CES 2016: McLaren 675LT JVCKENWOOD Simplifies, Adds Cameras

BOLD RIDE

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Posted by George Kennedy                                

                                       

We’ve seen all sorts of new autonomous and infotainment technology come from CES 2016 already this week, but most of this news was for the daily driver. What about the supercar set? Who will think of the high-end sports car buyer? Luckily, McLaren delivered with the 675LT JVCKENWOOD concept.

 

You might know that name from years of stereos, car head units and in-car amplifiers, but they have also been hard at work on creating in-car driver interfaces. The vehicle you see here is marriage of the incredible McLaren 675LT and the latest version of JVC-Kenwood’s Caroptronics system.

The system replaces mirrors with two side-view and one rear-view camera–all displayed via a monitor where the conventional rear-view would be. Meanwhile a head-up display (HUD) presents the basic instrument panel readouts in an all-in-one display setup. It is part of what JVC-Kenwood call an Advanced Driver Assistance Package.

 

The 675LT JVCKENWOOD also gets a new minimalistic interior and the steering wheel from the utterly rapturous P1 GTR. That driver-focused steering wheel typically features buttons for the Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) and Drag Reduction System (DRS). These buttons have been replaced with toggles for the Caroptronics system.

This is not the first time the two have teamed up. As far back as 1991 Kenwood had teamed up with the Honda McLaren F1 team to provide the crew with wireless communication systems.

Then McLaren and JVC-Kenwood teamed up again in 2014 to provide the latest version of NEXEDGE digital wireless communications to the team and drivers. JVC-Kenwood even fitted a previous iteration of Caroptronics into the McLaren 650S last year. I think we can agree fitting the latest version of this system into the incredible 675LT was a great upgrade.