Volkswagen Has Fancy New Tech for Defrosting Windshields
The windshield isn’t a very sexy part of the car and advancements in windshield technology are hard to come by.
Until now, the solution for an icy windshield was either a defroster, a fine heated filament in the windshield, or getting out and using a stick to scrape off life like some sort of neanderthal.
The defroster was slow and indirect, the fine filament was quicker but obstructed vision slightly, and the stick needn’t be spoken of. VW thinks it has found a better way. By installing a thin, invisible layer of silver in the glass, the windshield can warm up internally without obstructing visibility.
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Using only 400 to 500 watts of electricity to heat the silver, snow and ice melt right off the windshield quickly. And better still, lower down the windshield under the wipers, VW has installed traditional filaments that can’t be seen by the driver. This heats up the wipers, ensuring that they aren’t themselves frozen.
This new windshield innovation doesn’t only help during the winter. In the summer, the silver reflects 60 percent of the summer heat, keeping the car cooler than traditional tinting.
VW will offer the windshield as an extra on the Golf, Golf Sportsvan, Tiguan, Sharan, Passat and Passat Variant starting at €340.
A version of this story originally appeared on VWVortex
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Sebastien is a roving reporter who covers Euros, domestics, and all things enthusiast. He has been writing about the automotive industry for four years and obsessed with it his whole life. He studied English at the Wilfrid Laurier University. Sebastien also edits for AutoGuide's sister sites VW Vortex, Fourtitude, Swedespeed, GM Inside News, All Ford Mustangs, and more.
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The only silver lining I forsee are the profits of glass shops. Price to replace that fancy vw windshield? $1,000,000. When we get it in stock.