In contrast to the regular R8 Coupe, the upcoming production version of the all-electric R8 e-tron has no rear window and therefore no conventional rear-view mirror. To solve this problem, Audi engineers had to put on their thinking caps and come up with a useable alternative.
The
solution came in the form of a digital rear-view mirror that works
together with a camera and was based on a tried and tested system
employed on the brand's current Le Mans racing cars.
The
system includes a 7.7-inch AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting
Diode) display that is shaped and positioned after a conventional
rear-view mirror and which was developed in partnership with Samsung.
According to Audi,
the organic materials used in the display are self-illuminating at a
low voltage and do not require backlighting, while the screen is more
energy-efficient, thinner, and lighter than conventional LCD monitors.
When
the night falls or when the car is passing through a tunnel for
example, an intelligent control system prevents dazzle from the
headlights of other vehicles, with the driver being able to dim or
deactivate the display at any time.
The display
receives a live video feed from a small and lightweight camera
positioned in an aerodynamically optimized and heated in cold
temperatures housing right below the third stop light on the roof.
Audi
says that the camera uses a lens with a diameter of just a few
millimeters and covers a much larger field of vision than a conventional
rear-view mirror.
The production R8 e-tron
will most likely make its world premiere at this September's Paris
Motor Show and go on sale in a limited number of units next year.
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