Polestar 4...has no rear window?

[Sasquachulator]

https://electrek.co/2023/04/17/poles...o-rear-window/

I've liked Polestar so they'd be on my list of EV's that i would get (Right now i seem to be fixated on the BMW i4). But its not something i'd get anytime soon, i alos dont want to deal with the shit involved with owning an EV right now....)

Anyways, this Polestar 4 has a peculiar feature....no rear window.....

I don't know if that is even a good idea.....
I AM aware that it isn't an uncommon thing (Some delivery panel vans dont have it, and something like a Bus or large transport truck...you'd never be able to see directly behind you)
And yes a digital rear camera would compensate.

Discuss? One more step toward isolation chamber i guess.

[murdoc]

I hate cleaning the rear window on my car, sounds great.

[WolfpackS2k]

You can't see out the back of a Model Y, and that has a (horribly designed) rear window. So at that point, who cares.

Now that's not to say I don't think this is ridiculous. In my head this is all in opposition of comment sense and basic tenets of safety.

[DarkPira7e]

I learned how to drive in a dump truck. Wing mirrors only, backing up trailers, I haven't looked at my rearview mirror in 15 years. Maybe they'll have a camera affixed that displays on a "rearview" screen?

[Tcoat]

I have driven and even owned a few vehicles with no rear window. It isn't as weird as you would think.

What they didn't have was this:
"This new Polestar 4 shares one interesting feature with the Polestar 5 concept: Both of them have no rear window. Instead, there’s a camera for rear view. Polestar says that this camera enables greater rear visibility for the driver, since instead of looking through a small aperture of the rear window, the camera can offer a wide-angle view behind the car. The camera pipes video onto a screen where the rear-view mirror would normally be."

That sounds pretty sweet to me!

[Lantanafrs2]

Harder to steer off the flatbed

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

"...Instead, there’s a camera for rear view. Polestar says that this camera enables greater rear visibility for the driver, since instead of looking through a small aperture of the rear window, the camera can offer a wide-angle view behind the car. The camera pipes video onto a screen where the rear-view mirror would normally be."

That sounds pretty sweet to me!

The main problem with that is the near-focus needed for a screen vs. a mirror. For low speed maneuvering (like parking) it's no big deal, but a quick peek at the mirror on the highway will now take longer as your eyes will need to focus from far to near and back to far.
With that being said, this is not super new, with other cars having a camera based rear view mirror (like the C8 Corvette, granted with a real mirror included as well) and even side mirrors (like the EUDM Audi e-tron or Honda e).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

The main problem with that is the near-focus needed for a screen vs. a mirror. For low speed maneuvering (like parking) it's no big deal, but a quick peek at the mirror on the highway will now take longer as your eyes will need to focus from far to near and back to far.
With that being said, this is not super new, with other cars having a camera based rear view mirror (like the C8 Corvette, granted with a real mirror included as well) and even side mirrors (like the EUDM Audi e-tron or Honda e).

I am presuming that the view from the camera on the highway will be about the same size as what you would see in a normal mirror. Not a huge adjustment.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I am presuming that the view from the camera on the highway will be about the same size as what you would see in a normal mirror. Not a huge adjustment.

It's not the size but the focal distance. Try looking past a computer screen at something distant and then glancing at the screen at the same speed as you would glance at the rear view mirror.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

It's not the size but the focal distance. Try looking past a computer screen at something distant and then glancing at the screen at the same speed as you would glance at the rear view mirror.

If the items in the mirror are roughly the same size as if it was just a mirror the focal distance doesn't change between the two.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I am presuming that the view from the camera on the highway will be about the same size as what you would see in a normal mirror. Not a huge adjustment.

ITs a little weird, and kind of throws your depth perception off just a little until you adjust.
If you ever see those car reviews or cars with the mirrors that can switch between standard and digital you'll see the focal point is changed.
From the inside you obviously can see where the rear headrests are, trunk (if visible), end of the car, etc. You can see that you are inside of a car and looking out.
With a camera (im assuming it would be mounted high) you would pretty much see just outside. but you don't know where your depth point begins since you're likely not seeing any part of the car at all.
Obviously everything just takes a little adjusting to get used to.

I don't like this whole tech laden stuff, i prefer old school window, even if some cars have windows that are literal slits that you barely see anything anyways.

I suppose that stems from growing up with machinery and gadgets that complement your abilities rather than take over from you.

Oh and if the camera is mounted outside (depending on where) it will encounter the elements which could block your view making it useless until you wipe the camera lens.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

If the items in the mirror are roughly the same size as if it was just a mirror the focal distance doesn't change between the two.

With a screen, you are looking at the screen. With a mirror, you are essentially looking at something 30 ft beyond the mirror.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

With a screen, you are looking at the screen. With a mirror, you are essentially looking at something 30 ft beyond the mirror.

If the camera has the same scale as what the mirror would show YOU ARE STILL LOOKING AT A RESULT THE SAME BLOODY SIZE.

I don't have issues looking at my back up camera screen but boy oh boy a camera for a mirror is going to lead to fucking chaos since nobody can focus.

[NoHaveMSG]

It's just prototype/GT3 spec