Márcio Ribeiro

Through Huge Brazil, I was invited to assist in the development of the newly created UX Design Team of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Latam, based in Brazil. At this time, Fiat was planning its participation in one of the biggest automobile events in the world, the São Paulo International Motor Show.

Although unfortunately the steering wheel (and all part related to internal design) was not brought to the event due to the deadline, this project had fundamental importance to give FCA Latam insight into the possibilities of interaction within the car and also to the importance of using prototypes for the validation and materialization of digital interfaces, things that previously were even disregarded by the company due to its focus on the past being almost all geared towards the outside of the car.

With the tradition of every event presenting a concept car with the aim of showing a little of what Fiat seeks for its future, the idea of ​​the FCA Steering Wheel arises: an attempt to bring new possibilities and control behind the wheel of the driver, from the already common control of basic functions like the radio as well as connection with the functions of the driver's smartphone and even his home. And to make the experience more enjoyable, we think of the use of a haptic interface, essential to simulate feedback normally coming from an analogue control and also to facilitate its use, thus requiring less attention from the driver, focused on his direction.