With current day computer technology, we have standarized connectors for periphriels. Autos are still using analog connectors for everything, and each wiring harness is different and special.
I think that putting a USB or FireWire connector on everything that requires a wireing harness connection. Personally I'd like to see FireWire because it requires no host. Both power and data go down both of those connections. Locking connectors would have to be created (that's easy).
The implications of this are tremendous, just right now I can see everything being able to be controled by your in-car computer, being able to monitor any part of your car that has a sensor. Instead of having dash guages, you can have an LCD, when you need to repair, you goto your computer store and get a cable, etc ...
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That would require a computer in each device, and there are too many deviced to simple to wire like that, and cricitcal too, as you wouldn't want unautohrised devices harming the system.