LEDs light the way forward

The humble LED is the new star of car lighting.

At first it was a compact and cost-effective solution for instrument back-lighting. Now it has rocketed in popularity as a way of trimming costs and adding impact.

These days, almost every car designer is using LEDs to add personality to new models.

We're seeing dozens of LEDs splashed across the back end of everything from sports cars to SUVs, some even picking up a 3D effect with layering of the tiny marvels.

But the big change is at the front, where bright white LEDs are at the heart of any new DRL - daytime running lamp - signature. So when you see an Audi swoosh (pictured) or a Benz with an underline or even a humble Hyundai , you're looking at simple, cheap-to-run banks of LEDs.

But there is an even bigger change coming as LEDs take over from xenon bulbs for full-scale after-dark illumination.

LEDs are different, allowing better cut-off and brighter white light for the driver.

Thanks to modern optics and the ability to tune the spread and reach of headlights with reflectors and prisms, it does not take a huge light source to get a brilliant result on the road. Xenon bulbs have been doing well but we've heard lots of complaints about dazzle and excessive glare from the blue-tinged light they throw.

LEDs are different, allowing better cut-off and brighter white light for the driver. My current favourite after-dark set-up is the optional LED-focused Intelligent Light System in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It's been added as Benz switches to LEDs on all models, a move that cuts the electrical drain and also allows sharper styling with lower-line headlamps.

Yes, it costs more but the light is fantastic. It is also shaped to adjust for cornering and driving conditions, which means I can see more but I'm not dazzling people coming the other way or filling someone's rear-view mirror with unwanted glare.