Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Julian Rendell October 25, 2007 2:16 PM

I know what Rory means - they make a huge statement about the car they're attached too. There is a techy/green point, though. LED running lights usse a lot less power than conventional bulbs. If the EU makes running lights a regulatory requirement, which I suggest is very likely, LEDs will likely be the technology chosen. So we'd better get used to them.....

Vicky Parrott October 25, 2007 5:43 PM

I'm of completely the opposite opinion. Call me vain (you wouldn't be the first) but I think the LED running lights look great, and make you more visible day or night.

I hate it when people drive with their fog lights on because it can blind drivers on the opposite side of the road, and it shows that the driver is either ignorant of their own car's controls, or that they're generally trying to draw attention to themselves.

The LED lights are one of the best design features of the A5 and R8, both of which are cars you buy because you want to look good. And hey, we all want that.

nh October 30, 2007 10:21 AM

Well, I seriously agree with Rory.

But it's not limited to Audi I'm afraid. I believe BMW has started this fashion with it's current 7 and 5-series: nowadays a car's design is apparently not good if it's not "bold" or "sexy" (whatever that may be for any healthy man or woman).

Personally I find the new and heavily criticised Laguna far better looking then the actually dreadfully ugly Mondeo. To me discretion and subtility are positive qualities; not faults.

And a Mondeo or those LED-lights are everything but discrete. I therefore largely prefer a Passat, Accord or Laguna or even a Sonata or Magentis to that ugly, very fuzzy, clamorous and also oversized Mondeo, or to a 3-series (although the latter has a good size).

Classy people have the typical quality of being disrete instead of clamorous.

Nowadays we see many people who apparently earn enough money to spend it on expensive cars. Many of them seem to lack both the class and good taste, to appreciate clean and sober styling.

To me it's not a problem, altough I don't like how all these ugly 3-series spoil my view on the road. But judging from the first idea's we get from the fortcoming new 7-series, BMW will return to more classy styling. Let's hope so. Then those people who love to have their neighbours and so called friends admire them for their car's badge can again start driving a nice looking car (like the former 5-series for instance was).

Joff November 12, 2007 1:35 PM

I prefer to think of the lights as being "distinctive" rather than vulgar and maybe it's their roll out onto lesser models in the Audi range that has diluted their impact and changed opinion.

On the flagship R8 and RS models, the LED side lights give a fantastic imposing look to the front of the car.

team hethel November 13, 2007 2:33 PM

Just got a 3 series and it has daylight running lights front and rear, the dipped and mains are xenons, the "angel eyes" dont seem to be LEDs on this but will check further.  As an aside it seems that the default seems to be off for the fogs, so I assume that all the BMW's I see on clear days and nights with sides and fogs are making a concious decision to use these lights illegally.

minwow November 17, 2007 8:24 PM

If you look back in the Frankfurt motor show, the LED lights are one of the car design trends! Cars such as the Cactus, Kee, A4, and the Reventon etc.. has running LED lights.

Also i would like to highlight Audi are putting theses lights to give a distinctive  identity to the models. I believe this is a first for car design and could be a move for many other car manufactures.

SuperXepa November 29, 2007 5:06 PM

No tienes ni puñetera idea chaval!

Joff December 8, 2007 4:29 PM

Further to this, someone's already modified their Corsa with a set of the LED driving lights ala Audi R8 blog.jofftastic.co.uk/.../audi-led-driving-lights-on-a-corsa-sort-of

Glennan January 4, 2008 12:22 PM

When I see these LEDs all I can think is 1970's snake lights...

Or is it just me?

rssh February 17, 2008 8:58 AM

@Glennan I agree with you.

julianphillips February 25, 2008 1:13 PM

I seem to remember that the side lights on Volvo's used to be permanently switched on as a safety feature, is this still true?  If so, then Volvo would have an argument to switch to LEDs because they would save energy.

Lotus Man February 27, 2008 10:41 AM

Audi were not the first to have these sort of led string of pearls lights - No it was KITT ( in Knight Rider ) although 'his' were a lot cooler as it moved from side to side.  The trend was then followed by the "I think I'm really cool by putting KITT lights on my Celica or Trans Am" set......Hmmmm really stylish - I rest my case ( against them )  

Schwenck March 15, 2008 1:17 PM

They look ridiculous.  It'll be interesting to see how devalued the idea will seem when every Corsa and C2 over five years old has them.  A bit light Lexus rear lights...

Peter Cavellini March 27, 2008 12:41 PM

What's next at Audi then are they going to make the Audi TT KITT!. I mean is it going to have strobing lights , talk to you, insult your driving!. No i just think they are  gimmick,expensive to fix,and as most people already know when you fill in surveys they know which area of the market are easily convinced they ned this car or latest gimmick.  

ordinary bloke May 2, 2008 12:55 AM

A bit gimmicky really, but a little bit of me thinks they look quite cool. The problem is that as soon as every car has them (as the EU seems to want) not only will there be lots of models with all sorts of ugly arrangements but the supposed "safety feature" of the lights being on all the time will just be lost as everyone will have them. We only really notice them now more than the other vehicles on the road because there are so few of them. So why bother with them ? Just another ill-thought out idea from the EU, making up rules just for the sake of it.

230SL May 10, 2008 9:57 AM

Ordinary bloke, I don't think they are there to make them stand out from other vehicles, are they not there to catch your eye on a dull morning when that dark coloured car might not have been noticed, I think they are a good idea, Audis LED patterns they are designer creating a job for himself.

230SL May 10, 2008 9:58 AM

Sorry about my poor punctuation in the above post, it is disgraceful.