I just discovered that Nissan has a new Armada, that behemoth of an SUV that pisses off the Sierra Club. It’s not the kind of vehicle that I’d ever own but, as the product of model-year culture (especially Septembers), I do enjoy seeing new or revamped vehicles among all automakers. However, there’s an interesting, available feature that’s worth talking about: Invisible Hood View.
Today, it seems almost every brand-new vehicle on American roads has several huge screens that connect a digital instrument panel with an infotainment panel on the center stack. How could this swath of screens be better exploited better?
Nissan has an answer with Invisible Hood View, a nifty piece of tech that helps you—the driver—spot hidden obstacles every time you are behind the wheel. By providing a virtual view via exterior cameras that give a view of what’s ahead and below your line of sight, you can avoid hitting the curb and other clumsy moves that may result from your lack of visibility (or, let’s be honest, driving acumen). If you’re an off-roader, you’ll certainly appreciate Invisible Hood View as it will give a view of hazards and obstacles.
In fact, the Texas Auto Writers Association, an esteemed group of enthusiasts who drive the latest and greatest, named it “Best New Feature.”
Invisible Hood View is but one feature under an umbrella of available camera tech to make your drive easier and safer. Another feature includes Front Wide View, which gives a wide-angle perspective from your line of sight to both corners, handy in tight, obstructed parking spaces or emerging from a driveway with parked cars blocking your view. And 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor gives you the ability to swipe the touchscreen to rotate a three-dimensional view of the Nissan and its surroundings from any angle.
Besides the Armada, Invisible Hood View is available for the Rogue and Murano SUVs. For more information on the Armada and its features, click here.