Having tackled not just one, but two mid-engine supercar programs recently—with a third on the way in the P13—McLaren's automotive arm is looking bigger and bigger. Moving from the likes of the 12C and the P1 to something seemingly as trivial as clearing a windshield might seem rather frivolous, but that's exactly what the team in Woking is doing. The high-tech British automaker is currently bandying about a wiper-less windshield concept, as the company's chief designer let slip in an interview with the U.K.'s Sunday Times, and we have to admit, the company's proposal is pretty cool.
That's because unlike previous wiper-less windshield ideas, which generally centered around blasting high-pressure air at the glass, McLaren's concept would use ultrasound waves to micro-shake debris loose. Were the system to ever make it to production, theoretically it would utilize an ultrasonic transducer embedded in the windshield that emits high-frequency ultrasound waves, which would travel over the glass's surface to prevent stuff from taking hold. The benefits of such a system, of course, come down to aerodynamics—no wipers mean a smoother path for air traveling over the front of the car, which equals lower drag and better fuel economy.
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McLaren tells us that, for now, the ultrasonic concept is just that—a concept—and that the company has yet to reveal any technical details. We hope it gets the go-ahead, and that McLaren can make it work, because we'd love to experience a rainstorm without using windshield wipers.
from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com
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