Hella Develops Audi LEDs

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Feb. 4 -- Hella KG Hueck & Co., based in Lippstadt, Germany, developed the white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for directionals and daytime running lights (DRLs) in the new Audi A8 W12.

The company said white-light LEDs have the same intensity as xenon lamps, but offer greater flexibility for vehicle front-end design. The Audi system includes five LEDs per headlamp arranged in a cloverleaf pattern, giving it what the Hella calls "an unmistakable appearance" and making it more visible in DRL or low-beam modes.

LED-LIGHTS: The Audi A8 W12 features five white high-power LEDs, arranged like the five spots on a die, for directional and daytime running lights.

"The system includes a static cornering light, which provides added illumination when turning at intersections or driving through tight curves to help drivers see the road ahead," said Joe Borruso, president and CEO of Hella NA. He said LEDs also draw less current, using only a fraction of the energy needed to power conventional headlamps.

Hella first presented a prototype of the LED system at the 2003 International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. It said it expects that by 2010 LEDs will be widely used in low-beam and main-beam modes and in fog lamps because of their increased design flexibility and safety benefits.

For more information, visit: www.hella.com