Transparent Bonnet (hood)

[AutobahnSHO]

This is kinda cool- would totally help when in the rocky stuff

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/post--land-rover-shows-digitally-transparent-hood-on-discovery-concept-suv?icid=autos_5507

[Soup DeVille]

Very cool concept: wonder how well it works once the cameras are covered in mud and are scraped over a few rocks.

[giant_mtb]

Very cool concept: wonder how well it works once the cameras are covered in mud and are scraped over a few rocks.

[BENZ BOY15]

Very cool concept: wonder how well it works once the cameras are covered in mud and are scraped over a few rocks.

Why do you guys have to be such buzz kills. I would imagine Land Rover, of all companies, would have thought about that given how their cars (in theory) can go off road quite well. So they would have to be able to take some level of abuse, I'm assuming.

Otherwise, it's kinda pointless.

[giant_mtb]

I'd rather ask questions than make assumptions. It's fucking cool. We're just curious about it.

[BENZ BOY15]

I'd rather ask questions than make assumptions. It's fucking cool. We're just curious about it.

"As our vehicles become more capable and offer increasing autonomy off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to progress over any terrain," Dr. Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology for Jaguar Land Rover, said in a statement. "We are developing new technologies including the Transparent Bonnet to give drivers an augmented view of reality to help them tackle anything from the toughest off-road route to the tight confines of urban parking."



I just can't imagine they'd say something like that if the cameras were easily shattered/made inoperable.

Then again, maybe not. It's a Land Rover...where everything tends to break.

[BENZ BOY15]

The new RR looks awesome.

[Soup DeVille]

"As our vehicles become more capable and offer increasing autonomy off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to progress over any terrain," Dr. Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology for Jaguar Land Rover, said in a statement. "We are developing new technologies including the Transparent Bonnet to give drivers an augmented view of reality to help them tackle anything from the toughest off-road route to the tight confines of urban parking."



I just can't imagine they'd say something like that if the cameras were easily shattered/made inoperable.

Then again, maybe not. It's a Land Rover...where everything tends to break.

That's a sales release.

It's not u reasonable to wonder if the cameras can see through mud, or if they'll operate underwater (Range Rovers have always had electrical problems, if they haven't perfected the art of keeping the distributor dry...)

[giant_mtb]

Who takes a brand new LR off-roading anyway?  I'm not talking about a pebble hill like the sample video showed (I could do that in my A4, for Christ's sake).  Don't really see LRs offroad until they're old and on their 3rd owner...which is when everything's starting to fail anyways...

[Soup DeVille]

Who takes a brand new LR off-roading anyway?  I'm not talking about a pebble hill like the sample video showed (I could do that in my A4, for Christ's sake).  Don't really see LRs offroad until they're old and on their 3rd owner...which is when everything's starting to fail anyways...

That's basically true; but if the sales pitch is what they're selling...

[giant_mtb]

That's basically true; but if the sales pitch is what they're selling...

It's sooooo cool.  I'd love to see some sample videos of some real wheelin' once it (potentially?) is implemented on production vehicles.

[Soup DeVille]

It's sooooo cool.  I'd love to see some sample videos of some real wheelin' once it (potentially?) is implemented on production vehicles.

I think the idea has more potential as a blind spot eliminator for more mundane traffic and pedestrian checking duties

[Soup DeVille]

It so amuses me with the ability to watch your oil leak out of the crankcase in real time.

[giant_mtb]

I think the idea has more potential as a blind spot eliminator for more mundane traffic and pedestrian checking duties

Bleh.  More safety/lazy-driver-inspiring bullshit.

[giant_mtb]

It so amuses me with the ability to watch your oil leak out of the crankcase in real time.

They'll have censors for fluid leaks.

[Soup DeVille]

Bleh.  More safety/lazy-driver-inspiring bullshit.

Yep, but that's what the market wants.

[giant_mtb]

Yep, but that's what the market wants.

All while superbly annoying digital interfaces get more and more complicated and time-intensive for the driver.

[r0tor]

How much of the hood can you really see from the drivers seat??

[bing_oh]

Who takes a brand new LR off-roading anyway?  I'm not talking about a pebble hill like the sample video showed (I could do that in my A4, for Christ's sake).  Don't really see LRs offroad until they're old and on their 3rd owner...which is when everything's starting to fail anyways...

Exactly what I thought when I first saw this. Nobody who buys a new Land Rover would need to see if they're about to drop off of a giant cliff while off-roading...unless that cliff was in the middle of a private school parking lot while they're picking up their yuppie-spawn from cello lessons.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'm sure the most use it will see is the mechanics using it to easily line up the car on the hoist. Atleast for the first year or so, then I'm sure it will stop working altogether.

[TurboDan]

Exactly what I thought when I first saw this. Nobody who buys a new Land Rover would need to see if they're about to drop off of a giant cliff while off-roading...unless that cliff was in the middle of a private school parking lot while they're picking up their yuppie-spawn from cello lessons.

Meh. It's not brand new anymore, but I've always used my LR to drive in sand and muck and on off-road trails to get to fishing locations. The "yuppie" stereotype annoys me. I'm sure a few pickup truck drivers would be likewise annoyed if I declared them a bunch of overcompensating redneck yokels. 

[Laconian]

This is for more for keeping the drivers of Chelsea Tractors from clobbering the concrete barriers in Trader Joe's parking lots.

(still looks cool! I love augmented reality.)

[Rupert]

It's true about pickups, though. At least the lifted ones.