The Hud For The Elio

[Rob Croson]

Not surprising. The unit was too expensive, and many new cars, even lower priced base models, are coming with built-in screens to display everything the Navdy does, directly integrated into the car. AFAIK, the only thing the Navdy added was the HUD style see-through display. If you didn't have it built into your car already, you could get most of the same functionality, albeit without the see-through "cool" factor, with a $10 suction cup mount for your smart phone. If the price was $100, or maybe even $200, they probably could have had a decent market. But not for $500. (Let alone the $800 it debuted at!)

 

[Maurtis]

Looks like NavD is liquidating... Their HUD looked like it was the one Elio was going to offer as an option.

I thought Elio went with the iScout instead? That made sense since it would add blindspot monitoring. https://www.eliomotors.com/a-new-must-have-tech-option-for-your-elio-elio-momentum-v75/

But looks like they may have gone under too since the website is no longer registered and the FB page is stale.

 

[wizard of ahs]

I thought Elio went with the iScout instead? That made sense since it would add blindspot monitoring. https://www.eliomotors.com/a-new-must-have-tech-option-for-your-elio-elio-momentum-v75/

But looks like they may have gone under too since the website is no longer registered and the FB page is stale.

It WAS the IScout, and yes. they too went under

 

[Ty]

Bummer... My bad on the mis-reporting. Navdy IS liquidating but the dIscount was the Elio HUD. I just remembered wrong.

 

[Samalross]

Cutting edge technology has a very short life. If Elio starts production in 2019 they would probably only be able to charge about $20 for the Iscout.

 

[RSchneider]

The problem with some of these companies is that the technology they have is not exclusive and they end up failing in the OEM integration thus they go out of business. This happened a few years ago in the instrument cluster industry as the digital companies failed in OEM integration and the traditional OEM suppliers just developed it on their own.

It's become cheaper to make a digital instrument cluster as opposed to a traditional one. This is because they can integrate many other systems into it (i.e. backup camera, navigation, warnings, blind spot monitoring, custom displays, diagnostics, etc...). Think if it as an iPad as your instrument cluster. Combine everything into one unit, thus cheaper for the manufacturer as opposed to separate systems. When the Elio comes out in 2019, they will actually be using a more expensive instrument cluster as opposed to what they could be using since in 2 years, the price will even be lower than today. If they did go the cheaper route, they could program in the Lord Elgin look as an optional display. It would be a way Paul can honor his father and do it cheaper.

 

[Ty]

The problem with some of these companies is that the technology they have is not exclusive and they end up failing in the OEM integration thus they go out of business. This happened a few years ago in the instrument cluster industry as the digital companies failed in OEM integration and the traditional OEM suppliers just developed it on their own.

It's become cheaper to make a digital instrument cluster as opposed to a traditional one. This is because they can integrate many other systems into it (i.e. backup camera, navigation, warnings, blind spot monitoring, custom displays, diagnostics, etc...). Think if it as an iPad as your instrument cluster. Combine everything into one unit, thus cheaper for the manufacturer as opposed to separate systems. When the Elio comes out in 2019, they will actually be using a more expensive instrument cluster as opposed to what they could be using since in 2 years, the price will even be lower than today. If they did go the cheaper route, they could program in the Lord Elgin look as an optional display. It would be a way Paul can honor his father and do it cheaper.

Good point. It does seem it would be cheaper to have a single consolidated video screen than individual lights (high beam, turn indicators, engine, airbag, etc). I mean, you can get a kindle tablet for $49. How cheap ARE the analog dashes now?

 

[Samalross]

I wish water, oil pressure, tach, and speedometer were analogue. Proof that I am old.

 

[Ty]

I wish water, oil pressure, tach, and speedometer were analogue. Proof that I am old.

I also prefer analog gauges. Actually, it would be more accurate to say I prefer the look of analog gauges. Those gauges you speak of, Samalross, are probably not analog in your current vehicle. Most speedometers and tachs are electronic which activate an analog needle. This makes them no more reliable than a digital version of a pointer. But, the actual gauge is electronic. If you mean that you'd rather see an actual oil pressure rather than an idiot light, I agree.

I forgot my point. A digital dash can emulate an analog one well enough you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference (look how some of the Google wear watches look just like analog watches). It'd then be able to handle all manner of alerts and also could double as a back-up camera monitor when necessary.

 

[RSchneider]

I wish water, oil pressure, tach, and speedometer were analogue. Proof that I am old.

The digital dashes can be made to look analog. In the end, water, oil, tach and speedo are digital sensors that are fed into the CAN-BUS then it goes to the instrument cluster that just drives stepper motors. The problem with regular clusters is that you can only fit about 4 gauges in them anyway (tach, speedo, gas and water temp). With a digital dash, you could customize it to have whatever you want in number, bar or dial form. Just go check out a brand new VW Tiguan or Atlas. They have a digital dash and they are customizable along with having things like NAV. The radio is just like a android tablet but it still has two knobs. Those two screens alone will tell you so much more than any older car ever would even if you fitted it with a boatload of autometer gauges.

Elio could at least do the instrument cluster this way and then just use the center of the screen as a rear view camera that is on all of the time. Instead of looking up at a mirror, you look down at the cluster. VW uses the center of the instrument cluster for NAV, thus you are not looking over to the right and down all of the time.

Here's an example: http://www.vw.com/models/tiguan/section/performance/