Hector Fratty

The January 2011 North American International Auto Show was bristling with fascinating, innovative lighting that is giant leaps better than what went before in terms of design, technology, technique, and performance. There is new focus on lighting as a brand signature.
We present below, the main unveiled American cars.
For more information, please refer to DVN newly published report “2011 North American International Auto Show” at: www.drivingvisionnews.com

Buick Verano
Brand-identity elements are being incorporated into the lighting components to a far greater degree than in past models.
This year’s primary Buick news is the launch of the new Verano luxury compact car. Its lighting system appears to be built to a relatively high standard.

Rear combination lamps are horizontal, diagonally-split at the boot lid seam line, and boat-shaped, with all functions produced by incandescent bulbs. Although this is quite basic technology and styling on an international level, it nevertheless represents a step up in technical function; most Buicks have had simple all-red combination stop/tail/indicator lamps.

Cadillac
GM’s premiere marque carries on this year with familial edge styling. This manifests in the lighting equipment with a high-technology, high-content appearance, though the American domestic-market rear lamps, fully red, are rather less technologically and arguably less stylistically appealing than the international ECE versions. The latter have black, white, or grey unlit appearance and an amber indicator function.

The Cadillac SRX headlamp amply illustrates the high-content appearance of the brand’s present lighting units. There is a deluxe white LED light pipe serving the front position lamp function. A Bifunction projector headlamp with styled surround ring and incandescent front turn signal complete the package.