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The dashboard of the future, and how you will use it, at CES 2016 (pictures)

The future of automotive dashboards is nowhere more in evidence than at CES, where automakers and equipment makers show off new concepts for how we will interact with our cars.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
Wayne Cunningham
Antuan Goodwin
BMW i Vision Future Interaction
1 of 23 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

BMW i Vision Future Interaction

BMW's CES concept uses gesture sensors to control infotainment features, eliminating buttons and dials from the console and dashboard.

visteongesturecontrol-01.jpg
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Visteon gesture control concept

Automotive supplier Visteon also has a gesture control concept, which could be deployed in cars soon.

Rinspeed Etos dashboard
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Rinspeed Etos dashboard

The Rinspeed Etos dashboard has two modes, driving and autonomous. In autonomous, the steering wheel folds up and conceals itself in the dashboard.

Visteon 3D instrument cluster
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Visteon 3D instrument cluster

Visteon's 3D display technology uses two LCDs to show very realistic-looking graphics.

Visteon 3D instrument cluster
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Visteon 3D instrument cluster

At the touch of a button, you can completely change the look of the Visteon display.

Visteon OLED concept
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Visteon OLED infotainment concept

Visteon is also working on OLED display technology, using smart power control to avoid burn-in, a problem with OLEDs.

mercedes-benzedashboard-01.jpg
7 of 23 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Mercedes-Benz E-Class dashboard

Mercedes-Benz showed off the dashboard software and touch controls for its new E-Class model ahead of its introduction next week in Detroit.

Jeep dashboard concept
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Jeep dashboard concept

Jeep's digital dashboard uses three wide LCDs and includes personalization features.

Jeep dashboard concept
9 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Jeep dashboard concept

The Jeep setup is constructed on a base of wood and natural materials, meant to evoke the outdoorsy nature of the brand.

Kia Nomos concept dashboard
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Kia Nomos concept dashboard

Kia's Nomos concept cockpit is, you guessed it, designed to work with autonomous and semi-autonomous driving features.

Kia Nomos concept dashboard
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Kia Nomos concept dashboard

Nomos features a fingerprint scanner to start the car and access in-car payment for tolls and fuel. A heads-up display (simulated here) give information about other vehicles, pedestrian detection and more.

Denso Multi Area Controller
12 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Denso Multi Area Controller

Denso showcased a concept dashboard that uses eye-tracking to detect what part of the interface the driver is looking at (navigation, infotainment, climate, etc.) and assigns control to that function.

Pioneer ADAS demonstrator
13 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Pioneer ADAS demonstrator

Pioneer's advanced driver aid system demonstrator rolls in an array of semi-autonomous aids. There's a laser head-up display, driver recognition and a fragrance feedback system that can suggest scents to keep the driver alert or calm.

Pioneer ADAS demonstrator
14 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Pioneer ADAS demonstrator

The seat of the Pioneer demonstrator features biometric sensors that can monitor the driver. Speakers integrated into the headrests provide directional alerts for blind spot monitoring and more.

Hyundai autonomous cockpit
15 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Hyundai autonomous cockpit

We swung by Hyundai's booth to preview its autonomous driving cockpit.

Hyundai autonomous cockpit
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Hyundai autonomous cockpit

The cockpit features a long strip display that integrates side camera feeds. When in its autonomous mode, the seat leans back and the rear mirror becomes a video screen for watching content.

Hyundai autonomous cockpit
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Hyundai autonomous cockpit

Hyundai's system features a lot of predictive information that can automatically suggest destinations and deep integration with communications.

QNX digital instrument cluster
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QNX digital instrument cluster

In its demonstrator Toyota Highlander, QNX showcased a concept digital instrument cluster that ties in with infotainment and driver aid functions. We've seen similar concepts and implementations before.

QNX digital instrument cluster
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QNX digital instrument cluster

However, the QNX system is the first time that I've seen Android Auto in the instrument cluster.

Garmin Lenexa concept dashboard
20 of 23 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Garmin Lenexa concept dashboard

With the Lenexa concept dashboard, Garmin seeks to move away from a vision-based touchscreen interface and back to a tactile dashboard based around knobs.

Garmin Lenexa concept dashboard
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Garmin Lenexa concept dashboard

The interface is designed to be used without looking (like volume knobs), but there are screens integrated into the dashboard that can display information.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class preview
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class preview

Mercedes gives us a look at the immediate future with a preview of the upcoming E-Class sedan's digital dashboard.

JVC-Kenwood ADAS components
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JVC-Kenwood ADAS components

Showcased near its McLaren 675LT concept, JVC-Kenwood displayed the various prototype driver aid components, including camera-based side and rear mirrors, heads-up display components and more.

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