Light up your world with xenon headlights!
Lighting has certainly changed over the years…for cars, that is! Drivers no longer have to rely on halogen headlights as xenon lighting is coming into fashion. Owners also don’t have to opt for stock taillights, like the European ones. [or Altezza] The lights are in fashion. Even fog lights have come a long way, honey! Let’s take a look at the newest kid on the block, xenon headlights, and how they can light up the driving world for him.
If you could have a set of headlights that produced twice as much light as halogen bulbs while using only half the energy, that would be a good thing, right? Yes, it certainly would, and that’s the idea behind xenon headlamps, which are rapidly gaining acceptance as standard equipment on luxury vehicles around the world, as well as certain popular mass-produced vehicles.
A key feature of xenon headlamp technology is that they produce a clear white light closer to natural daylight, which has been shown to improve driver concentration. Reducing eyestrain means drivers can do what they’re supposed to do best: get where they and their passengers are going, safely.
Road markings and signs are easier to read with xenon headlights compared to halogen bulbs. In fact, xenon headlights are a significant safety enhancement, as the driver’s field of vision is greatly increased, improving reaction time in emergency situations. Traveling on dark, unlit back roads can be a safety hazard even in broad daylight. However, with xenon headlamps, the obstacle you might have hit with your halogen powered car will come into your field of vision much sooner with xenon headlamps fitted, allowing you to avoid potentially fatal contact. [for the buck definitely!]. Popular surveys reveal that up to 80% of all accidents occur due to poor visibility.
In European markets, cars with Xenon technology also come equipped with a headlamp cleaning system to ensure optimal visibility, as well as an automatic leveling system to allow limited rotation of the headlamp projector while turning your vehicle. Some systems take xenon technology one step further: Xenon Dynamic Bending Light or DBL technology are special headlights that rotate the light beam according to the angle of the steering wheel. Bi-xenon headlights, which work in both high and low beam modes, help improve vision on wide curbs by up to 90%.
Naturally, xenon technology is expensive and you can’t convert halogen headlights to xenon or xenon to bi-xenon… yet. However, some manufacturers do sell auxiliary lights that can be added to your bumper to give you an alternative.
Of course, the price is one of the factors why Xenon technology has not yet become widespread. Even on luxury cars I have seen Bi-Xenon headlights offered as an option, to the tune of $750 extra! As with all technological advances, you can expect that someone, somewhere is refining the technology, which hit the market in 1992, to bring xenon headlights to the masses. This is good news for everyone, as accidents associated with poor visibility should start to decrease accordingly.
