At the 2019 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Kia Motors revealed its new Futuron Concept EV SUV coupe, which features a high-tech interior.
Thanks to the layout of the electric powertrain and the incorporation of Level 4 autonomous driving systems, the interior of the Futuron is spacious and flexible. The two front seats are created out of flexible materials and can offer an upright driving position, or a reclined rest position.
With the activation of the Futuron’s autonomous driving features, the two front seats recline as the steering wheel retracts. The ‘zero-gravity’ seating position this creates helps to reduce fatigue on long journeys.
The Futuron’s seamless interior also reflects its autonomous driving nature, with surfaces flowing uninterrupted from the dashboard and through the door panels. The doors feature the same Star Cloud lighting and scaled Dragon Skin motif found on the outside of the car, creating an interactive ambient lighting system. The ventilation system is also housed behind Dragon Skin scales, which open and close to enable fresh air to circulate throughout the cabin.
One of the most prominent features of the cabin is the ‘cockpit’ area surrounding the driver. The graphical user interface (GUI) of the cockpit flows out of the driver-side door and wraps around the steering wheel in a seamless arc. This merges the instrument cluster directly with the audio-visual display at the center of the dashboard and is linked to the display integrated within the surface of the steering wheel itself.
The GUI is operated by artificial intelligence technologies, displaying useful information about the car and various autonomous driving, powertrain and navigation features to create a unique user experience. The apex of the cockpit arc sees the GUI lunge forward toward the road, creating an interactive Star Cloud light display at the very front of the cabin.
