Volkswagen brightens up the Passat
The high beam can be left on at all times without dazzling oncoming drivers
AE in Technology.
- Published in Technology.
Shine on: Passat’s main beams stay on without dazzling other drivers
Volkswagen is claiming a class first for the main-beam assistance system in the seventh-generation Passat. The D-segment sedan’s xenon headlights can be left on main beam at all times without dazzling oncoming drivers.
Driving at night increases the risk of accidents. Giving drivers the best possible view of the road ahead is one of the most effective ways to mitigate this but manually switching main beam on and off is tedious and drivers rarely get to use main beam for long periods at a time.
Simpler systems that activate main beam automatically address the first problem and are already on the market. But they can’t solve the second problem – more intelligence was needed.
VW said: “In conjunction with the camera integrated behind the windscreen, the bi-xenon headlights are individually dipped in specific areas in which the system has analysed potential glare to other vehicles. A masking element between the reflector and the lens makes this possible, along with lateral swivelling of the entire module and individual control of the left and right headlights.”
This level of control allows main beam to be active at all times without dazzling oncoming drivers or vehicles up ahead. The camera also determines the position of the vehicle ahead and, from 60km/h, tracks the light beam right up to its rear bumper.
In some cases, the beam can even be extended past the vehicle in the lateral direction. Similar technology, developed with Tier One supplier Valeo, was first used by VW in the Phaeton Luxury sedan and in the Touareg SUV. The next applications will be the Touran and Sharan C- and D-segment MPVs.
