| |
Bright
Ideas from BMW
 |
|
You
round a curve at night and a small animal jumps in front of you out of the
darkness. If you had been able to see it, you might have been able to avoid
it. What would have helped are headlights that turn when the car turns, like
BMW's Adaptive Headlights.
|
Adaptive
Headlights
According to the latest figures from Germany's Federal Statistics
Bureau, more than 40 percent of all automobile accidents resulting in
death occur at night, despite the fact that there is up to 80 percent
less traffic on the road than during the day. |
 |
|
Headlights adjust
so the beam of light is optimized for different driving conditions
|
click for a larger image |
 |
The adaptive headlights
use a variable headlight control system geared to the driver's
position on the road. This anticipative illumination of the road ahead
is based on a system of sensors and computers. The adaptive headlights
direct two bi-xenon headlight modules geared to the steering to the
ongoing course of the road, offering the driver a better view at the
road ahead both in front and in curves. |
|
click for a larger image |
|
Adaptive
Brake Lights
Available in the new 5
Series, Adaptive Brake Lights are designed to reduce the risk of
bumper-to-bumper collisions by enlarging the brake light area when the
driver forcefully applies the brakes.
Adaptive brake lights
are already standard equipment for the BMW 7 Series, X5, Z4 and 3
Series Coupe and Cabriolet. |
|
 |
More
bright ideas. |
click for a larger image |
|
Adaptive
Headlights automatically adjust the light to match the
direction of travel. That enables the driver to react more
quickly because he/she will see the road ahead more clearly.
Sensors monitor vehicle speed and steering angles to assure
the proper distribution and control of the beam pattern. An
electronic control unit processes the data and activates the
adaptive lighting system, which switches the headlights to
full-beam, dipped or cornering settings. |
|
|
