![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:29 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
I first started noticing this when I was sitting behind an Explorer at a light. I like how the brake lights make a "D" shape when lit. I think it looks pretty sharp. But you can't see it when the brakes aren't being applied. When unlit, they just look like a regular giant dumb tail light. I presume that the driver doesn't even have any idea how stylin' he is whenever he's pounding on that brake pedal, which is kind of a shame.
But then I started noticing all the wasted space in that lamp. Couldn't the lamp just be the part that lights? Wouldn't that look better? I understand that back in the day you needed a giant blubbering reflective lamp so that you could see that one Edison bulb way in there from more than five feet away, like the one below.
But modern lamps are much more advanced. Most use LEDs, which are incredibly bright and can be used to make nifty designs. Most manufacturers have already used this technology to sharp up their rear ends. But again, this is usually only noticed when they're on. When they're off, they still look just like the same tired old things. Check out this X5 lamp:
Pretty badass! But again, look at the wasted space in that assembly. How cool would it be if the whole assembly was just the part that lights? I say more metal and less ugly red plastic! Once you notice it, you can't unsee it. Everywhere I go I now see wasted space and hideous unnecessary plastic. Manufacturers need to catch up their lamp assembly designs to match the technology they're putting in them.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:33 |
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The problem is that there are requirements for reflectors in the assemblies. All that extra red space is reflective.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:34 |
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Lobby congress! Start a petition! Let's get this fixed, I say! lol
![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:45 |
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Gubberment knows best! Remember what the US government did to all those beautiful European front ends in the 60s and 70s? They totally hosed them up!
American Citroen SM:
European Citroen SM:
![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:47 |
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What I don't understand is the overwhelming trend of putting a chrome bar above the license plate. Is it supposed to look fancy or something? Literally every auto manufacturer does it.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 11:59 |
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"Breaks up the monotony" of the boring, massive expanse that is a car's rear end. See:
![]() 10/15/2014 at 12:06 |
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This is true.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 12:09 |
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Yeah but I'd feel you'd get the same effect by just having the license plate in the tailgate in that example... the first one looks so bad because the license plate is bumper-mounted, leaving nothing but a bow tie in the middle of the giant tailgate... Body-color the chrome strip and I guarentee you wouldn't notice.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 12:13 |
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Good point, but not entirely correct. Reflex reflectors are indeed required, but they don't have to be integrated into the light assembly. It often just makes styling and economical sense to combine them. The Explorer's rear-facing reflectors aren't in the lamp housing, they can be seen in the bumper in the lede photo. The side-facing rear reflectors are indeed in the lamp housing, in the small "tip". The remainder of the red lens is non-functional.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 12:34 |
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Never said I agree with its execution all the time, just pointing out excuses for chrome strips
![]() 10/15/2014 at 12:42 |
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Excellent. I didn't even notice the reflectors in the bumper.
![]() 10/15/2014 at 18:30 |
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Are you telling me this isn't modern?
![]() 10/15/2014 at 19:18 |
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Now that's cool!
![]() 10/15/2014 at 20:31 |
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Great example are this pair of GTI's with custom tails. I love the way these LED's look
![]() 10/19/2014 at 17:45 |
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Except in my car. Lots of extra red space. (not my actual car, but for illustrative purposes identical.
![]() 10/19/2014 at 17:55 |
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That's just ridiculous lol.