2004 Johnson Controls 3e - AllCarIndex

Key Message

Everyday Needs - 3e, an interior concept from Johnson Controls, responds to emerging priorities through a cross-section of generations. 

Benefits

• Real and perceived space 
• A variety of usability modes 
• Being intuitive and connected
• Integrated flexibility
• Reducing materials through smart design 
• Utility to suit your needs

3e was an everyday car created by placing value on:

1. Overall Architecture

2. HMI Cockpit

3. Rear Seating System

4. Materials

The theme of 3e was to create a real and perceived space, using simplified forms surrounded by negative space to achieve a clean, consistent look. The goal was spaciousness with plastic surfaces only (no vinyls, foams, or metal/wood trim) for usability & cleanability with a fresh, modern look. The 3e concept supported various modes of use differently. The cockpit area could transform to suit guests or solitary drivers. Time spent ‘parked’ was considered, to help consumers make ‘waiting’ more constructive, and make the car a better place for short-term ‘escapes’.

1. Overall Architecture

• Hatchback, glass roof
• Power sliding door on the driver’s side
• Conventional front and rear doors on the passenger side

3e attempted to leverage future power train developments to provide benefits that consumers can recognize. Current hybrids went to great lengths to communicate differences that are largely invisible to the consumer. The overall architecture was ‘small/tall’, a tall car filling a Golf-sized footprint. 3e was asymmetrical in layout to achieve the best balance of everyday functionality and to communicate to consumers how uniquely spacious and livable this compact concept was.

2. HMI Cockpit

• Web Cam
• Cluster coordination with other displays
• ‘Emotional’ design for clusters
• ‘Reconfigurable buttons’

Steer-by-wire, relocated HVAC, and an articulating central display allowed controls and features to adjust to the driver, and unique storage to appear when needed.

Part of the concept of ‘economy’ involveed affording new consumer priorities like electronics by simplifying other areas like seating structures by employing drive-by-wire technologies. 3e achieved a clean, open appearance, with concealed storage and a ‘floating’ IP that allowed natural light to flood the footwell.

3. Rear Seating System

• Under-seat storage in second row 
• Uncluttered, open floors
• Communicating usability: how and where to operate seat mechanisms
• Child accommodation

The rear seat had a supported swing arm behind the sidewall trim, leaving open space underneath. The seat offered three positions: High child position, lower adult position and flat load floor. Stadium functions were available at all levels.

4. Materials

• The use of recyclable textiles
• Reducing the number of materials used in the first place, which can reduce cost and weight as well
• The perimeter trim concept is a great example of this strategy

A goal of 3e was to ‘clean-up’ surfaces throughout the interior, and leverage Multi-Color Injection Molding to achieve a look where unadorned plastic was acceptable without applied skins and foams. This provided benefits in weight, cost, recyclability and reduction of materials overall.

source: Johnson Controls