The Lucid Air Showcases an Innovative Screen Design That May Advantage All Vehicles

Screens in vehicles: It’s a contentious topic for many, and everyone seems to have an opinion, regardless of their enthusiasm for cars. I’ve maintained that going back to the old ways isn’t feasible—modern automobiles are too intricate for every feature to have its own button—but there’s a limit to what is sensible, and manufacturers have long exceeded it. However, after spending a week with a Lucid Air Touring, I’ve identified a specific function of screens that feels justifiable, perhaps even preferable to traditional methods.

Lucid refers to theirs as the “Left Cockpit Panel,” which is an apt name, as it highlights the significance of the screen’s positioning for its effectiveness. Essentially, it comprises all features not directly related to driving but still crucial—elements such as windshield wiper controls, lighting, and defogging, in addition to managing the charge door and frunk since this is an electric vehicle. The layout that Lucid has implemented, as shown in my image below, is quite straightforward.

We all understand what these symbols represent and their functions when pressed, and there is no need to flip through multiple pages of menus. Everything is right in front of us. Those icons are likely to become deeply embedded in that display over years of usage, but since it consistently shows the same options, that’s inconsequential.

Because the Air employs its right stalk for selecting gears, it cannot place controls for both wipers and lights on either side. In such cases, many manufacturers tend to hide some controls behind a series of buttons or perhaps a dial to the left of the steering wheel but below the dashboard’s center line. My Corolla, for instance, has a few controls situated there, like the auto high-beam switch and a function for the heater to melt ice from under the wipers. Designers often treat this area like the misc drawer of automotive functions, leading to a chaotic assortment of features.

Moreover, it’s down there—out of the direct line of sight. In my vehicle, I must turn my head to see the entire row of buttons. That’s not especially practical. Sure, screens lack tactile feedback, but with Lucid’s Left Cockpit Panel, I can clearly view all these controls from my seating position. Since they’re linked to functions you might only adjust a few times during a trip, the need to momentarily shift your gaze isn’t a major concern.

Now, would this panel be improved if every button were a physical one instead of being displayed on a screen? Possibly, but considering how seldom you interact with it, I don’t believe that would result in a significant change. Additionally, I can’t recall the last new car I drove that utilized the space directly to the left of the instrument cluster for physical buttons.

Other manufacturers, besides Lucid, have tried smaller displays dedicated to specific tasks. For instance, Kia has started incorporating more detailed climate control settings in a compact panel to the right of the instrument cluster, before reaching the main infotainment screen.

I find its design appealing, yet it’s not an ideal solution. Since that panel features both software buttons and information that requires reading, it makes quick interaction more cumbersome. It can also be partially hidden by the steering wheel from the driver’s viewpoint, and it might as well be a football field away from the passenger. And passengers love adjusting climate controls.

In contrast, Lucid’s Left Cockpit Panel succeeds in both design and implementation. That area is frequently underutilized in many vehicles, but the Air grants it functionality, including features exclusively relevant to the driver that won’t be fiddled with too often. It’s a screen I genuinely appreciate in a modern car, which is a rare appreciation. Typically, I merely tolerate them at best, or dislike them at worst.

Is there a screen in your vehicle that you actually enjoy and don’t just endure? Let me know at [email protected]