Peering over your shoulder to reverse into a tight space may soon be a thing of the past, as the first car without a rear window is set to launch on British roads.
The Swedish-made Polestar 4 will be fitted with a high-definition screen in place of a rear-view mirror, displaying a live feed from a camera fitted on the roof.
The car manufacturer, which is owned by Volvo, says the novel design will give motorists a better view of the road behind them, particularly when driving at night.
The Swedish-made Polestar 4 will be fitted with a high-definition screen in place of a rear-view mirror, displaying a live feed from a camera fitted on the roof
The Polestar 4, which starts at £59,990 and is expected to hit the roads in August, will be the first to remove the glass rear window entirely
The screen – still placed in the traditional spot above the dashboard – can also be deactivated and used as a normal mirror, allowing the driver to see into the rear of the car
Jonathan Goodman, head of Polestar in the UK, said: ‘The visibility out the back of many cars is pretty constrained – the second you have a large passenger in the back or any luggage, you can’t see anything out of it at all.
‘If you place a camera there you’ve got a far better field of vision as the driver.’
The screen – still placed in the traditional spot above the dashboard – can also be deactivated and used as a normal mirror, allowing the driver to see into the rear of the car. The absence of a rear screen means the vehicle can be re-engineered to provide more head and leg room. While other cars, including some electric BMWs, have cameras linked to the rear-view mirror the Polestar 4, which starts at £59,990 and is expected to hit the roads in August, will be the first to remove the glass rear window entirely.
