2011 MKZ Hybrid from Lincoln gets SmartGauge upgrade
The 2011 hybrid Lincoln MKZ is set to hit dealerships by fall and the carmaker installs an updated version of the SmartGauge that first appeared on the Fusion hybrid from Ford last year. The concept of the updated SmartGauge will still be the same, a pair of LCD displays sandwich the speedometer in the middle and gives the driver layers of information about his driving and teach him how to be more efficient on the road.
The update gives the LCDs new color palletes. Instead of the old blue scheme, the SmartGauge now has green and gold as a classier theme. The leaves which have been present since its intro is still there and still serves its purpose of giving feedback to the driver about the average consumption of fuel on the short term. If you have a thrifty driving style, the system will give you more leaves. Go metal to metal and the leaves will be gone.
The upgraded SmartGauge now provides an indicator for long-term good fuel consumption. There will be flowers, apple blossoms to be exact. If you have a good mileage, though the exact numbers were not shared by Ford, the first blooms will appear after a month or so, and more flowers will appear as you stretch the fuel you have. Earn all the flowers of the system and that will translate to a savings of around $8,000 in fuel and about 30 tons of carbon dioxide emission over the life span of the car.
Pretty cool!
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