Chrysler 300 gets Google dashboard

Although 2016 had been a rocky year for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) with significant vehicle recalls and predictions it may even have to sell off Alfa Romeo and Maserati to keep its head above water, it's opening its 2017 account on a more positive note.

The company has been working closely with Google to deliver a fully-customisable version of what is claimed to be the world's most popular open-source operating system, Android.
Punters attending the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas can hop inside a Chrysler 300 large sedan equipped with Android 7.0 Nougat, which promises to deliver a next-generation experience for passengers.

Many modern cars already offer native Android Auto functionality, which essentially mirrors basic features of user's Android-based smartphones similar to Apple’s CarPlay. But FCA says this new deployment will enable far greater app support, customisation and connected car systems.

Running on an 8.4-inch colour touchscreen system, the latest feature will offer a greater range of apps, not just the usual stuff like Pandora and Spotify. Google Assistant and Google Maps are being touted as important elements of the new setup, and as both companies are keen on autonomous vehicle tech, these will become even more crucial in the future.

"This collaboration with Google has been an extremely beneficial opportunity for both companies to explore how in-vehicle infotainment and connectivity technology continues to evolve, and what it takes to meet consumers' increasing desire for innovation of information with minimal distraction," said Chris Barman, head of electrical engineering at FCA.

Many car makers are internally unhappy with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, because they look exactly the same across different makes and models of car. This new development gives car companies more scope to add their own unique visual flavour.

"With Android, we are able to maintain our unique and intuitive Uconnect user interface, all while integrating our easy-to-use systems with Android's features and ecosystem of applications."

FCA's Uconnect system hasn't always been a paragon of future-proofing infotainment. In mid-2015 a pair of hackers cracked the Uconnect system and remotely took control of a Jeep Cherokee, controlling its steering, acceleration and braking via a laptop computer.