Bosch's display-based instrument cluster is a technological leap

Future drivers of the BMW i8 will witness first-hand the technological leap Bosch has achieved with the groundbreaking supercar's digital instrumentation cluster. The display monitor, which is a tad larger than Samsung's Galaxy Tab S, provides maximum flexibility for processing and displaying content.

The biggest advantage of a pure display-intensive instrument cluster lies in its versatility. It gives designers and developers complete freedom when devising the graphics and layout for the display area, thus leading to varying degrees of design possibilities.

The monitor also allows specific navigation and online content to be presented to the driver clearly.

When designing the instrument cluster for the plug-in hybrid, the development engineers settled on a sharp, high-contrast TFT display with a diagonal screen size of 8.8-inches. The TFT display is covered with an optically bonded pane of mineral glass, akin to the latest smartphones and tablet PCs for a cutting-edge design and a contemporary look and feel.

The monitor presents the vehicle's current speed on the left, while the instrumentation on the right adapts to the driving mode of the i8. In 'Comfort' mode, the display shows a power meter on the right that indicates the energy utilisation, including the e-boost from the electric motor and recuperation via the vehicle brakes. 'Eco Pro' mode provides a more detailed representation of the transition states between the propulsion technologies.

Both the hardware and software were carefully selected to guarantee the necessary performance for perfect visual feedback, including the highly dynamic animations. The digital instrument cluster is powered by a highly innovative dual-processor architecture, with one processing unit dedicated to handling the graphics and the other for the remaining functions including a head-up display.