Editing Dashboard (section)

===Advantages and drawbacks ===
When accelerating, digital speedometers generally step through a freeze frame of [[Natural number|whole numbers]] at a constant [[sample rate]]. It is as precise as the number displaced, whereas a gauged speedometer pointer could sweep through an infinite range between its major markings at 10&nbsp;mph or 20&nbsp;km/h intervals. The latter provides a sense of continuous acceleration albeit with less [[significant figures|precision]]: a gauge reading could only be estimated to the pointer's nearest halfway point between the markings.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eS_2UGJVA2EC&q=%22digital+speedometer%22&pg=PA311 |title=Refrigeration & air conditioning ... – Google Books |date= October 2004|isbn=1401837654 |access-date=2009-12-08|last1=Whitman |first1=William C. |last2=Johnson |first2=William M. |last3=Tomczyk |first3=John |publisher=Thomson Delmar Learning }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkIaGZ0HWcMC&q=%22digital+speedometer%22&pg=PA28 |title=The compact disc handbook – Google Books |date= January 1989|isbn=9780895792280 |access-date=2009-12-08|last1=Pohlmann |first1=Ken C. |publisher=A-R Editions }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9ycDAAAAMBAJ |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9ycDAAAAMBAJ/page/n97 96] |quote=digital speedometer. |title=Popular Science |via=[[Internet Archive]] |date=March 1931 |publisher=Bonnier Corporation |access-date=2009-12-08}}</ref>

The first digital instrument clusters were considered to be unpopular during the years when they were widely produced, and were heavily criticized by reviewers in automotive magazines. Some of the criticism they received was as follows:
*They were hard to see in the strong sunlight or other bright light
*They took away the sense of continuous acceleration that is provided by an analog speedometer.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F2XH3A-n2cEC&q=%22digital+speedometer%22&pg=PA176 |title=Information technology for energy ... – Google Books |isbn=9780881734508 |access-date=2009-12-08|last1=Capehart |first1=Barney L. |year=2004 |publisher=Fairmont Press }}</ref> 
*They were expensive to repair in the event of a malfunction

As a result of these issues, digital instrument panels were phased out of vehicles throughout the 1990s, and have been replaced with traditional analog gauges in most vehicles (with notable exceptions from French manufacturers [[Renault]] and [[Citroën]]), including those from luxury divisions. However, many vehicles are made today with a standard or optional trip computer located independently from the speedometer.

Digital units received information from a variety of sensors installed throughout the engine and transmission, while traditional analog units were attached to a cable that provided information from the transmission. Modern analog displays receive information in the same manner as the digital units, with very few manufacturers still using the speedometer cable method.

{{original research section|date=April 2017}}
{{multiple image
 | align     = right
 | direction = horizontal
 | width     = 130
 | image1    = Lexus LFA speedometer 01.jpg
 | width1    = 
 | caption1  = LCD Tachometer and digital speedometer on [[Lexus LFA]].
 | image2    = Lexus LFA speedometer 02.jpg
 | width2    = 
 | caption2  = LCD Tachometer Settings
}}


In the 2000s, digital speedometers were produced in some [[hybrid electric vehicle|hybrid vehicles]], including the [[Toyota Prius]] and [[Honda Insight]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toyota.com/prius/interior.html |title=3rd Generation Toyota Prius – 2010 Pictures and Photo Gallery |publisher=Toyota.com |access-date=2009-12-08 |archive-date=2008-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829195044/http://www.toyota.com/prius/interior.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Most digital speedometers have had green numbers displayed on a dark green or black background.  The [[Honda Civic (eighth generation)|8th]] and [[Honda Civic (ninth generation)|9th]] generation [[Honda Civic]] have a "two-tier" instrument panel. The upper digital dashboard with white numbers against a blue screen (the latter of which changes to green according to driving habits), digital fuel and temperature gauges.  The lower dashboard has an analog tachometer and digital odometer. The 10th and present generation saw the two-tier design replaced with a single instrument panel, which in higher tiers is a fully digital and partially customizable design.<ref name="CivicNewGauge">{{cite web|last1=Hellwig|first1=Ed|title=2016 Honda Civic: Unique Gauge Cluster Works Well|url=https://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-honda-civic-unique-gauge-cluster-works-well.html|website=Edmunds|access-date=April 24, 2017|date=March 9, 2016}}</ref>

Since the mid-2010s and early 2020s, fully customizable digital instrument clusters have become popular. The modern implementation allows the driver to choose which information to project where and how in the instrument cluster, such as navigation aid, connected phone information and blind spot camera view.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/technology/a1691036/should-you-get-virtual-cockpit-your-next-audi-or-volkswagen/|title = Audi Virtual Cockpit: What is It and do You Want It?|date = 13 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/tech/hyundai-blind-spot-view-monitor-does-it-work/|title = Hyundai's Blindspot View Monitor: Does it work?}}</ref> The customization can also reduce distraction for the driver and allow the manufacturer to use the same hardware in different models while retaining differentiation between models.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cecas.clemson.edu/cvel/auto/systems/instrument_cluster.html|title = Clemson Vehicular Electronics Laboratory: Instrument Clusters}}</ref>

[[Automotive head-up display]]s have seen applications in several cars, augmenting analog gauges with a digital readout on the windshield glass.

==== LCDs ====
Vehicle instruments have been augmented by software-powered display panels conveying information on display panels. Digital instruments present data in the form of numeric parameters, textual messages, or graphical gauges. Unlike the electro-mechanical instrument clusters of the past, these interactive displays are much more versatile and flexible.

Many modern motorcycles are now equipped with digital speedometers, most often these are sports bikes.

Toyota is using electronic instruments for showing the cars parameters for its Yaris/Vitz model, the car employs a [[vacuum fluorescent display]] to indicate the speed, RPM, fuel level, odometer, etc.

For the 2011 model year, Chrysler began using a common dashboard across their model line that has an integrated trip computer in addition to the analog gauges.  This trip computer can also be used to show a digital speedometer, making these hybrid digital-analog dashboards. the speedometer needle to be too wide, they are relying on the digital speedometer more than the analog gauge.

The French manufacturer [[Citroën]], is using digital indicators as speedometer for many models in its range, including the [[Citroën C2|C2]], [[Citroën C3|C3]], [[Citroën C4|C4]] and [[Citroën C6|C6]].

;High resolution displays
The [[Lamborghini Reventón|2007 Lamborghini Reventon]] introduced one of the first high resolution LCD displays used on a production vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Bryan |date=2019-10-24 |title=15 of the Greatest Automotive Instrument Clusters of All Time |url=http://gearpatrol.com/cars/a424228/15-greatest-automotive-instrument-clusters-of-all-time/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Gear Patrol |language=en-US}}</ref> A trend setter that would be taken seriously by mainstream manufacturers on years to come and become a selling point of consideration during the next following decade.

The 2009 Lexus LFA was one of the first cars to use a modern LCD screen. Lexus claimed a digital speedometer was required since an analogue tachometer wouldn't be able to keep up with the rev changes of the car's engine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a424228/15-greatest-automotive-instrument-clusters-of-all-time/|title = 15 of the Greatest Automotive Instrument Clusters of All Time|date = 24 October 2019}}</ref> This statement however was mainly marketing-driven; there is no technical reason why an analog needle would not keep up with the (far heavier) engine itself.{{Original research inline|date=March 2021}}

The [[Range Rover (L322)|third generation Range Rover (L322)]] also introduced the first use and largest TFT LCD displays used on a production luxury SUV for the facelifted 2010, and end of the cycle model.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-08 |title=2010 Range Rover Gets World's Largest TFT Display |url=https://jalopnik.com/2010-range-rover-gets-world-s-largest-tft-display-5203657 |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Jalopnik |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-25 |title=An idiosyncratic review of the 2011 Range Rover Autobiography – Intro & Part 1: TFT-LCD Instrument Cluster #rangerover |url=https://www.ovalnews.com/2011/02/an-idiosyncratic-review-of-the-2011-range-rover-autobiography-intro-part-1-tft-lcd-instrument-cluster-rangerover.html |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=OVALNEWS.com – Always fanatical; Occasionally interesting Land Rover & Range Rover News |language=en-US}}</ref> A trend setter that would follow further adaptation from other manufacturers.

In 2014, Audi launched<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibbs|first1=Samuel|title=Audi builds hi-tech 'virtual cockpit' into the new TT|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/29/audi-builds-hi-tech-virtual-cockpit-into-the-new-tt|access-date=22 December 2015|work=The Guardian|date=29 March 2014}}</ref> its '[[Audi Virtual Cockpit|virtual cockpit]]' on [[Audi TT]], and has later introduced it to several other models. The technology has been developed<ref>{{cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Sarbjeet|title=Audi pushing more virtual cockpit clusters with Rightware for next-generation A3, A4, Q7, others|url=https://technology.ihs.com/550380/audi-collaborates-with-rightware-to-develop-virtual-cockpit-for-next-generation-a3|access-date=22 December 2015|publisher=IHS Technology|date=14 October 2015}}</ref> together with the Finnish company Rightware, using its Kanzi software suite.