New 'S3XY Dash' brings a driver screen to Model 3 and Model Y

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are the two most popular electric cars on the planet. Owners love their performance, range, and high-tech feel. But many drivers share one big complaint: the dashboard. Or rather, the lack of one. Tesla's design choice to put all information, including the speedometer, on a central 15-inch screen is famously minimalist. It also means drivers must constantly glance to their right, taking their eyes off the road. Now, a third-party company believes it has the perfect fix.

A new product called the S3XY Dash promises to give drivers the instrument cluster that Tesla never did. It is a 9.6-inch LCD touchscreen designed to fit perfectly on the dash of any Model 3 or Model Y. But this is far from being just a simple add-on screen. It connects directly to the car's internal computer through the OBD port and pulls real-time data. This gives the driver instant access to vital info, such as battery temperature, blind-spot warnings, and even regeneration levels, right in their line of sight.

The S3XY Dash's biggest feature is customization. The company says every detail on the screen can be changed to fit the driver's exact wants. Users can pick the size and style for different widgets, like speed gauges or maps. Drivers can even create multiple screen layouts, or "panels," for different situations. For example, a driver can have a main screen for regular driving and set up a different screen that appears automatically when Autopilot is engaged. This second screen could show the estimated arrival time, trip duration, and the car's battery percentage at the destination.

For many owners of Tesla electric cars, the most exciting part has nothing to do with battery stats. The S3XY Dash brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Tesla, a feature owners have requested for years. The company claims this is the first instrument cluster in the world that lets the user choose the size and placement of the CarPlay or Android Auto display. It can be a small 2x2 widget for quick alerts or a full-screen layout for navigation. This feature alone might be enough to convince owners who miss the familiar interface of their smartphones.

Installation and placement offer two choices. The primary setup puts the screen right at the bottom of the windshield. This position acts almost like a heads-up display, allowing drivers to see information without moving their eyes far from the road. For those who prefer a traditional look, an included MagSafe holder lets you mount the screen directly behind the steering wheel. The company notes, however, that this more traditional spot may partially block the driver's air vent. The dash connects via Bluetooth to a small module plugged into the car's OBD port, an installation most owners could likely handle themselves.

Enhance (the company behind this invention) promises the S3XY Dash will get better over time as it will get over-the-air updates to add new features based on customer feedback, making it an evolving platform, much like the EVs it's designed for. Pre-orders are already available, with an introductory 20% discount offered until the end of November, with the first units to begin shipping to customers in February.

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