Inside edition: looking inside 10 interesting vehicles. Some production. Some concepts. All with interesting interiors

Automotive Design & Production,  April, 2004  by Gary S. Vasilash

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01 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

As the Corvette is meant to be a daily-driver and not just something to throw around on the weekends, lead interior designer Eric Clough and his colleagues paid careful attention to all aspects of the dual-cockpit-based interior. One focus was on materials: the IP and doors are covered with cast-skin foam-in-place trim that resembles leather. One benefit of this material is said to be that it has minimal outgassing, thereby reducing the amount of glass fogging. To say nothing of the fact that it looks better than many interior polymers. The gauges are analog, with white-on-black numerals. White light-emitting diode (LED) technology is used to backlight the gauges and provides a considerable contrast ratio. There is a driver information center that uses organic LED technology; it permits the elimination of backlighting. The seats employ a two-layer composite seat frame and an aluminum base; the goal is to provide both support (especially during high-rate maneuvering) and long-distance comfort. And even the cupholders are improved: They're said to provide the stability necessary for lateral and fore/aft acceleration.

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02 2005 SATURN RELAY

Although the exterior of the crossover sport van (CSV) is supposed to resemble a sport utility vehicle, the inside is supposed to be like a minivan. As many people "live" in their minivans, this comment from Michael Stapleton, design manager and lead interior designer for GM's CSVs, makes sense: "We had contemporary furniture in mind when we designed them--clean lines, high quality and an absence of visual 'noise.'" The primary pieces of furniture are the seats, which are vinyl/cloth or leather surfaced, depending on the trim level. The second and third rows of seats are foldable and removable. The center stack has a light maple-color wood grain surround for the audio and HVAC controls. The IP is two toned, with an ebony-colored upper and either a medium gray or medium cashmere lower. Overhead, there is a standard rail system that provides rear HVAC and audio controls, lighting, rear-seat entertainment (optional DVD), and three storage modules. There is a cargo system below the third row seats with dividers to hold such things as groceries.

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03 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DOOGE GRAND CARAVAN

No one has been building minivans longer than the folks at Chrysler. While some have trumped the company of late, they've come back strong with a unique feature for these '05s: the Stow 'n Go Seating system. By creating a new underbody, fuel tanks, exhaust system, park brake cables, rear and climate control lines, and by modifying the rear suspension, and by, well, inventing these clever new seats, they've come up with the means by which the second and/or third rows of seats can be folded flat into the floor. The headrests do not need to be removed. The operation is simple and easy (which is, in part, a function of all of those aforementioned modifications to the vehicle). One consequence of the packaging requirements for Stow 'n Go is that a super high-density foam is used--which is more expensive than traditional seat foams--because in addition to having seats that fold flat in a comparatively compact space, Chrysler wanted seats that are comfortable, too. When the second row of seats is not folded flat, there is 12-[ft.sup.3] of covered storage space in the footwell area (where the seats would be folded into). The second row also has 4 in. of fore and aft travel and can recline up to 40. The second row also tumbles forward to permit third row passengers to get to their seats. The third row bench, incidentally, can be flipped reward (fully or either section of the 60/40 split) for tailgate seating.

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04 2005 FORD MUSTANG

Check the "Color Accent Package"--charcoal with red leather seats, red door inserts, red floor mats. It looks as fast inside as from without. Chromed ringed gauges have color-configurable readouts: 125 colors. The chromed-ringed air vents are vertically aligned with the gauges so that there is a consistent, uniform look on the IP. The Mustang is a four-place vehicle; focus was on providing as much space as possible for heads, shoulders and legs. Of course, as the Mustang is a fastback, the headroom in the rear isn't nearly what it is in the front: architecture has consequences. One available option that is of note: the 1,000-W "shaker Audiophile" system. (If the engine doesn't do it, the sounds surely will.)

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05 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

Because this is a new vehicle for Ford, the designers and engineers were able to start with a nearly clean slate. As Phil Martens, Ford's group vice president of Product Creation, puts it, "Freestyle is built from the ground up as a crossover with class-leading spaciousness, seven-passenger comfort, versatility and all-wheel-drive capability." There's lots of nook-and-cranny storage in this cross-over vehicle: 12 cup holders; a bin on top of the instrument panel; center console; and more. The center stack is faced with either a hydrographic burl-wood pattern wood grain or a faux carbon fiber, depending on whether you want a sense of elegance or high tech. Heated leather seats are available. Second row seating is either captain's chairs or 60/40-split fold bench. A raised greenhouse over the third row provides extra headroom; the backs of the second row seats are designed to provide more legroom. Total interior volume: 154.2 [ft.sup.3].