Rear Wipers. Why don't more manufacturers hide them?

[wiffmaster]

Appreciate this is an odd one for a Friday afternoon, but why on earth do more manufacturers not hide the rear wiper under the rear 'spoiler'?

For example, Range Rovers have consistently done this, and I really think it helps with a clean rear design:



Whereas the Bentayga has it right at the bottom in all its plastic-y glory and the whole thing looks cheap by comparison:



It's especially naff when the rear wiper is absolutely tiny:



So, car engineer friends, what's the reason more manufacturers don't tuck this away?

Edited by wiffmaster on Friday 20th February 18:07

[Woody.GT]

Now you've pointed this out, I'll never be able to unsee it! Agree the RR looks much better.

[Watcher of the skies]

Probably so that the swept area is at the bottom of the screen.

[gt40steve]

Also a top mounted wiper lifts the water up and it runs back down again.
There's a lot more room in the bottom of the tailgate for the motor than above the rear window.
Agree though, it looks cleaner with a hidden wiper.

[Watcher of the skies]

And of course it makes a lot of sense on the RR with the split tailgate.

[CG2020UK]

Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage do this now as well.

Will just be a new trend that needs a generation to catch on,

I am a fan looks much better.

[fooman]

Could be one of those annoying things that's patented so if other manufacturers want to do it they have to pay a fee - see for example how the Honda Jazz rear seats fold fold for extra space no one else does it because Honda patented the idea.

[ninepoint2]

Anyone who thinks the rear wiper is the only thing that makes Bentayga look awful must have very dodgy eyesight

[BikeSausage]

Excellent point!

[JD82]

Lexus did this decades ago

[Watcher of the skies]

JD82 said:

Lexus did this decades ago

RR have been doing it since 1970.

[Portofino]

Probably cost comes into it I would imagine.

[Mammasaid]

Well, how about this 'genius' idea on the Rivian R2, integrated into the tailgate at the bottom.

[Puddenchucker]

Mammasaid said:

Well, how about this 'genius' idea on the Rivian R2, integrated into the tailgate at the bottom.

Looks neat but, that recess will likely get filled with muck & dirt and if the drain holes (which I presume must be present) get clogged..
Also, how would you go about changing he blade? Is there a way of 'parking' it mid sweep?

[boxedin]

Mammasaid said:

Well, how about this 'genius' idea on the Rivian R2, integrated into the tailgate at the bottom.

You see all those pine needles? Guess what.

[catso]

ninepoint2 said:

Anyone who thinks the rear wiper is the only thing that makes Bentayga look awful must have very dodgy eyesight

Likely to be the same motor setup as on Golf/Audi/other VAG cars.

The one where the washer fluid passes through the motor shaft and, consequently corrodes the shaft until it leaks into the motor, causing it to develop a mind of it's own and, fill the boot with water...

[Mr Tidy]

BMW hid them on my Z4 Coupes by not fitting them!

Which may not be a bad thing as the one on my E46 Compact didn't work because the washer fluid got into the wiper mechanism so it seized up.

[Mad Maximus]

The insignia one is unforgivable.

[brillomaster]

You'd have thought unnecessary too, surely the swooping roofline would keep the rear screen clear? But even so, that'd definitely get a rear wiper delete if it was my car.

[AndySheff]

Not really on topic, but the other day I had a Toyota CHR hire car. I was surprised to see it had no rear wiper.