I was driving to work the other day and a silver car with LEDs and a gaping front end came up behind me pretty quickly, stopping next to me at a red light on Henry Avenue. Though the car could have been anything … with its LEDs, and gaping grill, I gave it a quick glance. According to its front caliper, it was an Audi R8. Being not your typical grocery-getter, it qualified for a quick thumbs-up … as is customary. The driver smiled and nodded in appreciation … as is customary.
Five years ago, I would have thought that this car was either a manufacturer’s prototype, never meant for production … or a spaceship. The R8’s 12 LEDs look like single units from some distances and look like one strip of light from other distances. The look was clean, looked futuristic then, and definitely looked better than the dimly-lit incandescent daytime running lights of yore.
Ryan Stern, a representative with Audi Willow Grove, confirmed that the R8 was the first car to have LEDs.
“[LED] Daytime running lights debuted in 2008 on the R8 and our first car with a full LED headlight was the 2011 A8,” Stern said. “It’s the same patented design on all Audis. They just changed for this year actually to LED bands, but the original LED dotted light started the trend and trickled down the line.”
The lights used to be a selling point for the dealership, but not so much, any more. The lights have kind of lost their allure as they have gotten more mainstream.
“They all copied off of Audi,” Stern said. “We were the first to do it, now everybody does it. I think Saab was the next to use them.”
Now, the lights adorn everything from Hondas to Chryslers to Mustangs to Kias — especially Kias, it seems. And more people are looking to the aftermarket to equip their cars with LEDs. It’s like someone from the car heavens sent down a memo requesting that each car be fitted with these lights. They’re this generation of cars’ tailfins. But for some reason, it seems shameless to crib what was such a clear element of design from another car manufacturer. BMW has a similar trademark on its headlamps — the love-them-or-hate-them angel eyes. Somehow, its design has largely escaped the masses, with the exception of the current generation Camaro. Audi wasn’t so lucky.
Whether the lights are seen as gimmicky or not, they are functional … and very easy to see. Stern added that LEDs use very little energy and are very reliable. With this being the the case, they might be sticking around for a while … or at least until the next lighting fad rolls around.
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Do you own an interesting non-grocery-getter car? Do you own a 500-horsepower grocery-getter? Do you know of any upcoming car-related news or events? Send an email to mischa.arnosky@patch.com.