Every part of our vehicles are continully receiving upgrades, be it for increased comfort, power, or efficiency. Those glowing globes in the front are no exception. Some years back, we saw the introduction of high intensity discharge (HID) headlights, which we now find on a number of cars like the Acura TL. The next step? LED-based headlights.

This emerging technology is already being implemented in the Audi R8 and the Lexus LS. LEDs are nothing new, even in the automotive industry (they’ve been used as turn signals and brake lights), but this is the first time they’ve been used as headlights. They boast lower power consumption, higher efficiency (because they’re directional), longer life, and “significantly more flexible packaging.” The trade-off is that they are much more sensitive to heat, and considering their proximity to the engine bay, this could be a problem.