Pepper
01-09-2005, 08:21 AM
When Southgate-based auto supplier ASC Inc. created its Helios four-door concept convertible for the 2005 North American International Auto Show, it had consumers like Delores Hunter in mind.
Hunter, a 56-year-old Detroit retiree, said she recently got a ride in a friend's two-seat Chevrolet Corvette convertible -- and she didn't like it.
"I was really uncomfortable," Hunter said. "There was no room and I felt too low to the ground."
Maybe Hunter will be happier in something such as the spacious Helios.
ASC cleverly took a Chrysler 300C sedan and customized it for baby boomers who don't want to give up space and comfort when they buy a convertible.
The convertible-roof system on the Helios is amazing to watch in action. It folds in on itself automatically and stores into an 18-inch space behind the rear seats.
Passengers in the rear seat not only have a substantial amount of shoulder room, they can also partially recline the seat backs.
While the convertible-top system infringes some on the trunk space, ASC says it is still possible to store a couple of golf bags in the rear -- generally considered one of the critical measures of a convertible's usefulness.
Four-door convertibles have been extinct since 1967, when the Lincoln Continental convertible was on the market, according to ASC. But the company predicts they could enjoy a rebirth, especially when paired with a popular product like the 300C.
"We realized that baby boomers do not have a lot of choices when it comes to convertibles," said Marques McCammon, ASC's director of product and business planning.
"They are stuck in two-seaters. No one should feel as if they have to compromise. That's why we believe the market is ready for a four-door convertible."
ASC said Chrysler is aware of the Helios prototype but there are no plans for production.
The convertible-top system could also work on other large sedans, such as the Ford Five Hundred and the Toyota Avalon, ASC said.
Helios -- named after the Greek god of the sun who is often pictured driving his chariot from east to west -- is noteworthy for its structural breakthroughs.
ASC engineers installed a patent-pending cross-car steel bulkhead just behind the car's front seats. They say the bulkhead helps to keep the sedan rigid and quiet and also transfers the force of a side-impact crash away from the passengers. The bulkhead looks slightly unsightly, but it doesn't interfere with the ability of the front seat backs to recline.
A cool new navigation system also makes its North American debut on Helios. It's the Sony XYZ (pronounced "zee-zed") and it's the result of Sony's new collaboration with ASC. Unlike most navigation systems, which can be slightly disorienting and flat-looking, XYZ delivers three-dimensional, real-life images of what the driver sees heading toward a destination.
With the push of a button, the system can be removed and used at home. It serves double duty by storing thousands of songs, snapshots and videos. While on sale in Europe and Japan, the XYZ may not hit the U.S. market until the 2006 model year.
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autoshow/0501/09/A10-54272.htm
Hunter, a 56-year-old Detroit retiree, said she recently got a ride in a friend's two-seat Chevrolet Corvette convertible -- and she didn't like it.
"I was really uncomfortable," Hunter said. "There was no room and I felt too low to the ground."
Maybe Hunter will be happier in something such as the spacious Helios.
ASC cleverly took a Chrysler 300C sedan and customized it for baby boomers who don't want to give up space and comfort when they buy a convertible.
The convertible-roof system on the Helios is amazing to watch in action. It folds in on itself automatically and stores into an 18-inch space behind the rear seats.
Passengers in the rear seat not only have a substantial amount of shoulder room, they can also partially recline the seat backs.
While the convertible-top system infringes some on the trunk space, ASC says it is still possible to store a couple of golf bags in the rear -- generally considered one of the critical measures of a convertible's usefulness.
Four-door convertibles have been extinct since 1967, when the Lincoln Continental convertible was on the market, according to ASC. But the company predicts they could enjoy a rebirth, especially when paired with a popular product like the 300C.
"We realized that baby boomers do not have a lot of choices when it comes to convertibles," said Marques McCammon, ASC's director of product and business planning.
"They are stuck in two-seaters. No one should feel as if they have to compromise. That's why we believe the market is ready for a four-door convertible."
ASC said Chrysler is aware of the Helios prototype but there are no plans for production.
The convertible-top system could also work on other large sedans, such as the Ford Five Hundred and the Toyota Avalon, ASC said.
Helios -- named after the Greek god of the sun who is often pictured driving his chariot from east to west -- is noteworthy for its structural breakthroughs.
ASC engineers installed a patent-pending cross-car steel bulkhead just behind the car's front seats. They say the bulkhead helps to keep the sedan rigid and quiet and also transfers the force of a side-impact crash away from the passengers. The bulkhead looks slightly unsightly, but it doesn't interfere with the ability of the front seat backs to recline.
A cool new navigation system also makes its North American debut on Helios. It's the Sony XYZ (pronounced "zee-zed") and it's the result of Sony's new collaboration with ASC. Unlike most navigation systems, which can be slightly disorienting and flat-looking, XYZ delivers three-dimensional, real-life images of what the driver sees heading toward a destination.
With the push of a button, the system can be removed and used at home. It serves double duty by storing thousands of songs, snapshots and videos. While on sale in Europe and Japan, the XYZ may not hit the U.S. market until the 2006 model year.
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autoshow/0501/09/A10-54272.htm