Future car instrument panel and feedback systems will reflect driving mode chosen
There are a number of vehicles on the road today in which drivers can select the type of performance they want, from sporty and economy, to low speed power. Nothing on the dashboard reflects the mode chosen, however, nor are the normal feedback systems of pedal pressure and suspension feel varied. Vehicle electronic suppliers are changing all that.
Continental Automotive is introducing electronic technology that consists of a trio of color-coded buttons on the dashboard that allow for instant adjustments even while driving.
Blue is the comfort mode, which includes a sparse instrument panel, using words — not symbols, or abbreviations — to explain what's happening with the vehicle, such as, comfortable cruising, easy shifting and softer pressure on the pedal.
The amount of gas remaining in the tank is presented not in the traditional E-F arc, but as the remaining number of miles you can get out of your current tank.
Red, or sporty, mode features a Formula One-style speedometer, maximized engine power, very-late shifting gears, harder wheel steering and a g-force indicator.
And green represents the eco-mode, promoting fuel-efficient driving by, among other features, using 180 out of 300 horsepower, earlier shifting and dropping the chassis several millimeters.
The trademark is a clover that grows more green — indicating so-called eco-points — as one drives in a more fuel-efficient fashion and making the gas pedal tougher to depress if one isn't driving green enough.
“It's up to the customer and what he likes,” said Stephen Wetzel, senior manager of Continentals interior electronics solutions, adding that in the future, drivers will be able to customize their own modes.
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