12 Weird & Wonderful Gauge Clusters

Back in the 1990s, Lancia didn't take the minimalist approach with itshomologation version of the rally car,但一个合适的时间。的一个eronautically inspired gauge cluster kept the driver in touch with the state of the engine, which didn't have all the modern sensors that can trigger the computer to make adjustments or send the car into limp mode when things went horribly wrong under the hood.

While theDB9's cluster is a beautifully engineered piece and has a wonderful symmetry on how the tachometer and speedometer are mirrored, it's not the easiest to glance at and see what's going on. Both needles on the dials start in a weird position away from bottom dead center and the tachometer moves around anti-clockwise. However, despite being an example of aesthetic over function, it is a beautiful cluster that evokes the idea of a high-end watch face.

LED gauges were still in their infancy in the 1980s, but Nissan managed to intelligently use the technology to show the RPM predominantly in an easy to read fashion for300ZXowners. Splitting the engine readout and selected gear gauges on each side was a show of restraint and how to use digital gauges properly.

TheLFAis an excellent example of an automaker using the gauge cluster as an integral part of the identity of the car. The cluster mixes modern digital technology with a nod to the old-school by enclosing the digital tachometer in a physical ring. The ring then moves around depending on the driving mode and the information that needs to be displayed in that mode. The moving gauge alsofeatures on the new UX, but it's truly at home in the LFA.

Minimalism isn't a word that can often be used when it comes to Pagani, and it certainly can't be used in regards to theHuayra. In fact, there's so much going on in there it's hard to unpack. It's bold, it's beautiful, but it'll give you a headache if you stare at it for too long.

TheReventonwas directly inspired by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor tactical stealth fighter, and Lamborghini didn't hold back for the gauge cluster. There is a more traditional mode than the vector graphics, but if you feel the need for speed…

In the 1980s, digital dashboards helped cars look futuristic, and theC4 Corvette was among the first to have one as standard equipment. It looks dated now, but the C4's tachometer is still one of the coolest looking gauges on a car to date.

The eighth generation also had the split-level gauge layout, but the ninth refined it by making it look less tacky. While those two generations of Civic won't go down in history as the best, the gauge clusters were both unusual and well thought out. The speedometer and information screen sits on top of the dashboard deep under a hood so the driver doesn't need to move their eyes much to check their speed. While the speed is displayed in digital digits, the large digital tachometer dial sits in the center of the lower gauge cluster spot so you can glance at it through the wheel.

Ferrari isn't known for going crazy with its gauges, but the GTC4Lusso has one very cool and oddball feature. The passenger gets their own little cluster that shows system information as well as the car's speed, tachometer, or G-force gauge. Why? Because showing off is what Ferrari ownership is all about.

A while ago, Rolls-Roycedecided that a tachometer is an unsophisticated tool associated with sports cars. The way it altered that information in the name of refinement is to use what the company calls a power reserve gauge to let the driver know how much of the engine's power is available at any given time. It's both cool and pompous, which just about sums up Rolls-Royce perfectly.

While we are used to a mixture of digital screens and traditional dials, Audi has gone full-bore on replacing everything with an adaptive TFT screen. That means the gauge cluster inoptioned or top-trim Audisare fully configurable and able to show everything from system information and settings to music playlists and sat-nav directions using just a drop of the eyes. The question now is: How long before this becomes the standard across all cars?