Dawn of a New Era for Car Interiors
Manufacturers worldwide are seizing the opportunity presented by the electromobility boom to redefine the boundaries of interior design. The recent years have witnessed a significant shift toward minimalism and digitalization, a trend poised to accelerate with the advancements in autonomous driving technology. For automotive interior enthusiasts, this is an incredibly exciting time, as it heralds an era of greater innovation, individuality, and customization. Automakers, from every corner of the globe, are heavily investing in novel approaches to elevate the car cabin experience. We can also anticipate the integration of technologies that operate beneath the surface.
BMW’s concept for the Neue Klasse.
With the emergence of autonomy, upcoming interior technologies are being developed to improve safety and comfort through enhanced software, passive and active safety systems, and various electronic features. While these features are beginning to appear in modern electric cars, full integration into existing product options within the U.S. remains a future goal.
This article draws upon information from manufacturer websites and authoritative sources like Nvidia, the IIHS, and Vibilagare to provide the most up-to-date and accurate insights into the rapidly changing world of car interior design.
The Autonomous Revolution in Car Interiors
Most manufacturers are currently making considerable investments in self-driving technology, an area that encompasses both the exterior and interior design of electric vehicles. Companies like Bosch and Nvidia are major players in this field, but on the interior front, most carmakers are focused on creating a suitable cabin setting that complements the futuristic self-driving functionality. The Audi SkySphere, BMW Neue Klasse, and Mercedes-Benz EQXX concepts provide several examples of what the future may hold.
Advancements Enabled by Autonomous Driving
Autonomous driving technology is driving the development of cutting-edge sensors and cameras that enhance vehicle awareness and safety:
- AI-driven software enables smarter navigation systems, offering more accurate and efficient route planning.
- Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology ensures robust communication between autonomous vehicles and infrastructure.
- Driver assistance systems are becoming more sophisticated in autonomous vehicles, reducing human error and improving driving safety.
- Cybersecurity is being prioritized to protect against hacking and maintain the integrity of vehicle control systems.
- In-car entertainment and productivity are being enhanced, allowing passengers to engage in various activities during their journeys.
Interior of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
With these advances in mind, we can foresee steering wheels retracting into the dashboard when autonomous functions are enabled. This frees up space for the driver, effectively becoming another passenger. Front swiveling seats are also likely, transforming the cabin into a more social environment. However, both of these innovations are probably decades away because of needed legislative changes, especially in the U.S. The IIHS is preparing to modify its criteria for autonomous driving features, but this is not something that will happen overnight.
Eco-Friendly Materials: The Sustainable Choice
BMW is prioritizing recycling and upcycling, practices that are swiftly becoming essential for upcoming electric cars. This is an ongoing trend, and brands will be accelerating these efforts in the coming years. Recycled plastics will be incorporated into the dashboard, door panels, and other interior trim elements through use of 3D printing, remolding, and other restorative methods.
Manufacturers are investing heavily in the creation of more sustainable upholstery using organic and recycled sources. They are also exploring the use of materials like bamboo and mushrooms, chosen because they are easy and cost-effective to grow and transform into materials.
Innovative Organic and Recycled Materials
Manufacturers are increasingly using recycled plastics in car interiors to reduce waste and environmental impact.
- Sustainable fabrics are being used for seating, like materials made from recycled bottles or natural fibers like hemp.
- Eco-friendly materials like reclaimed wood and biodegradable composites, are being adopted for dashboards and trim.
- Plant-based foams are being explored for seat cushions and other padding to minimize carbon footprints.
- Innovative recycling processes such as those that allow the reuse of materials from end-of-life vehicles are being developed by automakers in collaboration with suppliers.
- Water-based paints and low-VOC coatings used in vehicle production are helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
While many cars currently use such materials, the transition hasn’t been perfect. Tesla’s eco-friendly leather option has sometimes been criticized for premature wear or even molding in extreme climates. Also, recycled plastics must still improve to achieve better perceived quality levels. Concepts like Paul Smith’s Mini Strip, the BMW i Vision Circular Concept, and the Citroën Oli EV represent eco-friendly interior design. All of them have confirmed that the innovations used in these concepts will be implemented in their production cars.
Advanced Digital Displays and Augmented Reality
It’s no secret that most new electric car manufacturers are focused on bright, clear, and visually stunning digital displays. The next generation of electric cars will elevate this further with more artificial intelligence software integration. The integration of new entertainment features into these displays accounts for the anticipated arrival of autonomous electric cars to keep both the driver and passengers occupied.
More Advanced Digital Displays
- Touchscreen dashboards are being developed by manufacturers with higher resolution and responsiveness to improve driver interaction and user experience.
- Voice and gesture control systems are being integrated into digital displays, enabling hands-free operation of vehicles.
- Larger, curved screens are being invested in by the industry to provide a more immersive and visually appealing interface for drivers and passengers.
- To provide seamless integration with smartphones and smart home devices, digital displays are seeing increased incorporation of advanced connectivity features.
- Over-the-air update capabilities in digital displays ensure that vehicle software is always up to date without a service visit.
- Customizable digital interfaces are being designed by manufacturers that can adapt to individual driver preferences and provide a personalized driving experience.
This represents a trend that is already well underway and occasionally frustrates drivers. Some safety organizations argue that these systems distract drivers, as they require drivers to take their eyes off of the road. Tesla highlights this with its lack of an instrument cluster. It contends that the features with the FSD package don’t require a conventional set of gauges, as the car takes on most of the observation work. This reflects a trend that is likely to expand to most mainstream manufacturers in the coming years.
Augmented reality displays in a Mercedes-Benz.
Augmented reality is emerging as the next technological frontier for most tech-based companies. This three-dimensional visual phenomenon has already been implemented into existing head-up displays for navigation, safety, and information purposes. We can expect it to play an even greater role in the upcoming generation of electric cars. AR is designed to act as a more in-depth navigation and safety system by covering the entire windshield surface. It will offer more thorough navigation and safety guidance by identifying road limitations, highlighting objects that may not be visible to the human eye, as well as offer more clear and distinctive directions.
The Impact of AR on the In-Car Experience
- AR navigation systems project directions directly onto the windshield in real-time to enhance driver awareness and convenience.
- AR features spotlight potential hazards and road signs to enhance safety.
- AR technology is being invested in by the industry to offer lane guidance and adaptive cruise control visual cues, assisting drivers in maintaining proper lane positioning and following distances.
- AR systems are being created to improve night and poor weather driving by improving the visibility of road edges and obstacles in challenging circumstances.
- Personalized AR experiences adapting to individual driver preferences and habits are being explored, with the goal of offering tailored driving assistance and information.
- Voice and gesture controls are being focused on during research and development to allow drivers to interact with the AR system seamlessly.
We should also anticipate the use of AR for parking assist systems to simplify fitting into tight spaces. Auto software engineers will also incorporate AR into existing infotainment functions to further enhance the in-car entertainment experience.
Previously, designers have used a combination of AR and virtual reality in their design process. This gives them a clearer idea of what they want their interior and exterior designs to look like without investing as much time in clay models and other physical planning methods.
Improved Safety Systems
Renault safety features.
As cars grow safer with autonomous technology, the utility of intrusive passive safety features like airbags and seatbelts could decrease. Elon Musk has already stated his intention to remove airbags from Tesla models once the advent of full autonomous driving becomes more viable. However, airbags and seatbelts are likely to remain because high-speed collisions can always happen, regardless of how advanced the autonomous systems become. New functions we can also expect include inter-car vehicle communication systems that use data connectivity, radars, and proximity sensors to identify surrounding cars, which will result in smoother autonomous driving with fewer collisions. In some ways, all of the above-mentioned components will improve safety measures, including impact-absorbing interior components, expansive airbag configurations covering more space, and more intuitive and responsive seatbelts.
