What's going on with headlights now?

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Why are they on the side of the car? When did this happen? Is it homologation related?

[Baryonyx]

Slathering them back up the wing like that is probably to try and and disguise the bulk over the wheel - the amount of metal above the wheel and the top of the bonnet on newer cars is substantial and looks pretty ungainly.

I fking hate headlights like that though. Give me a Jaguar, with four mounted on the front of the car before a long, low bonnet!

[threeonthetree]

Simple aerodynamics really. The need to have X many lights visible at the front cross section without it being brick shaped. Much of a meh ness really as they all start looking the same to me now!

[Cyder]

threeonthetree said:

Simple aerodynamics really. The need to have X many lights visible at the front cross section without it being brick shaped. Much of a meh ness really as they all start looking the same to me now!

Nonsense, it's for styling purposes only, it would be no problem to package a headlamp in the front of the car if that's what they wanted.

Aerodynamics really only plays a very very small part in mainstream vehicle headlamp design, and even then it's really only noise related and not really Cd related.

[kambites]

I was pondering exactly this a couple of days ago. Some modern cars the headlights reach almost to the windscreen!

[Funkstar De Luxe]

threeonthetree said:

Simple aerodynamics really. The need to have X many lights visible at the front cross section without it being brick shaped. Much of a meh ness really as they all start looking the same to me now!

You say "simple", like either you or I even grasp the basics...

[The Count]

Ah, my old school on the left

[Toltec]

Baryonyx said:

Slathering them back up the wing like that is probably to try and and disguise the bulk over the wheel - the amount of metal above the wheel and the top of the bonnet on newer cars is substantial and looks pretty ungainly.

I fking hate headlights like that though. Give me a Jaguar, with four mounted on the front of the car before a long, low bonnet!

The 4 series does a really good job of that, you catch a glance of one and they look nice, you have a close look and think wtf.

[Negative Creep]

Bring back separate front indicators that you can actually see as well

[silverfoxcc]

Amen to that, ( the sidelights)

[Nickbrapp]

What about the bonnet having to be a certain hight than before . If you had lights just on the front it would leave a larger gap so they are moved up and shapped

[Matttracker]

I always thought it was to light up the side profile. Safety and all that

[Cyder]

Matttracker said:

I always thought it was to light up the side profile. Safety and all that

Only a requirement in the US I think.

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Negative Creep said:

Bring back separate front indicators that you can actually see as well

Hear, hear! I'm sick of being stuck at roundabouts because I literally cannot see some indicators until they are 3ft away from me. Dangerous.

[Jester27]

Several factors, but the most influential is pedestrian safety. To achieve the most safety points the headlamps need to be moved out of the testing zones, i.e. around the sides.

[JuniorD]

Negative Creep said:

Bring back separate front indicators that you can actually see as well

And headlights should be fitted no higher than whatever my eye level is when Im seated, all these suvs are fking blinding me

[funkyrobot]

Anyone else noticed that the manufacturers all seem to use the same rear light clusters now too?

[lord trumpton]

funkyrobot said:

Anyone else noticed that the manufacturers all seem to use the same rear light clusters now too?

nope

[supersingle]

Funkstar De Luxe said:

Negative Creep said:

Bring back separate front indicators that you can actually see as well

Hear, hear! I'm sick of being stuck at roundabouts because I literally cannot see some indicators until they are 3ft away from me. Dangerous.

Bring back the amber indicator lense. I don't want lights to be 'car jewellery', I want to be able to see the indicator and see whether it is on or off.

Plus, I like the unpretentious look. I much prefer the looks of cars from the 80s and 90s than those of any modern bilge.

[supersingle]

There you go: lights at the front, amber indicator lenses. What's not to like?

Shame Peugeot screwed it up by fitting clear lenses.