Land Rover reveals invisible car technology | video

Serious offroading means having to keep an eye on what's underneath your wheels -- and just in front of them as well. And Land Rover is taking cutting-edge technology to the bush to help drivers do just that.

A new augmented reality system being unveiled at New York motor show next week will give the effect of a 'transparent' bonnet, allowing the driver to see through it and onto the road surface. The system uses cameras in the vehicle's grille to film what's underneath and just in front of the wheels, and then project that footage in near real time to a heads-up display that overlays what the driver is seeing through the windscreen.

The result -- which Land Rover calls the Transparent Bonnet -- will allow drivers to see the angle and position of the tyres, and also to be able to dodge and skirt hazards more effectively. Land Rover believes the augmented reality system could be developed into technology that will be used in future driverless vehicles.

"As our vehicles become more capable and autonomous off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to allow the car to continue to progress, over any terrain," Jaguar Land Rover director of research and technology, Dr Wolfgang Epple, said in a statement.

"We are developing new technologies, including the Transparent Bonnet, to give drivers an augmented view of reality to help them tackle anything from the toughest off-road route to the tight confines of an urban car park."

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This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott