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posts about #fordsmartgaugewithecoguide more → First Look: Ford SmartGauge Instument Panel
Detroit, 3:40 PM
Thu Nov 26
12 posts in the last 24 hours
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First Look: Ford SmartGauge Instument Panel |
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10/30/08
Maybe it saves weight - great, but how much? Versus how much added complexity? When these electronics break down, can you crack them open and fix them? No. You hog them out, and stick in a whole new one. FAIL.
How long before some enterprising anarchist, with time on his hands and a way to hack into your wireless-equipped electronic instrument panel, manages to upload a virus that somehow completely fubars your display? Can't do that to my rides without a screwdriver, and anybody getting close to my cars with a tool is either me, or has me chasing his ass down.
I'm a strong believer in things that can be repaired when they break down. As a former curmudgeonly coworker used to say, "maintenance-free" just means that when it stops working, it can't be fixed. I tend to agree.
10/30/08
I'm not as worried about drivers being distracted because they're already busy with cell phones and apparently never even look at their speedometer...or rear view mirror...or side view mirror...
10/29/08
The digital Instrument Panel has been done before, but obviously, tech has improved. And if you've been thinking about doing this for the last few years... well, designers have been wanting to do it for at least 20. Just a matter of cost and again, tech.
As for the redline, as someone pointed out- it's a hybrid. You're not supposed to be redlining it. And I doubt it's got a manual. I've always driven an automatic (not by choice) and I can't tell you the last time I actually looked at the tach. I'm guessing most won't even have it on there.
A nice first step. Hope it works, because that allows us to design much more interesting dashboards.
10/29/08
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10/29/08
I would have liked something more hardcore too, but i have an engineer mind, not a customer mind.
Also, the hybrid systems Ford has in field in limo fleets are pushing over 350k miles now without a single battery cell failure, so i don't think battery health is a huge issue.
10/29/08
I also had to get used to knowing when to turn on my headlights; the dash was so easy to read night or day that in the city I would often forget to turn the headlights on when night fell.
10/29/08
10/29/08
Even a Prius has a better set of economy/fuel/state of charge displays.
My 17 year old car has a much better economy display: dynamic bar graph for instantaneous fuel use; static numeric display for overall fuel economy; static display for miles until empty.
The bar tachometer is awful. No yellow or red line for the tach? FAIL.
Putting the Battery charge level gauge on the opposite side as the gas gauge is also terrible.
Coolant temperature gauge without actual temperatures? Not so great.
10/29/08
One can only dream.
10/29/08
10/29/08
I'd make those efficiency leaves look like a nuclear winter.