Photo: Mitsubishi Electric
Wait, hold on now. Did Mitsubishi previewed their all-new FLEXConnect infotainment system on a Cadillac concept vehicle? That’s unsettling. Nevertheless, how could the Android-based media system get on a Caddy before a Mitsubishi model? The explanation is simple.
The Mitsubishi Group is huge, employing over 350,000 people around the world. Mitsubishi Motors, the brand that gave us the EVO X, and Mitsubishi Electric are both owned by Group. As it’s often the case with humongous multinational companies, the two entities haven’t got anything in common apart from their name and logo.
With that trifling mystery out of the way, let’s get down to business. A leading manufacturer in all things that uses electricity to operate, Mitsubishi Electric also does in-vehicle entertainment and navigation systems. GM and Mercedes-Benz are just two customers, so it isn’t that surprising that a Cadillac was used to preview the FLEXConnect system’s features.
In a nutshell, the FLEXConnect uses a three-screen interface to operate. Mitsubishi tells that “by combining swipe and touchscreen technology, the user can easily and safely interact with the heads-up display and instrument cluster on the center panel.” Built on the smartphone and tablet-friendly Android OS, the system uses a 12.1-inch touchscreen on the center console.
It resembles the tablet-like unit one might find on the all-new Volvo XC90 and the Tesla Model S, doesn’t it? At most, the screen lets you simultaneously display up to three menus: media player, climate control and sat nav. These menus can be shared between it and the two other screens: a 480x240 head-up display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
“Similar systems using multi-processor architectures would struggle to achieve a similar cohesive user experience,” notes Mr. Gareth Williamns, manager of Strategic Technologies, Audio, Video & Communications for Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America. Well Gareth, we’re expecting the FlexConnect to hit a production vehicle real soon and then we’ll be able to agree on that “cohesive user experience."
With that trifling mystery out of the way, let’s get down to business. A leading manufacturer in all things that uses electricity to operate, Mitsubishi Electric also does in-vehicle entertainment and navigation systems. GM and Mercedes-Benz are just two customers, so it isn’t that surprising that a Cadillac was used to preview the FLEXConnect system’s features.
In a nutshell, the FLEXConnect uses a three-screen interface to operate. Mitsubishi tells that “by combining swipe and touchscreen technology, the user can easily and safely interact with the heads-up display and instrument cluster on the center panel.” Built on the smartphone and tablet-friendly Android OS, the system uses a 12.1-inch touchscreen on the center console.
It resembles the tablet-like unit one might find on the all-new Volvo XC90 and the Tesla Model S, doesn’t it? At most, the screen lets you simultaneously display up to three menus: media player, climate control and sat nav. These menus can be shared between it and the two other screens: a 480x240 head-up display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
“Similar systems using multi-processor architectures would struggle to achieve a similar cohesive user experience,” notes Mr. Gareth Williamns, manager of Strategic Technologies, Audio, Video & Communications for Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America. Well Gareth, we’re expecting the FlexConnect to hit a production vehicle real soon and then we’ll be able to agree on that “cohesive user experience."
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