Who wants to see pop-up lights on new cars again?
#1
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Who wants to see pop-up lights on new cars again?
I miss the pop-up lights which were very popular on many sports cars in the 80s and early 90s such as Mazda RX-7, Honda NSX, Chevrolet Corvette, etc.....But right now all the headlights become fixed ones, not that I don't like them, but I still want to see a few new sports car with automatic pop-up headlights with HIDs. I know it might not be good for drag coefficient, but when everybody doesn't do it, you would look special when you do. And may be the automakers could think about a crystal/transparent shell for the headlights. when the car is off and when the headlights are off, it looks just like regular headlights similar to C6 Corvette's, but once the headlights are turned on, the headlights flip 360 degrees and becomes a pop-up lights with transparent shells, wow it might look nice(I think). Yeah it would increase the production cost and endanger the long-term reliability, but still I wish to see something like it in the future. What do you think? A bad idea or not?
#3
I think this could be implemented in a low volume specialty car. But for mass production, I don't see why having a redundant headlight makes sense. IMO, put the cost and dev into the powertrain . I do however share your opinion on these flip up headlights in that they are 7h3 s3x!
#6
I absolutely LOVE the look of the NSX when the headlights are flipped down, but when they pop up it kinda ruins the overall look. You have 2 squares that pop up and obstruct the otherwise sleek lines of the NSX.
I do like the clean "shaved" look when the headlights are covered so maybe they could come up with a "sliding" mechanism or something to hide the headlights when not in use.
I do like the clean "shaved" look when the headlights are covered so maybe they could come up with a "sliding" mechanism or something to hide the headlights when not in use.
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#8
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Pop-up headlights existed because it was a stylish alternative to the standard square,rectangle, or round fixtures that were on every car at the time and were not really design elements but rather there for necessity.
Now, exposed headlights are one of the main styling points on a car and can be done in any shape imaginable.
Now, exposed headlights are one of the main styling points on a car and can be done in any shape imaginable.
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#11
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Maybe aerodynamics had something to do with the demise of pop up lights. I like both the old and new NSX front end. Caymandive's picture, is Knight Rider like, and I guess I like the new one cause it looked modern.
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I'm another fan of pop-up headlights, and I think the NSX looked significantly better with them. It was one of my favorite features of my old Saturn coupes, too!
#14
#15
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There's no "maybe" about it. That is EXACTLY the reason. With the larger, older-generation lights and bulbs, you pretty much had to drop them down below the hoodline to get any real increase in aerodynamics. That is not the case wih most of the headlights that are in use today. They are much smaller, more efficient, can be molded into slick aerodynamic shapes, and don't need those big, bulky, cumbersome doors to flip them down. In additition, those doors, their linkages, and the electric motors needed to run them, were a pain in the a**............they were constantly breaking down, even on otherwise reliable cars. For example, how many older-generation Miatas, Capris, Corvettes, etc..... have you seen running around with one of the doors stuck down and one up, looking like a one-eyed frog?