Autoinfotaiment to add 3D

It seems that finally all that cool technologies promised to us in sci-fi movies are finally making their way to reality. One such technology that was also described at a World’s Fair in Vancouver, Canada in the mid 1980s and also was featured in the “Star Wars” movies is holograms.

Now comes word that a concept car from Daihatsu is showcasing hologram technology in displaying data from its dashboard gauges. Although the gauges appear two dimensional, information and warnings from them appear in 3-D holographics.

Sounds cool! But some people caution that it could be a distraction for the driver. What the heck, there’s so many distractions for the driver now with warning lights and tones and female voices and such coming on when the new safety technologies are engaged. What’s one more distraction going to do? It’s just something else we’re all going to get used to. Besides, it still is really cool!!

Daihatsu harmonizes Paris Motor Show with D-Compact X-Over

The Global Auto Index provides a few details on Daihatsu Motor *** entry, the D-Compact X-Over concept.

And the details are few. From information released by the automaker, the D-Compact X-Over is a 5-door hatchback whose design was developed by Italdesign. Its most striking feature is the glass roof that extends from the front windshield to behind the rear passenger seating. Whew. Talk about letting the sunshine in.

The concept will be shown with the production-ready Materia (see below), which goes on sale in Europe next year.

Our take? Both vehicles are thoroughly European in concept and design. If brought to the states, we could see the Materia competing against the Scion xB or even the new Dodge Caliber. The D-Compact X-Over concept, on the other hand, needs another makeover or two. It looks too close to the old Chevrolet Aveo for our taste though more practical than the Scion xA.