Aftermarket suppliers are racing to produce an aftermarket version of “the Cadillac streaming mirror,” a new rear view mirror that gives you an in-motion video feed of the blind zone behind the car as you drive.
The full 7.3 inch mirror converts to a video screen at the press of a button so you get a streamed view of the area behind the car. It eliminates blind spots caused by the car’s own headrests or rear pillars, or tall passengers in the back seat. Then you can flip back to a standard auto-dimming mirror at any time.
What makes it extra sexy is full HD capability in the camera and screen. It also has a full wide angle camera, according to Gentex, the mirror supplier.
It’s available on the Cadillac CT6, and XT5 and will be offered on the Chevy Bolt.
The aftermarket provides many elements of the Cadillac mirror but no leading brand does exactly the same thing with all of the features such as HD built-in 7.3 inch mirror screen and HD, wide angle camera with a simple button on the mirror to switch from mirror to video.
Gentex expects to eventually offer the mirror to the aftermarket. A spokesman said an aftermarket version is on its road map but there is no immediate time frame. In the meanwhile, three more car makers will offer the mirror, announcing over the next 6 to 18 months, he said.
AAMP Global’s Brad Chapple said the company is planning an aftermarket version of the mirror down the road. “As it sits today, exactly as Cadillac is doing, it’s on our road map.” He added that the company’s new IntelliHaul system “is the first step” toward a mirror similar to Cadillac’s in that it allow you to view camera feeds as you drive down the road.
VOXX’s Shane Wilson said, “Emulating the Cadillac mirror, we don’t have it today. It’s a very cool concept. Everyone will be trying to get that concept. Right now, most of the aftermarket mirrors trigger off a reverse camera.”
The Cadillac, or Gentex mirror, uses a second camera, mounted higher up than the backup camera, and it faces upward, rather than downward, like most backup cameras, said Gentex.
Several aftermarket companies offer rear view replacement mirrors with 7.3 inch screens and some allow a video image feed as you drive. But few also have the HD quality mirror or camera, they said. Additionally there are 10 patents on the mirror–one for streaming video and nine for video processing, said Cadillac.
GM says the streaming mirror improves the field of vision by about 300 percent more than a standard mirror.
Additionally the Fed recently approved the mirror, so it’s now officially street legal.
You can see a video of the mirror here.
Photo: Cadillac
