Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW wants to get rid of wing mirrors - here's how

i8 concept shows advanced motorway warning and blind spot technology

BMW plans to change the traditional wing mirror into a system of cameras that can eliminate blind spots and give advanced lane departure warnings to reduce accidents on the motorway.

Demoed on a 'mirrorless i8 concept', the system uses a combination of 8 cameras to project an image onto a screen where the traditional rear-view mirror would be.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The idea is to deliver more than 180 degree rear visibility to the driver without them having to take their view off the road ahead. On top of this, the cameras allow much more accurate lane departure warnings, meaning that cars approaching quickly from behind, say on the motorway, can be detected far away in the distance.

>Read our BMW i8 review

Removing traditional mirrors completely also brings a small aerodynamic benefit and improves wind noise at high speed.

Currently BMW offers a system of cameras on the new 7 Series which can give a birds-eye view when parking. Coupled with its gesture control technology, it's possible to control an external image of the car using just your hands. You can see this in action here.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Bentley EXP 15 looks deep into Crewe's electric future
Bentley EXP15 Concept front
News

Bentley EXP 15 looks deep into Crewe's electric future

British brand reveals latest concept designed to reinvent the traditional saloon car
8 Jul 2025
Mercedes Concept AMG GT XX previews a Porsche Taycan rival with a British heart
Mercedes-AMG Concept GT XX – front
News

Mercedes Concept AMG GT XX previews a Porsche Taycan rival with a British heart

Innovative British motor tech and advanced high-performance batteries are at the heart of this 1341bhp concept and the production car it'll inspire
25 Jun 2025
BMW i8 (2014-2020) – review, history, specs, and buyer’s guide
BMW i8 front
Reviews

BMW i8 (2014-2020) – review, history, specs, and buyer’s guide

A genuinely ground-breaking car, the BMW i8 showed plug-in cars and driving pleasure didn’t need to be strangers
28 Jan 2025
Lotus Theory 1 concept is a three-seat, 986bhp hypercar
Lotus Theory 1
News

Lotus Theory 1 concept is a three-seat, 986bhp hypercar

With Veyron power, a carbon tub and EV underpinnings, the Lotus Theory 1 is more junior Evija than Emira successor
17 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
News

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV

If you have to have an SUV, a Stelvio QV is acceptable. Now it's being heavily discounted.
8 Jul 2025
Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track
Ferrari F80 review
Reviews

Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track

Maranello’s latest hybrid hypercar and successor to the LaFerrari blends mind-bending capabilities with deeply intuitive character
10 Jul 2025
New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo
Festival of Speed 2025
News

New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway. Here’s what’s in store from the biggest British motoring event of the year
11 Jul 2025