Automotive News -- Automakers are so obsessed with imitating smartphones and other gadgets that they have loaded vehicles with a bewildering array of infotainment features and apps that many customers never use.

That was the conclusion of panelists discussing the "In-Car Experience -- What Does the Consumer Really Want?" last week here at the SAE World Congress.

The industry must do better with its infotainment and communications controls and displays, they said.

"Vehicles on the road today are overladen with tools," said David Lyon, a former General Motors designer who left the company in 2012 to form his own consultancy, Pocketsquare. "Most systems today are trying to look like the Apple iPhone. It doesn't work."

The panelists agreed that most motorists don't need the myriad choices that carmakers offer, and that those choices are not only confusing, they can be dangerously distracting.

Customers typically listen to a few radio stations and call just a few people. Carmakers need "features intervention," Lyon said.

Rather than imitate smartphones, carmakers could look to their history for examples of how to get it right. He showed a picture of a 1964 Ford Mustang radio. The knob on the right is for volume, the one on the left for tuning, with the buttons across the center for radio presets.

"Volume requires a knob," he said.

Lyon suggested a simple central touch screen with just a few options customized to the motorist.

Too often, complexity creeps into systems. He showed a slide of the first generation of BMW's oft-criticized iDrive system. In 2002, when the system was launched, there was a single controller knob on the console with no surrounding buttons. Over the years, BMW kept adding buttons until the current version, which he described as a "button farm."

David Taylor, director of connected services at Panasonic Automotive Systems Co. of America, said there is "an explosion" in consumer services and expectations. Automakers' challenge is to meet those expectations consistently around the globe without spending a fortune. That requires being prudent and building a budget to design what is needed and leave out what is not, he said.

"We need to get away from worthless features in a car," he said.

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LinkedIn Pulse, 1-7-2017 -- My car was everything I expected it to be six years ago when I bought it for the fuel efficiency, excellent handling, and a stylish look.

Recently I purchased another car for my wife, a 2015 Mazda6 with the latest infotainment features they offered last year. We liked the built-in backup camera right up on the dashboard display.

So I found myself groveling over the basic radio that came with my beloved 2010 Mazda3 GT, and I'm not the only one.

Even though I could pair my phone through Bluetooth, the experience was lacking, and I could not see behind me without turning my head around.

How I Upgraded to a New Car

In my case, I ordered a Kenwood stereo system for roughly $600 on Crutchfield.com, and I haven't looked back since.

I'm probably first on my block to get Apple CarPlay, in a Mazda for that matter.

It took a weekend project to install, but it allowed me to connect any Android phone or iPhone to my 2010 Mazda3. The 7-inch user experience is simple, clean and efficient. My car felt brand new again, seeing as it still drove just fine.

But this made me think about how many people are struggling with the same situation. Proprietary phone connectivity is not the answer. Real solutions are necessary, or else third-party workarounds will continue to prosper and take revenue from new car sales.

Competition is Building, Leading to Change

Automakers fail to innovate on their own, and it's making other companies step in to fill the void.

We see some of the big automakers are beginning to implement these fresh technologies. Ford is offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in all their 2017 models. Meanwhile, Ford is conflicted considering their determination to maintain independence through Smart Device Link support.

In the aftermarket, companies like Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, and Sony are stepping up with something to offer. That's how I solved my issue, albeit not the ideal route to take.

More than 150 million Americans are using an iPhone, which is beyond the number of drivers on the road.

The lesson is clear: the automakers are failing to innovate at the pace of consumer electronics. That's why auto execs flock to CES each year to catch up, but they may be three years late.

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LAS VEGAS, January 5, 2017 (MEDIAWIRE) – At the 2017 CES, KENWOOD is introducing its first car audio power amplifier with built-in digital signal processing. The XR600-6DSP (MSRP $800) is a six-channel power plant that, through partnership with Automotive Data Solutions (ADS), upgrades select factory audio systems by supplanting, rather than supplementing the factory amplifier. Its highly customizable outputs can be configured to create the ideal sound stage and retain functionality of factory installed safety and entertainment components that use the audio system to deliver notifications.

The XR600-6DSP, combined with the ADS iDatalink Maestro AR (Amplifier Replacement module; MSRP $130) is a sleeker, more intuitive alternative to the current OEM integration products that process audio from the high-level outputs of the factory amplifier. These solutions involve summing and processing all the amplified, split-frequency channels back into full-range signals, filtering out noise from the amplification, processing the restructured signals, then re-amplifying them for output to speakers and subwoofers. Very often in this scenario, certain factory features are lost, such as fading or factory notifications being output through specific speakers.

The ADS iDatalink Maestro AR uses a vehicle-specific T-harness to attach between the factory radio and amplifier, providing a clean, flat audio signal to the XR600-6DSP through a proprietary harness. In addition, it supplies the specific control signals that retain factory function and notifications.

"It's really the gateway to attaining the highest quality audio reproduction from a high-end factory system," said Tony Mercado, marketing manager for KENWOOD. "We recognize that not every vehicle, especially newer models, can have the factory radio replaced without extensive back-end integration and upfront fabrication. With the Maestro AR and our XR600-6DSP, the factory amplifier no longer has to be the obstacle between good-enough audio and great audio."

The XR600-6DSP maximizes the clean factory audio signal with a built-in, 192kHz / 32-bit processing module that facilitates up to 10 channels of audio (six internally amplified; four with additional amplification). The internal signal processing and amplification circuitry are separated to maintain signal integrity. Digital Time Alignment is electronically set for each channel, and each pair of channels is tailored with adjustable crossover points and 13 bands of equalization. Finally, the individual channels are fine-tuned with a three-band parametric equalizer before being amplified and sent to speakers.

Amplified outputs are fully configurable to match most factory speaker layouts. The six-channel amplifier is measured at 75 watts RMS per channel at four ohms with bridging capability to produce 200 watts RMS through three channels at four ohms. Two sets of five-volt RCA connectors allow additional amplifiers to be added to the system without the need for more crossovers or processing.

With the new KENWOOD DSP control app installed on a compatible iPhone® or Android™-powered device, the XR600-6DSP is wirelessly configurable with broad access for installation technicians (Installer mode) and limited selections for end users (User mode). Built-in Bluetooth® connects the amplifier to the app. In the Installer mode, the technician sets the speaker map, time alignment, crossover points, equalization and parametric EQ settings for all applicable channels. With a simpler interface, users can select the listening focus, overall equalization presets and subwoofer volume.

For larger systems, the KENWOOD XR600-6DSP can be paired with the new XR1000-1 mono-channel power amplifier (MSRP $500; shipping in January), capable of up to 1,000 watts RMS at two ohms. Improved capacitance and cooling efficiency create more power with less heat, and its Dual Sigma Drive technology provides controlled, accurate bass.

The XR600-6DSP comes with the data cable to connect to the Maestro AR as well as an extension cable for more installation options. The vehicle-specific T-harnesses are sold separately and available from ADS.  Both the XR600-6DSP and Maestro AR are scheduled to ship in March with applications for 2011 and newer Ford vehicles with My Ford Touch and Sony amplifiers, as well as 2011 and newer Chrysler vehicles with eight-inch screens and factory amplifiers. A Toyota / Lexus solution will follow shortly after launch

For more information, visit www.kenwood.com/usa.