Hyundai Motor reveals development of first mass-produced software-defined vehicle

Hyundai Motor Company has released the development story of 'The New Grandeur', its first mass-produced software-defined vehicle designed to evolve through continuous software updates. The model features the Pleos Connect infotainment platform and a Smart Vision Roof that reduces solar energy inflow to the low-to-mid 10% range.

The development story of 'The New Grandeur' released by Hyundai Motor Company (HYUNDAI) contains the intense deliberations involved in transitioning a flagship sedan with a 40-year history into a software-defined vehicle (SDV). Defining this model as the first mass-produced vehicle in their SDV transition, Hyundai researchers aimed to create an "evolving car" that allows customers to continuously add new features through software updates even after purchase.

"Not putting all functions on the screen"... Restraint for user experience

During the development of 'Pleos Connect', the infotainment platform at the core of the SDV, the key challenge was balancing aesthetic design with user convenience. Shin Yong-jin, a lead researcher on the Hyundai infotainment platform development team, explained, "While existing OSs only allowed the use of fixed functions, Pleos Connect is designed so that customers can maintain the latest specifications even after purchase." The development goal is to create a vehicle that continues to evolve the more it is driven by fixing software errors and updating new functions for customers.

In particular, the initial plan to implement all functions as software buttons (soft keys) using the adopted 17-inch large display was revised. This decision was made because the researchers determined that customers across various age groups must be able to operate the vehicle intuitively. The researchers chose "restraint" by keeping essential functions—such as window, climate, media, and volume controls—as physical buttons (hard keys). Additionally, while integrating the cluster and navigation into a single controller, they focused heavily on the placement of warning icons to reduce the sense of unfamiliarity for existing users. Safety information that customers need to check most prominently was placed in the cluster to minimize the difference from existing clusters.

The introduction of "hidden-type electric air vents" to improve the completeness of the interior design is also a major highlight. Reflecting the designers' need for a "clean interior," they adopted a design that hides the vents as much as possible while exposing the central air vent to ensure climate control performance is not compromised. This was a technical compromise to maximize interior comfort without harming aesthetic beauty. Considering that the center area is a space occupied by the vehicle and a space for various experiences, it was designed to maximize climate performance within limits that do not compromise design aesthetics.

Smart Vision Roof: A technical solution between openness and heat blocking

The 'Smart Vision Roof', the most notable new technology in this model, applies variable film (PDLC) that can adjust transparency, allowing for the control of transparent and opaque states without the need for a traditional roll blind (curtain). Park Tae-hyeon, a researcher on the MLV Closure Design Team, stated that triple silver coating and low-emissivity coating technologies were combined to solve the heat and quietness issues resulting from the removal of the roll blind. The triple silver coating between the upper and lower glass blocks solar heat, while the low-emissivity coating on the bottom reduces the heat emitted when the glass becomes hot. Furthermore, soundproofing performance was reinforced through the PVB film between the glass and the phereal seal film, securing a level of quietness comparable to a panoramic sunroof, such as in reducing the sound of indoor conversation when it rains.

The Smart Vision Roof significantly reduced the amount of solar energy inflow compared to existing panoramic sunroofs. While the total energy inflow of a panoramic sunroof is at approximately the 33% level, the Smart Vision Roof can control it to a level in the low-to-mid 10% range. It also increased the UV protection rate to over 99.9% and secured safety during vehicle rollovers through rigidity and collision analysis. Researchers explained that they obtained results significantly higher than domestic regulations in roof strength tests. However, researchers added that they do not recommend separate tinting work, as it could impair the function of the special coating designed to maximize heat blocking performance. If tinting is applied, it may act to release the heat that the special coating blocks back into the interior, which could be disadvantageous to heat rejection performance.

Efforts were also made to enhance the competitiveness of the hybrid model. Kim Won-seop, a researcher on the climate system design team, recalled that applying reclining seats to the second row of the hybrid model was the most difficult process. This was because they had to reflect customer concerns that hybrid models might have lower quietness or competitiveness despite having a higher price than internal combustion engine models. To achieve this, they slimmed down the upper part of the battery and the lower structure of the seat frame, and reconfigured the path by extending the length of the cooling duct so that empty space noise in the trunk area could escape, realizing livability that is indistinguishable from internal combustion engine models.

A "connected life" completed by AI and an app ecosystem

The New Grandeur aims for a mobile environment that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and an app ecosystem beyond being a simple means of transportation. Pleos Connect, which features AAOS for the first time from Hyundai, provides an environment where third-party apps such as YouTube and Spotify can be freely used through an "App Market." Additionally, 'Gleo AI', which applies a Large Language Model (LLM), is installed to perform emotional feedback by grasping the user's intentions. As voice recognition is an emotional area without a single correct answer, it possesses an improved ability to grasp intentions compared to previous platforms through the LLM.

For example, if a user says, "I feel so stuffy right now, I want some ventilation," the AI can judge this and circulate air by opening only one-fifth of the window rather than the whole thing. The climate system also segmented the user experience by providing four modes to suit the user's situation: 'Coke Mode' which blocks wind, 'Spread Mode' which spreads it, and 'Cycle Mode' which is natural. Hyundai researchers stated, "To ensure we do not disappoint customers who purchase the vehicle, we are preparing continuous updates by reflecting the voices of customers heard both online and offline."

Source: original video (YouTube)