Invisible bodywork for cars

Car makers seem preoccupied by the idea of invisible bodywork as a way to make our roads safer. Unfortunately, this doesn’t involve swapping four wheels for two, but rather using cameras and virtual reality software to project a view of the outside world inside the cabin.

As cars have become bigger and heavier, the increased size of roof pillars has created dangerous blind spots in the driver’s view that obscure pedestrians, cyclists and other cars. The danger to other road users from restricted driver visibility is compounded by the shrinking size of car windows. Over the years, car windows have become smaller to further strengthen the integrity of the car's body and better protect its occupants.

This danger to other road users prompted Jaguar Land Rover to imagine how transparent roof pillars for its cars might give drivers an uninterrupted view outside the car.The '360 Virtual Urban Windscreen' has screens embedded on each pillar inside the car that display a live video feed from cameras filming views of the outside usually obscured by blind spots. Pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles that otherwise have been hidden, become apparent to the driver.

Not to be outdone, MINI has unveiled its own vapourware; smart glasses that give the wearer the ability to see through the car's bodywork. The glasses would also display sat nav information, vehicle speed and text message alerts. However, Google Glass, which also claimed to cater to drivers in this way, seemed likely to be banned behind the wheel by British authorities.

Futuristic concept technology helps to keep car makers in the news, but where 'invisible' bodywork' is concerned, there can be no substitute for driver care - and that usually means slowing down and taking time to look.

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