Yesterday I posted about my enjoyable weekend in our new long-term 2010 Volvo XC60. Well, now I'd like to point out one of my favorite details on the Volvo.
Notice how its gauges, which are simplistically beautiful in their own right, are front lit. This is unusual. Only the hash marks around the dials are back lit. The rest of the illumination is being thown from the front.
Benz used to do this in the late eighties and early nineties on all of its cars including the W124 E-Class (the 1992-1994 500E/E500 is an all-time favorite of mine). And as far as I know, Volvo is the only car company to be doing it now.
I like it. Good for you Volvo. Dare to be different.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 5,761 miles
cx7lover says:
11:09 AM, 10/13/09
Honda/Acura started to jock this styling on their newer offerings. I'm pretty sure this debuted in their 07 S80, and I loveeed it.
carguy622 says:
12:12 PM, 10/13/09
They are nice gauges, but where is gauge for coolant temperature and fuel level. Everything is being incorporated into digital gauges now. It's 80's digital gauges all over again except this time it's just in the name of cost cutting and not being high-tech.
cruiserhead1 says:
01:07 PM, 10/13/09
I think for any car with more practical pretensions, the digital readouts like the Volvo's or Audi are a great way to save space and keep the info that the driver wants on display.
However, the great thing about gauges is that it just takes a glance to see the needles are all lined up or pointed in the right direction. Great for sportscars.
But hey, even LeMans and F1 all use digital readouts and multi function buttons so who's to argue with that
leftnose says:
01:25 PM, 10/13/09
Where does the front lighting come from?
jacarig says:
01:51 PM, 10/13/09
The gauges are pretty nice. But analog fuel and temp gauges look far nicer than digital versions.
jaymagic says:
03:02 PM, 10/13/09
Looks similar to the gauges on the Genesis. Now blue is cool??? Seems a bit of a double standard.
jstandefer says:
03:11 PM, 10/13/09
Volvo started doing this with the 2004 S60R, I believe. S60Rs came with beautiful blue chronograph gauges with polished metal numbers, something you'll see on a Rolex or other high-dollar watch. There is no way to backlight those, so they light them from the front. You can also find the same gauges on the XC90 with the Sport package, and any Volvo with the R-Design package. The lighting comes from two small recessed lights above the gauges in the instrument binnacle hood. You can barely make them out in the photo above... they look like screw holes.
Here is a photo that I found showing the chronograph gauges from a C30 R-Design... at this angle, you can also see the front-overhead lights (and proper fuel and coolant temp gauges!).
http://www.volvere.fi/images/kesakuvat/satama11.jpg
misterfusion says:
03:38 PM, 10/13/09
Wow, in that case I'm glad to know that the gauges in my '99 Saturn SL2 were also cool!
Seriously, I like the look and functionality of the XC60 gauges, but I'm not crazy about front-lighting.
On the plus side: Look Ma, no gauge pods!! Volvo deserves kudos for this alone.
70ss454_man says:
05:21 PM, 10/13/09
My friend's Saturn LS has front lit gauges, though obviously no where near as ornate...
corrodesdafilm says:
06:15 PM, 10/13/09
Does the brighter/bolder red hash marks beginning at 7,000 RPM indicate the fuel cut? That would make these gauges go from pretty cool to awesome. I agree that the cluster is begging for analog temperature and fuel gauges though.
esoterica says:
07:36 PM, 10/13/09
Far, far more attractive than the Lexus/Honda "Optitron"-style EL gauges that also have to be lit during the daytime.
hondacura4 says:
07:46 PM, 10/13/09
I like the gauges in my sisters 2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited I4 as they are similar in design but have full red needles and are back lit by LEDs. The blue lighting in the info center between the gauges, the HVAC/Stereo screens and dash/steering wheel/door buttons really add to it. Nicely done Hyundai.
In a more sporting car I would prefer the classic styled gauges found in many BMW's. Simplicity is great, although I do like the F1 inspired setup in my S2000 as the rev meter is awesome.
super_ongoy says:
08:22 PM, 10/13/09
Yeah it's blue and nobody's complaining! What's wrong with blue? At this rate I would be embarrassed to take my pants off in the public!
alman08 says:
08:39 PM, 10/13/09
Looks every similar to the gauges on my parents' Honda Odessey and I like it.
esoterica says:
08:52 PM, 10/13/09
jstandefer, that gauge cluster is from an S60R, not from a C30 R-Design. Here are the R-Design gauges (same idea, but cheaper execution with no real blue anodized brushed aluminum):
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/112_0907_2009_volvo_c30_r_design_test/photo_08.html
esoterica says:
08:59 PM, 10/13/09
jaymagic and super_ongoy, there's a huge difference between blue-tinted and very saturated blue (ask any 2000-era Jetta owner, the trendy bright purplish-blue gauges in those were almost impossible to read).
mjp16 says:
09:11 PM, 10/13/09
Very nice! I love the S60R gauges too. Though my '98 Civic also dimly front-lit the gauges to some extent, for aesthetic effect--kind of like BMW/Audi's "waterfall" lighting--in addition to the brighter backlight.
@jaymagic and super_ongoy: The Volvo guages are lit in a bluish white, not blue, as esoterica has pointed out.
empowah says:
09:36 PM, 10/13/09
Our '88 240 GL had front-lit gauges as well. Nowhere as sharp or legible though...
super_ongoy says:
10:28 PM, 10/13/09
Yes I can see the difference now. I still prefer blue/blueish white over red or orange.
Thanks. Now I have no problem taking my pants off in public.
cr_driver says:
11:42 AM, 10/14/09
A free stripper? Oh mine, that is so cool..........lol
jaymagic says:
12:56 PM, 10/14/09
Say what you want. The blue looks very much like the blue gauge in my 07 Azera (which I happen to like).