AutoTechCX

Where automotive, tech, and CX collide. From in-store displays to XR – and everything in between.

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

🔥

[Dave W Plummer @davepl1968]

This is the dash in my 1963 Chrysler Imperial*, which doesn't use light bulbs.

Back in the early ’60s, Chrysler did something wild with their dashboards: they used electroluminescent (EL) lighting instead of bulbs.

Instead of shining light onto the gauges, the gauges themselves glowed. Inside the panel is a thin layer of phosphor sandwiched between conductive layers. When you apply high-voltage AC (around 100–200 volts at high frequency), it excites the phosphor and it emits that signature soft green-blue light. No hotspots, no shadows. Just an even, killer glow.

The catch? Cars run on 12V DC, so Chrysler had to add a separate inverter box under the dash to step that up into high-voltage AC. It worked beautifully when new, but the electronics were expensive and not super reliable, so by the late ’60s they quietly went back to traditional bulbs.

Still one of the coolest pieces of automotive tech from that era.

I just bought an NOS unit (zero miles on the odometer) and have found a compatible EL transformer, so presuming I can figure out the pinout without roasting it, I'm about to have a new piece of wicked shop art!

* Not my photo! But it's the same 61-63 Imperial Panelescent display in my car.

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Car guys, we knew this but don’t often think about it.

[Dave W Plummer @davepl1968]

This a computer, and you likely own one. It's a hydraulic analog computer.

It’s essentially a machined analog computer that computes with fluid instead of electronics: pump pressure is routed through passages that act like wires, while spool valves, springs, orifices, and check balls perform the equivalents of comparators, logic gates, delays, and one-way elements.

What it “calculates” is the machine’s current operating state, whether conditions have crossed a threshold to justify changing state, how strongly to apply each output, and how quickly to make that transition without instability or shock.

It does this by continuously balancing forces—pressure on different valve areas against spring preload and feedback pressure—so each valve shifts only when one hydraulic condition outweighs another, while restrictions and chambers add timing and smoothing.

In plain English, it is a real-time fluidic state machine that solves “if this pressure is greater than that one, route flow here; otherwise hold, delay, soften, or override” entirely through geometry and oil.

They're used in every car with an automatic transmission, where it makes choices like what gear to be in and how hard to apply clutches, etc....

And some dude worked it all out on paper back in the 1960s.

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

🥵🔥❤️

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

XR for #automotive design is already here. Super interesting to see so many OEMs using this tool.

[UploadVR @UploadVR]

Autodesk VRED now has an immersive mode that streams to Apple Vision Pro via Nvidia's CloudXR, and Kia, BMW, Volvo, and Rivian are already using it.

Details here: https://t.co/C4QIHxOzF5

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@sushirollbt @Mechmaniac77 @SawyerMerritt That has to be a mandate from Legal, right?

[Road & Track @RoadandTrack]

Tested: 2026 Dodge Charger R/T 4-Door makes more sense than you think. https://t.co/Win52XBKrS

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Gemini does an admirable job with exploded product views, but the twin-engine Porsche 911 is a AI-fail. 😳

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

The future of car shopping, coming soon ᯅ

[Brian Corrieri @Brian_Corrieri]

The future of in-car configuration on Apple Vision Pro, by Vision First Studio. 🚗
Customize the car you’re sitting in and see changes overlaid on the real vehicle in real time.
👉 Want a demo? DM me.

[StormyCsVR @StormyCsVR]

The combination of physical switches and digital displays is delicious here. Exactly the tactile feedback that’s missing in all-digital automotive interfaces.

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Insane footage of this tragic crash. #UPS2976

[shelbyy 🤎 @ShelbyWx_]

Loudly heard the explosion, and the several booms afterwards and the smoke plume from the explosion all the way here in Mt Washington. Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. Such a tragedy! #UPSPlaneCrash #UPS2976

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@us_connie B5 Blue and a 440/6

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Terrific use case for XR. Colocated headsets demonstrating new automotive technologies. @Porsche is at the leading edge and many hire will follow.

[UploadVR @UploadVR]

During the reveal event of the new 911 Turbo S, Porsche walked Patrick Dempsey through the drivetrain using colocated Apple Vision Pro headsets.

Details here: https://t.co/Vi6OfhPOcV

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Bold moves from @jimfarley98 and @Ford

[Jim Farley @jimfarley98]

We’re always listening to our customers and dealers. They told us more could benefit if we could reduce the upfront, out-of-pocket expense to buy or lease a vehicle. So we’re transitioning to our new ZeroZeroZero campaign. $0 down payment, 0% interest for 48 months, and 0 payments for the first 90 days on many of our @Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicles. https://t.co/oOH4IG26N6

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Iconic engine for the Ram brand. Glad it’s coming back.

[King Of Mopar 🏁🚗 @KingOfMopar1]

OFFICIAL: The 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 Returns To The Ram 1500 For 2026

https://t.co/IsSn2bSQwd

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@ForzaHorizon Bullitt

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@CUPRA found a smarter way to showcase cars—without needing every model on-site.
Their MR showroom lets customers explore the lineup in new ways, while solving real inventory challenges.
Smart use of XR tech, done right.
https://t.co/pOYkTMGe9g

#XR #AutoRetail #CX #VirtualShift

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@briandstone Never, ever put money down on a lease

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

Apple Vision Pro is here.
But for auto retail, it’s not about the headset—it’s about rethinking CX.
How XR is reshaping the car buyer journey & why Vision Pro accelerates it:

https://t.co/mKdH7Qjrdz

#XR #AutoRetail #VisionPro #CX

[AutoTechCX @AutoTechCX]

@ForzaMotorsport In FH5, no more emotes, horns, apparel, etc, in the wheelspins. Constant disappointment when I land on those. I’m sure I speak for many. Cash and cars please!

[Will Morris @CTWillMorris]

#Ford dealer appraising a higher mileage #Nissan they don't need for inventory but can trade and sell quickly with @ACVAuctions