VEHICLE HEADLAMPS Evolving for safety and styling

When we think of vehicle performance, our thoughts are inevitably drawn to engine outputs and transmission systems. Suspensions, tyres and brakes might be included if we’re looking beyond acceleration and straight-line speed but it’s a fair bet that headlights wouldn’t even be considered. With the human brain absorbing 90% of all information through the eyes, driving decisions are based on what drivers see. The improved visibility provided by advances in headlight technology enables drivers to make better driving decisions and safely utilise more of their vehicle’s performance potential in low-light conditions.

Headlight technology has progressed a long way from the acetylene-fuelled headlights of the late 1800s and early 1900s to the laser technology being offered on a limited selection of high-performance models today. The technologies can be divided into two areas – the bulbs which produce the light, and the housings which distribute the