Mercedes-Benz GLA doubles as a drive-in theatre

The drive-in theatre might be nearing its final act but the German car maker is trying to bring the good old days into modern household driveways.

Mercedes has revealed its second concept car in a little more than six months that is capable of projecting movies onto a screen in front of the vehicle when stopped. At the Paris motor show last year the company revealed a tiny projector on the bonnet of its new Smart car, the baby of the Benz brand.

Now the company that invented the automobile has released a new version of that technology ahead of the Shanghai motor show, which opens this weekend.

The headlights of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA, a pint-sized SUV due on sale in 2014, double as movie projectors. The company claims owners can project any video on their smartphone or tablet via the system. But don’t hold your breath waiting for the technology to arrive in showrooms anytime soon, even if the car will.

Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says the technology is not yet confirmed for production. “It’s a concept car that shows what is possible,” he said. “Of course, if it became available, we’d love to have it.”

Meanwhile the same system – which gives a new meaning to projector headlights – is also able to project directions (in the form of giant arrows) onto the road so drivers don’t need to glance at the navigation system in the cabin. “In this way, other road users, too, would be able to see where a driver is going,” the Mercedes statement said.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

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