Design Details: Headlight Clusters and DRLs Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 11/05/2015 at 22:02 • Filed to: Design Details, Headlights, DRLs

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This week on Design Details I’ve decided to go for something a bit more obvious...the headlights of a car are designed to allow the driver to drive even in dark conditions, and have become a rather stylized detail on modern automobiles after the United States ended their silly sealed beam regulation...the question though, is who has the best front light clusters?

Did Saab do it right on their last car with the elegant sweep of the DRL?

Or is Volvo’s Thor’s Hammer design more to your taste?

So what do you think Oppo?

What are the best/worst/most distinctively styled headlights in the automotive world?

MLGCarGuy > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:08

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You can’t talk distinctive headlights/DRLs without bringing these into the topic.

But another distinctive headlight/DRL combo nowadays is the Lexus triple-beam LED headlight with the L-shaped LED strip, whether you like them or not.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:08

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ALL the DRLs are ugly.

Amoore100 > MLGCarGuy 11/05/2015 at 22:15

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Arg, the two piece Lexus clusters are awful looking on certain cars (like the NX) but look great on others (like the RC F) IMO...I’m really split over the issue...

TrickJos > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:16

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I’m biased, but I think these are pretty great.

The Audi A5 has great headlights too. Instantly recognizable because of the LED’s.

Svend > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:16

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I’d like to offer up the 2015-6 Skoda Superb DRLs.

They have a carved crystal like etching to channel the light and emphasise the look.

The rear lights are quite nice also and have the characteristic Skoda ‘C’ in the light pattern.

Amoore100 > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/05/2015 at 22:17

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These aren’t bad.

better than whatever the fuck these are:

Amoore100 > Svend 11/05/2015 at 22:18

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YES! Here on Oppo it should definitely be Volvo wagon or Skoda Superb is always the answer. Those are gorgeous.

Wobbles the Mind > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:19

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Still the only original design on the K900. If only the Cadenza had these headlamps.

Amoore100 > TrickJos 11/05/2015 at 22:20

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The Camaro lights are pretty neat, give it a rather more distinctive look...the Audi design is rather cool as well but you have to remember where it came from...

Granted they’re more well integrated than some but the first gen Audi DRLs weren’t the most clean design...

Amoore100 > Wobbles the Mind 11/05/2015 at 22:22

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Yes. The Quoris has some smart looking headlights indeed.

Make it look a bit insectile, but at least it ain’t no Acura...

Svend > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:27

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We are going in to order our new Superb next Wednesday. Going for the five door hatchback now rather than the estate.

TrickJos > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:27

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Agreed. Audi has a good headlight style now, but the previous generation wasn’t so great. The current VW LED’s are awful too. I hate seeing the individual LED’s. Needs to be a light pipe or some sort of cohesive configuration.

RazoE > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/05/2015 at 22:31

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.....is what you would say if you wanted to be totally wrong....

The Lexus Nike L’s are AWESOME. I honestly love them as they’re not just a plain shape, and are seperate, so it becomes a styling point.

Amoore100 > Svend 11/05/2015 at 22:42

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Fine in my book. Still a bit bitter that they got rid of that trick dual mode hatch though.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > MLGCarGuy 11/05/2015 at 22:46

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Yes, though the BMW lighting example I would use is the original E39 “Angel Eyes”.

Though technically they were not LED’s at that time (halogen tubes I believe), they were incredibly striking. Besides being one of the first application of this kind of DRL, in my opinion it is still one of the best-looking and best-integrated designs. BMW at that time was lucky to find themselves with a specific headlight motif that was nearly as iconic as their kidney grilles and their Hoffmeister kink. The double-round headlights were already a strong part of BMW’s design DNA, and the DRL treatment perfectly highlighted them. In contrast, Audi had to take a different approach - while their cars were attractive overall, they didn’t have a consistent headlight motif. Audi’s approach was to create a new design motif from scratch .

The Quattro concept, and its various iterations culminating with the production R8, established the dipping line of LED’s that trickled down through the Audi range and became a valuable differentiator for Audi. Thus, almost overnight Audi gained a new link in their design DNA.

Many other brands scrambled to catch up with the DRL trend. Mercedes’ early attempts at shoehorning LED strips into existing designs were notoriously garish and haphazard, though they’ve gotten better over time. In relation to Amoore100’s original post, I think Volvo is trying to forge a new design DNA link with their “Thor’s Hammer” motif. It’s attractive, and more distinctive than Saab’s lazy strip around the perimeter of the housing. My personal favorite remains the E39 angel eye - beyond looking great, it dovetails perfectly into BMW’s design history, and evolves it for a new age.

Svend > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:50

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I’ll miss the old ‘twindoor’ tailgate but making it a single piece hatch has gave it a much better profile.

Were getting a £1,000 or so discount if we order early which is great.

Rico > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 22:51

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I’m biased but I like the new C63 lights:

Amoore100 > Rico 11/05/2015 at 23:26

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You have one if I’m not mistaken...quite an elegant car IMO...

Amoore100 > Svend 11/05/2015 at 23:27

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Yeah, the new one is quite a better looker but the Twindoor was really unique and cool IMO...too bad it’s since died out, but it was a good idea when it was around...

Rico > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 23:42

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I wish! I had a new C300 loaner recently with the same headlight system though with active curve illumination. I’ll likely upgrade to the Coupe instead. Lovely car, a mini S coupe.

Svend > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 23:47

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Skoda are still making money on the patent from Mercedes though.

Skoda have brought out a slightly larger yet more economical vehicle and haven’t raised the unit price of the car.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 00:11

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For some reason I don’t really like the “hammer” look on the new XC90. If a car must have LED DRLs, I think they should follow part of the perimeter of the headlamp.

Amoore100 > Svart Smart, traded in his Smart 11/06/2015 at 00:30

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Eh, I like it much better than some (like Kia’s) because at least they’re distinctive instead of copying Audi like everyone else...

Amoore100 > Svend 11/06/2015 at 00:32

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Wait, Mercedes uses the Twindoor now? News to me...

That’s always good. More for the same is the best kind of deal, especially when it looks as superb as the new Superb.

Amoore100 > Rico 11/06/2015 at 00:35

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Quite! It seems that every Benz now is just a varying degree of S Class, reminiscent of the days of yore where the same was true...

From the little W201...

...to the massive W126!

Svend > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 00:53

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Sorry, my bad. It was the 2011 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ZwE6wVVBQ

Amoore100 > Svend 11/06/2015 at 01:08

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Oh. I used to hate that thing. Minimal respect has been restored. It still ain’t no 5 series wagon tho...

Svend > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 01:13

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I don’t like the BMW GTs. It’s a hatch without much extra space so why not go for a saloon, if you want the extra space, go for the estate.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 06:08

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There were some pretty distinctive headlight treatments even during the sealed beam era. Not all available to Americans, admittedly...

boxrocket > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 07:05

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Mazda’s newest models, which have an LED strip continuing the chrome shape from the grille through the headlights, so they are a pre-planned, deliberate design, plus they have LED bulbs for all outside lamps on the higher-spec models (like the 2016 CX-5 Grand Touring I bought my wife a couple weeks ago), with the added benefit of the “active” headlamps that turn with the wheel!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 08:27

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S-class coupe. Need I say more?

Rico > Amoore100 11/06/2015 at 09:26

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Ah yes people seem to forget that this formula Mercedes is using is the same on they always have:

Rico > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 11/06/2015 at 09:42

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I feel like MB really stepped their headlight game way up since the release of the more recent E Class facelift, now all their LED headlights are fantastic.

Amoore100 > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 11/07/2015 at 20:43

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My favorite would be the pivoting Frenchies and the grille lights on the Pug....so 30’s Airflow style!

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Amoore100 11/07/2015 at 21:27

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I love the “wall of glass” treatment of the SM nose. So many beautiful design details on that car...

Amoore100 > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 11/07/2015 at 21:29

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Made American variants of the time look rather odd though...

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Amoore100 11/07/2015 at 21:46

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Yes, of the many crimes against fashion brought about by US regulations, that is surely one of the worst.