Lexus has announced its introduction of 'Digital Side-View' monitors on the new ES launched in Japan in October.
The cameras in the Digital Side-View Monitors transmit the images onto 5-inch display monitors located inside the cabin at the base of the front pillars. Another advantage the Digital Side-View Monitors have over their conventional counterparts is that they are shaped to resist the accumulation of raindrops and snow, leaving the driver's view unaffected, Lexus says.
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The system automatically enhances the corresponding area left, right or behind when the turn signals are activated, or when the transmission is put into reverse. The view of areas around the car can be manually enhanced by the driver to obtain complete peripheral awareness of the area around the vehicle. By replacing the vehicle's conventional side mirrors with small cameras, side mirrors no longer block the view outside the front windows, resulting in improved visibility. Wind noise has also been reduced, resulting in a quieter cabin.
The Digital Side-View Monitors will make their debut on the new ES, which will go on sale in late October. At this time, the Digital Side-View Monitors will only be available in Japan.
Japan's transport ministry revised safety regulations in 2016 to allow mirrorless passenger vehicles and trucks – provided that the alternative systems offer range and image quality comparable to those of conventional mirrors. To help drivers adjust, the rule stipulates that the monitors be placed at similar locations to mirrors.
