Autoblog reports on a new technology that will be fitted in the facelifted 5 and 7 Series models. 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.
According to the publication, the development takes place as a mixed effort between the BMW Technology Office in Palo Alto, CA and the Munich development team. 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.
Essentially, more driver-centric information will be displayed as needed or configured, another step towards the ConnectedDrive technology featured in the recently unveiled Vision Concept.
A BMW engineer said for Autoblog that BMW doesn’t want to rely on digital representations of analog gauges, but rather use a black canvas that can display information in a variety of ways. The customization process will be kept to a minimum though, a move that will allow the company to focus on usability.
The BMW 7 Series is due for a refresh in 2013, followed a year later by the F10 5 Series.
[Source: Autoblog]
Hope the new 3 series will also get this feature!
Hope the new 3 series will also get this feature!
Using standard gauges I can stop the fuel consumtpion by using tape when it’s almost empty, how could I do this with the LCD gauges? xD
I don’t like those lcd gauges. they look so cheap. Why to imitate an analog gauge when you can make a real one of quality materials that will look million times better!
I think the one on the current 7 series is better. For LCD gauges, they could be beautiful and look high-tech but this one is a total failure..
Terrible. Hate LCD’s. BMW needs to stop following every German car maker anytime they do ANYTHING. You will NOT lose a sale, stick with the good old gauges. This company is going in a direction I don’t think I’ll be following, it’s a shame. Oh well, there’s always CPO.
Terrible. Hate LCD’s. BMW needs to stop following every German car maker anytime they do ANYTHING. You will NOT lose a sale, stick with the good old gauges. This company is going in a direction I don’t think I’ll be following, it’s a shame. Oh well, there’s always CPO.
BMW stop this, please! I like the current LCD gauges with the crome frame, but this is too much.
It looks cheap and unstylish.
That looks tacky. They need to do something that looks like the LFA speedo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyy1dMvGls8
Great. More things to go wrong knowing BMWs unreliable electronics.
Like the steering wheel, shifter, btakes and gas pedal, this is a human-control element that needs to have a genuine-ness to it, and a physical coupling to the car’s mechanics. An artificial speedo doesn’t add anything to the experience of the car but expense.
I thought that the gauge itself will remain in physical from and the numbers digital, but here I see that all of its digital. I think, that it’s cool for the numbers to pop up when you start the car, but not the gauge itself.
I thought that the gauge itself will remain in physical from and the numbers digital, but here I see that all of its digital. I think, that it’s cool for the numbers to pop up when you start the car, but not the gauge itself.
What,s the point? Fixing things that,s not broken. For those LCD screen instruments, unless they can make them look in 3D, then there is no point of it. It is true there are more info can be shown, but with average drivers, most don’t even read the owner’s manuel, the technology will be wasted. Only will cause trouble later.
The possibilities of customizing the driver interface and data are limitless. I’m sure the finished product will be much more pleasing to the eye.