What happend to 'cockpit style' dashboards?

[ApexJimi]

Why has this style of dash gone the way of the dodo? Is it a crash protection issue?

For reference I'm talking about those dashboards / instrumentation clusters that are angled exclusively towards the driver. I'm thinking SAAB 9000, E30, RX7, Supra etc.

[DLovett]

Volvo did it with the previous generation S60/V70.

[Gixer]

My 90 ZR1 has a cockpit style wrap around dash and centre console. I really like it. The later years of the same car had almost the same dash but the the wrap around center console had been shaved off a few inches so sits much flatter to the dash. I believe this was for health and safety.....

[Puddenchucker]

I suspect it's a cost thing.
If you don't angle the centre console towards the driver and make the instrument cluster 'non-handed', you can use the same parts on both left & right-hand drive vehicles, thus reducing design, tooling and inventory costs.

[DLovett]

Alfa 159 still employs this design.

[k-ink]

I first noticed those style of dashboards as a kid here...



The Supra was very cool much later on.

[Gixer]

Puddenchucker said:

I suspect it's a cost thing.
If you don't angle the centre console towards the driver and make the instrument cluster 'non-handed', you can use the same parts on both left & right-hand drive vehicles, thus reducing design, tooling and inventory costs.

The car is only made in left hand drive....

I see where you are coming from though. Some new cars have dashboards where nothing would need to be changed from left to right

[Zod]

BMW had one generation off them, but they're back now on every model.

[ApexJimi]

Zod said:

BMW had one generation off them, but they're back now on every model.

It was actually the dashboards from the E36 / E39 onwards that got me thinking about this.

[bristolracer]

Design trends, they will reappear again.

Also cars have so much more crap in the centre console now, sat navs, i drive type stuff,buttons galore on the wheel .

Personally i love the old dash designs of the fifties esp on the american cars, love the "flash gordonesque" chrome, big analogue dials etc, just makes you think WOW when you see them, the inside of modern cars is dull dull dull, the only current car with with that interior wow factor is the paggani zonda.