Audi to Offer Cameras Instead of Side Mirrors on e-tron EV

Small cameras will replace the mirrors

The idea of replacing side-view mirrors on cars with small cameras is finally moving into production. As Audi builds up the impending launch of its e-tron electric SUV, it announced the green vehicle will offer “virtual exterior mirrors," small stalks that house cameras at the tip. Unfortunately, Audi won’t be able to offer the feature in the U.S. market.

Cameras as mirrors were approved for overseas markets by European regulators back in 2016, and since then, numerous manufacturers have been working to become the first to offer the technology. Although BMW looked like it might be first to market, it now appears that the Audi e-tron will be the first series-production vehicle to have cameras instead of side mirrors.

Unlike Nissan’s or Cadillac’s camera-based inside rearview mirrors, which house a digital screen within the mirror units, the e-tron’s cameras will capture views and display them on small OLED screens located at each end of the dashboard. The cameras will provide three different views to cover highway driving, turning, and parking.

While it is cool to see a long-teased feature actually reach production, we're not entirely sure the feature is going to be that great to use. We've found the rear-view screen mirrors from Cadillac and later Nissan require some adjustment to get used to, at minimum, since the screens show a fixed angle, and they don't provide any depth perception.

Audi touts the tangible benefits of using cameras instead of mirrors, beyond simply looking cool; notably, they reduce weight and offer aerodynamic advantages. The small camera supports make the vehicle 5.9 inches narrower. According to Audi, a reduction of only a 100th of the drag-coefficient figure can add or subtract about 3.1 miles of battery range. With these cameras, the e-tron has a claimed drag coefficient of 0.28. The mirrors reduce wind noise, too.

The e-tron has several other wind-cheating design features: The tire sidewalls’ lettering is indented instead of raised, the bolt points underneath the car feature golf-ball-like dimples, an adaptive air suspension can lower the vehicle up to an inch, and adaptive front shutters can switch between smoother airflow or component cooling.

According to Automotive News, the U.S. was expected to adopt vehicle regulations regarding side mirrors and cameras this year that would be similar to those in Europe that will allow the Audi to have them over here. C&D