Instrument panel assembly

An instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, said instrument panel assembly comprising:

• an instrument cluster;
• an instrument panel having an exterior surface, said instrument panel includes a dash portion and a hood portion extending outwardly from said dash portion, said hood portion positioned above said instrument cluster;
• a cutout portion formed above said instrument cluster at a junction between said hood portion and said dash portion, said cutout portion having a base recessed from said exterior surface of said instrument panel, said cutout portion having an inner wall extending between said base and said exterior surface, a hood side portion of said inner wall adjacent said hood portion having a generally curved shape, said inner wall only partially bounding said base to define an open face positioned on a side of said base opposite said hood side portion;
• and
• a garnish pad attached to said dash portion of said instrument panel, said garnish pad including an elongated engagement portion having a longitudinal axis, said engagement portion having a generally convex outer surface, an inner surface opposite said convex outer surface, and a distal end, said convex outer surface extending along said longitudinal axis of said engagement portion, and said convex outer surface corresponds to said curved shape of said hood side portion of said inner wall, said convex outer surface of said engagement portion is at least partially received within said cutout portion to provide continuous contact between said convex outer surface of said engagement portion and an inner surface of said inner wall of said hood side portion of said cutout portion;
• wherein upon attachment of said garnish pad to said dash portion of said instrument panel, said convex outer surface of said engagement portion is exposed to the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, and said inner surface of engagement portion faces said dash portion.