Incari enables state-of-the-art interfaces in retrofitted classic cars

Incari_HMI
Incari-InterFaces
Published in
4 min readApr 21, 2022

Incari GmbH has partnered with the renowned Strate School of Design Bangalore and the French company Design 1880 to jointly retrofit advanced human-machine interfaces (HMI) in classic cars as well as outdated but beloved road cars. “We and our partners bring together the perfect tools, the know-how, and the experience to build on the past for a better and more sustainable future,” says Osman Dumbuya, CEO of Incari.

The e-Lorean project / Photo by Matthias Mederer/ramp.pictures

Retrofit cars is a market on the rise, with more and more collectors and car enthusiasts looking to renew the technology inside their classic cars and vintage models to increase comfort and satisfy today‘s legal and ecological requirements. While the retrofit market today is mostly focused on electrification only, Incari provides the possibility to easily integrate new technologies into older car models for a modern user experience. However, the partnership between Incari, the Strate School of Design Bangalore, and Design 1880 is not limited to cars. Any type of vehicle, for example boats, can be retrofitted with the latest HMI and drive technology with the expertise and technology of the three partners, without losing its flair.

Modern technology blending in with the style of the past

Incari has already gained experience in equipping vintage cars with state-of-the-art HMI interfaces. A legendary (D)eLorean has been updated with Incari technology in partnership with Wunderkind Invest. The specially developed electric drive components of the iconic e-Lorean are combined with a unique HMI developed by Incari.

In a joint effort with Design 1880, a Fiat 500 has been electrified. The classic Fiat 500 is equipped with a digital display and can be easily connected to the smartphone and a special app. It features a smartphone holder adapted to the latest technological standards such as induction charging and magnetic attachment. The smartphone can be installed easily and without cables with one hand while offering a style that makes you think it was developed in the same period as the car.

A circular digital screen replaces the analog speedometer, is connected to the smartphone, and continuously provides relevant information to accompany the driving experience. The screen makes it possible to check battery consumption, for example, and can also be customized. This takes the user experience to a new level while preserving the spirit of the iconic car.

Similar projects show: Incari reduces development times up to 70 percent

Incari offers a software platform with an intuitive visual user interface to design state-of-the-art human-machine interfaces. It enables users who lack programming skills to design complex interfaces in 3D, while at the same time generating a very clean programming code. Moreover, Incari provides a common software environment for developers and designers who are already in the prototyping phase. This brings flexibility and saves time.

The e-Lorean project / Photo by Matthias Mederer/ramp.pictures

The software also takes a 3D-first approach. This offers entirely new possibilities in user comfort — especially in conjunction with augmented reality (AR). The Incari method promises a reduction in development times in the HMI area of up to 70 percent, as comparative projects have shown, with simultaneously lower personnel requirements and a higher-quality end-user experience.

About Strate School of Design Bangalore

The Strate School of Design Bangalore is among the best design schools in the world. With more than 29 years of experience in European design excellence, Strate has set up an international team to train talents locally in Bangalore. It was born in 1993 with a simple motto “to make the world simple, fair, beautiful” and reiterates this with its fundamentally humanist approach to design.

About Design 1880

Design1880 offers retrofit and customization solutions for classic cars, with a focus on the user experience. What is retrofitting? Converting a combustion engine vehicle into an electric one!

Good design should make people’s lives easier — at Incari we are convinced of this. We are a Berlin-based software provider that creates the HMI development platform Incari Studio. We create the required tools and technologies necessary for developing future-based HMI systems in various industries. InterFaces is a platform to explore what such systems can or will look like at some point in the future. Follow us on Twitter: Incari_HMI, Follow us on Instagram: Incari_HMI, Follow us on LinkedIn: Incari HMI Development.

--

--

Incari_HMI
Incari-InterFaces

Official Account of Incari — HMI Development Platform | Reshaping the relationship between Human & Machine — responsible & invisible | www.incari.com