Polestar's New Model Embraces Independence Looking Backward
Polestar 4 Introduces Revolutionary Digital Rearview Mirror System
The Polestar 4, an upcoming SUV in North America, is set to make waves with its innovative digital rearview mirror system. This system, a first in American mass-market passenger vehicles, promises to revolutionize the driving experience.
The Polestar 4 does not have a traditional rear window. Instead, it uses a digital rearview mirror as a substitute, a technology that has its roots in racecars and cargo vans. This system consists of two rear-facing cameras mounted atop the roof, with one camera dedicated to the rearview display.
The digital rearview mirror offers several advantages over traditional mirrors. For starters, it provides a wider, unobstructed field of view, thanks to a rear-mounted camera that offers a 121-degree field of vision. This is significantly wider than conventional glass mirrors that rely on a rear window line of sight.
The system also renders a high-resolution image on an 8.9-inch display, offering clearer images, especially at night. The image quality is improved further with a water-repellent coating and an antireflective one, ensuring visibility in all weather conditions.
Drivers can also customize the digital mirror's height, brightness, and even the camera angle. These features are unavailable in standard mirrors. Additionally, the system allows for more design freedom, added rear passenger headroom, and a sleeker exterior form, as it eliminates the need for a rear window.
Users can also switch to a conventional mirror mode if they prefer, providing a hybrid experience. However, some drivers, particularly those wearing varifocals, might face an adjustment period in getting used to the digital display's different visual characteristics.
The Polestar 4's product manager, Ola Aldensjö, describes the system as "fairly disconnected from the rest of the electrical architecture," ensuring a clean and uninterrupted stream.
Testing in a thunderstorm and downpour has shown that the digital rearview mirror system provides better visibility compared to a traditional rear window. A unit with an OLED screen and additional water-shedding technology is in development for the Polestar 4.
Research by Gentex, the company behind the digital rearview mirror's camera system, suggests that users acclimate to using a digital display within a few days or less. The Polestar 4's digital rearview mirror unit uses Gentex's second-generation version of its camera system, which includes custom image signal processing to improve visibility in various weather and lighting conditions.
The Polestar 4 has a range of up to 300 miles (483 km) on the EPA test cycle from 94 kWh of usable battery capacity. Despite its innovative features, the Polestar 4 does not yet have digital side mirrors, as they are not yet legal in the U.S.
In conclusion, the Polestar 4's digital rearview mirror system represents a technologically advanced approach that improves rear visibility, eliminates glare issues, offers customization, and allows design innovations that traditional mirrors cannot provide. While some drivers may face an initial adjustment period, the benefits of this system are clear.
- The digital rearview mirror system, a first in American mass-market passenger vehicles, found in the Polestar 4, is not only revolutionizing the driving experience but also paving the way for advanced lifestyle and technology integration in cars.
- Alongside the introduction of electric-vehicles, gadgets like the digital rearview mirror system in the Polestar 4 underscore the automobile industry's transition towards incorporating cutting-edge technology, enhancing overall car-maintenance, and contributing to a sleeker car design.
- With the digital rearview mirror system offering features such as adjustable height, brighter images, and water-repellent coating, it signifies an upgrade in driving convenience and safety, marking a significant shift from traditional gadgets in modern cars.
