Autoblog

Forget about light-emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD) dashboards. According to Daihatsu, the next hot ticket will be 3D holographic technology. Daihatsu teamed up with Provision Interactive Technologies to implement a 3D dashboard for their latest concept car which debuted at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Attendees were so impressed with the technology, that Provision raced to file a new patent for the product they call "HLXX."

The HLXX technology utilizes a traditional 2D flat screen dashboard with a second 3D holographic screen. During normal operation, the driver views instrument gauges on the 2D monitor. If warnings or alerts occur, the 3D system instantly presents the information to the operator as a three-dimensional image -- facilitating immediate driver awareness and recognition, according to Provision. Daihatsu plans to incorporate HLXX technology into their vehicles by 2012. Until then, you'll just have to imagine what it looks like... as for obvious reasons, a flat JPEG computer image cannot replicate the hologram!

[Source: CNN Money]

click above image to view many more pics of the Bentley Continental GT Speed

Put aside the massively powerful engines and the sheer prestige of the badge, and what sets a Bentley apart from ordinary vehicles is the attention to detail: things like thick carpeting, sumptuous leather, deeply lacquered wood and machined aluminum fixtures that make the cabin feel less like a car and more like something penned by Jules Verne. Even something as simple as the dashboard clock adds to the allure.

With the launch of the new, most powerful Continental GT Speed, Bentley's partner Breitling has premiered a new Swiss clock for the entire Bentley range. Like Jaeger-LeCoutre does for Aston Martin, Swiss watchmaker Breitling makes the dashboard clocks for Bentley road cars as well as a range of specially-designed wristwatches, like this most recent chronograph we reported on, bearing the winged-B icon that the two prestige brands share in common.

[Source: National Jeweler Network via The German Car Blog]

Another crossblog from Engadget, we have an announcement of Sharp developing a 1500:1 contrast ratio LCD panel that will work as a dashboard in upcoming vehicles. Sure, you might be saying, but Mercedes already has a small LCD panel in its S-Class. True, but this is taking things about ten steps further. In fact, it just might make that $5 million heads-up display offer a moot point. The 8-inch panel features an 800 x 480 resolution and can display not only the usual speedometer, tachometer, and idiot lights, but can also show navigational maps and backup cameras images. And did we mention that the 1500:1 contrast ratio is three times better than any competitor?

The biggest challenge for this new Sharp panel is that car interiors are much harsher on electronics than a living room. Having to cope with more extreme vibration and heat fluctuations than indoor equipment, the whole LCD was revamped and adapted for road use. No mention of who might be in line to install these in their vehicles just yet, but there will surely be interest with the growing technology needs of drivers combined with a relatively fixed amount of dash space available in cars.

[Source: Sharp via Engadget]