Automotive electronics I: Smaller and better: Electronics may be the only cost-effective solution to the performance challenge of today's autos

The applications of electronics in today's automobiles, and those of tomorrow, are gaining momentum rapidly. This increase can be attributed to many factors — the increased density, lower cost, and improved reliability of solid-state devices as a result of LSI technology; a closer working relationship between automotive and electronics manufacturers; the need to meet ever more stringent Government regulations for fuel economy and exhaust emissions; and the automotive industry's desire to provide customers with a wide selection of subsystems with practical benefits that are cost-effective.