No automaker is crazy enough to build a see-through hood, but Land Rover is using augmented reality to make it look like you have one — all in the service of a better driving experience.
In preparation for the New York International Auto Show next week, Land Rover has unveiled its new concept technology, Transparent Bonnet. "Bonnet" refers to the hood of the concept SUV, which is not transparent at all, but appears that way in a nifty blend of virtual reality and crafty camera placement.
During the demonstration, which you can watch in the video above, Land Rover equipped one of its new SUVs with wide-angle camera situated in the car's grill. The camera view starts almost where the driver's ends, and extends from directly in front of and below the grill, all the way under the engine and between the front two wheels. But that's not the amazing part.
The car is also equipped with a heads-up display which projects car data like speed and clearance onto the windshield. The new Transparent Bonnet technology also lets it project the camera's view onto the windshield. It's perfectly positioned, at least in the video, so it looks as though the car hood has suddenly become semi-transparent. Essentially, the driver sees not only the road below, but also the orientation of the car's front wheels.
According to Land Rover, this new view could help drivers climb "a steep incline" or maneuver "in a confined space."
For now, Transparent Bonnet is still just a concept; Land Rover offers no details on retail availability.
IMAGE: LAND ROVER / SCREEN GRAB