Land Rover has invented new technology that can make the bonnet of a car invisible to the driver and will debut it on its Discovery Vision Concept car at the 2014 New York Motor Show.
The new Transparent Bonnet feature uses augmented reality to provide a view of the ground underneath the car to the driver through a head up display.
Cameras located in the grille film the ground; this is processed to make the bonnet appear see through. Even the position of the wheels (and what they’re about to drive through) is overlayed on the groundbreaking new feature.
Land Rover says the tech will be useful off-road, particularly when tackling steep inclines where the angle of the nose means the view forward disappears beneath the bonnet. Seeing ‘through’ it instead instantly cures this age-old challenge for off-road drivers.
It will also be handy in urban environments though, adds Land Rover – such as in the “tight confines of an urban car park said JLR director of R&D Dr Wolfgang Epple.
“We believe the next 25 years will be the most exciting and dynamic the automotive industry has ever experienced. There will be huge strides in environmental innovation, in safety and capability.
“As our vehicles become more capable and autonomous off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to allow the car to continue to progress, over any terrain.”
The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept is a design and technology showcase that will be revealed at the New York International Auto Show next week. By the sounds of it, the ‘see through bonnet’ is just one of many new standout tech features Land Rover will reveal…