EUROPE - Porsche recreates the 1969-1975 911 Dashboard, to absolute perfection, and it's for sale.

He came back: Porsche Classic reproduces the original dashboard of the historic 911 of MY 1969 to 1975. A sophisticated production process combines high quality, able to meet today's standards, a design faithful to the original in every detail. 

The dashboard is made ​​from a substructure modern coated from the original surface. The plot knurled and the feel, luster and shade of black is identical to the original. The new component is available at all Porsche Centers to 976 € including VAT. 

OTHER DASHBOARDS FOR THE ERA

As the technical equipment, the interior of the Oldtimer are subject to normal wear. The solar radiation, temperature variations and humidity damage the surface and materials. 

The materials of today are much more resistant and to maintain over time the value of the cars Porsche Oldtimer, Classic Porsche has redesigned the dashboard. Extensive testing conducted according to the most current guarantee absolute precision of shape and quality even in difficult weather conditions.  

The dashboard is an original component that also includes coverage of the speakers. Thus, it can be installed only by following the procedure of assembling the original, which involves removal of the windshield. For this reason, Porsche Classic recommended to make the replacement of qualified staff from Porsche Classic. 

Porsche Classic is a division of the car manufacturer, responsible for the maintenance of the cars produced usually over ten years ago. The services offered cover all areas, from the care and technical literature to the supply and reproduction of original spare parts, to complete restoration. 

To facilitate the maintenance and restoration of optimum Classic cars, over the next few years the company will extend its international network of dealers and service approximately 100 Porsche Classic. Customers and potential customers so Porsche will receive the full range of Porsche services Porsche Classic. 

With this initiative, Porsche has integrated the care and preservation of the value of the Oldtimer and Youngtimer part of an innovative service concept, which closely unites tradition and innovation Porsche.

Translation by Google - Apologies for any errors.

Institute of Advanced Motorists call for changes to car interiors and complicated Electronics.

TMW THOUGHTS

I fully agree with these findings from the IAM, cars are getting more and more complicated, the miriad of button, dials, and knobs makes every journey that little bit longer, the Sat-Nav on the latest Citroen C4 Cactus is so confusing and not at all easy to use, makes you NOT want to use it, the touchscreens on some makes are so very complicated, and with buttons so very small, you have to take you eyes off the road for more than the two seconds that the IAM recommends.

I also agree that some of the tech should be "locked" once the car is in motion, to stop you from playing with them, it would be quite interesting to see what the percentage of accidents today are caused by people not watching the roads, and concentrating on iPods, Phones, tablet screens etc, either way, whilst we, the customer demand these things, they manufacturers will continue to supply them, until, of course, governments, dictate that they are either locked, removed or banned altogether.

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The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that car manufacturers are building high-tech distractions into their new vehicles and have made interiors so comfortable they are being turned into living rooms.

The warning came from IAM chief executive officer Sarah Sillars, who said efforts to reduce distraction factors for motorists are being undone by the relentless pace of technology and eagerness of car makers to pack more gadgets onto dashboards.

She said the main areas of concern were highly sophisticated satellite-navigation and GPS systems, smartphones that mirror tablets and easy connectivity of internet and social media.

The IAM has suggested the UK should adopt guidelines suggested by the US Department of Transportation and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

They say drivers should be restricted from using certain non-essential forms of technology while the vehicle is in motion, and car makers should not introduce any technological development which takes the driver’s attention off the road for longer than two seconds (reference 1).

These voluntary guidelines are to be phased in over the next three years to address this large-scale problem in the USA.

US Federal data figures showed in 2011 that accidents involving a distracted driver killed 3,331 people and injured another 387,000 (reference 2).

And for younger drivers the problem is worse. Car accidents are the main cause of death of teenagers (as it is for all people aged between five and 34), and a quarter of all teen-driving crashes in the US are attributed to distracted driving (reference 3).

Sarah said: “We cannot allow the same trends in the USA to happen here. While car makers work constantly to incorporate active and passive safety features into vehicles, making us safer than ever before, they are also guilty of making us too comfortable and making us feel more cosseted – like we were in our own living rooms.”

The IAM says as technology constantly changes, continued education campaigns are required to reinforce and update the current laws (reference 4).

Sarah concluded: “Technology could be a great way of helping to cut the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. It would be a tragedy if technology became a reason why more, rather than less, people lose their lives.”

Reference 1: 

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/U.S.+DOT+Releases+Guidelines+to+Minimize+In-Vehicle+Distractions

Reference 2: 

http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html

Reference 3:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811737.pdf

Reference 4: 

http://www.iam.org.uk/media-and-research/policy/our-policies/mobile-phones

The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. 

The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. 

It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

CES previews AUDI TT cockpit and dashboard - very futuristic.

• New, slimline instrument panel with driver-focused display
• Audi virtual cockpit and new MMI focus on intuitive use
• Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg: “Enabling the driver to experience technology”

Puristic, intuitive and fully focused on the driver – for the new TT, Audi is significantly advancing its interior design. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (January 6 to 10, 2014) the brand with the four rings will, for the first time, be offering a preview of the interior of the compact sports car, which will be launched on the market in the course of the year.

As Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Technical Development says, “The first Audi TT was the design icon per se, the second generation was even sportier, right through to the TT RS plus with its five-cylinder TFSI and 360PS. And with the new Audi TT, the driver will be able to experience the technology to an even greater extent – just as would be expected from a genuine sports car. And it comes with a new generation of electronics and connectivity features.”

For this reason, the Audi virtual cockpit is the focus of attention for the first time in one of the brand’s production models. The fully digital instrument cluster displays all the information directly in front of the driver, meaning that there is no need for a central MMI monitor. This solution gave the designers the freedom to slim down the instrument panel architecture such that it visually conveys the Audi lightweight construction principle.

With its clear lines and innovative operation, the interior of the next TT generation has been redesigned from the ground up. From above, the instrument panel resembles an airplane wing; set low and with a turbine look about them, the round air nozzles, a classic TT feature, are reminiscent of jet engines. The controls for the air conditioning are also housed in the vents – the adjustment functions for seat heating, and for the temperature, direction and strength of the flow of air are located in their axes, with small displays indicating the chosen setting. Located beneath the central air nozzles, the switches for the hazard warning light and the secondary functions are centrally positioned and easily accessible.

With its brilliant graphics with a 3D impression and highly-detailed effects, the Audi virtual cockpit with its 12.3-inch TFT monitor sets new standards. Drivers can switch between two display modes. In the classic view, the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, while in “infotainment” mode, the virtual instruments are smaller. The space that is then created offers ample display space for functions such as the navigation map.

All elements of the new Audi TT operating concept are focused on the driver. The compact sports car’s new multifunction steering wheel features a flat-bottomed rim, with aluminium-look clips framing its spokes. The buttons and controls on the spokes allow you to control almost all functions, including the ultra-modern infotainment system. The menu is structured to reflect that of a smartphone and includes a full-text search function (MMI search). All the main functions are just a few clicks away. The MMI terminal on the centre tunnel console, the second control unit alongside the steering wheel, has also been exhaustively redeveloped. Thanks to the MMI touch, the driver can scroll and zoom in lists and on maps. Accessing other options has been simplified; in future this will be possible using just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton.

The innovations in the Audi TT interior include the S sport seats with their significantly curved side bolsters, the integrated headrests and the low seating position typical of a sports car. The slender character of the seats is emphasised by bezels on the flanks of the backrest and a cover on the back; the backrest is adjusted using a loop. The side bolsters of the S sport seats can be adjusted pneumatically.

With its clear, sharp lines, the interior as a whole perfectly expresses the sporty nature of the new Audi TT. The centre tunnel console, that supports the lower leg when driving fast through a bend, and the door panels boast flowing mutually-reinforcing contours. All the details highlight Audi’s attention to quality – from the design of the gear knob and the precise functioning of the rotary pushbutton to the Audi virtual cockpit.