Instrument Cluster

[Chaparral]

What does everyone think about the instrument cluster shown in the reveal vehicles?

What do you like about it? What don’t you like about it? What’s missing? How could it be improved?

 

[Schpungus]

From what we've seen it looks like a perfect blend of modern and old-school. It looks like it'll be easy to read and not distracting like some other systems I've seen - will be interesting to see how customizable it is.

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

It is also worth mentioning that the above is one option on the display. We will do a deeper dive of what was shown at the reveal as a preview of the systems.

 

[racer32]

I like it. Very nostalgic.

 

[J Alynn]

Perfect as is. Some retro graphic options/displays would be a cool throw back. Just in digital rather than analog

 

[Brandonium]

Perfect as is!

 

[Chaparral]

It is also worth mentioning that the above is one option on the display. We will do a deeper dive of what was shown at the reveal as a preview of the systems.

I look forward to learning more.

I like the idea of the retro needle gauge but I think the particular design shown is a bit weak. One obvious problem is the fact that the gauge only goes up to 100 mph when even the old gauges on the classic Scouts went up to 120. But there are more subtle problems here as well, especially with the typography. I also think Scout could do much better with the battery gauge/range indicator. I also think the retro gauge will feel cool for a few weeks and then seem like it was a bit too literal, recreating the past more than being inspired by it. So I’m glad there will be options to choose something different.

I really hope Scout are also looking at CarPlay integration that offers optional alternative instrument cluster designs created with Apple’s new instrument cluster design tools and collaboration initiative. This webpage shows what some designers did in a few days with the standard set of tools and no collaboration to customize. https://blackboxinfinite.com/CarPlay-Generations-Apple-HMI

 

[Jhscout]

I think it looks awesome!

 

[J Alynn]

I look forward to learning more.

I like the idea of the retro needle gauge but I think the particular design shown is a bit weak. One obvious problem is the fact that the gauge only goes up to 100 mph when even the old gauges on the classic Scouts went up to 120. But there are more subtle problems here as well, especially with the typography. I also think Scout could do much better with the battery gauge/range indicator. I also think the retro gauge will feel cool for a few weeks and then seem like it was a bit too literal, recreating the past more than being inspired by it. So I’m glad there will be options to choose something different.

I really hope Scout are also looking at CarPlay integration that offers optional alternative instrument cluster designs created with Apple’s new instrument cluster design tools and collaboration initiative. This webpage shows what some designers did in a few days with the standard set of tools and no collaboration to customize. https://blackboxinfinite.com/CarPlay-Generations-Apple-HMI

Audi did a great job in the TT. Not sure if that setup was same across all Audi models but it gave some tasteful looks with different emphasis. So long as the display is set up in a linear fashion I think it will be

 

[Chaparral]

In a classic gauge the numbers are much larger and have a narrow width. This is far more readable at a glance.

With the new design the “needle” passes through the gauge, and I’m not sure if we saw this in a video but it looks like the needle passes over the numbers. If so, they will become illegible because the numbers are too small relative to the thickness of the needle and they are the same color. If the needle does pass over the numbers, the numbers should be much larger so they are not obscured and the needle should have a contrasting color. Or else, the needle should be below the numbers but even then the numbers should be larger to be easier to read and have narrow width for a more retro feel.

Some other typography problems in the new design include: 1) the number 100 is offset to the left of the tick whereas all the other numbers are centered to the tick. 2) The glyphs are far to close together for their weight 3) the glyph weight subtracts too much negative space, decreasing legibility. This problem shows up in the bottom of the nine and the top of the ‘a’ in “road”. This is just bad typeface design, even a non-expert like me can tell it was never designed to be used at this weight 3) The glyphs in “road” are crammed too tightly together 4) the kerning or spacing is unnecessarily inconsistent elsewhere. Compare for example the spacing between the ‘M’ and ‘I” in “LIMIT” with the spacing in “282 MI”.

In terms of typography and functionality, I think the old gauge is superior to the new design.

 

[OleScout]

What does everyone think about the instrument cluster shown in the reveal vehicles?

What do you like about it? What don’t you like about it? What’s missing? How could it be improved?

View attachment 3782

I love it, modern design with a nod to the Scout II, now @Jamie@ScoutMotors , does the blinker signal display with vertical bars like the orginal Scout II?

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

My only requests at this point:
1. Please have multiple options available (Jamie hinted that more than one display option will be a reality).
2. Please make all available display options CUSTOMIZABLE.

 

[dleepnw]

its simple, which some folks will like. i always assumed it was a demo view and likely not set in stone. im sure it will evolve by the time its production ready. itd be cool if they allowed for several options. the one shown would obviously be the retro-throwback and we'd have more modern views with different info to choose from maybe based on style and/or drive mode. almost like the faces on Apple Watch.

 

[Chaparral]

I think electric provides an opportunity to add new kinds of gauges.

For example, I'd like to see a small needle gauge for each motor that shows a measurement of the electric current in amps, either being drawn or regenerated. So the needle straight up would mean no current is flowing. It moves to the right when current is drawn and to the left when it is regenerated. I would geek out over this. It could be insightful, for example in knowing when both motors are driving and when just one is. But even if it's not very useful it would just be very cool to see needles moving back and forth, letting the driver know the state of the machine. Many cars have tachometers and the information they provide is of little practical value to most people most of the time but everyone loves to see them because they make you feel connected to the machine. Electric needs an equivalent of the tachometer.

I also think combining the battery icon with miles of estimated range conflates two very different things.
A battery gauge should be a needle gauge with estimated usable charge in coulombs. The numbers on the gauge don't need to mean much to the average driver, they'll just see the needle drop like a fuel gauge does. The rest of us can geek out. Estimated range in miles could be accompanied by a graphic that changes as range drops, there's plenty of opportunity to get creative with this.

 

[J Alynn]

My only requests at this point:
1. Please have multiple options available (Jamie hinted that more than one display option will be a reality).
2. Please make all available display options CUSTOMIZABLE.

Sounds good but guessing NHTSA isn’t gonna complete flex or some idiot would lose speedometer. I think regulations will require certain portions always remain but maybe some small movements will be permitted.

 

[TimmyHil08]

I like the gauge of the scout my only problem is I hope the trucks electric speed limiter isn’t 100mph. I would like 160mph personally. If my MINI with an inline 4 that make 350 ft lbs and 250hp. Then the Scout should have at least 160mph on the gauge.

Otherwise I like the gauge and the fact of options.

 

[Chaparral]

Sounds good but guessing NHTSA isn’t gonna complete flex or some idiot would lose speedometer. I think regulations will require certain portions always remain but maybe some small movements will be permitted.

As far as the new CarPlay system goes, Apple’s instrument cluster design tools are intended to allow user customization, and this was demostrated in a WWDC video. The vehicle manufacturer has very tight control over the options they expose to the user. So the available customizability options can be kept well within regulatory requirements and the manufacturers design style. The user may be able to select between certain color choices that have been pre-approved, or change between a few different styles of gauges, or add certain elements that are sent from their phone, such as driving directions or weather conditions or now playing.

Although ostensibly part of CarPlay, the gage clusters designed with the helps of Apple’s tools and collaboration are loaded onto and rendered by the vehicle’s own computer - this appranetly satisfies regulatory real-time OS requirements so that the speed shown on the gage is always accurate as of that moment.

I’m really hoping Scout support it because the new CarPlay would make adding limited customizability to the gauge cluster very easy, because all the graphical elements are variable.

 

[Scoutsie]

What does everyone think about the instrument cluster shown in the reveal vehicles?

What do you like about it? What don’t you like about it? What’s missing? How could it be improved?

I’d love to have the exact same instrument panel as m’Scout, which was a little easier to read than this. I appreciated the taller letters for readability, same with the bolder lines. As a person of middle age, there gets to be that dance with the ravages of time on the ol’ eyeballs.

I kind of like that the gauge stops at 100 for the sake of East coast driving where people are maniacs and the highway gets really curvy (93/95 are pure treachery in MA). I don’t know if that’s the fastest speed you should ever wisely try to drive at or that’s expected top speed. I’m fine with either because I am absolutely not an exciting person on the highway (unless I’m not the one doing the driving and it’s happy hour because I am definitely not afraid of the police then).

(Current earworm: “Buzzbomb” by the Dead Kennedys)

 

[nolen]

I’d love to have the exact same instrument panel as m’Scout, which was a little easier to read than this. I appreciated the taller letters for readability, same with the bolder lines. As a person of middle age, there gets to be that dance with the ravages of time on the ol’ eyeballs.

I kind of like that the gauge stops at 100 for the sake of East coast driving where people are maniacs and the highway gets really curvy (93/95 are pure treachery in MA). I don’t know if that’s the fastest speed you should ever wisely try to drive at or that’s expected top speed. I’m fine with either because I am absolutely not an exciting person on the highway (unless I’m not the one doing the driving and it’s happy hour because I am definitely not afraid of the police then).

(Current earworm: “Buzzbomb” by the Dead Kennedys)

and for those of us with a lead foot, it gives us plausible deniability when the officer asks us "do you know how fast you were going?"

 

[J Alynn]

As far as the new CarPlay system goes, Apple’s instrument cluster design tools are intended to allow user customization, and this was demostrated in a WWDC video. The vehicle manufacturer has very tight control over the options they expose to the user. So the available customizability options can be kept well within regulatory requirements and the manufacturers design style. The user may be able to select between certain color choices that have been pre-approved, or change between a few different styles of gauges, or add certain elements that are sent from their phone, such as driving directions or weather conditions or now playing.

Although ostensibly part of CarPlay, the gage clusters designed with the helps of Apple’s tools and collaboration are loaded onto and rendered by the vehicle’s own computer - this appranetly satisfies regulatory real-time OS requirements so that the speed shown on the gage is always accurate as of that moment.

I’m really hoping Scout support it because the new CarPlay would make adding limited customizability to the gauge cluster very easy, because all the graphical elements are variable.

Yeah, that I’m onboard for. I feel like somebody dropped some of that on the forum at some point but I couldn’t find it. I can buy into that approach. Thanks for clarifying