• Ford presents prototype windshield featuring holographic thin film
• Thin film works in combination with low-cost LED-based projectors
• Presented information can span the width of the windshield

Modern head-up displays that project information like speed and navigation directions on the windshield already help drivers keep their eyes on the road, but automakers are looking at ways to present a great deal more information on the windshield, in a way that’s still safe.

One of those automakers is Ford which turned up to the Vehicle Displays and Interfaces Symposium and Expo that ran in Detroit from Sept. 10-11 with a prototype windshield featuring a clear film capable of displaying holographic images.

The film, known as HoloFlekt, was developed by Ceres Holographics, a company specializing in holographic thin films for automotive applications. It works in combination with low-cost LED-based projectors mounted discreetly at the top of the dash.

Ford’s prototype windshield has been designed for a hybrid vehicle and shows information like speed, directions, battery status, whether gas or electric power is being used, current phone call information, and more.

The images displayed on the windshield are bight and clear, and according to Ceres meet all of Ford’s safety, optical, and durability requirements, potentially paving the way for the technology to reach production in Ford vehicles. Ford said at the recent display and interfaces presentation that it is working to introduce the technology, but didn’t provide a timeline.

Several other automakers are also investigating the technology. BMW previewed its own system last year in the i Vision Dee concept car and confirmed some form of the technology will make its way into next-generation electric vehicles referred to internally as the Neue Klasse family. The first Neue Klasse EV will be a compact crossover arriving in 2025.

Nissan’s design chief, Alfonso Albaisa, told Motor Authority in an interview earlier this year that screens in the dash will eventually be replaced by windshields capable of displaying all of the same information.

Patents from General Motors also surfaced earlier this year showing a system that could potential display information on all parts of the screen. According to the patent, there may be instances where this is helpful, like highlighting an object about to cross the vehicle path well before it’s directly in front of the vehicle. Something like this wouldn’t be possible with the narrow field of view afforded by current head-up displays.