Head Lights and Tail Lights - Designs Worth Mentioning
Now that daylight savings has kicked in, I drive home from work in complete darkness. While driving during the night I always try to recognize cars given their size, shape, and lights.There are a few types of car models that have unique elements that make them stand out from the rest of the crowd. My favorites include Bentley, BMW, Audi, and Toyota/Lexus.Below are some images and descriptions of the eye catchers:
92-98 Toyota Supra
These tail lights were way ahead of their time and this car was probably the first car I started drooling over as I started college. These tail lights are arranged horizontally and each section had different light colors. Its cues are still seen in derivatives of the Supra found in the Lexus lineup like the Lexus IS300.
Lexus IS300
In some ways this car is an evolution of the Toyota Supra. Lexus and Toyota are really the same company. Lexus cars are luxury branded Toyota's that share the same design principles and in many cases parts. The Lexus IS300 is no longer in production and is now replaced with the newly designed IS250 and IS350. The IS300 tail lights were clear with a large red circle inside the clear housing. Not only that but there were 2 additional round lights separate from the main tail lights. This is hard to explain in words but obvious in the picture. The IS300 was sold in Japan under then model name Toyota Altezza. These types of lights with the red circle in the middle became so popular amongst car enthusiasts that aftermarket headlights made for many other types of cars called Altezzas emulate this concept.
Bentley Continental GT
This 2 door coupe made by Bentley is certainly not affordable. It should be a given that some of its designs be first in class. The tail lights at night time are a dead give away that this car is a Bentley. It has LED tail lights, individual small sized bulbs that are arranged in some fashion. In this case they are arranged to create 2 ovals, one on top of the other. Clearly unique and definitely a head turner.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 series models from around 2002-2006 had a mid cycle update. This generation is called the E46 generation. This included the introduction of LED tail lights. My M3 has these and they're one of my favorite exterior features. In my opinion they are very different than anything else on the road. They consist of individual LED lights arranged in a pattern that looks like nested parenthesis. These lights on my car have 2 levels of illumination intensity. The harder I brake, the brighter they get.
BMW is very famous for their use of "Angel Eyes" in the head lights of their 5 and 7 series vehicles. The latest generation of the 3 series lineup, aka E90, now also is equipped with this exterior feature. I've always vowed not to modify my car and leave it stock - but I might break down eventually.
BMW 5 Series
Another forward thinking design is seen in the current generation of the BMW 5 series, aka E60. Another mid cycle update to the 5 series introduced these LED like sunburst tail lights. The physical shape of the lights looks very much like the Subaru WRX tail lights but BMW took it to another level with the design. With many BMW design cues, you either hate it or love it!
Here are the famous 5 series angel eyes:
Audi
Audi seems to have become the leader in using LED technologies to differentiate themselves from all other cars on the road. They've been doing it for a while on all their interiors but have now mastered using the technology on the exterior. Almost all of the models in their lineup are very distinguishable with the use of white LEDs for fog lights and accents on the head lights and tail lights. I've included some pictures of the A4, A5, A6, and R8 respectively!
Below are images of an Audi S5, the faster variant of the Audi A5. It is a 2 door coupe with both front and tail LED bulbs.
Below is an image of the Audi S6, a faster variant of the A6. This is the first model that I am aware of that received the white LED bulbs. These are I believe the fog lights at the bottom of the front bumper.
Below is an Audi R8 - most recently featured as Tony Stark's ride of choice in the movie Iron Man
92-98 Toyota Supra
These tail lights were way ahead of their time and this car was probably the first car I started drooling over as I started college. These tail lights are arranged horizontally and each section had different light colors. Its cues are still seen in derivatives of the Supra found in the Lexus lineup like the Lexus IS300.
Lexus IS300
In some ways this car is an evolution of the Toyota Supra. Lexus and Toyota are really the same company. Lexus cars are luxury branded Toyota's that share the same design principles and in many cases parts. The Lexus IS300 is no longer in production and is now replaced with the newly designed IS250 and IS350. The IS300 tail lights were clear with a large red circle inside the clear housing. Not only that but there were 2 additional round lights separate from the main tail lights. This is hard to explain in words but obvious in the picture. The IS300 was sold in Japan under then model name Toyota Altezza. These types of lights with the red circle in the middle became so popular amongst car enthusiasts that aftermarket headlights made for many other types of cars called Altezzas emulate this concept.Bentley Continental GT
This 2 door coupe made by Bentley is certainly not affordable. It should be a given that some of its designs be first in class. The tail lights at night time are a dead give away that this car is a Bentley. It has LED tail lights, individual small sized bulbs that are arranged in some fashion. In this case they are arranged to create 2 ovals, one on top of the other. Clearly unique and definitely a head turner.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 series models from around 2002-2006 had a mid cycle update. This generation is called the E46 generation. This included the introduction of LED tail lights. My M3 has these and they're one of my favorite exterior features. In my opinion they are very different than anything else on the road. They consist of individual LED lights arranged in a pattern that looks like nested parenthesis. These lights on my car have 2 levels of illumination intensity. The harder I brake, the brighter they get.
BMW is very famous for their use of "Angel Eyes" in the head lights of their 5 and 7 series vehicles. The latest generation of the 3 series lineup, aka E90, now also is equipped with this exterior feature. I've always vowed not to modify my car and leave it stock - but I might break down eventually.
BMW 5 Series
Another forward thinking design is seen in the current generation of the BMW 5 series, aka E60. Another mid cycle update to the 5 series introduced these LED like sunburst tail lights. The physical shape of the lights looks very much like the Subaru WRX tail lights but BMW took it to another level with the design. With many BMW design cues, you either hate it or love it!
Here are the famous 5 series angel eyes:
Audi
Audi seems to have become the leader in using LED technologies to differentiate themselves from all other cars on the road. They've been doing it for a while on all their interiors but have now mastered using the technology on the exterior. Almost all of the models in their lineup are very distinguishable with the use of white LEDs for fog lights and accents on the head lights and tail lights. I've included some pictures of the A4, A5, A6, and R8 respectively!
Below is an image of the A4 headlights with the newly added and very distinctive LED white lights
Below are images of an Audi S5, the faster variant of the Audi A5. It is a 2 door coupe with both front and tail LED bulbs.
Below is an image of the Audi S6, a faster variant of the A6. This is the first model that I am aware of that received the white LED bulbs. These are I believe the fog lights at the bottom of the front bumper.
Below is an Audi R8 - most recently featured as Tony Stark's ride of choice in the movie Iron Man
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