Toyota offers Gentex mirror-based backup Camera Display on SUV

Gentex has announced that it is shipping its Rear Camera Display (RCD) Mirror and base feature auto-dimming mirrors for the 2009 Toyota RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV). The compact SUV will launch in Europe in early 2009 and went on sale in North America and Asia this autumn. Gentex is the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rear view mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry.

The Gentex auto-dimming interior mirror with RCD will be standard equipment on the RAV4X in Europe and is available as a stand-alone option on the Sport and Limited RAV4 trim levels in North America. The RCD Mirror contains a liquid crystal display (LCD) that works with a video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle to provide a view directly behind the vehicle while backing up. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, a 2.4-inch diagonal LCD display appears automatically through the auto-dimming mirror's reflective surface. The display disappears when the vehicle is shifted into any other gear. The capability for the display to appear through the mirror's surface is made possible by Gentex "transflective" coating and lighting techniques, which result in a bright, high-resolution colour image.

"Toyota continues to offer our auto-dimming RCD Mirrors on a broader portion of its vehicle line up," said Enoch Jen, Gentex Senior Vice President. "This is the third RCD Mirror program we've announced with Toyota and we're excited about the prospects for this technology in the North American, European and Asian markets."