21st Century Instrument Panel (Dashboard)

Instrument panel is the part of the dashboard behind the steering wheel informs the driver of various car operating conditions.   They include speedometer, odometer, trip meter, tachometer, fuel supply, engine coolant temperature, battery charge level, lubricating oil pressure, high and low beam headlights, door and trunk open warning, etc.

Analog instruments (A) use rotating needles or dials and digital instruments (B) use lights and electronic displays.

Driver Information Center (Instrument Cluster) is a group of warning and comfort lighted controls near each other for quick viewing by the driver.   It may be located below or to the side of the main gauges on the instrument panel.

Heads Up Display (HUD), located on the windshield or plastic dash panel, indicates car speed, turn-signals, low fuel, high-beam lights, etc., without the driver having to remove his eyes from the road.