Mirrorless cars are the future, and if you’re not willing to take my word for it, just take a look at BMW’s brand-new Mirrorless i8 concept that debuted at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Equipped with cameras as mirror replacements, the concept gives us an early look at what we can expect to see on production version luxury models within the next five to ten years.
With extraordinary advancements in automotive technology over the past decade, car features we once thought would last a lifetime are becoming obsolete. We continue to find better ways to improve the driving experience, and within the coming years, one of the next big modifications we’ll see is the replacement of rearview and side view mirrors with mounted cameras.
BMW has already begun testing this new idea with the creation of the Mirrorless i8 concept. The vehicle features two wing-shaped side cameras that also act as turn signals and a display where the rearview mirror would normally hang that exhibits a wide-angle image. Additionally, the display notifies drivers when hazards are detected with yellow warning icons, giving them time to react appropriately.
The introduction of these mounted cameras on future models could greatly improve visibility for drivers, allowing them to see areas around the vehicle that mirrors cannot capture. At this time, we do not know when BMW plans on adding the cameras to their vehicle lineup, but we do know BMW is one of a handful of automakers expected to utilize the cameras as replacements for mirrors in the future.
If you’re interested in seeing the standard BMW i8 model equipped with mirrors, contact BMW of Springfield today to see if we have one in stock.