Nissan to showcase first LCD-monitor rear view mirror

At the New York International Auto Show, Nissan will debut the world's first LCD-monitor rear view mirror. The Nissan Smart Rearview Mirror, mounted in the traditional location at the top edge of the windshield, looks the same as any other piece of reflective glass on the surface.

But things go completely nuts at the flip of a switch. The switch activates a full-width LCD screen that displays real-time images from a rear-facing high-resolution camera on the back of the vehicle. The camera feeds in a 4:1 aspect ratio obstruction-free view of what's behind the vehicle.

Why is this brilliant, you ask? It just is. Whatever the obstruction between the conventional rear view mirror and the back of the car, like tall passengers, cargo are completely done away giving a clear panorama of what's behind the car.

Nissan Chief Planning Officer and Executive VP Andy Palmer said "The Smart Rearview Mirror would allow stylists to pen never-before attempted designs, since vehicle shape will no longer be dictated by rear visibility. Even fuel economy can be improved, In particular, extremely aerodynamic shapes have the potential for greatly improving fuel economy."

The Smart Rearview Mirror will be shown on a 2014 Nissan Rogue at the NYIAS, but the first practical implementation will be on the Nissan ZEOD RC race car slated to run in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans.