Audi's first battery-electric crossover will also usher in
radical new technology for the automotive industry. The production e-tron
electric crossover will ditch traditional side mirrors and replace
them with camera-based digital mirrors, the brand announced on Wednesday.
Unfortunately, we won't see them in the United States due to
a lack of regulations allowing them, Audi spokesman Mark Dahncke told Motor
Authority.
“The digital mirrors are not able to be homologated for the
U.S. given the current laws at this time,” he said. “Much like Matrix [LED]
lighting, we are working with the authorities to make the side view cameras
legal at some point in the future.”
The idea of replacing normal mirrors with cameras isn't a
new one, but the e-tron will make the idea a production-first application. Audi
will mount the cameras to little winglets of sorts and the driver's side feed
will be displayed to the left of the instrument panel. Audi, strangely, has not
specifically mentioned where the passenger side screen will reside.
Audi pointed to aerodynamic efficiencies as the reason to include
the technology on the production version of the battery-electric crossover.
Specifically, the cameras improve drag. Audi noted that every .01 added to
the coefficient of drag reduces range by about 5 kilometers or about 3 miles,
which makes the cameras an important addition to achieve the electric
crossover's estimated 248-mile range.
While the U.S. will miss out on the tech, the rules may
change sooner than most expect. Automotive News (subscription required) reported
in 2016 that the U.S. could adopt a United Nations resolution to allow the
technology to replace traditional mirrors.
Audi engineers took additional steps to create a slippery
shape for the e-tron. Other measures include active grille shutters, adaptive
air suspension to raise and lower the vehicle as needed, and tires that feature
etched information, rather than raised lettering and numbers.
The e-tron will be revealed on August 30 and will reach
local showrooms in 2019.
source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1116965_audi-e-tron-will-use-cameras-in-place-of-side-mirrors-but-not-in-us
by SeanSzymkowski
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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