Mitsubishi To Launch Touchscreen Infotainment System

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi has unveiled a revolutionary new touchscreen-based infotainment system. The system will purportedly run Google’s Android operating system, but not the same Android OS found in most other vehicles. Instead, Mitsubishi has designed a heavily customized version of Android specifically for use in cars.

Dubbed FLEXConnect In-Vehicle Infotainment, it will feature a prominent 12.1-inch touchscreen display can be adjusted to full-screen, half-screen and one-third screen displays, depending on the user’s preference. Each “section” of the display can then be designated for a specific purpose, such as GPS navigation, media player, climate controls, etc.

According to some reports, the FLEXConnect In-Vehicle Infotainment display takes up most (if not all) of the center console. In other words, traditional “manual” controls for things like the radio, heating and cooling, etc. are eliminated. If you want to adjust these systems within your car, you’ll have to use the new touchscreen interface.

What’s even more impressive with the FLEXConnect In-Vehicle Infotainment, however, is its use of a heads-up display. Located directly above the steering wheel on the windshield is a 488 x 240 rectangle that’s used for the system’s heads-up display. So when you’re driving down the road and need GPS direction but don’t want to look away, you can simply peer down to the corner of your windshield.

Now for the million-dollar question: when will the new FLEXConnect In-Vehicle Infotainment ship? Unfortunately, there’s still word yet on when the system will be officially released. Some reports indicate that Mitsubishi will likely begin selling them in its upcoming line of vehicles later this year, although there’s been no official confirmation as of yet.

“Built on an Android platform, the center touchscreen allows easy sharing of navigation, media and climate functionality with the instrument panel and heads-up display. FLEXConnect.IVI features a large 12.1-inch portrait mode display that allows users the flexibility to access one to three features simultaneously. With full-screen, half-screen and one-third screen displays, users can access navigation only, navigation and media player, or navigation, media player and climate controls,” wrote Mitsubishi in a press release announcing the new system.

What do you think of Mitsubishi’s FLEXConnect In-Vehicle Infotainment system?