Why does the Audi A4 gets to have progressive lights but the Lexus RX doesn't?
08-30-17, 11:48 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Why does the Audi A4 gets to have progressive lights but the Lexus RX doesn't?
Example of Audi A4:
https://youtu.be/GxEGWg34ruE
Example of Lexus RX:
http://jalopnik.com/we-can-t-get-these-cool-turn-signals-because-of-the-gov-1729310906
Why???
https://youtu.be/GxEGWg34ruE
Example of Lexus RX:
http://jalopnik.com/we-can-t-get-these-cool-turn-signals-because-of-the-gov-1729310906
Why???
08-31-17, 01:06 AM
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Depends on which part of the world you're in. I've seen the new RX with progressive turn signals in Southeast Asia and China, they look pretty but they're very distracting. The same goes for new Audi and Ford Mondeo turn signals.
08-31-17, 06:24 AM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Is "gets to have" just an expression......I had a loaner car with adaptive LED and it was ok the greatest thing since sliced bread. Prior, I thought rain sensing wipers were. But on this loaner car, they were optional beyond HID adaptive xenon, so maybe with the RX it's cost. Also the RX is imho more a bread and butter vehicle, it's not high end so maybe the cost can't be rolled in to the sticker...
08-31-17, 08:58 AM
#5
Lead Lap
Its the size of the first blink that counts according to some folks whne this topic was disucssed compared to the new mustang. I guess Lexus could still do it if it wanted to but for now ehh
08-31-17, 09:01 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
I wondered the same thing.
In the US Audis can have progressive signals clearly, but Lexus said they weren't allowed to bring the progressive signals on the RX here because of DOT regs.
My guess is Lexus lied about that and its cost cutting.
My guess is Lexus lied about that and its cost cutting.
08-31-17, 09:13 AM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Or maybe you can only have progressive turn signals on the front? Then again, it could also be cost cutting because I've seen new RXs in China with and without KITT signals. It could be a trim level option, just like on Mondeos/Fusions.
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08-31-17, 09:47 AM
#8
In the U.S., Audi also conforms to regulations, and they have to add the blinking brake light portion (below the dynamic part). In Europe/Asia, Audi uses just the swiping dynamic light, which is what the RX has as well. So Lexus is not exactly cost cutting, they just would rather not do the workaround.
08-31-17, 10:01 AM
#9
Lexus Champion
Front and rear lighting play an important part of Audi's marketing on most of their models. With LED technology, they can use this flexibility to appeal to potential buyers so they offer a little extra with their lighting..
08-31-17, 10:32 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
They were so far ahead with it even attributing them to a smaller carbon footprint in addition to safety, long before it was fashionable. imho the only car co. that was even close was Cadillac. Even my 2007 BMW has adaptive brake lights, that's 11 yrs. ago, 12 if you want to consider it was introduced on the '06's.
08-31-17, 10:37 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
In the U.S., Audi also conforms to regulations, and they have to add the blinking brake light portion (below the dynamic part). In Europe/Asia, Audi uses just the swiping dynamic light, which is what the RX has as well. So Lexus is not exactly cost cutting, they just would rather not do the workaround.
Seeing that we're even having this discussion shows the error in Lexus' judgement here.
Audi has them on the back.
08-31-17, 01:12 PM
#12
To find out, I decided to peruse the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for lamps and associated equipment. (PDF here) Unfortunately, this document must conform to the Federal Standards for Document Longness, which means it is 731 pages in length.
Fortunately, thanks to the miracle of modern science, there is a “find” function, and I was able to look up the exact regulations on turn signals. And here’s what I learned: all turn signals must be at least 2,200 square millimeters in size. Do you believe that? 2,200 square millimeters! TWENTY-TWO HUNDRED! TWO THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED! This is as big as a… well, actually, I wasn’t sure what it was as big as, so I got out a ruler and I measured. It turns out it isn’t very big.
So how does the RX’s turn signal not qualify? I mean, the damn thing lights up, and lights up more, and lights up more, and then at the end it lights up most, like a turn signal doing its very best impression of a firework.
Well, according to the Lexus people, the problem is this: the 2,200 square millimeter measurement doesn’t apply to the turn signal as a whole, but rather every single little bulb that lights up in a row.
So while the Mustang’s signals get a pass because each segment of that turn signal is larger than 2,200 square millimeters, most of the RX’s segments are smaller. The result is that RX customers in foreign markets get the cool, graceful, fluidic turn signal, while we Americans are stuck with regular old crap.
Fortunately, thanks to the miracle of modern science, there is a “find” function, and I was able to look up the exact regulations on turn signals. And here’s what I learned: all turn signals must be at least 2,200 square millimeters in size. Do you believe that? 2,200 square millimeters! TWENTY-TWO HUNDRED! TWO THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED! This is as big as a… well, actually, I wasn’t sure what it was as big as, so I got out a ruler and I measured. It turns out it isn’t very big.
So how does the RX’s turn signal not qualify? I mean, the damn thing lights up, and lights up more, and lights up more, and then at the end it lights up most, like a turn signal doing its very best impression of a firework.
Well, according to the Lexus people, the problem is this: the 2,200 square millimeter measurement doesn’t apply to the turn signal as a whole, but rather every single little bulb that lights up in a row.
So while the Mustang’s signals get a pass because each segment of that turn signal is larger than 2,200 square millimeters, most of the RX’s segments are smaller. The result is that RX customers in foreign markets get the cool, graceful, fluidic turn signal, while we Americans are stuck with regular old crap.
http://jalopnik.com/we-can-t-get-the...gov-1729310906
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