Design Details: Taillight Clusters Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 11/12/2015 at 21:33 • Filed to: Design Details, Taillamps, Volvo, Dodge

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If we did headlights and DRLs last week, it would seem only logical that we do taillights and rear lights this week...again, the advent of LEDs has lead many manufacturers to take a more stylistic approach to the taillight, so which are some of the more unique that you’ve seen?

Volvo’s signature full length tallights are certainly accentuated by the LED treatment on newer XC60s...

and the “racetrack” taillights on recent Darts is quite recognizable as well...

So what do you think Oppo?

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

bob and john > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:40

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these used to be the distinction

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:41

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These blew me away first time I saw them late driving down I-95

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:47

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The 2008-20011 Impreza hatchback and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX and STI has some of the worst taillights in recent memory. They lack a cohesive design, and are just plain ugly.

I like the fake LED look on the 2009-2013 Forester, at least a lot more than the Impreza lights above. While nice, I’m glad Subaru went back to color-tinted lenses for the new models.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 11/12/2015 at 21:49

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Kinja ate your top pic. Just sayin. ;)

MLGCarGuy > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:49

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Love them or hate them, we all know what these are.

dogisbadob > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:50

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Red turn signals SUCK!

And combination stop/turn signals are even worse :(

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:54

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I truly believe my Genesis Coupe‘s (‘13+ model) rose tail lights are the most beautiful on the road.

^ not my car, but you get it...

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:56

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It’s really the entire rear of the car though.

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 21:58

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The Impreza, right? I think it's just now showing up for me.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 11/12/2015 at 21:59

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Yep, works now. Thanks for the fix.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 11/12/2015 at 22:01

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Those catch me off guard every time. I see them at night from far away and think “wow, those are cool”, and then I realize it’s a Huyndai ... not that there’s anything wrong with that. I wish they’d let Kia make a coupe on that platform, that could be a really cool-looking car.

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 22:01

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I didn't do anything!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 22:03

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The 2013-14Mustang taillights. Simply cool.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 11/12/2015 at 22:04

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Oh, sometimes when you press “edit comment” and publish it again the images show up... #JustKinjaThings

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 22:14

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I’ve always thought the Sonata Hybrids was pretty cool.

And I don’t know why, but I’ve always liked the current Malibu LTZ’s LED tails.

and 100 more > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 11/12/2015 at 22:23

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I like the ones on the Sonata hybrid:

hike > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 22:34

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The new Durango. By far my favorite set of tail lamps. Makes me think of a dude wearing sunglasses at night, except it actually looks cool.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > and 100 more 11/12/2015 at 22:41

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What?! Are those real? Holy cow, now I’ve gotta keep a lookout for one of these. That looks so cool!

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 22:48

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I’m not going to lie, if I ever have to purchase an SUV, I’d probably go with an XC90. The latest one looks so good.

I’d say e60 5-series LCI lights for most distinctive.

pjhusa > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 11/12/2015 at 22:52

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devours a Porsche

Vicente Esteve > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 23:02

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So many taillights I like. I love the many little LED designs.

I know I’m missing more, but I can’t decide on a favourite.

and 100 more > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 11/12/2015 at 23:20

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I had about the same reaction the first time I saw them. Just as stunning in person.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Amoore100 11/12/2015 at 23:26

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HSV

wafflesnfalafel > bob and john 11/12/2015 at 23:49

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yes - proper ROUND vette tail lights

Axial > wafflesnfalafel 11/13/2015 at 00:09

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Ain’t nothing proper about it. C1 had elongated lenses that were anything but round, C4 had squircles, C5 was disgusting and we don’t talk about it, and C7 has the angry eyes. Corvette tail lights are lots of shapes, and there weren’t even always four of them.

Axial > Amoore100 11/13/2015 at 00:10

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Ah, yes, LED tail lights. Those things so bright I have to apply throttle at stops to keep my car from being pushed into the guy behind me from sheer photon pressure.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > pjhusa 11/13/2015 at 07:30

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i8 911

pjhusa > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 11/13/2015 at 09:02

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I see what you did there.

C62030 > Amoore100 11/13/2015 at 19:48

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I don’t know if this necessarily counts as ‘distinctive,’ or even if it’s new or people have been doing it forever, but I’ve noticed on some new cars like Jeeps and Dodges that the taillights are frosted, like you can’t see the bulbs and the reflectors. The light is softened and it looks really nice. Is there a name for this, or am I just imagining things? Here’s a terrible image of what I mean:

C62030 > and 100 more 11/13/2015 at 19:50

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Holy crap, those are awesome! THE HYUNDAI SONATA HAS A DRIP OF DESIRABILITYI NOW EVERYONE BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES

Amoore100 > C62030 11/14/2015 at 16:15

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Never mind. Desirability has been lost by looking at its front.

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/14/2015 at 16:21

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The Skyline would like to have a word.

Amoore100 > MLGCarGuy 11/14/2015 at 16:23

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Love them on Altezzas, hate them everywhere else.

Amoore100 > dogisbadob 11/14/2015 at 16:24

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Mostly an American car thing and yes, they suck.

Amoore100 > Vicente Esteve 11/14/2015 at 16:24

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Excellent selection. Wholly agree.

Amoore100 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/14/2015 at 16:26

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Indeed, but the rest of the old Sonata Hybrid was a styling disaster...the Malibu is handsome IMO and definitely more distinctive than the new Impala, which looks like many other things on the road...

Amoore100 > C62030 11/14/2015 at 16:31

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Not sure of a name, but completely agree. The other day I saw the pre and post facelift Tiguans together and it really struck me how classy the “frosted” lights are...

Not that they were ugly beforehand, but I think the “frosted” lights really give it a more upscale feel than the economy style that it had previously...

C62030 > Amoore100 11/14/2015 at 17:15

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Hence the “just a drip.” It really is a ridiculous looking thing. Look at those stupid mirrors.

C62030 > Amoore100 11/14/2015 at 17:16

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Absolutely. VW’s latest taillights on the Passat and such look really imposing. I shall now start calling them ‘frosted’ lights because it seems they don’t have a real name. You heard it here first, folks!

Amoore100 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 11/14/2015 at 18:06

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Yeah, I think Volvo has finally understood the Luxury market with the latest XC90 and so have catered appropriately while still maintaining a type of minimalistic Scandinavian charm.

That generation 5 series has always appealed to me despite its somewhat radical styling, and the tail lights are a prime example of that. Overly complex and yet simultaneously elegant.

Amoore100 > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/14/2015 at 18:07

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YES. ME LIKEY HSV.

Amoore100 > C62030 11/14/2015 at 18:09

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The catfish mustache really does it for me. The standard Sonata was such a looker; what went wrong?

C62030 > Amoore100 11/14/2015 at 19:35

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I still hate the mirrors, but that one isn’t nearly as weird. It looks like something out of E.T’s fish tank.

Amoore100 > C62030 11/14/2015 at 20:01

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Yeah, I didn’t really like that generation either but it’s grown on me slowly. The new one just looks bland though.

The new Hybrid, however, finally looks ok...

They all look too much like the new Legacy though...

C62030 > Amoore100 11/14/2015 at 20:48

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Ooh. I never noticed how similar they were to the Legacy. That hybrid does look really nice though.

Amoore100 > C62030 11/14/2015 at 23:13

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Yeah, IMO the larger slatted grille style suits the car better, especially on the new Elantra GT which had an abhorrently hideous grille before...

C62030 > Amoore100 11/15/2015 at 00:03

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Yeah. Looks much less like a weird Korean bottom feeder.