Mitsubishi's new concept car fits all those buzzwords that apply to the future of driving, from "augmented reality" and "driver sensing" to "autonomous" and "electrification." Debuting at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month, the Emirai 4 looks the part of an autonomous electrified concept car.
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The concept, which is one of several Emirai models Mitsubishi has debuted in recent years, features an augmented reality head-up display. With 3D mapping and positioning technology, the system gives drivers a view of the road ahead, guiding them along no matter the weather or visibility conditions outside.
Further enhancing safety, the Emirai can alert passengers and other nearby cars if its doors are about to open. When sensors detect someone is about to open the car door, the Emirai shines a light onto the road and onto the car body. Inside the car, a sliding knob helps drivers adjust different functions, and these functions can be grouped together to the driver's liking to make the system easier to use while driving.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is the Emirai's driver sensing system. With the help of a wide-angle interior camera, the Emirai monitors the posture and head position of the driver and front passenger. Not only can it optimize climate control settings for individual passengers, but it also detects unsafe behaviors from the driver and figures out when to switch over between autonomous and manual driving mode.
The Emirai 4 can be seen at the Tokyo show from October 27-November 5 alongside the electrified e-Evolution concept crossover.
Source: Mitsubishi Electric
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When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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