Digital Instrument Cluster

[goofyone]

Except the Tach and Speedo ARE NOT DIGITAL. The two most relied on instruments are still analog. And to make matters worse, red needles on black backgrounds are difficult for old eyes to see.

What you are actually looking at is an entirely digital gauge cluster which only has the appearance of analog gauges. This is from the new 2015 Toyota Camry and the entire gauge cluster is an LCD display.

 

[Jim H]

Amazing, I'll have to go look at one

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

wow, I couldn't tell the difference!

 

[Kuda]

What you are actually looking at is an entirely digital gauge cluster which only has the appearance of analog gauges. This is from the new 2015 Toyota Camry and the entire gauge cluster is an LCD display.

Color combinations are variable.....wouldn't surprise me...........

 

[goofyone]

Replacing the entire gauge cluster with a single digital display is relatively new but the prices are dropping quickly and I expect to see them widely implemented over the next few years. Modern displays are incredibly sharp with fast refresh rates so they should work out well. The only issue is if the display has an issue then there goes you entire gauge cluster.

 

[Ernie]

I think it would be really cool if instead of an instrument cluster of any kind, there was simply a shrouded dock area where the instruments would normally be that would dock a 7" tablet like a Nexus 7, iPad mini, Galaxy Tab 7, etc.. Elio could develop an "Instrument app" that would instantly come on as soon as you docked your tablet and would be totally customizeable to display either analog, or digital, or a combination of whatever you desired. It could also accommodate a navigation center where it would simply minimize the instruments down to only what's necessary and even bring up certain instruments when something goes beyond an acceptable range. Or even idiot lights that pop up when necessary. Since most tablets have either their own data system or wi-fi, (which you could activate by using your smart phone as a hot spot) you could even get email notifications, or stream Pandora to your Bluetooth enabled stereo and see the songs in a small section in the instrument cluster. And when the car is parked, you could surf the internet right there on your instrument cluster or watch youtube video's or stream movies. The possibilities are endless for what you could do with your dash. I think this would be far more in tune with a cutting edge vehicle like the Elio than a silly analog mechanical instrument cluster. And it would save money and weight. You could even set it up so the car won't start unless your tablet is docked. Heck, you could even set it up to start by voice command if you wanted to. This is the future and I think this would be a shoe in for a vehicle such as the Elio.

 

[Ty]

I think it would be really cool if instead of an instrument cluster of any kind, there was simply a shrouded dock area where the instruments would normally be that would dock a 7" tablet like a Nexus 7, iPad mini, Galaxy Tab 7, etc.. Elio could develop an "Instrument app" that would instantly come on as soon as you docked your tablet and would be totally customizeable to display either analog, or digital, or a combination of whatever you desired. It could also accommodate a navigation center where it would simply minimize the instruments down to only what's necessary and even bring up certain instruments when something goes beyond an acceptable range. Or even idiot lights that pop up when necessary. Since most tablets have either their own data system or wi-fi, (which you could activate by using your smart phone as a hot spot) you could even get email notifications, or stream Pandora to your Bluetooth enabled stereo and see the songs in a small section in the instrument cluster. And when the car is parked, you could surf the internet right there on your instrument cluster or watch youtube video's or stream movies. The possibilities are endless for what you could do with your dash. I think this would be far more in tune with a cutting edge vehicle like the Elio than a silly analog mechanical instrument cluster. And it would save money and weight. You could even set it up so the car won't start unless your tablet is docked. Heck, you could even set it up to start by voice command if you wanted to. This is the future and I think this would be a shoe in for a vehicle such as the Elio.

Not bad thinking though there is probably some law requiring the odometer to be fixed in place. The app called "torque" has real time info and can show all the info of a regular dash. I use it for troubleshooting in conjunction with a $12 OBDII reader (torque is free). It lets me read codes and reset them as needed. It is completely configurable. I keep exhaust temp, engine oil temp, tranny temp, mph, rpm, and boost pressure on the main display of about 5 screens you can set up.

 

[Ernie]

Not bad thinking though there is probably some law requiring the odometer to be fixed in place. The app called "torque" has real time info and can show all the info of a regular dash. I use it for troubleshooting in conjunction with a $12 OBDII reader (torque is free). It lets me read codes and reset them as needed. It is completely configurable. I keep exhaust temp, engine oil temp, tranny temp, mph, rpm, and boost pressure on the main display of about 5 screens you can set up.

That's cool! You're probably right about the odometer. That's a simple fix though as it could be simply "fixed" in a small LED panel under the instrument pod.

 

[goofyone]

If you want to see another implementation of this digital dash cluster technology check out the new Audi TT gauge cluster:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/new-audi-tts-gauge-cluster-will-spread-to-three-other-models-by-2015/

 

[KN16]

All this speculation relies on the engine management. Simple mechanical gauges would be the most cost effective. Digital auto dashes rely on OBDII inputs. If they go with a proprietary system it would complicate the use of digital gauges.