Most of us spend a lot of time staring at screens, and taking a break from information overload is a joy. This continues in modern cars, where touchscreens, warning beeps, and even full digital instrument clusters bombard drivers with information. Ford, however, thinks it has a solution thanks to a new feature in the 2020 Explorer called Calm Screen.
In the 2020 Ford Explorer SUV, which will be equipped with the optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, drivers can activate the Calm Screen setting to hide all driving data except the car’s current speed and fuel level. Ford has dubbed the feature “Mindful Mode.” “It offers a break from the constant stream of information and alerts that bombard us,” said Lee Newcombe, Ford Explorer marketing manager, in a statement today.
Similarly, Mercedes-Benz has a system called Energizing Comfort that can use ambient lighting, pre-set playlists, seat massages, and even aromatherapy to help drivers relax.
Of course, if you're so stressed out that you need a break, it's hard to imagine that a different instrument cluster layout will make much of a difference. We'd recommend that drivers who feel that way take a break and relax a bit outside the car. Still, we appreciate Ford's efforts to help drivers focus on driving.
The 2020 Ford Explorer was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show and will go on sale this summer. In addition to the standard model, there will be a plug-in hybrid version capable of up to 500 miles on a full tank, and a sporty Explorer ST with 400 horsepower and corresponding handling upgrades.
