Diwali Special: Top 5 Coolest Car Headlight Startup Sequences

In these times when electrification and infotainment tech get all the attention, automotive lighting deserves a shoutout. Cars are constantly getting better at illuminating the road ahead; the features list of even relatively affordable models now includes projector LED headlights. But carmakers have advanced far ahead with the tech that helps you see better at night. 

On this festival of lights, let’s take a look at all the ways automotive lighting has improved and where we’re headed in the future. 

Audi Digital Matrix Headlights 

When it comes to getting the maximum bling for your buck, Audi’s Digital Matrix headlights have no match. Found on the Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback, the novel lighting system provides an extra-bright ‘carpet’ of light in your lane that can extend up to 50 metres long, even projecting patterns on the road ahead. But the party trick is a programmable lighting sequence that projects an ‘etron’ animation on the wall in your parking lot. 

Mercedes Digital Light 

The working principle behind the Mercedes Digital Light headlights is the same as Audi – a chip with over a million micro-mirrors works to effectively illuminate the road ahead and project different markings and warning messages on the road ahead. Moreover, the Digital Light has a cool startup effect where it projects a futuristic shooting-star animation on the road or wall ahead. 

Volkswagen IQ Light 

VW’s advanced lighting system might not have the same projection capabilities of the above two light systems, but nonetheless, it’s an active system that adapts to various driving environments. Found in the Volkswagen Tiguan in India, the Advanced Front Lighting (AFS) system comprises of a pair of projectors with 24 individual LEDs that can spot and ‘shield’ oncoming cars when the high beams are on. These lights also have a cool fade-in, fade-out startup sequence. 

Lexus Tri-beam LED Headlights

The Lexus Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) works similar to the Volkswagen system and has three projectors in each headlight. It performs an interesting dance with an up-down movement on startup, lighting each of the individual projectors one-by-one. The system reads the road ahead and dims individual light beams from the 12 LEDs, allowing you to keep full beams on without dazzling oncoming vehicles and cars in front of you.  

BMW Laser Lights 

BMW’s laser headlights first debuted in the i8 hybrid sports car and are now found on multiple models in the carmaker’s lineup. They offer impressive illumination alongside a more energy-efficient and lightweight design compared with conventional lighting systems. Combined with the illuminated front grille, the headlights put on a cool show when you unlock the car. 

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Future Of Car Headlights 

BMW lighting engineers at work

Carmakers will continue to make strides in precise and effective illumination in the coming years, and the headlights described above can be expected to trickle down to more affordable models. For one, Audi reckons its projector light setup will be so effective that it’ll allow you to play games using the headlights! 

With tech such as driver assistance systems (ADAS) becoming more commonplace, in the coming years, we expect features such as auto-high beam headlights to be offered in more affordable models. After all, it’s an important safety feature – ask anyone who’s ever been temporarily blinded by an oncoming car.