The all-digital instrument cluster seems to be back in style as more and more automakers are getting rid of the traditional dials that have physical needles to replace them with thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal displays aka TFT LCDs.
Khodrocar - These are far from being what you would call a novelty feature to have in a car taking into account during the 1970s and 1980s the automotive world saw more than just a few production models and concepts rocking digital dashboards.
Some were actually quite cool while others were just plain weird. Today, we are taking a trip down memory lane to rekindle with some of the models that in some way one could argue these went on to predict the future. While most are from the 80s, there are a few nice exceptions from other decades here and there. Enjoy.
Aston Martin Lagonda
You could say the wedge-shaped Series II Lagonda launched in 1976 was way ahead of its time as it had a trio of 5-inch CRT screens serving as the instrument cluster.
Toyota Cressida
There is something classy about the instrument cluster of this 1984 Cressida that we can't put our finger on. Rather than cramming several displays into a small space, Toyota decided to go with a wider panel incorporating large and easy-to-read screens.
Toyota Soarer
Known as the "Electro Multi Vision," the full-color CRT display of the second-generation Toyota Soarer doubled as a TV when the car was stopped. It also had selectable display modes, allowing the driver to pick from multiple info screens. Pretty impressive for 1986, isn't it?
Opel Monza
The last hurrah for the Opel Monza, the sporty GSE came out in 1983 with several LCD screens, including a nifty rev counter on the right side and four bars on the left.
Buick Reatta
This wouldn't be a proper list without the Buick Reatta. While it might not have the coolest digital dash (though it's quite classy) , it features an early infotainment system with a touchscreen. Yes, a touchscreen, in 1988. But this wasn't the first car to have this setup as Buick was the first to install a touchscreen in a production car in 1986 with the Riviera.
Isuzu Piazza
If it weren't for the steering wheel, one would be tempted to say this is the cockpit of an airplane. The retro-futuristic digital dash moved together with the steering wheel and the levers.
Source: motor1.com
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