SPIED: EXCLUSIVE Photos Of Hyundai's Future In-Car Technology Interface?

As we remarked before, there wasn't an abundance of "show" cars at this year's 2011 Detroit Auto Show. But that just gave the concepts that focused on technology the opportunity to shine, as did the Hyundai Curb.

While everyone else was too busy stuffing their faces at the Audi booth though, Agent 001 was preoccupied with something else. He was watching and snapping photographs of how the new Curb's infotainment system works.

Placed in the center stack is a MASSIVE screen that allows passengers to display information and use certain functions, such as: vehicle diagnostics, applications, make calls like a video phone, navigation, BlueLink and let users search through music through Cover Flow, like you can on an Apple product.

When you include the integration of BlueLink, Hyundai has put together an impressive package that could point the future of in-car technology coming from the Korean automaker.

Well played, Hyundai. Well played.


An excerpt from Hyundai's press release follows:

EMPOWERED CONNECTIVITY

Connectivity is the theme for the interior, which is why information flows seamlessly from outside to inside of the Curb.

“The goal was to make sure passengers felt connected to each other and the urban environment around them,” said Bradley Arnold, Curb interior designer. “We wanted to empower the passengers with information and make them feel that the exterior was connected to the interior.”

A large acrylic screen with multiple zones allows information to be passed between passengers all via a touchscreen that appears endless. It flows like a river from the gauge cluster to the center stack controls, across the instrument panel and all the way into back seat. The steering wheel itself is an opaque surface with a monitor showing through. There are also monitors in the back of the headrests. A Heads Up Display (HUD) provided by Continental with navigation keeps the drivers eyes on the road, while passengers search for their favorite channel on Pandora. Drivers are able to navigate their music via a 3-D carousel of album cover art as well as view the related cover art for a currently playing track. Cameras also replace the side mirrors and are linked to the HUD. The screen can also display vehicle diagnostics, download apps and act as a video phone all with a single touch sensor control strip provided by Methode.  

To bring the outside look inside, the Curb designers had the rocker panels flow into the interior of the vehicle to create a seamless design. The Curb links its interior and exterior designs together by having the rocker panels viewable from the exterior flow into the interior. The three-holed open truss structured A-pillars enhance the driver’s cornering visibility, structurally support the roof and are made from a single milled piece. This metal structure connects everything together.  

Saffron accents inside match the ones on the tires. The saffron accents appear as a gradient pattern on the seats, which are made of super-stretch, fast-drying board short material. The rear seat also has forward and aft movement.    

When it comes to storage capacity, Curb has rear head rests mounted to its robust frame, rather than to the seats. These head rests swivel up into the roof, allowing the rear seats to fold flat.

HYUNDAI BLUE LINK TECHNOLOGY

Generation Y wants to be connected to their electronics at all times. Inside the Curb, a driver could be listening to their favorite station on Pandora, cruising the city and get a phone call from a friend. Using Blue Link, the caller’s location shows up as a Point-of-Interest (POI).  The friend tells the driver that he just discovered a great band playing at a local club and invites him to come. His location then becomes the destination for the turn-by-turn directions. 

• The Blue Link Location Sharing feature will send Curb’s location to select members of social networking sites. The process starts by adding friend’s email addresses to the Blue Link Location Sharing website. The driver can then let his or her friends know they are in route by sending a Location Sharing message from inside Curb. If a friend has accepted the owner’s invitation to Location Sharing then that location will show up as a point of interest on the navigation screen.
  

BLUE LINK FEATURES INCORPORATED INTO CURB CONCEPT

Blue Link Assurance 

• Automatic Crash Notification and Assistance
• SOS Emergency Assistance
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance

Blue Link Essentials

Remote Access:

• Remote Door Unlock / Lock
• Remote Horn & Lights
• Panic Notification
• Remote Vehicle Start

Convenience:

• Alarm Notification
• Quick Tips
• Location Sharing
• Voice Text Messaging

Vehicle Self Diagnostics:

• Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification
• Maintenance Alert
• Monthly Vehicle Report
• Recall Advisor
• Web Vehicle Diagnostics

Theft Protection:

• Stolen Vehicle Recovery
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown
• Vehicle Immobilization

Safeguard:

• Valet Alert
• Geofence
• Speed Alert
• Curfew

Blue Link Guidance 

• Turn-by-Turn Navigation
• POI Search by advanced voice recognition system
• POI Web Search & Download
• Daily Route Guidance with Traffic Condition
• Traffic
• Gas Station Locations & Gas Prices
• Eco-Coach
• Restaurant Ratings
• Weather