You know those high-tech ultra cool flat panel displays being used in fighter planes, and corporate jet aircraft? Well, guess what, they are becoming more and more common in luxury cars, and the auto after market accessory business is selling them. They sure look cool, all electronic, flat panel with more features than a personal computer to boot.
Recently, I was at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and there were several vendors that had these cool displays, as well as some quarter million dollar and up sports cars that now have custom kits for them. The flat panel displays for dash boards are customized and so far they are not that cheap, but the prices are coming down.
I suspect by the end of 2009 you'll be able to pick one up for your car for about $ 1200 and the center console versions are also coming down for most of the major luxury cars, and some come as standard equipment. Perhaps the coolest innovation for digital displays are the ones which project your tachometer, speed, and GPS onto the windshield and then, you never have to look down again while driving.
For windshield holographic projection you can expect to be in it for $ 5,000 to $ 8,000 for the basic entry level units, but boy are they trick. Once you have one you'll never want anything else. And there is even a steering wheel and stick shift switch to turn it off or on. It's great for street racing, driving in heavy stop and go traffic, or fog. Please consider this technologies for your next ride.