One Car, Two Interiors

Lear Corp. says its common architecture for interiors can reduce engineering, tooling and design cost, but don't look for automakers to offer completely customized interiors any time soon.

Lear demonstrates a completely flexible interior that would allow customers to choose what seats, dashboard treatment, instrumentation, steeringwheel and other features they want inside cars and trucks. All parts would plug into the vehicle in the same way and work with each other, simplifying assembly.

Lear says automakers would be able to offer the same car with completely unique interiors to appeal to different types or generations of buyers who would make selections on their home PCs or at dealership kiosks.

But Lear admits it may be awhile before automakers are willing to give car buyers that many options.