What's the news?

April Fools' Day was only last week so we very carefully checked the veracity of the press release from Land Rover that purported to reveal what can only be described as an invisible bonnet for the next generation Discovery. Well, kind of anyway. The Transparent Bonnet virtual imaging concept is designed to help Land Rovers out in the place they excel the most: off-road.

The tech involves cameras in the front grille that capture visual data of the immediate terrain. They then transmit that data to a head-up display at the bottom of the windscreen, whereupon a virtual view of the ground directly in front of the bonnet - normally obscured from a driver's eye line by the front of the car - is transmitted to the occupants. It's designed specifically to help when climbing steep inclines on rough terrain, as it can also display the angle of the front wheels, and it should be a boon when manoeuvring a large SUV in a tight car park.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "We believe the next 25 years will be the most exciting and dynamic the automotive industry has ever experienced. There will be huge strides in environmental innovation, in safety and capability. As our vehicles become more capable and autonomous off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to allow the car to continue to progress, over any terrain."

Anything else?

This startling tech will be part of the Discovery Vision Concept car, due to be unveiled in full at the New York International Auto Show on April 16. The concept demonstrates Land Rover's design vision for a future family of premium SUVs, as well as showcasing amazing gadgetry like the Transparent Bonnet.