More electronics in Detroit's 1985 models: Bells and whistles take a hack seat to functional, efficient design and to the integration of instrumentation

After years of experience with electronic devices and systems in cars, automobile manufacturers are moving toward a more mature, integrated-systems approach to design. For example, in some 1985 cars microprocessors communicate with each other, sharing input data, to provide more precise control of car functions. Single instruments are programmed to give multiple readouts. And instruments, on-board diagnostics, and navigational systems are designed to share one overall display.