Rüsselsheim, Germany - This, according to Opel, is the intelligent lighting system of the future, due to debut in the new Opel Astra at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
The Astra's IntelliLux full-LED matrix headlights consist of 16 LED segments - eight on each side - that automatically adapt the length and distribution of the light beam to every traffic situation. It uses a front camera to detect other vehicles in motion, and switches off the individual LED segments that would dazzle the oncoming driver.
As soon as the car is driven beyond the street-lights, it automatically switches on the high-beam segments - and they stay on, helping the driver to see objects at the side of the road 30-40 metres further away than they would in a car with a manual dipswitch, as shown in a study by the Technical University of Darmstadt and the European LightSightSafety Initiative.
REACTION TIME
At 80km/h, that gives you about a second and a half more time in which to react - which could easily be the difference between a fresh underwear moment and a big crash.
And when the camera detects light sources from oncoming traffic - or the tail lights of a car ahead - it plots where those lights are in the lit area and 'blacks out' the individual LEDs that would shine on that vehicle, leaving the rest of the road and its surroundings brightly lit.
But not all Astra owners opt for built-in satnav, so how does the car know when it's out in the country?
Actually, it doesn't, but it can map and measure ambient lighting accurately enough to make an educated guess, and choose one of a number of standard low and high beam lighting patterns to suit the conditions. These include a specific long-range highway mode and a 'welcome' mode that makes getting in or out in the dark more comfortable.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Since the whole process consists of switching LEDs on or off as required, there's no need for the complex electric motors required to swivel 'adaptive' projector lights from side to side. With no incandescent light sources or moving parts to wear out, the LED headlights can be expected to outlast the car (which should make up for their higher initial cost) and their housings can be made considerably more compact, giving the designers more scope to style cars with slinky, aerodynamically efficient front treatments.