New windscreen wipers, still boring
Windscreen wiper blade designs have barely changed over the decades, but that doesn't mean they've reached the peak of their performance. One of the world's largest auto parts suppliers, Germany's Bosch, has developed a new wiper blade that can adjust itself to perfectly complement the shape of your car's windshield.The wiper blade feature a spring-loaded rail that's connected to a steel bar whose job it is to force the rubber wiper onto your screen, forming an ideal curvature of the blade.
According to its designers, the new blade, or Aerotwin as it's called, applies pressure evenly along the length of the blade and in the long run reduces wear. A simple Quick-Clip Adaptor that comes with the Aerotwin means it can be retrofitted to most cars, but we suspect many new models will be featuring it or a similar system in the not too distant future. The wipers are now available in the UK but there's no word on a US release date.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jeff.jost 5:03PM (4/01/2009)
Beam Blades are way better than the traditional multi-piece frame blades. I've had TRICO NeoForm blades for a while now and they are unbelievable.
Jeff
Wipers123.com
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gus 9:11PM (7/31/2007)
What is it different from the BOSCH ICON - just wondering - http://jobs.boschusa.com/AutoParts/WiperBlades/ICON/
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Herb 9:16PM (7/31/2007)
Bosch wipers are pretty good i know since i have used them before but why wait for these wipers that apply pressure evenly along the length of the blade when we already have the new rain-x latitude wipers that do the same
http://www.rainx.com/offer/
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Don 5:00PM (8/01/2007)
I've been using Bosch wipers for a last two years...I swear I'll never go back.
Shawn704 9:16PM (7/31/2007)
Rain X has developed something like this already...
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Chase 9:48AM (8/01/2007)
Haven't blades like this been around since around 2000?
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Tim 9:30PM (7/31/2007)
These blades are OEM on all new Honda Civics in the U.S.
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Tim 9:30PM (7/31/2007)
I should say O.E., rather than OEM.
Dave 7:18AM (8/01/2007)
And the Nissan Altima, Chevrolet HHR, Toyota Camry...I've been seeing them on tons of new cars.
gus 9:34PM (7/31/2007)
BTW, Bosch ICON (which looks identical to me as the one mentioned in this article), had been available in your local parts store for at least a year.
And AFAIK, a lot of 07 model cars like Honda Civic, GTi, Camry had those as OE as well (probably made by Valeo and Bosch)
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leather bear 10:12PM (7/31/2007)
This is known as a “beam”-type wiper blade in the automotive aftermarket. The article undoubtedly refers to the Bosch Icon blades, which have been out for almost two years (we stock ‘em where I work). Bosch is a little late to the party; IIRC Valeo was first to market with this design a few years ago, followed shortly thereafter by similar blades from Anco and Trico. I remember first spotting the beam blades on a co-worker’s new Volvo back in 2004 or 2005, and they’re also OE on another’s new BMW 3-Series. I plan on trying a pair on my own vehicle once the rainy season starts here in California (around November).
I believe that the ’06 Civic was the first Asian make to get the beam blades here in the US. I haven’t checked to make sure, but I would expect the OE Civic blades to come from either Denso or NWB (Nippon Wiper Blade); those two brands are OE on probably 99% of the Japanese vehicles out there.
Austin 10:12PM (7/31/2007)
I have a set of the michelin wipers of that type on my civic. They are virtually silent on the glass.
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Chad C 10:11PM (7/31/2007)
Bosch has had the ICONS out for 3 years now. GM first used them on the G6. The Bosch are by far the best constructed frameless wiper, I've checked them all.
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andy h 10:19PM (7/31/2007)
And here in Canada before the Rain-X ones came out, we had the Reflex wipers as well which are available at Canadian Tire.
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Brian 8:02AM (8/01/2007)
Yes, these wipers have been out for at least 2 years in the U.S. They came fitted to my '06 Jetta.
Kowell 10:42PM (7/31/2007)
I was about to point that.. These have been at Canadian tires since 2002.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443294148&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672433&bmUID=1185936053149
Ben H. 8:30AM (8/01/2007)
The Reflex wipers aren't too good. They tear too easily. I've gone back to Canadian Tire's Aerofoil steel blades.
ckm 10:16PM (7/31/2007)
I have a set of Bosch Icons on two cars and they suck. I'm going back to Trico's as soon as I find the time to change them.
What's worse that the fact that they don't work is that the wiper holder and blade are one piece, so instead of just replacing the blade, you have to spend 3x as much replacing the whole unit.
Plus, thought they look great in pictures, they look huge and bulky in reality, particularly the fastener between the arm and the blade.
Chris.
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Fuzzmanmatt 10:43PM (7/31/2007)
Trico makes their own version of these, the ... crap, I'm drawing a blank on the name. Head into Advance Auto Parts or CSK or Murray's and they'll hook you up with what you need. I'm not a big fan of the (now older tech) steel arm and rubber refill style, though they are cheaper.
Fuzzmanmatt 10:50PM (7/31/2007)
And just because they're boring doesn't mean that a good pair can't save your life. I can't stand seeing people who don't replace their blades until they have fallen off.
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