2018 new dash thoughts?

[Norm Peterson]

If you are arguing that keyless entry and push button start and touch screens are needless complexity and that car manufacturers are silly for giving this tech to its customers i would say that you really don't understand whats going on in the consumer world right now.

I understand what the mfrs end up doing and why.

Ultimately I'm blaming consumers for getting all starry-eyed over the latest tech, of having to have the way everything works involve electronics and as little effort on their part as possible, and of seemingly never running out of the "need" for new features (many of which work directly against the notion of driving being a serious activity). For not knowing enough to draw the line anywhere (never mind where). For assuming that driving is a right not to be infringed upon, rather than a privilege to be conferred upon demonstrating at least a little competence at it. For not wanting to do things all by themselves (if I ever develop those attitudes, please come over and shoot me as my body will have been taken over by aliens).


Norm

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[Norm Peterson]

The outline is the outer edges of the cylinder. There is no unused screen space in these pictures. You are misinterpreting the cylinder for screen area.

What cylinder? I see the outline for the traditional gauge layout, two larger circles joined together by a center section. The new arrangement isn't even as tall as that center section nor is it as wide as the extents of the circles, meaning that everything that it is displaying is being displayed smaller than necessary. Can't make that sound like a good thing unless the actual intent is to discourage looking at the gauges and letting some new computer sort things out for you (and maybe schedule the trip to the dealer's shop for you so you won't have to do that either).


Norm

 

[Spartan]

I understand what the mfrs end up doing and why.

Ultimately I'm blaming consumers for getting all starry-eyed over the latest tech, of having to have the way everything works involve electronics and as little effort on their part as possible, and of seemingly never running out of the "need" for new features (many of which work directly against the notion of driving being a serious activity). For not knowing enough to draw the line anywhere (never mind where). For assuming that driving is a right not to be infringed upon, rather than a privilege to be conferred upon demonstrating at least a little competence at it. For not wanting to do things all by themselves (if I ever develop those attitudes, please come over and shoot me as my body will have been taken over by aliens).

Norm

I usually go by the Adama Battlestar motto "I will not have a networked computer on my Battlestar..."

 

[foghat]

The outline is the outer edges of the cylinder. There is no unused screen space in these pictures. You are misinterpreting the cylinder for screen area.

Agreed that all the screen is being used, but it seems not all the available 'space' is being used by the screen.

What cylinder? I see the outline for the traditional gauge layout, two larger circles joined together by a center section. The new arrangement isn't even as tall as that center section nor is it as wide as the extents of the circles, meaning that everything that it is displaying is being displayed smaller than necessary. Can't make that sound like a good thing unless the actual intent is to discourage looking at the gauges and letting some new computer sort things out for you (and maybe schedule the trip to the dealer's shop for you so you won't have to do that either).


Norm

I suspect the reason it does not fill the entire space is likely because the screen comes in a 'standard' size. Doubt ford is having their own custom sized displays built for these.

 

[Spartan]

Agreed that all the screen is being used, but it seems not all the available 'space' is being used by the screen.




I suspect the reason it does not fill the entire space is likely because the screen comes in a 'standard' size. Doubt ford is having their own custom sized displays built for these.

Correct. I think they could have gone analog gauges on the outside part and digital for the middle like the F-150 had but they don't fill up THAT much more room.

 

[dron_jones]

I understand what the mfrs end up doing and why.

Ultimately I'm blaming consumers for getting all starry-eyed over the latest tech, of having to have the way everything works involve electronics and as little effort on their part as possible, and of seemingly never running out of the "need" for new features (many of which work directly against the notion of driving being a serious activity). For not knowing enough to draw the line anywhere (never mind where). For assuming that driving is a right not to be infringed upon, rather than a privilege to be conferred upon demonstrating at least a little competence at it. For not wanting to do things all by themselves (if I ever develop those attitudes, please come over and shoot me as my body will have been taken over by aliens).


Norm

Wow - from keyless entry being for lazy consumers all the way to right to drive and people's incompetence at that activity.... Things escalate quickly on the soapbox

I'm sure people felt this way when they started changing cars over from hand crank starters to an electric starter, When they went from hand crank windows to electric... So much useless tech for lazy people

So how exactly does push button start and keyless entry make people more entitled and less serious about driving?

 

[Bullitt]

Looks like it will only be available on the premium models. Such a shame if true.

Click this link: http://m.ford.com/cars/mustang/2018/
Scroll down to the eye candy section.
Click on the dash.

It displays this text.
4 of 20
Share
12'' Digital LCD Instrument Cluster
Optional on the EcoBoost® Premium and GT Premium, this all-digital cluster lets you customize exactly what you want to see while you’re on the road – right down to the color of your gauges.

Good catch. I'm glad you'll still be able to get a Premium without the digital gauges. I'm really curious to see if they changed the analog gauges as well. I'm not crazy about these digital gauges, they're just boring looking to me. Like someone mentioned earlier it would be awesome if there was a gauge marketplace where you could download other gauge styles or even just different fonts would be nice. I was hoping for more customization. Maybe a special edition will be what it takes to make them look more exciting.

 

[PatrickGT]

There's some serious "GET OFF MAH LAWN" old man shit going down in here right now.

And LOL at the screen not using the whole area, you want them to pull it forward so it looks purdy for you but you can't read it from the glare?! Sounds stupid af, tbh. It's also recessed the same as your current gauges, for the same reason.

 

[Norm Peterson]

And LOL at the screen not using the whole area, you want them to pull it forward so it looks purdy for you but you can't read it from the glare?! Sounds stupid af, tbh. It's also recessed the same as your current gauges, for the same reason.

Recessed is proper. That much smaller than the available space (as the pictures portray it as being) is not.

You've misread what I posted, jumped to an incorrect conclusion, and tried to bash me with that. What I'm mainly concerned with here is function. Not pretty colors and flashy graphics. I see no reason for not filling up the whole space down there at the same depth that the base gauges are set at and making everything it displays easily readable and interpretable at a glance.


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

Agreed that all the screen is being used, but it seems not all the available 'space' is being used by the screen.

Thank you.

I suspect the reason it does not fill the entire space is likely because the screen comes in a 'standard' size. Doubt ford is having their own custom sized displays built for these.

There's no reason they couldn't, as they certainly have enough clout to get it done.

If anything is holding Ford back from doing that, it's because they think they can get away with cheaping out a little here. My one share of Ford stock will never notice.


Norm

 

[foghat]

Thank you.



There's no reason they couldn't, as they certainly have enough clout to get it done.

If anything is holding Ford back from doing that, it's because they think they can get away with cheaping out a little here. My one share of Ford stock will never notice.


Norm

I don't think it is a 'clout' issue and while I have no doubt it is likely a dollar and cents thing, I don't think it is Ford being cheap. I can't see something like that passing any sort of sane cost/benefit analysis.

 

[cbrookre]

It's Ford dude. Ford.

I can't think of a way (or reason) that the automotive industry's quality requirements would be higher than, say, Sony.....in regards to an LCD dashboard.

Designing a part for the automotive industry is much more stringent in both quality and reliability, as well as environmental concerns (humidity, dust, etc.). I for one prefer to stay with analog gauges though.

 

[Kahboom]

not a fan of the new Dash, not even a little bit.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I don't think it is a 'clout' issue and while I have no doubt it is likely a dollar and cents thing, I don't think it is Ford being cheap. I can't see something like that passing any sort of sane cost/benefit analysis.

I can't see how making it about 50% wider and 10% taller would entail all that much effort or expense. Isn't it just a case of more pixels and scaling a few things up?

Even the appearance would benefit, looking like it belongs there instead of looking for all the world like it was borrowed (kind of like hand-me-down clothes that don't quite fit, or tiny brake rotors behind huge wheels).

I guess we'll just have to see how everything plays out once the car is released for production.


Norm

 

[foghat]

I can't see how making it about 50% wider and 10% taller would entail all that much effort or expense. Isn't it just a case of more pixels and scaling a few things up?

Even the appearance would benefit, looking like it belongs there instead of looking for all the world like it was borrowed (kind of like hand-me-down clothes that don't quite fit, or tiny brake rotors behind huge wheels).

I guess we'll just have to see how everything plays out once the car is released for production.


Norm

From a software UI design perspective, true, I suspect it would be a reasonable enhancement/fix.

Hardware though is the concern - I think.

My assumption is that ford is using an 'off the shelf' (so to speak) display and that they picked the one that best fit.

If that assumption is not correct, then all bets are off.

Assuming it is correct, in order to get a display that fits better means a custom sized display needs to be designed and manufactured. No way this is an inexpensive endeavor - especially given the limited (relatively speaking) quantities that would be needed.

Of course, there is a good chance I am talking out of my arse here.

Agreed, will just have to see how things play out in production. I suspect it will look fine.

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