BMW Makes A Move Towards LCD Tech

Unfortunately, it looks like BMW is jumping on the bandwagon when it comes to LCD gauges. And that's one of the things I like about cars, analog gauges.

The only vehicle with a digital display I have ever liked was the LFA but that's because the execution was unbelievable. If the picture is to be believed, it is pretty...lame.

Someone made an excellent point on the current LCD gauges that are out there: what's the point of using LCD technology if the gauges still look the same as the outgoing ones?

At least there is one cool aspect. According to reports, BMW is saying that the gauges will be customizable to your liking. BMW sources noted that it would prefer the LCD unit to be more of a blank canvas and allow for information to be displayed in a variety of ways.

With that said, which car company do you think will produce the first hi-res, retina display like Apple's iPhone?


...BMW is getting ready to offer a fully configurable LCD gauge cluster, similar to what Mercedes introduced in the S-Class or Jaguar in their XJ flagship...

...The new gauge cluster will display the standard dials for speed, revs, fuel and temp, but can be configured to show additional navigation, telematics and infotainment data depending on the driving mode...

[Source: BMWBlog]


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MorePower - 5/26/2011 11:59:38 PM

+5 Boost

Why is it unfortunate to move to a technology that is more accurate, just as reliable and, more importantly, LIGHTER bad?

The entire industry should have made this leap a long time ago. And while the Buick Regatta and late model Vettes had one, the technology was not there.

chewy - 5/27/2011 2:27:08 AM

0 Boost

I think gauges have been about style more than accuracy for a while now as the temperature gauge has become a dummy gauge for example. And these imitation analog gauges just don't look as good. I bet the production ones will look better than these photos indicate though.

LexSucks - 5/27/2011 11:23:25 AM

+3 Boost

Some people aren't receptive to change even if it's for the better. Analog Guages are so 20th century. I don't need gauges in my car that looks like something that came from a boat. Bring on the LCDs

Yonder7 - 5/27/2011 6:22:18 AM

+2 Boost

LOL...Digital instruments that looks like the old gauges.....BMW need more inspiration there...

LexSucks - 5/27/2011 11:14:41 AM

0 Boost

"I don't need to be playing Angry Birds while doing 75mph..."

- How did you come to that conclusion? Doesn't make any sense dude. It’s just a gauge. I didn’t see any mention of the gauge display serving dual purpose use as an entertainment system display? The crap analogies that people come up with here can be comical.

LexSucks - 5/27/2011 1:53:00 PM

-1 Boost

"Does it say "BMW will ONLY make it gauges" like you just stated?! "

- No. But the whole “angry birds” thing is still a very poor analogy.

Car makers aren’t even allowed to setup their DVD systems to be viewed while the car is in motion. They’re laws against that. What makes you think that the center dash display is any exception? Just because the screen is capable, doesn’t mean that the car manufactures have carte’ blanch to do whatever they please.

And there’s also this Andriod/iOS operating system thing. You can’t play angry birds without a smart phone/tablet/computer based operating system. Having a color screen doesn’t mean that it will turn into the same thing you see on your smartphone or computer. Geesh… You saw TFT screen and then you thought computer.