Burscheid, Germany -- Auto interiors supplier Johnson Controls is providing the complete seating system, floor console and headliner for the new Kia cee'd.
"The interior of the first generation Kia cee'd was of very high-quality. However, the second generation sets new standards in design, comfort and quality for the compact class," said Joris Janssen, general manager Europe for Johnson Controls Automotive Experience's Kia customer business unit.
Johnson Controls has developed an especially lightweight seating system for the Kia cee'd that contributes to the vehicle's sustainability. The system is, for comparable versions, up to 5.7 kg lighter than the previous model. The company says this is "very lightweight in comparison to seats in current vehicles."
Johnson Controls achieved this weight reduction without sacrificing safety by using a lightweight metal structure of high- strength, thin-walled steel for the front and rear seats.
According to the auto supplier, the modular structure of the rear seats is "particularly innovative." For the first time, Johnson Controls replaced thick-walled seat pipes with wafer-thin metal frames made of high-strength steel. This adds stability to the split rear seat system.
The c'eed model, developed exclusively for the European market, is made in Kia's Zilina plant in Slovakia. Johnson Controls also produces the seating system in Zilina and delivers it just-in-time. The seat covers are offered in fabric, part leather and full leather.
For the headliner, Johnson Controls considered acoustic properties, visual effect, pleasant haptics and low weight. It has used a multilayer composite as the substrate, for improved stiffness in minimal space, and recycled polyurethane foam as a spacer instead of the usual injection-moulded structures. Both materials cut the part weight, contributing to better fuel efficiency.
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