Close to the beachfront in Barcelona, SEAT were looking for volunteers to take on a challenge: drive around in a vehicle with all the windows covered up. Can it be done?
“Completely covered? No, I don’t think it can”, says Stefan, a German tourist who is a big fan of Barcelona. “Would you like to give it a try?” we respond. “Of course I would!” he is quick to answer. So we lead him and his wife to the closed urban circuit where a SEAT Ateca is waiting by an instructor who will be on board at all times. Stefan can only navigate by using the screen, which offers a 360-degree view around the car thanks to the four cameras that are installed in the vehicle. A top view image is shown inside on the monitor, an especially handy feature when maneuvering into a parking space.
Stefan is joined by an instructor in the front passenger seat: “All you have to do is drive within the lines”, he says, and the challenge begins. “This is great!” exclaims Stefan. “I can’t see a thing outside, but it works!” “It’s just like a video game” says the instructor. “How’s it going?” asks his wife from the rear seat. “Easy!” says Stefan with a smile. And the rest of the challenge goes off without a hitch, full of laughter and excitement. Driving forward, driving in reverse; turning to the right and left. The screen offers precise navigation, at times leaving our volunteers speechless. “What a fantastic experience!” he admits after completing the circuit. “And what a great feature” he concludes.
