Which Manufacturer Designs the Strangest Headlights? 

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt) 11/06/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

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Safety regulations have imposed an alarming degree of uniformity on automotive design. Thus, manufacturers have resorted to fiddling with the details to make their cars stand out among the homologous crowd of slab-sided machines with massive superman grilles and tall hoods.

Headlights are a great example of an area manufacturers lean on to establish their brand identity. Acura is currently experimenting with small pods that remind me of a massive bracelet of gaudy, malformed jewels.

650s headlights are unusual too. Some people are wowed by the fact that the upper portion references the McLaren logo. Me? I think they transform the fascia of an otherwise-attractive car into an outlandish nature scene: Two black swans facing off to settle a mating disagreement - “She’s MINE” they say...

And then there’s the Nissan Juke. What is going on here?! I usually enjoy it when manufacturers sculpt their lights into a 3D shape that protrudes from the body. But this looks like a big plastic leech sucking Juke juice out of the engine compartment.

Of course, everything I’ve mentioned here is a little ridiculous, and completely subjective. That said, there are a few new headlights out there that I enjoy. Some manufacturers work the “corporate headlight” angle pretty well. Here’s Audi’s take:

So, which headlights are you into? And which abominations have I forgotten about? Regardless of how you feel about the examples I’ve listed here, you have to admit that headlight design is heading in an “interesting” direction these days. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to you.

Party-vi > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:17

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The Acura headlights are probably my favorite design on the newer models.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Party-vi 11/06/2015 at 12:19

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I totally understand, some of the other versions of that concept are great:

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:19

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Assuming they actually build the car with these headlights, I like the Lincoln Star Logo headlights on the new Continental.

Noah - Now with more boost. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/06/2015 at 12:20

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Awesome. Now THAT’s how you integrate your logo into the headlights. I can’t wait for the new Conti.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:21

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BRING BACK WOODLITES

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:21

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Nissan.

And re the Juke, It always looked to me likethey designed it by making a scale model, and used too much glue to put the hood on.

EL_ULY > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:24

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I always like the Q45 and LED assemblies on the Ls600hL

Noah - Now with more boost. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/06/2015 at 12:26

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Lol. Yeah Nissan’s current range epitomizes Japan’s fetish for incoherent design. Definitely not for me either.

Noah - Now with more boost. > EL_ULY 11/06/2015 at 12:30

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Absolutely! Both integrate trapezoids and circles in an interesting way. I wish Nissan would follow that direction more often.

coelacanthist > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/06/2015 at 12:32

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MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:33

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I think it’s a sign that Lincoln is really trying to pay attention to even the details.

Note, the grille is Lincoln logo shaped cut outs as well.

pjhusa > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:33

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This. Sadly, I have the one below.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > coelacanthist 11/06/2015 at 12:36

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Haha, puny little VW logo....it’s probably putting out CO2....

coelacanthist > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/06/2015 at 12:40

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NOx

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > coelacanthist 11/06/2015 at 12:42

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Haha

AndyG_UK > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:47

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Seat Leon’s led headlights, really liven up an otherwise normal front facia.

Noah - Now with more boost. > pjhusa 11/06/2015 at 12:51

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Yep. I’m really into designs that highlight the overall shape of the headlight with LED strips. Very attractive.

Noah - Now with more boost. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/06/2015 at 12:51

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That’s totally outlandish! I love it

Noah - Now with more boost. > AndyG_UK 11/06/2015 at 12:52

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Interesting. You can see the “Audi” headlight language there, but with a unique twist. I like it.

450X_FTW > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 12:59

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Alfa 4C reminds me of a russian helicopter missle launcher

Noah - Now with more boost. > 450X_FTW 11/06/2015 at 13:00

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Hahah wow that’s an amazing analogy. I love it.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/06/2015 at 13:09

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Oooooooo, I really like these.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 13:12

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Work computers won't let me link images in Kinja, but I really don't like that clusterfuck of a headlamp from the Alfa Romeo 4C. I see they have a more simplified headlamp design as well, so I'm not sure if I was looking at a concept or if they just have them for different markets.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/06/2015 at 13:13

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Fan-Freakin-Tastic.

Thanks for giving me ideas... Woodlites, and E&J Type 20 “torpedo” headlights are very cool.

And they have FANTASTIC potential for reflex LED, LED projection, or HID projection internal upgrades for 21st century performance with 19th-early-20th century vintage looks.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/06/2015 at 13:18

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The original Woodlites only failed to do what they were supposed to do (shaped intensity pattern like a modern setup) because of poor and uneven (and hot)lighting sources, back-of-the-envelope reflectance mapping, and more limited reflectivity and lens production. None of that is an issue now - you could make a halogen or LED Woodlite that did everything the original was supposed to, very easily.

spanfucker retire bitch > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 13:28

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I’ve always loved the Porsche 918 headlights.

It also might not be a popular opinion around here, but I think Lexus make some really cooling looking headlight assemblies. Below are the IS350 F-Sport and GS450H.

My favorite is probably the new Koenigsegg Regera though. Its DRLs form a constellation pattern.

BREADwagon > Party-vi 11/06/2015 at 13:32

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Agreed, it’s the only part of Acura’s current design language that I actually like. The first time I saw one on the street, I actually stopped and took a closer look.

Noah - Now with more boost. > spanfucker retire bitch 11/06/2015 at 13:34

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I’m into all of it! Even the Lexus 2-piece design, I think it’s one of the only examples of the 3D headlight/separate LED strip accent that works. And of course the Koenigsegg constellation is outrageous. Totally dig it.

Noah - Now with more boost. > gin-san - shitpost specialist 11/06/2015 at 13:35

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I think they did a covered headlight version for the US market, and Europe received the “Spider” design. They definitely took that design pun a little too far lol.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/06/2015 at 13:43

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Modern internals would probably FAR outperform the original ideal expectations, actually. Plus the top-housed lighting sources can use the upper external surface as a thermal heat sync to external airflow.

LEDs or D2R (reflector-type, rather than D2S projector type) HID capsules would up the light output significantly, and with proper reflectance mapping, design, source positioning, and thermal management.

Even halogen is outdated anymore, with variances, thermal waste, and a delicate, vibration-sensitive and degradation-during-use filament, and only about 12-20 lumens per watt. Arc HIDs, or solid-state LEDs, (with some emitters exceeding 100 lumens per watt) are where current and near future development should focus, and even HID is being surpassed by the capabilities of LED and solid state laser emitters.

It is interesting to juxtapose that against old school styling, and non-plastic construction with metal and glass, and intuitive craftsmanship.

Twinpowermeansoneturbo > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 13:48

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Only the RLX has the two rows of jewel eye headlights (as in the lead image) The TLX, MDX, RDX, and ILX only have one row like pictured above.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/06/2015 at 13:56

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The original Woodlites, after the losses from the weak incandescent element, the silvered back plate reflected twice, and passing through thick glass, had no there there. The idea (patented!) simply outstripped the ability to make. As to lighting to the top for cooling reasons, you could have a fluting detail on the top of the lamp to improve cooling *and* look stylish, like a Pontiac hood relief.

Something for which that Pontiac pic is also useful to discuss: A lot of aesthetic thinking and graceful work went into stand-alone and semi-stand-alone headlights back in the day, and with modern tech there *has* to be a market for rod headlights with some of those touches. All the intensity problems don’t exist anymore, and there’s no reason to chain off to standard elements...

Rainbow > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 14:06

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Any F-level Lexus is completely ruined by its headlights.

Worst design of any component of any car ever, and I really do believe that. No exaggeration.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Rainbow 11/06/2015 at 14:28

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I don’t mind them! But hey I like awful abstract art so that’s probably why. The Lexus “warped hourglass” grille though... that’s a different story. I’m glad we can peacefully agree to disagree here though. Thanks for keeping things civil.

spanfucker retire bitch > Rainbow 11/06/2015 at 15:00

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I agree with a lot of what you post Rainbow, but I vehemently disagree on this instance. I think Lexus does headlight assemblies better than almost anyone. Personally I love how the “nike” LED bar actually looks when you’re driving. In that picture, it doesn’t make any sense - it looks completely detached (because it is) from the headlight assembly.

But if you’re passing one on the road, or driving in front of one and looking at it in your rear-view mirror, the angles come together perfectly and it looks like it’s hovering right below the main light assembly. It’s a very neat effect.

Mercedes Streeter > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 15:13

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I really hate that smart backtracked to reflector housings on the new smart. There wasn’t anything wrong with the awesome projectors on the 451.

That said, at least it looks pretty, the DRL looks awesome, and there’s a cute little smart logo inside.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Mercedes Streeter 11/06/2015 at 15:15

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Oooh interesting, I haven’t seen the new one up until now. Looks good!

Delusion77 > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 15:20

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The “new” headlights on the ups trucks look so out of place

Noah - Now with more boost. > Delusion77 11/06/2015 at 15:22

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Hahahah what a perfect car/animal matchup. I lol’d

CKeffer > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 15:37

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Strangest has to go to Lexus’ current setup. Lets use a fairly normal, if smallish, setup, but then we’re going to put an angular, LED festooned, Nike SWOOSH under it, oh and make sure it doesn’t align with any of the body lines on the car! Brilliance! .....seriously, why?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/06/2015 at 15:46

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I like the way you think - old/classic style, but modern internals. Rutledge Wood did a bit of that with his step van.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > 450X_FTW 11/06/2015 at 15:48

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I always thought it looked like a spider's cluster of eyes.

Noah - Now with more boost. > CKeffer 11/06/2015 at 16:04

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The explanation I heard for this flavor of incoherent design was that the Japanese are very detail oriented when it comes to aesthetics, so they consider each shape individually rather than as a whole. Hence things like: everything Nissan makes at the moment

Delusion77 > Noah - Now with more boost. 11/06/2015 at 16:08

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The lexus SC is one of the cars I admire, however I always feel it should have had different headlights.

I feel the same about the new lexus disjointed lights

Noah - Now with more boost. > Delusion77 11/06/2015 at 17:32

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The Honda Del Sol had similar headlights. They must have copied the Lexus, or vice versa. IDK which came first