Vantrue unveils world’s first dash cam with thermal imaging for Predator-style night vision on the move
You don't need a new car to have the latest tech
· TechRadarNews By Leon Poultney published 8 January 2026
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- Pilot 2 consists of three cameras and a touchscreen display
- Thermal imaging camera works in low light and bad weather
- Similar tech will soon be available for motorcycle riders
Vantrue chose the bustling halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to showcase its latest — and arguably smartest — dash cam package to date.
Dubbed the Pilot 2, this collection of front-facing, rear-facing and thermal-imaging cameras gives arguably one of the most all-encompassing field-of-views of any aftermarket in-car camera system on sale.
The Sony Starvis-powered front windshield camera, which actually consists of two lenses, records action within the cabin at 1080p; this is a boon for those professional drivers that want hard evidence of rowdy passengers.
A secondary front-facing 2K camera unit then records the action out of the front windshield at 1440p, while a rear windshield-mounted camera covers happenings out of the rear in the same resolution. But what makes this package different is the surprisingly compact thermal imaging camera that's designed to be mounted to the exterior of the vehicle.
Not much larger than a matchbox, but IP67 waterproof rated. the dinky unit can be mounted on the bonnet just below the windscreen, or neatly tucked into the front grille. Vantrue provides various methods to get it into the perfect position.
This then sends a live thermal feed to an included 6.25-inch touchscreen that can be installed on the dashboard, acting like a media hub for all of the various views and recordings that are taking place.
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In low-light or poor weather conditions, drivers can rearrange the display so it just shows a feed from the thermal imaging camera, which can detect heat signatures from humans, wildlife and other road users.
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