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Has anyone else noticed that certain Japanese cars include a separate digital clock display within the cabin? Why??

Seeing how complicated and modern the current Lexus LS600h display screen is, it seems bizarre that a separate digital clock circa 1983 is included on the top of the console, and not incorporated into the main display. My grandparents old Corolla of the same era had exactly this feature (but didn't cost 80 grand).

In the Lexus it looks so cheap and nasty!! Doesn't really compare with the posh analogue clocks you find in a Maser, Benz, Aston, Bentley.

Is it a cultural thing? It's not as if they don't have the technology...

In the Merc CL the clock is made by IWC Schaffhausen and is a work of art. Wouldn't mind that.

Well I shall try and apply some logic to potentially an illogical situation.  This won't be a definitive answer and is flawed on so many levels, but I thought I'd give it a stab....

Logically, keeping the clock as a separate entity from the rest of the displays allows the driver to quickly view the time safely with out having to decipher several pieces of other information on the screen (how this works when you want to look at the other stuff on the screen whilst driving I'm not sure  -  I did warn you this wasn't going to be a fool proof answer!).

Japanese culture is for digital watches / clocks.  Logically this is what they build in to their cars?!?!?

Probably some one some where has decided that the LED type display that I guess you are referring too is the clearest and easiest to read (despite the fact it looks so bloody awful)?!?!?

Bugger it!  In reality it still looks rubbish and out of place in the majority of vehicles that it is fitted to, so I haven't got a clue either as to why they persist with it.

I don't have a car, but whenever I drive one the clock is in a different place, anyhow I hate digital clocks, I remember Benz use to put them in the bottom of the rev counter, that seemed good enough, don't know why they had to change it.

All I can think of on seeing the title of this thread is the line in 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' about digital watches!

Does the digital clock still show the time when everything else is off? If so, that's possibly useful.

If a clock is required, the Maserati version has to be the one to have.