Visteon's New Audio Partnership Promises Sweet Sounds

And Unique Design for Discerning Customers DEARBORN, Mich. (PROTEXT) - Automotive audiophiles, listen up!What you are about to hear -- and see -- is a new generation ofpremier vehicle sound systems, a generation characterized byunmatched quality and stellar design. Visteon has paired its world-class audio and electroniccapabilities with prestigious Danish audio-video manufacturerBang & Olufsen to develop a new level of automotive audiosophistication. The partnership enables Visteon to offerexclusive audio systems to high-end vehicle manufacturers andtheir consumers. It also represents Bang & Olufsen's firstventure into the automotive audio arena. Bang & Olufsen, a premier home audio system manufacturer, isknown for its superior mechanical movements, its acousticsexcellence, and remarkable product design -- design whichincludes vertical CD stacks and brushed aluminum cylindricalspeakers. "We are extremely happy with this agreement," said Stephen W.Delaney, vice president, interiors and exteriors, Visteon. "Wewanted to partner with a premier audio company to push our designand engineering capabilities to new heights. At the same time,Bang & Olufsen was seeking a world-class organization that hadthe proven ability to integrate technology in vehicles on aglobal basis." The agreement marries Visteon's expertise in areas such asacoustics, system equalization, market research, andmanufacturing with Bang & Olufsen's unique ability to produce topquality, uniquely designed audio systems that appeal to selectconsumers. Visteon is a world leader in the production andintegration of automotive electronics and audio components;collaboration with Bang & Olufsen allows it to develop systemswith capabilities unseen in today's conventional automotive audiounits. "Building on a common and solid base of technological know-howand by combining the market forces of Visteon with the designforces of Bang & Olufsen, we are convinced that this newpartnership will be successful," said Poul Sojberg, director ofnew business development for Bang & Olufsen. "Bang & Olufsen ischaracterized by courageous design, simplicity and high qualitystandards and this Danish/American partnership will provideoutstanding automotive multimedia systems for exclusivecustomers." "The Bang & Olufsen/Visteon audio system will be marketed to aparticular customer -- the customer who expects nothing less thanexcellence in performance, quality and design," concurred JimMazurek, manager, electronic marketing and business analysis,Visteon. "We have jointly identified and agreed upon the audiocharacteristics that must be present in a Bang & Olufsen/Visteonaudio system. They are the characteristics a consumer wouldexpect in the very best automotive audio system that is globallyavailable." These systems will offer enhanced components such as uniquespeakers and improved woofers and superior audio clarity. Theywill also offer additional options to maintain audio systemexcellence as sound technology continues to mature. Significant design changes will differentiate these units froma standard audio system. They will exhibit sophisticated designsthat take their cues from the understated elegance of premiervehicle models. Visteon and Bang & Olufsen will explore theapplication of premier materials such as brushed aluminum tospeaker grills and radio bezels. "I think it is fair to say that purchasing a Bang &Olufsen/Visteon system will differentiate the true automotiveaudiophile from the typical consumer," Mazurek said. "Visteon cannow provide the entire range of outstanding audio systems forautomotive manufacturers and their consumers. The system fromBang & Olufsen and Visteon will be at the very top of the range." With a global delivery system of more than 125 technical,manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 21countries, Visteon Automotive Systems is leveraging the talentsof its 77,000 employees to deliver innovative, consumer-drivensolutions to its customers. ots Original Text Service: VisteonAutomotive Systems Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact:Cheryl Eberwein, 313-248-6321, email, ceberwei@visteon.com, orKent Niederhofer, 313-390-1467, email, kniederh@visteon.com, bothof Visteon Web site: http://media.visteon.com

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