Mazda mirror tries to end blind spots

(Credit: Ford Motor)

Mazda says it's come up with a car technology that's the closest thing to having eyes in the back of your head. The "Back Up Camera with Auto-Dimming Mirror Display" promises to do precisely what the prosaic name indicates: Its rear-view mirror has an LCD screen that appears only when the car is in reverse, otherwise concealed by a special coating (called "transflective," whatever that means).

The idea is to eliminate blind spots with a built-in camera that sends a live feed to the 2.4-inch screen embedded in the mirror, which will be available as an option for Mazda's CX-9 SUV. Prices start at $665, but Gadgetell notes that this is the "poor man's" version of a rear-view display that comes standard with the automaker's GPS system. Or, as some have suggested, you could save your money and just turn around.