(Posted this on the "
No dash screen -- only 15" touchscreen?" thread)
IMO it's [no HUD or instrument cluster] cool and very forward thinking!
1. Has to help with the car's cost (as Elon has been saying about less displays for a LONG time, not sure why everyone is so surprised)
2. As Autopilot usage increases, driver gauges will be less necessary.
3. There are other features (adaptive cruise control, speed limit audio chimes) people could use for speed rather than taking their eyes off the road (even through a HUD or to steering wheel cluster) when they are actively driving.
4. Minimalist design / less distraction
As autonomy improves steering wheel clusters are going to seem more and more antiquated; this will be looked back at the first vehicle to recognize that. The steering wheel will be for when you
have to be driving actively in tricky intersections and emergencies looking at the road/surroundings (
not instrument cluster details). The center console will be for when it is driving autonomously (vast majority of the time).