Vehicle Interior Design Trends: Visibility
Back when the automobile made its debut, there were no visibility problems. Since cars were roofless, you just had to turn your head to see what was happening beside or behind the vehicle. The idea for rearview mirrors first appeared in the middle of the first decade of the 20th century. In 1911, Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 driving a car with a rearview mirror, which gave him a clear advantage over his rivals.
Today, the interior rearview mirror is supported by two others positioned on the vehicle’s exterior. A few years ago, we saw concept cars equipped with cameras that provide a perfect view of either side of the vehicle and the rear. Now this technology is just about to go into production!
But there’s more to visibility than just mirrors. Since the 1970s, manufacturers have been required to meet increasingly stringent safety standards. To make sure that the roof doesn’t collapse onto occupants if the vehicle flips over, designers had to reinforce the pillars, which meant making them bigger. The wider the pillars are, the better the vehicle’s structural rigidity is—and the worse the visibility is.
This is particularly true for the A-pillar located between the windshield and the front side windows. If the A-pillar is too big, the driver may not see pedestrians standing on a street corner. In 2002, Volvo introduced the SCC concept with see-through A-pillars. Unfortunately, the idea never really got off the ground. A high-definition camera system will no doubt replace these innovative A-pillars.
And speaking of cameras, as of May 1, 2018, all vehicles sold in Canada and the United States will be required to include a standard backup camera. Ray Harroun would approve!