project The U.S. government, via several of its transportation-related agencies, is sponsoring the project, which it claims is the largest-ever road test of connected-vehicle crash-avoidance technologies. Read full story

Choosing the right tube joint seal for HFO-1234yf refrigerant compatibility One of the many system components of concern to OEMs and aftermarket service providers is the elastomeric seals used at the different joints in automotive air-conditioning. One critical aspect of seal performance is permeation, and the material compatibility issues likely to arise in relation to it, due to the new refrigeration chemistry. Read full story

Behr puts the cooling touch on Kenworth T680 cabin Before designing the new Kenworth T680, engineers made sure they knew the expectations for the Class 8 truck, including the vehicle's HVAC package that features the commercial-truck industry's first automatic temperature control system. Read full story

Noise-damping lubricants control NVH, improve perceived vehicle quality Less noise and more smoothness are important design attributes for operators of most every type of vehicle, including passenger vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, and off-road equipment. Synthetic noise-damping lubricants such as the Molykote brand solutions from Dow Corning can be economical, long-lasting answers to achieve these attributes in powertrain, body, chassis, and interior applications. Read full story

Magna demonstrates a smart interior A touch-sensitive smart surface and other innovative technologies are being showcased in a concept cockpit demonstrator that aims to reshape how the driver interacts with various in-vehicle systems. Read full story

An automotive influence on heavy-truck interiors Functionality cannot be compromised inside heavy trucks, but their cabs increasingly mesh practicality with passenger-car sensibilities for comfort and ambience. Read full story

Greater connectivity coming to heavy trucks Two advanced heavy-truck concepts revealed at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show—the Freightliner Revolution Innovation Truck and Peterbilt’s Model 587 Technology Truck—attempted to capture what the truck interior of the future will look and feel like. Personal connectivity is a big part of that future. Read full story

A look inside As Head of the Interior Division at Continental AG and Member of the Executive Board, Helmut Matschi oversees a range of technology areas for the supplier. Matschi shared his insights on some of the trends impacting vehicle interiors with AEI and other select media this past fall in Frankfurt. Read full story