No more traditional counter. At the Paris Motor Show, manufacturers compete in imagination and tech functions to improve their dashboards. A multitude of options and screens, therefore, which risk distracting the driver.
Formerly reserved exclusively for the use of the driver, and monopolized by technical information (speed, engine operation), the dashboard has completely changed its nature. Instead of circular speedometers, high-definition touch screens have invaded the cabins of different manufacturers.
Multiplication of screens
The new Peugeot E-3008, exhibited at the 90th edition of the 2024 Paris Motor Show which takes place from October 14 to 20, is no exception. The model is equipped with the i-cockpit, the commercial name of the screen combination offered by Peugeot since the first 208 in 2012. It presents two screens, including a floating curved screen with a diagonal of 21 inches for luxury models .
“Traditionally, in cars, the steering wheels are large and we look at the information through the steering wheel. We have positioned the screen higher, which means that the driver has all the safety information in his field of vision” , specifies Jérôme Micheron, global product manager. 12 million customers have already adopted the i-cockpit.
For its part, Volkswagen sees triple. The manufacturer is thus equipping its new models with a 15-inch central screen, compared to just over 12 previously, a screen above and the steering wheel and a third 5.5-inch… on the windshield.
A process also used by the Chinese manufacturer BYD. With the augmented reality head-up display, the central screen is projected onto the windshield of the manufacturer’s luxury models, such as the YangWang. To do this, BYD uses a glass slide onto which information is projected. “The driver thus has the impression that the information is on the road. For example, we display traffic in real time, or directional arrows live,” underlines Jean-Briac Dalibard, BYD France communications manager.
“Inspired by the world of smartphones”
In addition to the GPS map, mileage, and the nearest gas stations or charging stations, the (numerous) terminals now become an extension of the smartphone. Just take a look at the design of the dashboards. The central screen resembles, for almost all manufacturers, a 10 to 20 inch tablet screen. At BYD, the screens can even be rotated vertically, to switch to smartphone mode.
“It’s far from being a gadget. When the GPS is activated, the vertical mode allows you to see further. For anything related to entertainment, simply flip the screen back to horizontal”, adds Jean-Briac Dalibard.
On the program, applications for listening to music, watching Netflix, listening to podcasts and your calendar.
“We were inspired by the world of smartphones with widgets and a menu where the customer can find everything in one click,” explains Guillaume Noël, brand manager at Citroën.
And, like on a smartphone, it is possible to personalize your home screen. “A whole bunch of things are customizable,” Tesla says. “For example, you can shortcut your favorite apps, change app layouts, increase font size, or reduce blue light.”
As a result, the dashboard buttons have also disappeared. “Our dashboards are simple and uncluttered,” explains the manufacturer. The central dashboard screen brings together all the functions in a single central screen, doing without remote controls on the dashboard, or even those around the steering wheel and the electrical circuits that go with them.
Partnership with Google
Better yet, Tesla can carry out software updates, sometimes remotely, or even integrate new functions. “A physical button is a function frozen in time. The screen can evolve via remote updates,” says the manufacturer.
Renault has pushed the dashboard/smartphone concept even further. “We don’t just replicate the phone with Android auto or Apple car play,” insists Jean-Gabriel Grand, responsible for R4 revenue at Renault. “We have embedded in the car all the intelligence that allows navigation, route planning and even entertainment.” From the OpenR Link system interface, developed in partnership with Google, drivers and passengers can browse the internet and play games or access their Disney+, Netflix and YouTube accounts.
The Reno voice assistant, powered by ChatGPT 3.5 Pro AI, aims to help the driver interact with the car in a fluid manner. In particular, he can lead a conversation over several question/answer exchanges. “It’s an avatar capable of answering the 200 most asked questions on our FAQ,” explains Jean-Noël. The assistant will be able to help you load your car, or access certain options in the screens.
Distracting screens?
Features and screens galore, therefore. At the risk of distracting the driver. Like a smartphone distracts a pedestrian, these vast screens, captivating with their colors and abundance of functions, distract drivers’ attention from the road. Indeed, those accustomed to manual functions sometimes waste precious time finding the indicator among the dozens of menus on the screen, the karaoke function and the podcast application. Especially since the logic of interventions on functions varies from one brand to another, or even from one model to another depending on the generation.
But nothing to worry automotive professionals. All the players interviewed are unanimous: the objective is to simplify the dashboard and therefore, driving.
“We see a lot of vehicles that are very complex, with a dashboard that is difficult to use. We wanted a sleek design with few physical buttons to transmit information to the driver at the right time,” observes Guillaume Noël for Citroën.
The return of physical buttons
Indeed, among the majority of manufacturers who had switched to 100% screen, the trend is towards the return of physical buttons. “We put back certain buttons to give the choice to the consumer who can start the air conditioning using the voice assistant, or via the button,” explains Jean-Gabriel Grand for Renault. Air conditioning, defogging, warning or temperature changes still have physical buttons.
At Peugeot, the buttons have been replaced by “i-toggles”, these configurable tactile keys, allowing easier access to certain important functions such as air conditioning settings. “These are shortcuts that can be personalized. If you want to make a call, the radio or navigation, you don’t have to look in a menu, you don’t have to dig through a dozen menus. “
On Renault models, as on BYD cars, it is also possible to turn off the central screen to avoid any distraction while driving.
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