Virtual exterior mirrors are available as an option in the Audi e-tron. Incorporated into the hexagonal end of their flat supports is a small camera with a resolution of 1280 x 1080 pixels. Image brightness is adjusted for the ambient conditions, such as when driving through a tunnel. Each support also incorporates an LED indicator and optionally a TopView camera. Inside the Audi e-tron, the images from the virtual exterior mirrors appear on OLED displays in the transition between the instrument panel and door.
With conventional exterior mirrors, the Audi e-tron achieves a drag coefficient of 0.28. With the optional virtual exterior mirrors this value is 0.27 – a top mark in the SUV segment. Compared to the standard mirrors, the camera mirrors reduce the vehicle width by 15 centimeters (5.9 in) and, thanks to their new shape, not only reduce drag, but also noticeably cut the already low wind noise. This is the real-life test.
