LED tech to usurp grille as marque identi ier
DS IS PLANNING to introduce its ‘light veil’ concept, which replaces traditional headlights with LEDS integrated into a car’s bodywork, onto production cars within the next five years – and the firm’s design chief believes the technology will replace a car’s grille in defining its identity.
The French firm introduced the light veil concept on its recent DS X E-tense concept, which presented the firm’s vision for 2035. However, design boss Thierry Metroz said DS is working closely with light suppliers and the technology is near to reaching production readiness.
“Integrating lights into the car’s body is the future of lighting,” said Metroz. “When you look at all cars in the world they follow the same structure: the bonnet, the front bumper and the two headlights. For me, that’s finished.”
Metroz wouldn’t reveal which models might get the light veil system first, but it would be a natural fit on the firm’s planned range of electric cars. Such vehicles can have radically different front-end styling thanks to the different cooling needs.
“In the future we can imagine we’ll keep the graphics of the grille without the grille, and use it to house the sensors we’ll need to integrate in the front of the car,” said Metroz. “So we’ll keep the grille in some form and add the light veil, which is best for the visual identity of the brand.”
Many manufacturers are now using LEDS, either for the main headlights or for daytime running lights. But Metroz said the light veil concept will be “the plus of DS” as a technology-focused luxury brand.