Leading global automotive supplier Magna has developed new innovative front ends for electric vehicles, which integrates advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capabilities like radar, cameras and lighting. The company calls them Mezzo Panels.
The “hidden-until-lit” lighting feature in the Mezzo Panels allow the surface to look clean and smooth until lighting is activated. There is also space for animated lighting that communicates vehicle intent and status alerts, said the company. There is provision to add active aerodynamic technology to improve vehicle range, while also providing a futuristic look.
“We can essentially hand designers and engineers a paint brush to create adaptations of current vehicle designs or start fresh on a blank, customisable surface to redefine brands for future electric and autonomous vehicles,” said Brian Krull, Global Director of Innovation for Magna’s Exteriors group.
Talking about the endless possibilities for the Mezzo Panel technology, Krull said future iterations of the technology may feature sustainable materials, such as environmentally friendly plastics, coatings and films – adding to an automakers’ sustainability efforts. Those materials also allow for signal transmission, enabling seamless integration of ADAS sensors, said the company.