LEDs Brighten New Mustang

[kwkarth]

LEDs Brighten New Mustang
Drivers can change colors of LED-based instrument panel and vehicle interior
Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor -- Design News, October 19, 2009

With light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the cup holders, map pockets, dashboard and footwells, Ford's 2010 Mustang may be taking the auto industry's boldest step yet into the world of LED lighting.

The new Mustang, introduced earlier this year, is consistent with the growing desire of automakers to use LEDs, instead of incandescent bulbs, to boost the image of their vehicles. In the Mustang, Ford designers created an aura inside the car, and then enhanced that aura by enabling owners to change the color of the LED lighting. Using a feature called "MyColor," the new Mustang provides 125 color possibilities for the instrument cluster, while allowing seven color options for the footwells, map pockets, cup holders and door sill plates. Drivers can change the interior colors to their liking merely by flicking a switch....

http://www.designnews.com/article/365490-LEDs_Brighten_New_Mustang.php?nid=2321&rid=1994697

 

[JohnR66]

I'm glad to see LEDs enter the auto segment more and more. What seems odd is that the rear illumination is all LED yet the rear side markers are incandescent on some models.:shrug:

Selectable color interior LEDs sounds neat. I know they said 2006 was the first year, but my friend's Mustang has this and it an 05 or so I thought. Glad to see quality LEDs used instead of some cheap Chinese LED that fades quickly.

 

[John_Galt]

My parents new Scion xB has multi-color LED cup holder and footwell lighting. Pretty neat concept, but a pain to scroll thru.

 

[-Virgil-]

This kind of thing is cute and fun, but really doesn't impress me. I'd rather they'd spent that money on better headlights, real rear turn signals...y'know, stuff that actually matters.

 

[Ilikeshinythings]

I like LED tail-lights and the LED strip underneath the headlights on audi's and porsches. I can't wait til we have LED headlights. I like the map light in my honda as well..it grows a kind of amber-orange which is real nice for seeing you cup at night or finding the shifter if you have a problem with that. My sister just bought a new Jetta TDI--what a fine car that is!! 45 MPG and it has a BRIGHT red LED maplight that really illuminates nicely.r

 

[LEDobsession]

This kind of thing is cute and fun, but really doesn't impress me. I'd rather they'd spent that money on better headlights, real rear turn signals...y'know, stuff that actually matters.

+1

I could care less if my cupholders had LED lights in them. Lets work on LED forward lighting please.

 

[JohnR66]

This kind of thing is cute and fun, but really doesn't impress me. I'd rather they'd spent that money on better headlights, real rear turn signals...y'know, stuff that actually matters.

Can't argue with that. Headlights and signal lights should be as effective as possible. They do seem better than in the past. I recall some 1980s GM and Fords that I didn't like to drive at night.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

... it has a BRIGHT red LED maplight that really illuminates nicely.r

It's been a while since I've tried reading a map with non-white light, but I expect red light will make large portions of the map unreadable (red markings will seemingly disappear).

 

[tay]

Why just Mustangs...all cars should come up with LED's. They consume less battery power and are so bright....simple yet great technology.
_____________________
Dining Room Furniture

at this point, LEDs for automotive applications aren't significantly more efficient than HID. these aren't your grandma's 5mm LEDs that can run for hours and still be cool to the touch - all the Lexus and Audi and Caddy LED headlamps produce enough heat to require heatsinking and in some cases IIRC an active cooling fan. Heat management is an issue because the heat comes out the back of the LED. With HID, they don't require cooling because the heat exits the front of the projector, and can also serve to defrost ice on the headlight lens. Current HID headlight systems have better light output, similar efficiency, and lower cost than LEDs. However, we can expect LEDs to improve and come down in price over the next few years.

 

[fyrstormer]

My VW had LED dashboard lights and center-console accent lights in 1999. Ford does it and it's news?

 

[kwkarth]

My VW had LED dashboard lights and center-console accent lights in 1999. Ford does it and it's news?

Well, yeah, of course it's news when Detroit does anything innovative and you have to admit that what Ford has done with the mustang is quite a bit more than the blue LEDs that Wolfsburg put in the VDub. Heck, many moons ago I had a 1986 Mercedes that had LEDs to light the console and all the switches in the doors, etc.

It's about time somebody in Detroit does something without being forced to do so. Maybe that's why Ford's profits are up, they're showing some initiative for a change.

 

[fyrstormer]

Yeah, I guess that's true. I am glad to see they're making progress. Color-changing lights in a sports car isn't my cup of tea, or at least I wouldn't pay extra for it, but I guess there are people out there who would like it.

 

[kwkarth]

Yeah, I guess that's true. I am glad to see they're making progress. Color-changing lights in a sports car isn't my cup of tea, or at least I wouldn't pay extra for it, but I guess there are people out there who would like it.

I completely agree with you.

 

[Ilikeshinythings]

It's been a while since I've tried reading a map with non-white light, but I expect red light will make large portions of the map unreadable (red markings will seemingly disappear).

It is referred to as a map light but I don't think that is it's purpose. I think it's just for ambience in the cabin and it illuminates the shifter, the cupholders and the dashboard nicely. The traditional overhead lights are incandescent and would probably work better for reading maps!