- May 19, 2003
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I can't believe the Fusion hybrid doesn't have a tach! WTF? That's a deal breaker for me.
What really surprises me about instrument panels is that so many fail to give volt and oil pressure gauges. Despite wanting a "cool" looking tach, I'd think one would want vital engine information displayed. But seeing so many dashes without voltmeters or oil pressure gauges, I guess most don't want to know.
If you're worried about volt and oil pressure gauges, an increasing number of new cars don't even have an engine temperature gauge (e.g. 2011 Impreza). In its place is a little blue light indicating the engine is cold, and turns off when the engine heats up. Maybe it's simpler to understand but I think it's stupid.
Also I forgot how cool the IS300 gauge cluster is!
Eli-
It does have a tach it's hard to tell in my picture but it does. It's just a split tach one that shows the electric motor and the gas motor RPMs at the same time so you can see how much of the throttle is going into each.
It's also customizable. There are 4 different ways to set up the screens and 3 different looking tachs. One is a normal tach, the other is the power split tach that I have up, and the 3rd is a power split tach with an EV threshold so you know at which point it'll give you EV power and which point it'll switch to gas motor.
I'll see if I can take a few more pictures.
So far I think the S2000 wins. It looks amazing
I too feel sad that cars are gearing towards the dumbness in details. More and more manufacturers are removing dials that insure your confidence that your car is operating properly, such as Battery, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Engine Temp, etc.
For example in my 1972 Jaguar XJ6, I HAVE to know little minute details because old stuff is just not as reliable as new technology.
Hell, they're starting to not include a trans-fluid dipstick. It's only a matter of time before the oil dipstick is removed in an attempt to get you into the dealer more often.
In the newly designed 5-Series, one "reads" the oil level through the iDrive computer. There is no oil dip-stick for this engine. There is not one noted in the owner's manual.
BMW is one step ahead of you. First place I read it was here but do a google search and you'll find lots more.