What's all this about
The next generation Vauxhall Astra will come with IntelliLux self-dimming, LED matrix lights when it goes on sale. Vauxhall claims this is the first time that adaptive lighting - usually found on premium cars - has been fitted to a C-segment vehicle.
How does it work?
There are 16 LED segments - eight per side - providing illumination. The system constantly and automatically adjusts the length and distribution of the light beam, fed by information from a forward-facing camera. When approaching traffic is detected, it switches off the segments that would dazzle oncoming drivers.
IntelliLux LED turns on high-beam automatically when the car leaves urban areas. There is also a special motorway light mode for safer driving at speed. Most matrix light systems depend on a link to satellite navigation to know where they are but the Vauxhall system is designed to operate without input from a navigation system.
According to a study by the Technical University of Darmstadt and the European LightSightSafety Initiative LED Matrix lights offer better visibility. The study found that at driving speeds of 50mph, drivers detect objects at the side of the road around 30 to 40 metres sooner than with halogen or Xenon low beam lighting. This equates to around 1.5 seconds more time to react, for instance when animals suddenly cross the road.
Any other advantages?
LED matrix lights should last longer than halogen or Xenon lights, as well as providing better illumination. There are no moving parts in the lamp further improving durability of the units, which is said to far exceed the life of the car. Additionally, the small size of the LEDs gives the Vauxhall design team more freedom in future to get creative with the design of headlamps.
John Lambert - 13 May 2015