Today is Day One of a new and long-anticipated era for automotive interiors

Ford (F) calls its breakthrough interior technologies MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch, based on the fact that the new systems use touch-screens to a much greater extent than earlier systems, and the fact that the driver and passengers can significantly customize the car's gauges and displays, making them "mine."

For instance, using steering-wheel-mounted controls, the driver can choose whether the instrument panel shows a digital version of the tachometer, or a different display that checks out the car's internal systems, among many other possibilities, according to Jason Johnson, Ford User Interface Design Engineer. Depending on the feature, there are also redundant controls in the center of the dash, called the "center stack."

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In-car Internet access is nothing new for geeks with the right portable devices and aftermarket accessories. But it's a new day when car companies like Ford build cars for the Internet.