It's probably mostly real code, though cars certainly do use plenty of lookup tables, starting from one of the earlier uses of computers in cars, the engine control unit.
Modern cars have tons of things needing code:
Power seats with memory
Drive by wire gas pedal and cruise control
Keyless entry
Stereo system (auto volume by speed, etc.)
GPS/Navigation (perhaps third-party)
USB outlets for iPods, USB sticks for music
Reverse-gear proximity sensors
Emissions controls (oops!)
OnStar-type services
Cellular phone integration, e.g. mute on ring
Lighting (DRL, smart cabin dimming)
Traction control and ABS
Variable suspension
Dashboard diagnostics
OBD-II
Self-parking
Windshield wipers (auto speed, rain sensors)
Antitheft systems
I'm sure I've left out plenty, but even something "simple" like keyless entry has a lot of features (integration with OnStar, alarm system, reprogramming support for new remotes, ...). How many LOC do you think that entails? I imagine at least 100K LOC (keeping in mind it's likely written in C or similar).
Well the parent of the comment I first replied to said "Most estimates put the number of lines of code in a new car at near 100 million." I took that to mean total LOC in a car, not in an Engine Control Unit. But your comments to me suggest you are talking about an Engine Control Unit. Forgive me, but it is not obvious to me what you are on about.
I think the point is that if you're talking about finding malicious engine control activity, then talking about the number of lines of code for the entire car is irrelevant, because all that matters is the code for the engine control unit.
