Lexus ES Sedan to Debut World's First Digital Side Mirrors

TheNerdyPotato

Follower
Messages
156
Reactions
179
In the case of the outside rearview cameras in lieu of mirrors, part of the problem is that they are still illegal in the United States. The laws as written require an actual, physical mirror. Both Audi (whose outside cameras in the upcoming e-tron SUV are also banned here) and Lexus have petitioned NHTSA for a change in the laws, but they don't seem to be coming anytime soon.

Call me old fashioned, but I loathe the idea of having a car that doesn't have analog mirrors. I'm ok with the idea of having a complementary camera system, but not as the primary system.
 

spwolf

Expert
Messages
3,510
Reactions
3,439
Will close this up, but if the LS dies out of all the cars in their lineup, I actually cannot believe I would say this, but... well... Lexus would be dead to me. And they would be dead overall. Chasing sales (by abusing the ES and RX to death) won't save them forever when they have a sh*tty image as a luxury car company by killing off the one who started it all. By doing this you're no better than Acura. In fact, I would get a RLX Sport Hybrid to be spiteful.

I be very frank I never thought we would even FATHOM of talking about something like this. It's like saying Lamborghini losing the V12, BMW killing off the 3 series, Rolls-Royce killing off the Phantom or Mercedes-Benz never having an S-Class again. These are topics that never exist. The fact that just one of us even uttered something like this IS CRYSTAL CLEAR that Lexus is genuinely f*cking this up. Sorry. That's the sad truth.

uh, why would LS die? And why is making a better ES and RX, abusing them?
 

spwolf

Expert
Messages
3,510
Reactions
3,439
@Gecko , @Carmaker1 & @spwolf

Honestly I keep reading and watching all your debate in total silence because I was worried from 2014 I keep posting that there's something wrong in TMC intersection

I was the first to say that LEXUS has only 1 of 3 routes

Either full lineup as the German 3

Or Luxury sport lineup as Jaguar/Porsche/Maserati

Or the third will be another Acura/Infiniti/Lincoln/Cadillac

And then I believed and I still believing that the Luxury sport lineup model is the way they should go

They need to kill the CT and make the new corolla fit&finish/material as if the corolla is the new generation of the CT

Same need to be with the ES/Avalon, NX/RAV4 & RX/Highlander

Merging all the BOF they have under both Toyota & Lexus in a new brand and let it be LandCruiser brand

Stay faithful to the 3 main cars category with 3 bodies for every category and that's it sedan / Coupe / RWD based crossover instead of BOF

LS / LC / LX (full sized)
GS / GC / GX (executive)
IS / IC / IX (small)

And stuck to this formula forever , they will then gain a lot of momentum by pushing themselves to this model a niche but with affordable price

Now they are failed in the full lineup model and they are starting to be taking ***/USA luxury failed model


Lexus sells 12 vehicles worldwide, it is already a full lineup manufacturer... Rest of your post makes no sense, why would Lexus kill its successful vehicles and become small niche manufacturer?
 

ssun30

Expert
Messages
3,326
Reactions
7,418
The fact that just one of us even uttered something like this IS CRYSTAL CLEAR that Lexus is genuinely f*cking this up. Sorry. That's the sad truth.

Here is hoping that the LS+ would become the true prestige program Lexus should have had in the first place.

Anyway here is the end of the digression.
 

maiaramdan

Expert
Messages
1,806
Reactions
1,416
Lexus sells 12 vehicles worldwide, it is already a full lineup manufacturer... Rest of your post makes no sense, why would Lexus kill its successful vehicles and become small niche manufacturer?

Because in this current model they are becoming just Toyotas with good interior materials, and that's not what Lexus role when it was firstly created

Honestly now Lexus harm both Lexus and Toyota, they're harming themselves by not seen as premium and just another Toyota, and they're harming Toyota by not letting them putting better material with better fit and finish as the fear it will intersect with Lexus

Imagine the UX, NX, RX, ES as the top line of the CH-R, RAV4, Highlander, Avalon not design wise or even design wise I mean but fit and finish/ material with less 5k MSRP , Toyota will make and earthquake to the market

Now imagine the IS with lesser 2k to 5k with it's CUV and coupe variant and got more engine options until the F

That's what I am saying, keep Lexus totally away from Toyota even if you need to merge the RWD Toyotas inside Lexus lineup

So Lexus got full RWD lineup, Toyota got full FWD lineup, LandCruiser got full BOF lineup

Not a single intersection you are freely put AWD in any but it will not be always the same
 
Last edited:

Ian Schmidt

Moderator
Messages
2,330
Reactions
4,065
This thread wandered so much I had to look and see what the original topic was!

I think right now it's just a bit of a mad dash to get everything on TNGA, coming out of the "lost decade". What they do after that is when you can start pulling your hair out, or not. I'm talking about the next LS refresh, the production LF-1, stuff like that.

BTW: a positive tech feature that's new in the LS500 that I noticed recently is that if the wipers are on for more than like 30 seconds the car automatically turns on the headlights. Just one of those nice little touches that let you know someone was thoughtful.
 

maiaramdan

Expert
Messages
1,806
Reactions
1,416
Agree we are far from the main topic and I apologise but honestly it frustrates me to hear from every single car reviewer that overall Avalon is the sporty and ES is the luxury, this wasn't suppose to happen, especially if they want the ES to take the place of the super handling GS

The first step for curing and correction is to admit there's a problem
 

krew

Site Founder
Administrator
Messages
3,686
Reactions
5,670
An Automotive News story says that the camera side mirrors will be a 216,000 yen (about US$1,900) option on the new ES 300h version L in Japan.

Reasonable enough in price, though I'm not impressed with the placement of the screens -- takes up a lot of the dash and clutters everything up. Thing is, I can't really imagine an alternative solution.

(Well actually I can, but it would involve transforming the entire instrument panel. Maybe once these digital monitors are no longer optional.)
 

Ian Schmidt

Moderator
Messages
2,330
Reactions
4,065
I think the right solution for digital side mirrors is probably as part of a HUD, but those are too expensive to use widely right now.
 

wyvern

Fan
Messages
29
Reactions
66
Reminds me of those dinky little pods that Japanese cars had for blind spot monitoring back in the early 2000's when the tech was still new.
9eb1ddd31a734e8b1d14e87e55460bfb.jpg
 

maiaramdan

Expert
Messages
1,806
Reactions
1,416
Regarding the screens I think we will see it well indicated within the dash from the next car , whatever which car it will be
 

krew

Site Founder
Administrator
Messages
3,686
Reactions
5,670
I think the right solution for digital side mirrors is probably as part of a HUD, but those are too expensive to use widely right now.

I don't know about using the HUD, as it would be visually distracting to see two moving images directly in your line of sight at all times. I'm picturing something more like the LF-FC setup, with segmented screens to left and right of the IP.

2015_lexus_lf_fc_concept_15_1600x1200.jpg

As a sidenote, boy oh boy do I still love this interior.
 

Joaquin Ruhi

Moderator
Messages
1,529
Reactions
2,434
In the case of the outside rearview cameras in lieu of mirrors, part of the problem is that they are still illegal in the United States. The laws as written require an actual, physical mirror. Both Audi (whose outside cameras in the upcoming e-tron SUV are also banned here) and Lexus have petitioned NHTSA for a change in the laws, but they don't seem to be coming anytime soon.
Finally! The slow-moving U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to test exterior camera mirrors, hopefully leading to their legalization. Here's the Reuters story:

AUGUST 27, 2019
U.S. to test mirrorless, camera-based systems in autos
Bryan Pietsch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to test how drivers could use cameras to replace traditional rearview mirrors in automobiles, a technology already allowed in other countries, the agency said on Tuesday.

The planned test by the agency known as NHTSA would examine “driving behavior and lane change maneuver execution” in cars with traditional mirrors and camera-based visibility systems, the department said in a notice offering the public a chance to comment.

In March 2014, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers — a trade group representing General Motors Co, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and others, along with Tesla Inc, petitioned NHTSA to use camera-based rear or side-vision systems. A similar petition was filed by Daimler AG in 2015 seeking approval for camera use instead of rearview mirrors in heavy-duty trucks. Those petitions are still pending.

NHTSA said in a report last year it was still studying the issue. The new testing would initially focus on passenger vehicles and later on larger vehicles.

Auto manufacturers have commonly added front and rear cameras to assist with maneuvers like parking, but some are now adding side cameras to provide visibility without traditional mirrors in other markets.

Toyota began selling a Lexus ES in Japan last year with cameras replacing side mirrors and was followed by Volkswagen, which began selling its Audi e-tron model with cameras instead of side mirrors in Europe in December.

Both sell versions in the United States with traditional mirrors.

Honda Motor Co Ltd will have the technology standard on its Honda e when the model goes on sale in Europe later this year or early next year, a spokeswoman said.

The technology is already approved in Europe and Japan.

Mirrorless systems are “an example of where automotive technology is ahead of the legislative curve” in the United States, said Mark Dahncke, an Audi of America spokesman.

The test comes as automakers are investing in technology and autonomous driving capability.

Tesla said in October it had made all eight external cameras on its Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars active, providing a “360-degree visualization of surrounding vehicles,” though the cars still have traditional mirrors.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...s-camera-based-systems-in-autos-idUSKCN1VH2G9
 

Joaquin Ruhi

Moderator
Messages
1,529
Reactions
2,434
There's a bit more movement as NHTSA opens a 60-day comment period on amending Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) No. 111 to allow for outside rearview cameras instead of mirrors. Here's the latest:

October 09, 2019 02:57 PM
Should cameras replace car mirrors? NHTSA wants to know
RYAN BEENE, Bloomberg (with contributions by Hans Greimel of Automotive News)

WASHINGTON -- Drivers in the U.S. may one day no longer have to crane their necks to check their blind spots if regulators agree to let high-tech cameras and screens replace the humble side-view mirror.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice on Wednesday that it is seeking public and industry input on whether to allow so-called camera monitoring systems to replace rear- and side-view mirrors mandated by a longstanding U.S. auto safety standard.

Tesla Inc. and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in 2014 petitioned the agency to allow cameras to be used in lieu of traditional mirrors, citing improved fuel economy through reduced aerodynamic drag as the primary benefit. Cameras feeding one or more displays inside the car could also improve rear and side visibility, the Auto Alliance has said.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand rolled out the technology last year on the ES sedan in Japan and is reviewing feedback from drivers about the feature.

Mirrorless cars -- or vehicles that drop old-school glass mirrors in favor of video screens -- have long been proposed by stylists and engineers wanting sleeker looks and improved safety. They can also help improve a vehicle's fuel efficiency because the camera setups have lower wind resistance.

But NHTSA, which has been studying the possibility for more than a decade, says camera monitoring systems may also introduce new safety risks. A five-year agency study of the technology on heavy-duty vehicles found display screens were too bright, making it harder for drivers to see objects on the road ahead.

NHTSA’s 2017 tests of a prototype camera monitoring system found it was “generally usable” in most situations, and produced better-quality images than mirrors at dusk and dawn. It also found potential flaws, including displays that were too bright at night, distorted images and camera lenses that would become obscured by raindrops.

NHTSA said in a notice in the online Federal Register is seeking outside research and data about the potential safety impacts of replacing mirrors with cameras to inform a possible proposal to alter the mirror requirement in the future.

The comment period will be active for 60 days after the notice is formally published in the Federal Register (from Thursday 10 October thru Monday 9 December 2019). The agency didn’t offer a timeline for a final decision, but changes to auto safety standards typically take years.

https://www.autonews.com/technology...ts-know?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter