Night Vision Test: 2012 BMW 750i vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz CL550 vs. 2012 Audi A8L

We know a guy who claims to have driven his entire 48-mile morning commute to work in a 7-series BMW without ever looking out the car’s glass. This, we pause to point out, is a monumentally stupid thing to do.

The 7-series in question was equipped with a night-vision system that displays an image of the road ahead by picking up infrared radiation to which human eyes are blind. The image, displayed in black and white on the BMW’s nav screen, is therefore a heat signature. Hot items (car exhaust, people, javelinas) appear to radiate the sort of divine glow that a halo in an early Renaissance painting might. Cold items (the sky, winter roadways, very dead javelinas) appear black.
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chewy - 6/2/2012 9:49:07 PM

+3 Boost

So basically even the best system wasn't that great but it looks like it can be useful on a dark country road.

ThierryHenry14 - 6/4/2012 1:32:15 PM

+1 Boost

I guess as they sum it up, this technology should not be the primary source of vision for night time driving, but should aid as a suppliment to just paying attention to the road...

IamEvilHomer - 6/3/2012 9:42:58 PM

+1 Boost

i love it

commander104 - 6/4/2012 12:49:59 PM

+1 Boost

how long b4 the govt mandates these on all cars.