In-car time pieces
October 26, 2011 in bentley, cars, Citroen, clocks, Concept cars, Lexus, maserati, peugeot, trends, watches and tagged Bell and Ross, Bentley, Breitling, Citroen, clocks, clocks-in-cars, DS5, GS, ISR, Lexus, Maserati, Peugeot, Quattroporte, SR1, trends, watches.
Having a clock in a car negates the need for a driver to take their hand off the wheel to tell the time, but in the last few decades the prominence of the in-car-clock has waned. Perhaps an analogue dial was seen as anachronistic next to new features that in turn battled the in-car-clock for IP real-estate? But, following Bentley with their Breitling clock, we are seeing a growing trend for prominent stand-alone analogue clocks that aim to signify luxury even in sub-luxury car interiors:
The production Citroën DS5, set to debut in Frankfurt, has a bespoke and prominent analogue clock integrated into the IP – one of many elements that help to give the car a premium feel
The recently announced Lexus GS has a central clock that takes learning from recent premium watch fashions and makes a far more appropriate statement than the rather sub-premium clock design of previous Lexus in-car-clocks
The Bentley Continental ISR (Ice Speed Record) limited edition has near Mini-like use of red and white detailing on its exterior and this continues in the interior where the Breitling clock has a red face and new graphics to match, and a corresponding, stand-alone special edition watch
The Bell&Ross in-car clock of the Peugeot SR-1 (the brands first collaborated with a “dashboard wrist watch” in the 2006 908RC concept) is the best exemplar of a premium watch brand and bespoke horology design adding equity to a car
Although Bentley re-awoke the in-car-clock as a prominent feature for luxury car interiors, Maserati has been consistently featuring a distinctly shaped timepiece in their interiors for decades – this is from the current Quattroporte
This article first appeared in Car Design Research’s Insight Quarterly (Q3) newsletter, which is distributed to a select group of automotive design individuals. If you would like to join our mailing list and receive the next issue, please email us here.