Audi E-Tron to Offer Digital Side View Mirrors
Audi is aiming to have a best-in-class drag coefficient with its upcoming all-electric crossover.
The Audi E-Tron Prototype is currently in development, and the German automaker says it delivers a 0.28 drag coefficient, which is best in the SUV segment. Currently the E-Tron can deliver 248.5 miles (400 kilometers) of driving range in the WLTP cycle, and aerodynamics help play a big role in that range. According to the German automaker, a hundredth of the drag coefficient figure results in a range of around 3.1 miles (five kilometers) under normal, everyday conditions.
So far, the E-Tron Prototype has spent over 1,000 hours testing in the Wind Tunnel Center in Ingolstadt, the world’s quietest vehicle wind tunnel. With an output of 2.6 megawatts, the fan produces speeds of up to 186.4 mph (300 km/h), which is crucial for optimizing a car’s drag and noise under extreme conditions.
SEE ALSO: Audi E-Tron SUV Promises Long Range, 30 Minute Fast Charging
Through its development, Audi has created new optional virtual exterior mirrors, which are making their world premiere in the production version of the E-Tron. Compared to standard side mirrors, these new units are narrower, helping reduce the width of the vehicle by 5.9 inches (15 centimeters). The new shape not only reduces drag, but also assist in cutting low wind noise.
But what makes them special is that each flat support has an integrated small camera, with the captured images appearing on OLED displays found in the transition between the instrument panel and door. Audi says the virtual exterior mirrors can be adapted for various driving situations with three views available in the MMI system: highway driving, turning, and parking.
Audi previewed the upcoming E-Tron earlier this year at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and is scheduled to arrive dealerships early next year.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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didn't Volvo or Saab (try to) do this years ago with camera side mirrors, but then was shot down by the government powers that be saying it was unsafe as the technology could "fail" and leave drivers w/o a side mirror. AFAIK, in the US, a car only has to have a rear view and driver side mirror; the p-side is optional, but then makes for an odd looking car when not equipped with one. Cameras for side mirrors (think Honda Lane Watch) are very doable and then having screens/monitors in the A-pillars or center console still helps the driver see what is to the sides of their vehicle and reduce the overall Cd and improve mpgs. If we can do 360* views, and give RVs rear view cameras, why can't we make this work on daily driven cars? I vote for side view cameras.