2005 Headlight and Taillight Technology

2005Eleanor · Nov 12, 2003

Any leads on the headlight and taillight technologies that are going to be used in the '05 stang. Any ideas? H.I.D.'s (if they can make the Nissan Altima come with them, why not the stang? Same price range). I've heard adaptive headlights. Does this mean they will come on automatically or does this mean that they will adapt to the road like BMW's 2004 lineup?

I know the taillights will be sequential, but what about LEDs? What about brake pressure sensitive taillights?...light up brighter, or more lights light up under hard braking.

Ideas, thoughts, leads anyone?

MrClean302 · Nov 12, 2003

They offer HID in the SVT Focus so they better offer them on the Stangs. As for the pressure sensitive brakes, great idea, BMW uses this and every other car manufacturer should adapt this.

2005Eleanor · Nov 12, 2003

MrClean302 said:
They offer HID in the SVT Focus so they better offer them on the Stangs. As for the pressure sensitive brakes, great idea, BMW uses this and every other car manufacturer should adapt this.

I had no clue that the SVT Focus had HIDs, looked on Ford's site, indeed they do! They better have HIDs on the new Stang if they put them on a $19k SVT Focus.

This brings up an interesting question. If Ford can use HID technology in a $19k car, Nissan makes HIDs standard in the Altima, and all of Acura's lineup (excluding RSX and MDX) come standard with HIDs, then why doesn't a $70k+ Mercedes S430 come standard with HIDs? Personally, even if they were an option, I'd be willing to pay an extra $500-$600 for them, they make a huge difference in visibility, especially in adverse weather conditions.

I think the decision to make the taillights sequential was a good one. It sets the car apart even more. I think sequential taillights would be even better if they were LEDs (then maybe we could have lime green, magenta, orlando magic blue, and syracuse orange taillights ). In all seriousness though, sequential, plus LED would make for a good looking, interesting taillight. Brake pressure sensitive taillights would be an added plus.

It will be interesting to see how things turn out.

tylers65 · Nov 12, 2003

2005Eleanor said:
...I know the taillights will be sequential, but what about LEDs? What about brake pressure sensitive taillights?...light up brighter, or more lights light up under hard braking.

Ideas, thoughts, leads anyone?

I know of a company that invented and patentded a pressure sensative tail light. unfortunately, the D.O.T. denied them citeing that most drivers would not know why the lights were getting brighter.

Personally, I think they are an excellent idea! I also can't see why the D.O.T. thinks that no one on the entire plannet has any common sense to be able to figure out that if the brake lights on the car ahead of them are getting brighter, then perhaps it is a sign that perhaps they might think of stopping

SVTdriver · Nov 12, 2003

Has any determination about the LED's in the stang taillights been made. I haven't heard so I'm still hopeful. Though I'm not sure how sensitive you could make an LED. I have only seen them with 2 levels of brightness.

As for the DOT. We all wonder what the heck many people are doing driving? There are many times I wonder if some people have common sense.

2005Eleanor · Nov 12, 2003

tylers65 said:
I know of a company that invented and patentded a pressure sensative tail light. unfortunately, the D.O.T. denied them citeing that most drivers would not know why the lights were getting brighter.QUOTE]

I'd be interested to hear a little more elaboration on this...what exactly does the D.O.T. denying the taillights mean? Are manufacturers not to use the pressure sensative taillight at all, or was the company denied the patent because the D.O.T. did not see a reason why the technology should be patented? I know that BMW uses pressure sensative taillights, but rather than the entire taillight getting brighter, under regular braking the center of the brakelight lights up, and under hard braking or as brake pressure increases from regular to hard an outer brake light ring around the center illuminates. I think this would be a good technology to employ, especially with the sequential taillights. For instance, on the SN95's if the technology was used maybe under light braking the center of the three lights would illuminate, under regular braking the two inner lights would illuminate, and under hard braking all three.

We'll see what happens...

88 Fox GT · Nov 12, 2003

I don't think pressure sensative brake lights would be a good idea. For one thing, if someone lightly stepped on the brakes and the person behind them wasn't paying much attention the lights wouldn't grab their attention very well. Brake lights are that bright to grab people attention letting them know the person in front of them is on the brakes

SVTdriver · Nov 12, 2003

I'm not sure if it was the DOT that denied the patent. Normally it is the patent attorneys and such that determine that. But the DOT may have said that they won't approve it for street use.

2005Eleanor · Nov 12, 2003

Speed_Demon1965 said:
I don't think pressure sensative brake lights would be a good idea. For one thing, if someone lightly stepped on the brakes and the person behind them wasn't paying much attention the lights wouldn't grab their attention very well. Brake lights are that bright to grab people attention letting them know the person in front of them is on the brakes

Well if they were LEDs they would be bright enough to catch someone's attention, and on the BMW the inner circle is very visible, it just has an outer ring to compliment it and show that the car is braking even harder.

And if the LED pressure sensative lights didn't work then maybe Ford could rig them to the guage lights so they would change colors with the dash board, or better yet, turn into a disco dance floor under braking...light braking: sky blue medium braking: magenta, I just saw a cop and I'm going 20 over braking: screaming yellowmedium hard braking: lime green, hard braking: syracuse orange, STOP NOW braking: bright blood red. just a thought.....

BamaGT · Nov 13, 2003

One Mustang concept car had speed-sensitive taillights--the Milano concept which became the 1971 Mustang. They were yellow while coasting, green while accelerating, and red while braking.

2005Eleanor · Nov 13, 2003

Does anyone remember the claim about adaptive headlights? Does this mean that the headlights will follow the level of the road, as well as the turn of the road?

GelatiCruiser · Nov 14, 2003

Yes. They turn with the wheel/tires, but I don't think they move up or down with the peaks and valleys of the road.

Brokecobra · Nov 14, 2003

Strange but alot of tail lights in Europe are adaptive, maybe I am just seeing alot of BMWs. Works very well, if you see their lights get really intense you know threshold breaking is happening and you better match suit or plough thru them.

Dont know why people in the states wouldnt understand that the REALLY intense tail lights mean stop now.

nomuffler · Nov 14, 2003

I've noticed alot of cars (Ford explorer for example) that don't light the third brake light when the brakes are pushed lightly, just add 2 more stages tho that and pow.

ryanrule · Nov 14, 2003

no adaptive headlights, govt wont allow, no hid im guessin, cuz that would be too nice, not led tails, same reason

SVTdriver · Nov 14, 2003

I don't see LED taillights coming on a mustang for a couple more years at least. They are still prohibitivly expensive right now. But that does not mean the aftermarket won't come up with something.

Mach172 · Nov 14, 2003

SVTdriver said:
I don't see LED taillights coming on a mustang for a couple more years at least. They are still prohibitivly expensive right now. But that does not mean the aftermarket won't come up with something.

My '04 Infiniti G35 has LED tailights, they are really cool! I didn't realize they were LED until after I bought the car!

drichard · Nov 14, 2003

Brokecobra said:
Strange but alot of tail lights in Europe are adaptive, maybe I am just seeing alot of BMWs. Works very well, if you see their lights get really intense you know threshold breaking is happening and you better match suit or plough thru them.

Dont know why people in the states wouldnt understand that the REALLY intense tail lights mean stop now.

Ya... that's stupid... the same arguments could have been used for the third break light. I think that would add to safety. May be they think people will try to get closer to see why the lights are brighter...

drichard · Nov 14, 2003

BamaGT said:
One Mustang concept car had speed-sensitive taillights--the Milano concept which became the 1971 Mustang. They were yellow while coasting, green while accelerating, and red while braking.

That's on the edge of rice though...

2005Eleanor · Nov 14, 2003

ryanrule said:
no adaptive headlights, govt wont allow, no hid im guessin, cuz that would be too nice, not led tails, same reason

The government does allow adaptive headlights (All 2004 BMWs have them. My friend's parents have a '04 330ci and a '04 745i both with adaptive headlights).

The HIDs are on the SVT Focus, so they wouldn't be "too nice" for the stang IMO...and I believe if I'm not mistaken that the newer Explorers have LED taillights...

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