Does anyone know why some car manufacturers put the instruments in the center of the dash? Isn't this less ergonomic than putting on the drivers side? Thoughts?

I.e. Toyota Echo, BMW Z8, Panoz Esperante, others

 

Insane!

 

A Saturn rep who was being interviewed on CNBC said about the Ion:

People complained that the steering wheel blocked some of the gauges.
It takes less time for the eyes to change focus when the instrument panel is located in the center rather than traditional placement.



There might also be some kind of cost benefit when altering a vehicle for export to different markets. That may only be valid for the Echo, tho.

 

Also makes it easier to build when marketed to left hand drive and right hand drive countries.

 

New Mini cooper

 

All important dials should be projected on the windshield by now. I like the aftermarket ones but who wants to put that thing on their dash.

 

As some people said, it is for importing to right-hand drive countties, BUT for some cars, it is just a distinctive STYLE (Z8).

 

I would say this would be the main reason. What they tell the public ...

 

So that back seat drivers can REALLY be back seat drivers?

 

Our Mini has that and I think it makes it easier to read. The thing is so damn big and there is no steering wheel in the way. i like it.

 

My dads '00 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP does this. It has the speed. Its pretty handy so you dont have to look down. I like it HUD-unit

 

I wish more manufacturers would offer a HUD as an option. AFAIK, the only major manufacturer to offer a HUD on a production vehicle in large numbers was GM, and only within the Pontiac division (Grand Prix, Bonneville, etc)

 

something i heard on TV the other night.

i thought this was cleverly used in the older preludes.

-boz