Speedometer, digital vs analog plus placement.

I never look at it, either. A much larger digital number in the center of the speedometer, or where the selected gear appears in the tach now would be ideal. The speed number is more important to me than knowing what gear I'm in at the moment.

This photo appears to show a smaller MPH indicator in the shift window on the tach instead of on the left display.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Looks like a real analog as you can change settings in a 458 and F12 from analog to digital

 

And in the FF as well.... just not in the California that I've been able to determine.

 

slightly different thread but same speedo, even though a 458 and F12 can change from analog to digital they cannot change from MPH to KPH, which for us Europeans would be a simple fix, unless my old Scottish brain is not working again

 

The reason I like digital is the accuracy. 10mph difference is a needle flicker on a 200+mph speedometer. Somehow the police do not have much sympathy for that particular excuse.

 

This is why I look at the digital speedo, too, over the very-hard-to-get-a-precise-read analog one.

 

Since you are looking for an opinion, mine is that all gauges should be finely made, beautiful to look at, easy to interpret, and of the analog mechanical variety (not a simulation). But it seems I am from another time and place these days.

 

Solid State I am with you on this, but I think things happen so much quicker now , that we need red LED lights to read the rev counter. but a finely tuned ear can tell when its time to change up.

 

Beautiful analog gauges are welcomed fixtures in today's Fcars but as pointed out, a more practical vehicle speed display would really make the car easier to safely navigate, especially where there are speed traps, rather than just to rely on our seat of the pants feel when we not squinting at the tiny readout in a corner of the TFT display.

Here's a shot I made of the HUD in the BMW i8. The display actually feels bigger in real life (iPhone camera tends to introduce wide angle effect).

The square box on the left shows the speed limit where you are while the readout on the right shows vehicle speed. IMO, this is the way to go. It eliminates clutter and places the information where your eyes should be. And because the HUD is a computer controlled projection you're not limited to a given physical "real estate" within some LED(?) in your gauge(s). The HUD can conceivably be reprogrammed to display whatever information the factory wants.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

We had the HUD in both of our X5M's, and quite frankly I thought they worked very well. I think BMW did a nice job of allowing little bits of configuration (speed, revs, and Navigation prompts and arrows).

Personally I think a limited HUD capability would be ideal, particularly in some of today's hypercars. I absolutely use the shift lights (am quite addicted to them in the race car) but I like the idea of keeping eyes up as much as possible. I had a chance to test a car that has the Bosch motorsports radar/blindspot/rear camera (which, BTW, uses basic components installed in cheap econoboxes) and it works phenomenally well.

Having said that, more modern cars are adding "eyes down" complexity (eg. with flat-panel infotainment). Our 2016 Cayenne really requires you to look down to interact with the system, which I shouldn't do....but I do.

 

Love the HUD that would be handy

 

The HUD is a nice addition to gauges especially if it can be turned off when desired. On the other hand, big screen TVs should stay in the home theatre or the mini-van for the kids in the back.