Which car has a clock on the center console?

[LailaMarie]

Porsche Cayenne is the most representative car with a round clock on the center console. Porsche Cayenne: The Porsche Cayenne is an SUV model. The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid features green brake calipers and is equipped with 265/50R19 Michelin Latitude Sport low rolling resistance tires. Porsche Cayenne: The Porsche Cayenne first debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2002. The specific models are divided into five categories: Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S, and Cayenne GTS. Although it is an SUV, the Cayenne inevitably carries many sports car traits due to its origins from Porsche, a company renowned for producing sports cars. In Spanish, Cayenne means 'pepper'.

[LolaLee]

Back when I worked as a guide at auto shows, I paid special attention to this detail – dashboard clocks were predominantly a feature of luxury brands. The iconic IWC clock in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, for instance, really exudes class. However, many mainstream models have started adopting this trend now, like the new Toyota Crown which has a small clock embedded between the air vents. Classic British cars love this design the most – the Jaguar XJ even angles its clock at a tilt. I’ve noticed these clocks place great emphasis on matching the dial color with the interior. Bentley, for example, uses a deep blue dial with a metal frame, which carries far more charm than those plain digital displays.

[DeHolden]

Last week, while helping a friend pick a used car, I specifically researched this topic. The center console with a clock is actually a signature design element of luxury vehicles. Porsche always features a small round clock above the dashboard, while the Lexus LS embeds it like a piece of art within the wood trim. Interestingly, these clocks come in two types: digital ones suit sporty models like the Corvette, whereas mechanical clocks are standard in top-tier luxury cars such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Over the past decade, new energy vehicles have surprisingly started reviving this design, with the HiPhi Z placing a floating clock below its touchscreen.

[LaLeah]

A veteran mechanic at the repair shop once told me that nowadays, there are basically two types of cars where you can still see a clock on the center console: classic European luxury cars and high-end Japanese MPVs. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class places its clock in the middle of the air vents, while the Toyota Alphard designs it above the air conditioning panel. He specifically warned to be cautious of fake clocks installed in used cars—original factory clocks always come with the brand logo and luminescent functionality. If you notice the clock on an Audi Q7 showing incorrect time, don’t rush to repair it; it might just be a sign that the vehicle’s battery is running low.

[JohnRose]

I've observed the center console designs of dozens of cars, and most with physical clocks follow these patterns: German cars prefer minimalist metal-framed styles, Japanese cars tend toward ivory-white dials with chrome accents, while American muscle cars favor red-backlit digital displays. Tesla's early Model S experimented with a virtual clock but received complaints about poor visibility – now newer models like the Lotus Eletre have added physical clocks above the center console. A friend who modifies audio systems told me that in Mercedes equipped with Burmester sound systems, the clock placement is deliberately positioned not to obstruct the sound field.

[VonRicardo]

I remember attending a car design salon where a designer mentioned that the center console clock first appeared on the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud in the 1950s. Nowadays, this feature has become an Easter egg for identifying a car's class: entry-level luxury cars like the BMW 3 Series have clocks with diameters under 5cm, while the Maybach S-Class uses a larger 7cm dial. The most innovative use comes from Land Rover with the Range Rover, where the clock is only revealed when the retractable rotary knob is stowed. Interestingly, while most new energy vehicles have eliminated physical buttons, they often retain the clock. The Zeekr 001 even allows its clock to switch between displaying global time zones.