Commodore gets touch screen
GM Holden has signed off on a deal to replace the current infotainment systems in its Commodore and Statesman range of cars with high-tech touch screen systems with iPod and iPhone connectivityGet ready for a more involving Commodore experience later in the year when Holden updates its entire range of large cars, from the base model Commodores to the range-topping Statesman and Caprice.
At a recent press conference for German tyre maker Continental, CEO Zoran Angelkovski confirmed that it has signed a new deal to supply the infotainment units to GM Holden's Commodore from June this year, and we could be seeing them on the road as early as September.
Continental, the world's fourth largest tyre maker, owns Siemens VDO, which currently engineers and manufactures various car componentry, such as instrumentation, heating/cooling control units and other interior elements for all three Australia car makers.
And an updated Holden Commodore infotainment system with touch screen functionality can now be added to that list.
"We've given them [Holden] the features that are seen on some European cars. [We've designed the new infotainment units] to make the driver feel more comfortable," Zoran Angelkovski told the Carsales Network.
The CEO of Continental added that the new system is "an improvement on the Bosch Blaupunkt [infotainment] system" and will come with a range of features that will put the Commodore ahead of the Falcon in terms of audio-visual in-car technology.
"Our unit has more functions and features. The most important thing is touch screen. At the moment you cannot get touch screen on the Commodore. Our new unit offers touch screen, more connectivity options with iPod and iPhone," said Angelkovski.
On top of iPhone and iPod functionality, Angelkovski explained there would be several 'grades' to the new touch screen in-car entertainment systems and though he couldn't elaborate on the particulars, he suggested that all models would get touch screen functionality. This would be a major coup for Holden.
"So we're starting at the basic level, with the Commodore, and going right up to the Caprice. So the family of new infotainment units has the low end and high end touch screens, but in between you have other models too."
Until recently, more than two thirds of VDO Siemens local revenue stream came from Ford, but the new deal with GM Holden will see the revenue split 30-30 between Ford and Holden, with the last third coming from Toyota [Camry] and BMW Motorrad motorcycle instrument clusters.
We caught a very brief glimpse of the new look touch screen systems being integrated for Commodore, and it's safe to say the new system will be a massive step up from the current setup.
Holden spokesperson Scott Whiffin told the Carsales Network "We're always looking at how we can improve our cars, but we've got nothing to announce at this stage."
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