Look closely at the spy shots of the up-coming mid-engine Corvette, and you’ll see a small, circular object at the center of removable roof panel‘s rearmost edge, making us wonder what the peculiar little element be.
What It’s Not
To correctly identify what the element is, it might be useful to rule out what it is not. So right off the bat, we can safely conclude that it’s not the lens for the traditional backup camera, called the Rear Vision Camera in GM parlance. That’s because the lens for that feature is placed at the top-most portion of the cutout for the license plate housing.
What It Can Be
Knowing that the peculiar element in question is not the lens for the backup camera leads us to hypothesize that it could be the lens for the Rear Camera Mirror – which uses an entirely different camera and lens technology from the “regular” rearview camera.
If the roof-mounted object, in fact, a lens for the Rear Camera Mirror, then it will be GM’s first implementation of the lens on the roof, as all current implementations of the technology have the lens immediately adjacent to that of the standard back-up camera in the license plate cutout. That said, we image that placing the lens for the Rear Camera Mirror on the roof, rather than in the license plate area, would make it difficult to also install the Rear Camera Mirror washer, due to space-related constraints.
The image of the GM Rear Camera Mirror in a 2016 Cadillac CT6. The Rear Camera Mirror removes obstacles seen in traditional rear-view mirrors, such as pillars, headrests, and rear-seat occupants
Other potential explanations of the roof-mounted circular element is that it’s part of the aerodynamic kit for the mid-engine Corvette, or perhaps associated with the removable targa-style roof, though we would have imagined such elements to be better disguised in the body.
Discrepancies
It should be noted that not all prototypes for the mid-engine Corvette have the black circular object on the roof. At least one prototype of the upcoming sports car (pictured below) has been spotted testing without it, potentially indicating that the feature enabled by the object will be optional on the production model.
Mid-engine Corvette prototype testing without the roof-mounted circular object
That line of thinking makes sense, since we can see the Rear Camera Mirror being an optional feature on the mid-engine Corvette, with models without the technology sticking to a traditional auto-dimming rearview mirror. Notably, the Corvette currently does not offer the Rear Camera Mirror, but Chevrolet will begin offering the feature on the 2019 Camaro refresh as an option, so it shouldn’t come as much of a stretch to see the same kind of approach on the future Corvette.
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Comments
Two cameras. Lower one for parking. Upper one to replace the rear-view mirror, with the possibility of having a wider field of view than a conventional mirror. It could possibly have digital filters that reduce haze and glare.
With two cameras will there be a split screen with both views? Will there be a camera for the front so you can make sure the front splitter doesn’t get damaged?
It should be that the roof mounted camera would come on the rear view mirror and the traditional back up camera will be projected on the infotainment screen. And I’m sure there will be a front cam on the higher models with a toggle to view it.
I pointed this out in the last speculative story on the Targa. Someone said it was an auto roof but I stated there was a camera on the roof.
This car will have an advanced camera system lik3 the trucks with multiple views. 360 and mirror view.
With the ZR having a front spoiler view and a Bolt or Traverse with the mirror view it is only common sense to expect the Corvette to showcase this type system and more.
The mid engine car will have limited vision and this will make it an non issue to drive or park.
autonomous cars are supposed to come soon.
but car side mirrors replaced by video cameras are not on the horizon. i haven’t heard anyone talking about that.
why?
Honda has a passenger side mirror camera on most of their models, just dependant on trim level
Fully relying on cameras is going to be a safety hurdle to overcome. Dust, ice, etc can obstruct them. Pair camera with conventional mirror will likely become the norm soon and stay like that for a while
Microphone for real “fake” engine sound to come over speakers ???
Its a range finder for knowing how far ahead you are of the competition! ?
If that is indeed a camera, I would guess it’s an extension of the performance data and video recorder you can get on vehicles like the ZL1 and Z06. It’s not on every prototype because, like on the ZL1 and Z06, it’s an option. In its existing form, the only camera is a windshield mounted unit. A rear camera would add an additional perspective to your recordings at the track (or elsewhere). It could also be for the rear camera mirror, but I think an extension of the data and video recorder would be a perfect fit for this vehicle.
Is clearly the 360 camera for trailering assist as part of the HD tow/haul package
In the top photo, I do not see round object, but some white plastic structure — it might be a temporary element to keep the camouflage in place.
It is seen also from the side in http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/05/spy-pictures-show-mid-engine-corvette-will-feature-removable-roof-panel/