2010 Ford Fusion SmartGauge LCD Panel

SmartGauge is an all LCD instrument panel ready to launch in Ford’s 2010 Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids. These dash boards are lean, mean and green! Check out the leaves flowing to the right of your fuel gauge! SmartGauge comes with “EcoGuide” – which helps prompt drivers on good driving habits by displaying a greenery for good behavior. What happens if you accelerate too quickly, does the animated tree whither? Your gauge displays can be customized, so be ready to upload funny dancing frogs or naughty internet strippers to congratulate your good driving techniques.

Knight Rider – Val’s KITT’s New Dash

The new Knight Rider features a Ford GT500 KR Mustang, with a control panel that looks more like a submarine than a car. KITT’s dash includes a holographic screen projector, every piece of seeking and spying technology you can imagine, and his signature voice module. The US Government, not Ford, probably would have designed this instrument panel, if it were real, but we give props to the production company that fit it all into an existing Ford Mustang interior. Hey, have to get that product placement in somewhere! And speaking of Mustang…

1967 Ford Mustang Dash

Mustang noy only brings you power under the hood, she deliver style behind the wheel. Circular gauges become standard in many Ford cars up until the 1970′s.  Sadly, not too many vehicles these days have a MPH or RPM gauge that go up as high as the ones above.

1982 Commodore Computer Dash

In the early 1980′s Ford wanted to be the first automotive company to have a computerized dash board GPS panel. In coordination with Commodore Computers, Ford designed a concept, which featured a small road map, radio and environmental readout (including internal and external temperatures). At the time, Ford’s Chief electrical engineer was quoted as saying “Ten or 15 years down the road, the sky’s the limit. You can envision radar systems, sonar, infrared, heads-up displays.” Someone should have given this guy a gig with Amazing Kreskin.

Circa 1990 Ford Taurus Dash

Design gave way to functionality in the 1980′s and 90′s (back then no one knew how to combine both!) giving us many bland panel designs from many auto makers. Ford’s Taurus, as well as Mercury’s Sable, had large, bulky dash boards in order to allow for both driver and passenger air bags, as well as all the new computer technology now included in every person’s vehicle. The Taurus always gave us a good ride, but once you pass a decade be careful, some Taurus dash boards would shake after you surpased 50 mph.

2008′s KITT is not ordinary Mustang. He’s a fully worked-up Shelby GT500KR Edition (early reports from Ford claimed the “KR” did not stand for “Knight Rider” and was just a coincidence. Maybe there are no coincidences in the world of “product integration” – but the KR does go back to a 1968′s Shelby Mustang King of the Road edition, sorry to crush your speculation kids.

Knight Rider’s Shelby boasts more than just a hunky driver and movie-star voiced Artificial Intelligence system. The vehicle can pump 540 horse power out of it’s 32-valve V-8  engine. Not bad for what is essentially a “prop” – no disrespect KITT. Ok, we know the car is just as much a star of the NBC series as actor Justin Bruening is portraying Mike Traceur.

Some of KITT’s new systems for the upcoming season (premiering September 24th on your local NBC affiliate) include overhead holographic displays, a “Super Pursuit” Mode, and even some Turbo Boost.

There is no reason to hold a grudge, classic Knight Rider fans – as you can see this updated version is Hasselhoff Approved!