If you have ever been obsessed with the classic racing anime "Initial D", then you will be familiar with the two cars Toyota AE86 and Mazda RX-7. In addition to their shared racing legend, both models share one feature: hidden headlights.
In "Initial D", the AE86 and RX-7 have become racing idols in people's hearts with their unique appearance design and powerful performance. The hidden headlights are one of the eye-catching design highlights.
Under normal circumstances, the headlights of the AE86 and RX-7 are tightly hidden under the car body, integrating with the body to create a smooth appearance. This design focuses on overall lines and simplicity. But when lighting is needed, the light set will pop up from the opening in the body to provide the driver with a good lighting effect.
The hidden headlight design is not only used by Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Mazda, but also major European manufacturers have adopted this design. Among them, the Ferrari F40 is a classic example. The hidden headlights give the F40 unique appearance features and a sense of technology, enhancing its racing style and showing the charm of the hidden headlight design.
The design of hidden headlights adds a unique sense of mystery and technology to these models. When the headlights are hidden, the front lines are smooth and simple, giving people a noble and pure feeling. And when the headlights are deployed, the vehicle glows with dynamics and power, reinforcing its sporty performance image.
However, hidden headlights are gradually declining in modern car design due to various considerations. The first is the security requirement. The hidden headlight design requires complex mechanical devices to pop up and retract the light set, increasing the risk of failure. The modern automotive industry has higher requirements for safety and prefers simpler and more reliable designs to reduce potential failure points.
In addition, the design and manufacturing costs of hidden headlights are relatively high. They require more parts and machinery, increasing manufacturing costs and increasing the complexity of maintenance and repair. To reduce costs and improve production efficiency, many automakers are opting for simpler headlight designs.
At the same time, with the advancement of automotive lighting technology, modern vehicles can achieve excellent lighting effects by using advanced lighting technologies such as LED and xenon headlights, and no longer rely on hidden headlights to achieve elegant exterior design.
More importantly, in an environment where pedestrian protection regulations are becoming increasingly strict, it is tantamount to giving hidden headlights a "death sentence". The exposed device of a concealed headlight can easily cause serious injury to a pedestrian when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, even when stowed with the lights off.
Although hidden headlights are less common in modern vehicles, the hidden headlights in the AE86 and RX-7 and some other classic models still make people fascinated. This design element demonstrates the vehicle’s unique appearance features and sense of technology, bringing visual pleasure and shock to drivers and audiences.
Overall, the design of the hidden headlight creates a simple and smooth appearance under normal circumstances, but displays a bright light when lighting is needed. However, hidden headlights are gradually declining in modern car design due to safety requirements, cost and manufacturing complexity, as well as advances in modern lighting technology. Despite this, hidden headlights are still fascinating because they represent the perfect combination of racing culture and technological design.
