Abstract: A vehicle communications system and method includes a central computer for performing data networking applications, individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications, and one or more data transmission channels with associated interfaces through which the individual devices can be connected with a central vehicle computer. According to the invention, the individual devices are flexibly associated in a controllable fashion with the various data networking applications, with an adaptive application control being provided that selects the individual devices on the basis of their functions that are required for performing a given application, and controls the necessary data transmission processes.