Mar 9, 2009

Not Just a Dome Light

Remember when your car’s interior lighting scheme consisted of a dome light that went on when you opened the door and off when you shut it? Remember when the illumination on the speedometer came from a barely hidden incandescent bulb? Car interiors have certainly changed for the better, and while the exterior of the car almost always gets the most attention, car designers will tell you that the interior is just as, if not more, important.

That’s why many new, high-style cars are featuring light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as part of the interior lighting design. LEDs have been frequently used in the taillights, daytime running lights and turn signals of many cars for the last decade or so, but now their relatively low cost, incredible longevity and small size have made them a go-to choice for interior designers. For example, the subtle, ice-blue ambient lighting of the upcoming 2010 Buick LaCrosse lends the new car a sophistication that it otherwise would not have had.

Compared to traditional lighting, LEDs are more flexible and can go in places other than the headliner of your car. Because they are very “directional,” they can improve visibility by illuminating previously harder to light areas -- like foot wells and door handles -- without distracting the driver.