Two-in-one taillights feature in new VW Golf Plus

A special feature of the taillights of the new Volkswagen Golf Plus, manufactured by lighting specialist Hella, is the use of LEDs which produce both red and amber light.

This is accomplished with special MultiLEDs from Osram Opto Semiconductors, which contain individually controllable red and amber chips. Conventional MultiLEDs contain individual red, green and blue chips.

The combination rear lamps on the new Golf Plus have a two-part design. When switched off, they appear as four brilliant-white circles on a red base.

The LED-based tail light, stop light and direction indicator are positioned at the outside edges of the vehicle. The reversing light and rear fog light still use conventional filament bulbs as light sources, since this technology is most suitable for these functions.

Lights off The LED lights are constructed in two concentric rings. When powered off, the tail, brake and signal lights appear as transparent circles, with 20 red-amber MultiLEDs in the outer ring and 16 red power TopLEDs in the center. For the taillights, all 36 LEDs on each side light up in red.

When the driver applies the brake, the two sets of 16 LEDs in the two inner circles light up with increased intensity and, together with the third stop lamp in the roof-edge spoiler (which also uses LED technology), form the now classic optical "warning triangle".

Lights on When the driver switches on the direction indicator, the 20 LEDs in the outer lamp rings are activated and emit the prescribed amber light. If the taillights are on when the turn signal is activated, the MultiLEDs emit both red and amber, but the intensity of the flashing amber light is sufficient to make the turn signal readily visible.

LEDs have safety-related advantages, particularly with regard to the stop light and the direction indicator: LEDs react much more quickly than conventional filament bulbs, with the result that traffic following the vehicle is warned earlier.

A further advantage is the homogeneity of the illuminated areas. Thanks to the use of LEDs, the functional areas can be implemented completely with a brilliant look for the first time, without coloured intermediate lenses being necessary.

Light rings for VW

Light rings Hella has also incorporated LEDs in upgrade headlamps for the Golf IV.

The main headlamps feature striking CELIS light-guide rings from Hella, which use high-power white LEDs. The rings surround both the low beam and high beam and give the vehicle an unmistakable and striking design both by day and night.