Volkswagen’s genius new headlights will make it far more easy to park – as they project parking bay lines onto the road
The lights also produce 3D holograms such as direction arrows to emphasise turning signals and can automatically adjust full beam settings
VOLKSWAGEN has showcased the future of headlights with a concept that projects parking bay lines onto the road.
The 3D holograms also include arrows to emphasise indicators when turning as well as road markings to point out narrow lanes ahead.
The car maker hopes the idea will improve safety when driving down country roads at night, in particular.
Owners of its Touareg model can benefit from the Optical Lane Assist system, which will show the exact width of the SUV whilst driving.
The new Touareg will be the first to include a glimpse of the IQ Light, as its headlights will illuminate upcoming corners before the driver turns.
Using full beam headlights will also be made much more simpler and safer, as VW plans for its cars to automatically detect the vehicle ahead and oncoming traffic, then block out the full beams specifically in those areas.
This eliminates the need for drivers to keep turning the full beams on and off as cars approach, and the risk of other drivers being blinded or dazzled by the light.
It will also find pedestrians, cyclists and animals that are on low-lit roads and highlight them for the driver.
The technology is powered by micro-pixel HD headlights with up to 30,000 light points.
Another concept that VW previewed is panels placed on the front, side and rear of cars displaying alerts such as braking and accidents ahead.
These would come into effect when driverless cars are on the road so that pedestrians, for example, will feel safe knowing that the autonomous technology has stopped for them to cross.
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Klaus Bischoff, VW Designer-in-Chief, said: "The lighting of the future will become a means of communication.
"It will interact with the driver and with other road users - whether in a car, on a motorcycle or bicycle or as a pedestrian on the road - measurably improving safety.
"At the same time, we will integrate the lighting functions into the design of the vehicles more progressively than ever before."