New exterior illumination is redefining vehicle design

Demand for light bars, illuminated logos and illuminated grilles are forecast to see a many-fold rise as more automakers extend these features in their growing number of new vehicles.

For years, automakers equipped vehicles with lighting systems to perform certain functions: Headlights for illuminating the road in front of the driver and taillights for making the vehicle noticeable for other road users, as well as for helping the driver to inform others about their driving intentions, such as braking, changing lanes, or reversing the vehicle. However, today, automakers offer newer exterior illumination solutions that do not perform any specific tasks except to enhance the exterior look of the vehicle, lending it a distinctive character. The three exterior illuminations that this article discusses are light bars, illuminated logos and illuminated grilles.