Ford has joined the trend of incorporating extra-large dashboard screens for digital driver interfaces, with the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featuring a remarkable 48-inch 4K screen that spans the entire dashboard. Despite concerns about driver distraction, Ford emphasises its careful approach, focusing on efficiency and customisation while ensuring drivers remain attentive to the road.
Positioned just below the windshield to minimise eye movement, the expansive screen is not a touchscreen. Instead, all controls are accessible through the steering wheel and an 11-inch center panel, housing critical driving information and maintaining a safety-first design.
The interface is strategically divided into three sections based on priority. Crucial driving data, such as the speedometer and fuel indicator, is positioned on the left side behind the steering wheel. Navigation information and drive modes are centrally located, while the passenger side displays supplementary details like time, weather, and tire conditions.
The Nautilus supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing drivers to extend mobile apps across the vast screen. Running on Ford’s latest in-house Android-based operating system, the Nautilus introduces a significant update to the company’s OS, known as Sync, offering various apps and software features. While the new name remains undisclosed, it promises improved functionality.
When parked, the entertainment options are extensive, featuring YouTube, Spotify, PBS Kids, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible, and more. Notably, the infotainment system supports Bluetooth game controllers and a selection of Google Play Store games, including a Ford-exclusive version of Asphalt Nitro 2. The in-car OS also includes productivity apps for work calls and the Vivaldi web browser, with additional features like Google Chrome arriving through over-the-air updates.
Interestingly, a similar panoramic in-car panel was showcased by BOE at CES 2024, with a 45-inch touchscreen boasting 8K resolution, doubling Ford’s pixel density. BOE plans to release a 9K Oxide Mini LED variant with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1500-nit brightness in the future.
