The Future of Infotainment Systems

[sloopdawg]

saw a segment on tv about how technology is moving so fast
that car manufacturing is having a hard time keeping up
by the time the new models are built the technology had advanced
what else can they stuff in there? as soon as you think they can't do anymore
the next thing seems to appear. what do you guys think

 

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[gemarsh]

Give me crank windows, and a floor mounted dimmer switch. While they are building it, throw a manual gearbox in the mix, also.

 

[sloopdawg]

i had a 2001 corvette with all the latest greatest on it
i look at it now and it was really primitive in todays standards
just made me wonder what the tech of the moment would be in 2035 or 40

 

[gemarsh]

My daily driver before the '23 at4hd was a '93 Z71 stepside. Talk about dash shock!

 

[gemarsh]

 

[john151ama]

I think the future should be modular or interchangeable components. Tech does move too fast and software updates seem unpredictable.

It would be so easy to make the infotainment unit replaceable so it could be upgraded. I think OEMs are not doing it only to force people to get new cars to get new features.

I just helped a kid put in a double din touch screen in his 1995 Chevy. So easy to do. Now he has wireless Apple car play, front and rear cameras, hands free, all the modern goodies. His truck will be easier to keep current in future years as well as compared to my 2024.

Same in my 2001 jeep tj. I have a totally modern system with dual amps,subs, hands free etc and for a couple hundred bucks I can put the latest and greatest in whatever that is next.

New vehicles have become forced obsolescence. Matches throw away society as a whole, “get a new one rather than care for and improve what you already have”.

 

[Cablebandit]

I specifically asked the dealership about all this non-sense with built in entertainment. I told him the only thing you need is a basic radio and a screen that has android auto / carplay. you do 99% of everything through your phone anyway. They basically said that older buyers (the ones with money to buy these hunks of junk) demand that the stuff is built into the vehicle. So instead of using google maps on android, they need it built into the car's system. I don't know how much truth there is to that but they have a lot more research dollars than any of us do. I will say that the tech is the biggest thing that tells you how old a car is these days since they are all built in a wind tunnel and look the same from the outside. That keeps buyers buying as well.

 

[JimPat66]

Give me crank windows, and a floor mounted dimmer switch. While they are building it, throw a manual gearbox in the mix, also.

Don’t forget having two keys as well!

 

[sanny651]

I think the future should be modular or interchangeable components. Tech does move too fast and software updates seem unpredictable.

It would be so easy to make the infotainment unit replaceable so it could be upgraded. I think OEMs are not doing it only to force people to get new cars to get new features.

I just helped a kid put in a double din touch screen in his 1995 Chevy. So easy to do. Now he has wireless Apple car play, front and rear cameras, hands free, all the modern goodies. His truck will be easier to keep current in future years as well as compared to my 2024.

Same in my 2001 jeep tj. I have a totally modern system with dual amps,subs, hands free etc and for a couple hundred bucks I can put the latest and greatest in whatever that is next.

New vehicles have become forced obsolescence. Matches throw away society as a whole, “get a new one rather than care for and improve what you already have”.

Amen! They have everything intertwined together. Your radio should play no role in the ability to start and operate a vehicle. Too many gadgets. Shoot, I have brake pad sensors and air filter sensors. That's more cost that's unnecessary but they force it into the build, which forces it into the cost.

I think they should make these things modular, like you mentioned. THAT would be the industry advantage....back to the future!

 

[R467X]

Well, you can buy the most basic work truck today. But you lose everything. I could care less about the entertainment, digital cluster. What I have to have is leather seats and I want them cooled / heated. Can't buy a truck from factory with leather heated / cooled seats. Gotta pay up 15k+ because they force unnecessary packages on you.

And that's where the problem is. I should be able to pick exactly what I want without being forced to pay for unnecessary garbage. I recall when Nissan came out with their horn activated as you fill up your tires. This made the car $400 more expensive. Most people don't even check their tire pressure let alone know how to fill it with air.

 

[sanny651]

Well, you can buy the most basic work truck today. But you lose everything. I could care less about the entertainment, digital cluster. What I have to have is leather seats and I want them cooled / heated. Can't buy a truck from factory with leather heated / cooled seats. Gotta pay up 15k+ because they force unnecessary packages on you.

And that's where the problem is. I should be able to pick exactly what I want without being forced to pay for unnecessary garbage. I recall when Nissan came out with their horn activated as you fill up your tires. This made the car $400 more expensive. Most people don't even check their tire pressure let alone know how to fill it with air.

I agree. The problem is that the work truck won't hold its value nearly like the nicer ones with some amenities. And that's fine. However, like you said, if you want one thing it comes in a $1500 package and isn't modular. You'd think that by modularizing things, they could open the doors to more GM accessory sales. Then again, when they sell a $150 sub/amp enclosure that takes up half your under seat storage for $800+ and expect consumers to think that's a fair price, that's where that theory becomes defunct.

Big businesses fail the comprehend the concept of volume sales. You'd sell more accessories if you made them around the same price as their aftermarket competitors (who make a better product by the way). But instead, they sell inferior products for 2-4x the price of a quality aftermarket one. Take the under seat rear storage. Rough Country makes one for $120 and Du-Ha for $180. GM's lowest one was over $500 and wasn't half what these were.

How about lighting? Add additional 'placeholder' spots in the battery power distribution block and then sell good light bars at a reasonable price that just plug into those and form fit into their grills/facias. Easy money.

Again, if they could modularize these things they could make an absolute KILLING.

 

[R467X]

I agree. The problem is that the work truck won't hold its value nearly like the nicer ones with some amenities. And that's fine. However, like you said, if you want one thing it comes in a $1500 package and isn't modular. You'd think that by modularizing things, they could open the doors to more GM accessory sales. Then again, when they sell a $150 sub/amp enclosure that takes up half your under seat storage for $800+ and expect consumers to think that's a fair price, that's where that theory becomes defunct.

Big businesses fail the comprehend the concept of volume sales. You'd sell more accessories if you made them around the same price as their aftermarket competitors (who make a better product by the way). But instead, they sell inferior products for 2-4x the price of a quality aftermarket one. Take the under seat rear storage. Rough Country makes one for $120 and Du-Ha for $180. GM's lowest one was over $500 and wasn't half what these were.

How about lighting? Add additional 'placeholder' spots in the battery power distribution block and then sell good light bars at a reasonable price that just plug into those and form fit into their grills/facias. Easy money.

Again, if they could modularize these things they could make an absolute KILLING.

Absolutely. This also includes the aftermarket reliability fixed. Like VSE's fuel system saver, CCv reroute and catch can. Fixing what GM can't.

We all know what kills diesels. Dirty diesel fuel. It's the biggest scam. They're gambling on you ruining your fuel system to then blame it on the gas station and leave you with a $15k bill.

The OEM CCV reroute, when it breaks, you need a new cover because GM doesn't sell the CCV on its own. So instead of paying $200 for a piece of plastic, now you pay $1000 + probably 10 hours of work to get the cover replaced.

 

[73Blazer]

View attachment 30582

Those are still awesome trucks. My 1st truck was a 91 with an 8ft bed.
It had the coolest engine compartment light. It was removable with a magnetic base. The cord was long enough to reach the rear of the truck to see whatever at night. It also had a little hand crank to reel it back in. I dont know if the previous owner installed it. It looked like a factory part to me.

 

[john151ama]

Those are still awesome trucks. My 1st truck was a 91 with an 8ft bed.
It had the coolest engine compartment light. It was removable with a magnetic base. The cord was long enough to reach the rear of the truck to see whatever at night. It also had a little hand crank to reel it back in. I dont know if the previous owner installed it. It looked like a factory part to me.

Those were stock. My 94 had the same. I was working on a kids 95 last weekend and saw his still in there. Would love to trade him and put it in my 2024. Awesome little light set up!

 

[Gulfstream5]

Well, you can buy the most basic work truck today. But you lose everything. I could care less about the entertainment, digital cluster. What I have to have is leather seats and I want them cooled / heated. Can't buy a truck from factory with leather heated / cooled seats. Gotta pay up 15k+ because they force unnecessary packages on you.

And that's where the problem is. I should be able to pick exactly what I want without being forced to pay for unnecessary garbage. I recall when Nissan came out with their horn activated as you fill up your tires. This made the car $400 more expensive. Most people don't even check their tire pressure let alone know how to fill it with air.

This!! As I was just looking at the one I recently got, I haven't been in the car market for over 12 years. Was driving a Toyota Sequoia and it still runs great. I was shocked though how the packages they offer on these cars are so random. Oh you want leather seats??? You also have to buy the enormous sunroof to go with that. You want a bench seat in the middle in the back? Sorry you can't have that unless you get the base model and the minute you add a package to it, you must remove that seat.

I get that they have assembly lines and they need to keep things moving, but I feel that it would be nice to have an option to pick things you want and custom order a vehicle even if it means waiting for a few months to get what you want. I also think the entire process of having to order through a dealer is dumb.....I should be able to order what I want online, pay a deposit, and have it sent somewhere for me to pick it up.

I know the dealers need to make money and a lot of people work there, but I feel like the process is always painful and needs to be reviewed...kinda like real estate.