BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the latest Guest Post, Christopher Austin, a frequent blogger and writer, discusses how many automakers are taking strides toward replacing side mirrors in new cars with in-car technology and camera features.
“Every car is equipped with mirrors. They are an essential part of driving safety, allowing users to see what is happening behind them and react accordingly. It is one of the few features of modern cars that were present on the original vehicles inspired by the Ford Model T in the early 20th century,” explains Austin. “However, manufacturers are now making moves toward eliminating the side mirror from new cars and replacing them with a variety of cameras and in-car technology.”
In 2014 Volkswagen (VW) released its XL1, he continues, making drivers have to cope with the idea of looking at a set of three video screens to see what was happening around them instead of sideview and rearview mirrors.
“Through the replacement of the conventional mirrors with high-tech cameras within a vehicle’s body, VW was able to improve aerodynamics — a fundamental aspect in attaining fuel efficiency,” adds Austin.
At CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2016, says Austin, BMW introduced the i8 mirrorless concept car, which features cameras situated all around the vehicle that are linked to the in-car display, resulting in a complete, unobstructed view of what is going on around the driver with no blind spots.
BMW projects that this new technology could be in a production car by 2019, asserts Austin, and Nissan and Tesla Motors have also indicated they are looking at similar technology.
Moreover, states Austin, rearview cameras are already featured in many high-end vehicles, but are not yet integrated into the in-car systems. “Cadillac has a rear camera mirror system which is set to debut in March this year on the CT6, which eliminates the rearview mirror,” he adds.
Austin continues in the blog to discuss new car innovations, both already released and those being developed, distribution predictions and what we can expect to see in the future regarding cars and computer systems.
“The possibilities are both exciting and daunting, so I cannot wait to see what happens from now on,” concludes Austin.
Read the entire blog post on mirrorless car concepts and other vehicle innovations here.
