Night Vision Assist
SécuritéAverage price
1500€ - 3000€
Night Vision Assist is an advanced Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) designed to dramatically improve driver perception in low-light or total darkness conditions. Relying on thermal imaging technology, the system uses an infrared camera, typically housed in the vehicle's grille, to detect thermal signatures emitted by living beings (pedestrians, cyclists, animals) and other heat-emitting objects. Unlike traditional headlights with limited range, Night Vision Assist can identify potential hazards up to 300 meters ahead, well beyond the light beam. The grayscale thermal image is transmitted in real time to a digital instrument cluster screen or the central display. The system does not merely display the image; it actively analyzes the scene to identify human or animal shapes. When a collision risk is detected, the system alerts the driver via visual signals (for example, by framing the heat source in red) and audible warnings. On the most sophisticated models, it can even be coupled with the emergency braking system or a matrix lighting system that projects a light flash onto the identified hazard, thus proactively enhancing active safety.
Benefits
- ✓Early detection of hazards beyond headlight range
- ✓Increased visibility in darkness, fog, or heavy rain
- ✓Specific identification of pedestrians and animals posing a risk
- ✓Significant reduction in the risk of nighttime accidents
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Night Vision Assist: Seeing the Invisible for Maximum Safety
Nighttime driving accounts for a significant share of the most severe accidents, primarily due to reduced visibility. To meet this challenge, automakers have developed increasingly sophisticated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Among them, Night Vision Assist stands out as a cutting-edge technology that equips the driver with near-superhuman perception in the dark.
How Does Night Vision Assist Work?
The principle of Night Vision Assist is based on thermal imaging. A Far-Infrared (FIR) camera, often discreetly integrated into the front grille or brand logo at the front of the vehicle, captures temperature differences in the environment. Unlike a conventional camera that requires light, this technology detects heat emitted by bodies. Living beings, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or large animals, having a body temperature higher than their surroundings, appear as bright silhouettes against a dark background. The detection range of these systems is impressive, reaching up to 300 meters, which is two to three times the range of the highest-performing high-beam headlights.
The captured thermal image is processed in real time by an onboard computer. It is then displayed on a screen in front of the driver, most often on the digital instrument cluster (Virtual Cockpit, i-Cockpit, etc.) or sometimes on the central display. The display is generally in grayscale for quick and intuitive reading. However, the true intelligence of the system lies in its analytical capability: it is programmed to recognize human and animal shapes. As soon as a potential hazard is identified, the system takes action.
The Tangible Benefits of Thermal Vision
The integration of Night Vision Assist in a modern vehicle offers several major active safety benefits:
- Anticipating Hazards: By detecting a pedestrian on the roadside or an animal about to cross long before it enters the headlight beam, the driver has considerably more reaction time to slow down or perform an evasive maneuver.
- Smart Alerts: When a pedestrian or animal is detected in a critical zone, the system highlights them on the screen, often with a yellow or red frame depending on the level of danger. An audible alert may also sound to capture the driver's attention.
- Synergy with Other Systems: The most advanced versions of Night Vision Assist are coupled with other technologies. For example, combined with Matrix LED headlights, the system can send a targeted light pulse (a "flash") to the detected pedestrian to alert the driver and warn the pedestrian. It can also pre-condition the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system for a quicker response if the driver fails to react.
- Effectiveness in Bad Weather: Thermal vision is less sensitive to fog, rain, or oncoming headlight glare than the human eye, providing a clear view even when conditions deteriorate.
A Premium Technology Becoming Mainstream
Initially reserved for luxury sedans from brands like Mercedes-Benz (Night View Assist), BMW (Night Vision), or Audi, this equipment is now offered as an option on lower-segment models, notably by Peugeot (on the 508 and 3008) and DS Automobiles. Although its cost, often bundled into a "Safety Pack," remains high, its contribution to preventing nighttime accidents is undeniable. It represents a key step toward safer semi-autonomous driving capable of operating reliably in all lighting conditions.
Compatible brands
Finitions équipées
37 finition(s) proposent cet équipement
Audi Audi A8
Ambition Luxe (D4 / 4th generation) (2010-2017)
Audi Audi RS Q8
RS Q8 Full Assistance Package (1st generation) (2020-2023)
Audi Audi RS Q8
RS Q8 Vorsprung equivalent Luxury Pack (2nd generation) (2024-2026)
Audi Audi S8
S8 Avus (D4 / 3rd generation) (2012-2017)
BMW BMW Serie-8
Final Edition / Ultimate packing (G15 / 2nd generation) (2024-2026)
BMW BMW Série 4
Innovation Package / Final Special Editions (2nd Generation) (2022-2026)
BMW BMW X1
M Sport Pro (3rd generation U11) (2023-2026)
BMW BMW X2
M Sport Pro (2nd generation U10) (2024-2026)
BMW BMW X3
Inspiring / Pack Innovation (G01) (2021-2024)
BMW BMW X4 M
X4 M Competition Pack Innovation Pro (facelifted) (2021-2026)
BMW BMW X6 M
X6 M Competition Pack Innovation (3rd generation F96) (2020-2026)
BMW BMW X6 M
X6 M Pack Innovation (1st generation E71) (2011-2014)
BMW BMW i3
HomeRun Edition / HomeRun Edition (special series) (2021-2022)
BMW BMW i3
Suite (1st generation / restyled phase 2) (2017-2022)
BMW BMW i7
i7 eDrive50 M Sport Pro (1st generation) (2023-2026)
BMW BMW iX1
M Sport with Innovation Package (1st generation U11) (2022-2026)
BMW BMW iX2
xDrive30 M Sport (1st generation U10) (2024-2026)
Citroën Citroën C5
Shine Pack (C5 Aircross) (2019-2026)
Citroën Citroën C5 Aircross
Shine Pack (1st facelifted generation) (2022-2023)
Citroën Citroën DS4
Opéra (2nd generation) (2022-2026)
Associated equipment
360° Cameras
The 360° camera system, also known as 'panoramic view', 'Surround View' or 'Bird's Eye View', is a sophisticated Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that reconstructs a complete aerial view of the vehicle's immediate surroundings. It typically consists of four strategically positioned ultra-wide-angle (fisheye) cameras: one in the front grille, one on the tailgate or trunk, and one under each exterior rearview mirror. The video feeds from these cameras are transmitted in real time to a dedicated Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The ECU processes, corrects distortions, and digitally stitches the images together to create a single, cohesive, real-time composite view displayed on the central infotainment screen. This top-down view is often complemented by dynamic guidance lines that indicate the vehicle's trajectory based on the steering wheel angle. Designed to operate at low speeds, this system is an invaluable asset during parking maneuvers, navigating tight spaces, or detecting low obstacles that are invisible from the driver's seat, thereby drastically reducing the risk of scrapes and collisions. It is an increasingly widespread feature, transitioning from the premium segment to mainstream vehicles.
Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), also known as AFU in French, is an active safety system designed to help the driver achieve maximum braking force in critical situations. This system continuously analyzes the speed and force with which the driver presses the brake pedal. If it detects a rapid and sudden action, characteristic of panic braking, the EBA interprets that the driver intends to stop immediately. It then instantly and automatically increases the pressure in the brake circuit up to the ABS activation threshold, even if the driver has not pressed the pedal to the floor. The primary objective is to compensate for the human reflex of often failing to brake with sufficient force in an emergency. By guaranteeing optimal deceleration from the very first moments, EBA significantly reduces stopping distances, thereby potentially avoiding a collision or drastically reducing its severity. This system works in perfect synergy with ABS (which prevents wheel lock-up) and ESP (which maintains vehicle trajectory), forming an essential trio for modern active safety.
Matrix LED Headlights
Matrix LED headlights represent a major technological breakthrough in automotive lighting and active safety. Unlike traditional or even standard Full LED headlights, this technology uses a matrix of dozens, or even hundreds, of individually controlled light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The system works in tandem with a camera, usually located behind the interior rearview mirror, which constantly scans the road. When it detects a vehicle (approaching from the opposite direction or traveling ahead in the same direction), the system's processor analyzes its position and trajectory in real time. It then selectively and ultra-fast switches off the specific LED segments that would otherwise directly illuminate that vehicle. This creates a sort of moving 'shadow tunnel' around other road users, preventing them from being dazzled. Meanwhile, the rest of the road, particularly the roadside and the area far ahead, remains perfectly illuminated by the high beams. The driver thus benefits from maximum visibility, equivalent to that of high beams, without ever having to manually deactivate them, significantly improving safety and nighttime driving comfort.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
The head-up display, or HUD, is a technology transferred from military aeronautics to the automotive industry, aimed at enhancing driving safety and comfort. The system projects essential driving information directly into the driver's field of view. There are two main variants: the combiner HUD, which uses a small retractable transparent glass blade, and the more integrated windshield-projection HUD, which displays data on a treated area of the windshield. The virtual image thus created is collimated, meaning it appears to float several meters ahead of the vehicle, above the hood. This allows the driver to check their speed, navigation instructions, or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) alerts without taking their eyes off the road and without having to re-focus their vision. The most sophisticated versions, known as augmented reality HUDs (AR-HUDs), superimpose dynamic information onto the real-world environment, such as directional arrows that appear painted onto the road surface. By minimizing distractions, the HUD is a key element of the modern human-machine interface and active safety.
Blind Spot Monitor
The blind spot monitor, often referred to by the acronym BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring), is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) fundamental to modern automotive safety. Its role is to monitor the lateral and rear areas of the vehicle that are invisible to the driver via the rearview mirrors or direct vision. To do this, it relies on a network of sensors, typically short-range radars hidden in the corners of the rear bumper or under the outer mirror housings. As soon as a vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck) enters this blind spot, the system alerts the driver. The warning most often takes the form of a light, usually an orange or red icon that illuminates in the outside mirror on the affected side. If the driver engages their turn signal to change lanes while a hazard is present, the alert is intensified by a rapid flashing of the indicator, often coupled with an audible signal or a steering wheel vibration. The most advanced systems, classified as active, can go so far as to apply a slight counter-steering force to discourage the maneuver and prevent a collision. Particularly effective on high-speed roads and in dense traffic, this technology has become an essential safety standard, significantly reducing the risk of lane-change accidents.