Connected Life & Driving Comfort Leads to Innovations for a More Comfortable Drive

Mini screen on the key and MP3 onboard the vehicle

Frankfurt, September 10, 2007 -- Whether before the journey, when getting into the vehicle or en route, Continental Automotive Systems technologies enhance your all-round driving comfort. At this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), Continental Automotive Systems, a division of the international automotive industry supplier Continental, will showcase its intelligent entry systems, which allow the driver to call up vehicle data from a distance. Mobile devices can be connected to the vehicle easily via the Bluetooth interface with the telematics unit. Dynamic seat control units ensure a pleasant driving experience by adjusting to the respective driving situation. An enjoyable and comfortable drive is guaranteed thanks to the innovative control units for automatic transmissions and air suspension chassis with air damping systems.

Intelligent entry systems allow access to vehicle data
Car keys will become a mini computer: The intelligent key fobs from Continental Automotive Systems are equipped with an LCD or OLED screen and can establish contact with the vehicle via a radio signal in the 300 to 1,000 MHz range – at a distance of up to several hundred meters. In addition to being able to lock the vehicle from a distance, drivers can call up vehicle data on the display screen, such as the remaining fuel level, the interior temperature and information from the onboard computer. The driver can, for example, regulate the interior temperature of the car remotely. The key display can be used in combination with the VLD function (Vehicle Location Detection) to locate the vehicle quickly. This is useful for drivers who often leave their vehicles in large car parks or is perhaps of interest to vehicle rental companies.

Dynamic seats adapt in response to the driving style
With conventional sports seats, you have to compromise on either lateral stability or comfort.

Continental Automotive Systems has resolved this conflict of objectives with new dynamic seats. Instead of rigid side bolsters, cushions that can be filled with air (within fractions of a second if necessary) are incorporated into the seats, maintaining the desired lateral hold if corners are taken quickly. The data required is already available in the vehicle. Thanks to electronic stability program ESC and all of the associated sensors, the seat control unit is constantly aware of how vigorously the driver is depressing the accelerator pedal and turning the steering wheel. When the driver slows down a little, the seat system reduces the pres¬sure in the air cushions. This feature is also available for the passenger seat and can be activated separately for the driver and passenger seats. Within certain limits, the settings can even be individually adjusted.

Electric supports for the lumbar region (lumbar support) are already fitted as standard in some vehicles, whilst massage functions and ventilation systems integrated into the seat are frequently requested optional equipment. A new feature is the active cooling seat, with a control unit developed by Continental Automotive Systems. The base of the seat, and in some cases the backrest, are fitted with electrothermal cooling elements to maintain a comfortable temperature between the driver's body and the seat. "These latest innovations from Continental Automotive Systems underscore its position as the European market leader for seat control technology," commented Anton Elsen, head of the Body and Security business unit at Continental Automotive Systems.

Telematics connect a cell phone or iPod to the vehicle
The wireless technology of the Bluetooth standard enables digital devices such as cell phones, smartphones and MP3s to be integrated into the vehicle, allowing them to be controlled via operating elements that are already available in the vehicle, such as those in the steering wheel. The mediator between the device and the vehicle is a telematics unit from Continental Automotive Systems. It can be used, for example, to download address books from the phone into the car or to read out incoming text messages using a text-to-speech function. The open architecture of the telematics units from Continental Automotive Systems is one of the main benefits to car manufacturers and drivers. Software updates or new hardware components make it easy to integrate new devices that come onto the market – an important feature for people who regularly replace their cell phones, for example.

The trend toward automatic gearshift mechanisms continues
By 2011, approximately one in three new vehicles in Europe will have an automatic transmission; in North America and Asia, the figures have already exceeded 80 per cent. "Continental Automotive Systems offers control units for the whole range of automatic transmissions from continuously variable transmissions (CVT) to automated manual transmissions and double-clutch transmissions. Double-clutch transmissions are responsible for the majority of market growth in Europe“ noted Dieter Rogge, head of the Powertrain & Chassis business unit at Continental Automotive Systems. Double-clutch transmissions (DCT) have gears 1, 3 and 5 assigned to one clutch and 2, 4 and 6 assigned to another. The transmission control developed and produced by Continental Automotive Systems operates without interruption to the power flow. In contrast to the classic fully automatic transmission, performance is not diminished by any slip generated in the torque converter. The DCT thus combines the energy efficiency of a manual transmission with the comfort of a fully automatic by less weight. The next generations of control units fit to new dry DCTs, with clutches that do no more run in oil. In addition to the existing punched grille systems for sensor contacts, flexible film will also be used in the future as a means of connection in order to better fulfill the various customer requirements.

Air damping systems ensure optimum driving comfort
In high-end chassis with Electronic Air Suspension, air has replaced the traditional steel spring. This medium is now also being used in switchable dampers. The new technology is the Continental Air Damping System (CADS). Combined air-sprung damping optimizes driving comfort and dynamics at the same high level throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. The innovative spring damper element has no piston rods or mechanical guide components, so jolts, vibration or noise from the vehicle are thus no longer transmitted to the body. The switchable dampers only become taut if more dynamic driving is required. In standard operation, the main focus is on absorbing bumps in the road. The air suspension chassis dynamically adjusts its damping settings according to various sensor information processed in the vehicle control unit data. "As a pioneer in the field of electronically controlled air-sprung vehicles, Continental Automotive Systems is setting new standards for the future of the automobile with air-sprung damping", according to Dieter Rogge.

The Continental group is a leading supplier of braking systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers to the automotive industry. In 2006, the company generated sales of €14.9 billion and currently employs a workforce of roughly 89,000 throughout the world.

As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of active and passive driving safety, embedded telematics and hands-free communication systems, powertrain and comfort. In 2006 the Division achieved sales of approx. Euro 6 billion with a workforce of more than 30,000. Continental Automotive Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan modules, body and security electronics and also is the industry leader of embedded telematics and communication systems in vehicles.

Source: Continental

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