Vauxhall lights the way forward
Vauxhall is introducing Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) and full LED headlamps to its new Zafira Tourer and Mokka X models.
The optional AFL LED headlamps produce a bright white light that automatically adapts to the driving situation, with nine individual functions that both optimise visibility and save energy.
Mark Adams, Vice President, Design Europe, said, ‘The widespread availability of intelligent LED technology is the best way to significantly reduce the risks of night-time driving. The new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer and Mokka X with their optional AFL LED headlamps are important steps towards realising this potential.’
Vauxhall was the first manufacturer to bring AFL with bi-xenon headlamps to the compact market in 2003, and the Vauxhall Astra was the first compact car with cornering lights in 2004, followed by the Zafira in 2005. Embracing its tradition of making innovative technology features available across the product range, Vauxhall introduced halogen headlamp-based AFL in the Corsa in 2006.
Vauxhall now offers AFL in almost every passenger car model and the technology is developing constantly. For example, IntelliLux LED Matrix Light, which takes LED technology to the highest level, made its world premiere in the compact class last year on the new Vauxhall Astra.
The new Zafira Tourer and Mokka X mark the next milestone; AFL LED delivers the benefits of adaptive forward lighting without the moving elements. Instead of switching LEDs on or off in a variety of combinations, AFL LED adapts to the driving situation and the presence of other road users by automatically changing the lighting pattern of the headlamps.
The optional AFL LED headlamps have nine functions, each designed for a different road situation to provide optimal visibility. At speeds above 34mph, Country Light improves illumination of the road and verges when driving in rural areas. The range of illumination in the driving lane is longer, while the distribution of light on the offside is lower to prevent dazzling oncoming traffic.
When cornering, AFL LED activates Cornering/Curve Light, which switches on an additional left or right LED illuminating the road in the direction of travel, depending on the steering angle or turn signal.
At speeds under 34mph, AFL LED automatically activates Town Light. Compared with the Country Light function, the beam is closer to the area near the car and wider at the sides, with the cornering lights operating at reduced intensity.
The Manoeuvring Light function illuminates the area around the vehicle when driving or reversing into a parking space, while Tourist Mode (for countries where driving is on the other side of the road), High Beam, Daytime Running Lights and High Beam Assist complete the list of AFL LED functions.
