Automotive

Pillar-less polycarbonate windshield offers a widescreen view

Pillar-less polycarbonate windshield offers a widescreen view
A Tommykaira ZZ with the pillar-less windshield fitted
A Tommykaira ZZ with the pillar-less windshield fitted
View 3 Images
It's much easier to see out of the Tommykaira ZZ with a pillar-less windshield
1/3
It's much easier to see out of the Tommykaira ZZ with a pillar-less windshield 
A conventional windshield on the Tommykaira ZZ
2/3
A conventional windshield on the Tommykaira ZZ
A Tommykaira ZZ with the pillar-less windshield fitted
3/3
A Tommykaira ZZ with the pillar-less windshield fitted
View gallery - 3 images

Modern cars are getting safer, but stronger bodies come with a few caveats. Thick a-pillars are great when you have an accident, but they also ruin outward visibility. Teijin Limited might just have the solution, with plans to build the first pillar-less polycarbonate-resin windshield later this year.

Although they're generally lighter than glass and occasionally show up in lightweight limited edition sports cars, regulations in some countries prevent polycarbonate windscreens being used in production cars. That's because they're generally easy to scratch, and lack the strength of glass units.

According to Teijin, its new PC-resin windshield has a much higher resistance to abrasion and weather than conventional polycarbonate units. Developed using a new hard-coating technology that can be applied to large, complex or awkwardly shaped window designs, the windshield has the abrasion resistance of glass and twice the weather resistance of traditional plastic glazing methods.

As a result, it meets upcoming Japanese standards and, eventually, could make its way to the USA and Europe. It'll make its debut as an option on the Tommykaira ZZ, a compact electric sports car for the Japanese market. Based on the images supplied, fitting the pillar-less windshield to the open-topped ZZ has a huge impact on outwards visibility. Along with visibility, benefits to the polycarbonate-resin windshield include a 36 percent drop in weight compared to a conventional unit.

A Tommykaira ZZ, complete with the pillar-less windshield will be on show at the Automotive Engineering Exposition in Nagoya between June 28 and 30.

Source: Teijin Limited (1)

View gallery - 3 images
6 comments
6 comments
Gizmowiz
Perhaps someday manufacturers will get smart and find a way to coat polycarbonate windows with actual glass surfaces so they become as scratch resistant as regular glass--perhaps even a 'gorilla glass' coating on them.
jerryd
Illegal in the US and polycarbonate only last 3-5 yrs in the sun.
Gizmowiz
Well Jerry few windows last more than 5 years anyway due to sand, gravel, rocks, birds, bugs, hail, creeps. If you live in a cold weather state your lucky to get 3 years without so many pits you can't see when driving into the sun.
Michael Wilson
VincentWolf, I daily drive a car old enough to drink (1996 Volvo 850 wagon) and I'm quite sure the windows are original. We lived in Ohio for years and the glass wind shield looks just fine with no pitting or anything. I"d love to see gorilla glass, but polycarbonate tends to yellow in the sun. Should still be interesting though.
guzmanchinky
Can it hold up the car in a rollover as well as steel A-pillars?
Eggster
"Thick a-pillars are great when you have an accident, but they also ruin outward visibility."
TRVTH! Driving a Prius is like driving with blinders on!