Is the navigation unit in cars these days not enough, besides having infotainment units? Apparently not, as Hyundai and Samsung is planning to stuff a tablet into your car’s dashboard. Now we knew all along that using the smartphone while driving is bad enough, and I do not know who came up with the idea of stuffing DVD players into cars. But now they’re planning to squeeze yet another very game-centric device into cars. Not like tablets don’t have navigation apps and stuff, but we all know what we usually use our tablets for anyway. But at least this is done by Hyundai and Samsung, so it should be gooding stuff.

According to reports from South Korea, Hyundai is in talks with their cousin Samsung to develop a next-generation connectivity system that could allow tablets to be fully integrated into its cars by 2013. A Samsung Galaxy Tab II docking system for your next Hyundai Veloster? I hope they come with an integrated car racing game that works with your steering wheel. That’ll be fun.

Details are still very skimp at the moment, but it’s said that the partnership could encompass everything from smartphone connectivity, a fully-integrated “Smart Car” or a new tablet-based system that’s embedded into future Hyundais. Naturally, internet-connectivity through smartphone tethering is part of the package, along with integrated apps that would be controlled through the embedded device. LTE connection for traffic report update? Or LTE connection for massively-multiplayer car racing game in Seoul with Big Bang?

Thus far, two reports state that Hyundai is developing the tablet in-house with the help of outside suppliers, while another states the collaboration will allow Samsung’s Android-powered smartphones and tablets to be automatically linked inside the vehicle. I think the latter would be more logical.

Thus far there’s no sense of timeline for this agreement. As most big shots of Samsung are drinking at Barcelona, the deal could be sealed next week after they return from MWC 2011.

[Sources: JoongAng Daily, Korea Herald, UPI, English.News.cn]