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2010 Ford hybrids to include sexy SmartGauge video instrument panels
If the Ford Motor Company still exists by 2010, its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids will roll out with some pretty snazzy instrument panels. In the middle, you see the conventional speedometer, but on either side, there are video screens that use elegant animations to show you EcoGuide, clearly showing you how that lead foot of yours is destroying the planet.
The system lets you decide how much information you want to see, reading out such data as battery-charge status, tachometer, engine output power, accessory power consumption, and amount of power applied to the wheels. It even shows charts and graphs, interesting enough to endanger your safety. Then when you're on a long cruise, you can simplify the display to show you basic info such as how many miles until your tank is empty.
By the time the 2010 model year rolls around, hopefully other hybrid car makers will follow suit with even swankier displays of their own. Take a look at a video of the graceful animations and forward-thinking readouts Ford has created, with a little help from industrial design gurus IDEO and Smart Design:
By 9toes at 3:51 PM ON 10/29/08
Great! One more thing to break and cost a fortune to repair/replace
By Green Product Ideas at 4:29 PM ON 10/29/08
This really is cool, but I'm curious as to how they'll be able to use it considering it may cause accidents?
By kavehg at 4:31 PM ON 10/29/08
Will it detect the speed limit based on my current location and tell me when I'm going too fast?
By 11fingers at 4:31 PM ON 10/29/08
All of this looks cool, but... How many accidents are going to be caused by people looking at the dash, trying to figure out a way to increase the number of "Efficiency Leaves" they get (00:29)? Good idea in theory, BAAAAD idea in real life. This thing'll kill more people than using a cell phone while driving.
By boborlarry at 5:04 PM ON 10/29/08
Oh great now I'm gonna be growing bonsai with my car... what happens if I stomp on the gas... will it die?
By murc at 6:25 PM ON 10/29/08
quote from BOBORLARRY- "what happens if I stomp on the gas... will it die?"
LOL, it just turns a little brown are shrivels up a bit. lol
By bradsmith at 4:35 PM ON 11/07/08
2010 Model Year means the vehicle ends it's run in 2010. This vehicle goes on sale in a few months.
Driver distraction is a big concern and undoubtedly the ability to play with the screen will be disabled while the vehicle is in motion (just witness how annoying the factory navigation units are with disabling features while the car is moving). I think the idea with the leaves is that you don't have to stare at it. It's large enough and contrasty enough to be able to discern from the corner of your eye how well you're doing. Besides, Toyota has a little bar graph today for the same kind of feedback and I don't hear anything about them getting in accidents at a higher rate.
"One more thing to break" Yep. They used to say that about power windows and door locks too. Try to find a car without it today.
By fomocona at 2:33 PM ON 11/13/08
I monitor webpages on behalf of Ford and I hope you don't mind me posting here. The 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids will be introduced next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Bradsmith is correct, they will be available for purchase early 2009. Here's a link to a more detailed video about the SmartGauge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxRGfSKxUUU
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fomocona:
I monitor webpages on behalf of Ford and I hope you don't mind me posting here. The 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids ...More »