D.S.: Bi-Xenon lighting provides benefits to all customers. In the absence of other forms of light, the benefits of bi-xenon technology become abundantly clear-- so customers that drive long distances on rural, typically poorly-lit roads will definitely see clear benefits from xenon headlamps.
J.P.: What's the difference in maintenance costs? Are those fancy xenon bulbs more expensive to replace?
D.S.: A typical Halogen bulb is approximately $14 to replace, while a bi-xenon bulb can range from $160 to $213, depending on the vehicle. Remember-- the bi-xenon bulbs generally offer a longer service life and deliver a great deal of additional functionality, so they are more costly to produce.
J.P.: Can't I just put a set of those fancy halogen bulbs from my local speed shop in my car for the same effect?
D.S.: No. An authentic, bi-xenon bulb will always deliver superior performance to a halogen unit designed to replicate xenon light.
J.P.: What other sorts of lighting technologies have your engineers been working on?
D.S.: Bi-Xenon lighting allows for the addition of other lighting technologies. For example, Active Bi-Xenon lighting allows the headlamps to follow the driver's steering movements to swivel around corners--to a maximum angle of 12 degrees. This improves the illumination of bends by approximately 90% when compared with conventional systems, significantly enhancing safety when driving on twisty roads at night.
Our Adaptive Highbeam Assist (AHA) system is now offered on some vehicles, too. It can automatically dim highbeam lights based on the current traffic situation. AHA automatically adjusts the range of the headlamps from highbeam to lowbeam in accordance with both the distance to oncoming vehicles and vehicles traveling ahead-- always providing the maximum amount of light possible for any situation.
In the future, LED lighting will take on a more prominent role. Lighting in general will become more intelligent, adapting to the road situation to provide the best illumination for the prevailing conditions.
Need some added confidence during after-dark travels? Remember the following tips!
J.P.: What's the difference in maintenance costs? Are those fancy xenon bulbs more expensive to replace?
D.S.: A typical Halogen bulb is approximately $14 to replace, while a bi-xenon bulb can range from $160 to $213, depending on the vehicle. Remember-- the bi-xenon bulbs generally offer a longer service life and deliver a great deal of additional functionality, so they are more costly to produce.
J.P.: Can't I just put a set of those fancy halogen bulbs from my local speed shop in my car for the same effect?
D.S.: No. An authentic, bi-xenon bulb will always deliver superior performance to a halogen unit designed to replicate xenon light.
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| Photo: Jupiter Images |
J.P.: What other sorts of lighting technologies have your engineers been working on?
D.S.: Bi-Xenon lighting allows for the addition of other lighting technologies. For example, Active Bi-Xenon lighting allows the headlamps to follow the driver's steering movements to swivel around corners--to a maximum angle of 12 degrees. This improves the illumination of bends by approximately 90% when compared with conventional systems, significantly enhancing safety when driving on twisty roads at night.
Our Adaptive Highbeam Assist (AHA) system is now offered on some vehicles, too. It can automatically dim highbeam lights based on the current traffic situation. AHA automatically adjusts the range of the headlamps from highbeam to lowbeam in accordance with both the distance to oncoming vehicles and vehicles traveling ahead-- always providing the maximum amount of light possible for any situation.
In the future, LED lighting will take on a more prominent role. Lighting in general will become more intelligent, adapting to the road situation to provide the best illumination for the prevailing conditions.
Need some added confidence during after-dark travels? Remember the following tips!
- Aim is everything! Keeping your xenon or halogen headlights properly aimed ensures their output does the best job of lighting up the road ahead-- and not the sky above or the ditch beside. If you’re unfamiliar with how to aim your headlights, consult your owner’s manual or dealership.
- Clean those housings! Even regular washing can’t remove years of stone chips and bug splat from your headlight housings. If the ones on your vehicle look like they’re in rough shape, consider treating them with a plastic polishing compound, or having them replaced in the interest of optimal light transmission.
- Invest in driving glasses! A high-quality set of driving glasses takes the strain off of your eyes when driving during daytime-- and can leave your eyes fresher and more energetic during after-dark travels.
- Remember-- some performance halogen bulbs can make a notable upgrade over the factory-equipped halogen bulbs your ride might use. Consider a set next time you have to replace the halogen bulbs on your older ride.
