Re: Ashtrays

Too true, but since the formula dictates that they ape the German style to encourage sales growth is it any wonder?

For all my love of Ferrari, the modern interiors really are a bit messy. Overstyled and tacky- perhaps so their prospective customers feel at home?

Below are the photos of a proper interior for a sporting car, and a leather testicular support for a sporting man. At least it avoids the ghastly white or salmon hues of a Porsche I suppose.

If it is just me being old, please let me know.

Re: Ashtrays

It would have been great to make use of the Geneva show to further our common understanding. In the interim I present...

A taxonomy of ashtrays

Two main genera: fixed types or removable (usually known as the Smoker´s Pack, a removable cup with a flip-up lid.)
There´s little to be said about these Smoker´s Packs as they are of scant engineering or aesthetic interest. The ones I´ve seen are made of metal cased in flame-proof plastic.
They also seem to be installed at the expense of a cupholder. Evil. Charmless.

Fixed genera are those which are not removed from the car. They are subdivided into those species with a moving lid or the species where the ashtray cradle itself moves (lidless).

The moving lid-types have 1) a lid moving in a plane (left-right or forward-back).
2) a lid rotating around an offset axis (simple flip-up lid on a hinge).
3) a lid moving through a curved path (moving over the tray or under the tray).
4) a lid rotating around a central, horizontal axis (cylindrical lid)
The moving lid design is best suited to large cars with substantial centre consoles. They are usually sited in front of the gear lever.

The moving ashtray concept is lidless. The tray itself moves into a new position relative to the surrounding fascia.
The moving ashtrays are in three types. 1) tray rotates about a central, vertical axis.
2) tray rotates about horizontal axis (hinge type).
3) moving parallel to a plane (drawer, moving from under the fascia).
The moving ashtray is a design found in smaller cars or American sedans with no centre console (with a column mounted autoshifter).

Another possible class is a pop-up type. This would involve the user pushing the lid or cover and the tray/lid assembly rising up from a fascia. Does this exist anywhere?

Ashtrays may be illuminated or not. Illumination is important when smoking and driving by night.
They may have a glass, plastic or metal liner. Glass and chromed-finishes are easier to clean and look more attractive.
The cigar lighter may be mounted separately, or located under the ashtray lid. Moving cradles make this a little harder to engineer due to the wiring and mechanical force required to actuate the lighter.
 

Re: Ashtrays

Gentlemen, 

thanks to this surprisingly interesting thread I have been paying attention to the smoker's needs while sitting in an SI E-Type flat floor - and produced some photographic evidence!

It's a rather beautiful mechanism this, isn't it?

(Apologies for the bad quality.)

Re: Ashtrays

bertandnairobi said:

That falls into the category of an ashtray with a vertically mounted cental axis. The ashtray moves and it is, in effect, lidless. The dashboard is the lid. The example I had in mind was from a Morris Minor. It was far less elegant than this Jaguar design.

And you are right, it is a lovely bit of work. I wonder what sort of ashtray they use now.

Prizes (imaginary ones) for anyone who can snap a modern Jaguard ashtray.

 

Bert, I trust your opinion of modern Jaguars is not too badly shaken by the fact that it appears the XF ships without an ashtray.  

In the US market (easiest to access via google) , the XF centre console appears to have a cupholder and a secondary storage space which will also hold a beverage or two.  If you want an ashtray and lighter, you have to choose it from the accessories catalogue (presumably dealer-fit) then in goes the lidded cupholder insert, and a lighter socket is fitted into the storage compartment next to the gear selector dial. Picture attached.

I'd still be very happy with an XF myself, being a non-smoker.  Would this be a deal-breaker Bert?

Re: Ashtrays

I´ve been out testing cars. Here´s what I found about the ashtray in the Kia Ceed sportswagon. This is the 1.6 liter version in an upper trim level. You could tell because there were giant flashes of pretend metal trim on the central console. The ashtray is quite elaborate and has a volume of 110 mls. Not bad. Apart from that the car was like a sensory deprivation chamber.