Acura NSX. Retractable headlights are not the best solution in terms of aerodynamics, but from the point of view of design they are the most. This car looks equally elegant with the headlights down and up.
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. The headlights on this model could be called plain, but they, like the car as a whole, downright exude style. More sophisticated headlights would simply be redundant, detracting from the delightful design of the body.
Audi R8. The R8 was not the first Audi model to be equipped with daytime running lights, but it has become one of the most recognizable. These days, even crossovers and sedans wear them, but we must not forget which car gave rise to the trend.
bmw 5. Where Audi made daytime running lights a thing in the mid-2000s, BMW created its own hallmark a few years earlier with angel eyes. The E39 model underwent a restyling in 2001, receiving headlights with well-recognized "halos".
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The model's shape, window shape, and other design elements - including hidden headlights - became a Corvette signature for many years, until 2005.
Citroen DS. Many features of the Citroen DS were snapped up with a bang by the models that followed it - front-wheel drive, multi-disc brakes and shock-absorbing suspension. But most of all, the attention is drawn to the double headlights, which create an unforgettable image of the car.
Pontiac GT. It was this model that started the trend of American "muscle cars". The twin vertical headlights have become Pontiac's trademark, looking incredibly cool.
Porsche 718. Daytime running lights have come a long way, according to BMW's angel eyes. One of the latest contributions to the cause was made by Porsche with its 718, equipped with stylish headlights with a shining sea of daytime running lights.
Tucker 48. Once upon a time, car headlights were nothing more than lamps that light up the road at night, and not a cool design element. Preston Tucker wanted to make his car as safe as possible and added a third headlight to make cornering light easier. But it turned out that it was she who became the main distinguishing feature in the design of the Tucker 48.
Volvo XC90. Volvo has done a great job redesigning the XC90 and the upcoming S90. Both cars are equipped with Thor's Hammer headlights, which look as cool as the name sounds.
We continue to miss the cars of the 80s and 90s with pop-up headlights. This was a very cool option for real car fans. Let's look back at some of those models that we'll miss.
Alpine A610
The Alpine A610 coupe received pop-up headlights in 1991. Their release was completed four years later, after which cars of this brand with such headlights were never made again.
Aston Martin Lagonda
In the late 70s, the wedge-shaped front part came into fashion, which did not allow the placement of standard lighting equipment. In 1977, Aston Martin showed the magnificent Lagonda sedan, equipped with pop-up headlights. The designers felt that for this type of body, mechanical front optics would make the car more exclusive.
Alfa Romeo Montreal
Alfa Romeo Montreal's headlights were fixed in place, but special aerodynamic shrouds at the top could slide into the hood when the headlights were turned on. An interesting solution from Italian designers.
BMW M1
Even the conservative company BMW has been swept up in the tide and created the BMW M1 mid-engined supercar with a wedge-shaped front end and pop-up rectangular headlights.
BMW 8-series
Another model of the German brand BMW is the 8-series coupe. This car can be considered a style icon, one of the most beautiful cars of the Bavarian brand. The headlights were made rising, however, some owners were annoyed by their lethargy: after turning off the headlights, they had to wait for some time until they disappeared into the hood.
Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray
The second-generation Corvette Stingray was one of the first cars to feature pop-up headlights. It was back in 1959 when their production began. Under the sharp edge of the hood were two pairs of round headlights, which, however, looked better in the retracted state.
Chevrolet Corvette C5
The fifth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette muscle car was the last to use pop-up headlights. Fans of the brand were worried for a long time when the Corvette C6 lost them. But it seems that now everyone is used to it.
Cord 810/812
You will be surprised, but the first mechanically rising headlights appeared in 1935 on the Cord 810 car. The designers used this solution to achieve a memorable appearance of the car. By the way, such solutions were previously used only in aviation.
Ferrari 365 GTB/4
Ferrari was the leader in the number of models with pop-up headlights. The first supercar with this option was the 365 GTB/4, one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Now this model is sold at auctions for crazy money.
Ferrari 308/328
The most popular "big-eyed" Ferrari models were the 308 and 328, which were built according to the canons of supercar building of the time: a wedge-shaped front end, a central location of the power unit and rising headlights.
Ferrari F40
Legend. One of the best Ferraris of all time. The supercar had a rather interesting headlight architecture with a pair of standard lighting units and a pair of rising dipped and high beam headlights.
Ferrari Testarossa
Designed by Pininfarina, the Ferrari Testarossa supercar has certainly become a star of the 80s and a style icon. Many boys around the world had posters of this car above their bed in their room.
Ferrari 456 GT
Ferrari's last model with retractable headlights was the 456 GT. It was produced from 1992 to 2003. The only negative of this twelve-cylinder car was not very ideal aerodynamics, with the front optics open.
Fiat X1/9
The small and inexpensive Fiat X1/9 coupe was designed by Bertone and produced from 1972 to 1988. Despite the simplicity of the design, the designers still decided to use front rising headlights.
Ford Probe
Back in 1988, Ford showed off the first generation of the Probe coupe, which featured angular lines and pop-up headlights. It was replaced in 1992 by a second generation model that retained this option.
Honda Prelude
Even Honda did not stay away from world trends and equipped the Prelude model with “sleepy” headlights. The car was released in 1984. A little later, the Japanese automaker also released a three-door Accord Aero, also equipped with pop-up headlights.
Honda NSX
In 1990, Honda wowed the global auto community with the new NSX supercar. By its example, a Japanese company has shown that it is ready to fight back against the Italian Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Jaguar XJ220
Among the European cars of the 90s, there was one very special supercar - the Jaguar XJ220. Stunningly beautiful, it was equipped with mechanical covers on the headlights that fell down when they were turned on.
Lamborghini Miura
In 1966, Lamborghini showed the first prototype of the Miura supercar with flip-back headlights. Two years later, mass production began. Miura is considered one of the most beautiful cars of the last century.
Lamborghini Countach
One of the most famous supercars of the Italian company Lamborghini also received pop-up headlights. Few cars look cool with their headlights up or down. Countach is definitely one of them.
Lamborghini Diablo
The Diablo model ended the era of lifting headlights at the Italian company Lamborghini. Still, this is one of the coolest cars of the early 90s, largely due to the headlights of just such a design.
Lancia Stratos
In 1972, Lancia created one of the most successful rally cars of all time. It had a wedge-shaped body and pop-up headlights that looked amazing with a garland of fog lights up front.
Lincoln Continental
In the United States, retractable headlights were banned at the legislative level in 1968 for safety reasons. The ban was in effect until 1983. However, in 1977, Lincoln released the Continental, which had special headlight covers that could automatically retract when the lights were turned on.
Lotus Esprit
Lotus Esprit became famous after filming in the film about Agent 007. Remember his white coupe that turned into a submarine? Another supercar with a wedge-shaped front end and pop-up headlights.
Lotus Elite
One of the most unusual cars of the Lotus brand. Three-door shooting break with a wedge-shaped front end and pop-up headlights. Now this would not work, but in the 70s - no problem.
Lotus Elan
The small British roadster (pictured is a long-wheelbase coupe variant) was the inspiration for some Japanese models, such as the first generation Mazda MX-5.
Mazda RX-7
The Wankel rotary engine on the first generation Mazda RX-7 did not require much space under the hood, so it was not difficult to equip this model with pop-up headlights. The next two generations of the RX-7 also retained this feature.
Mazda MX-5
The first generation of the most massive roadster in the world was equipped with mechanically rising headlights. We are ready to admit that the little car looks awkward, but very nice.
Mazda 323F
Almost all cars with pop-up headlights are supercars or just coupes. But Mazda decided to equip them with the usual 323 F 5-door family hatchback, which appeared in 1989.
Mercedes-Benz C111
Mercedes-Benz decided not to follow the fashion trends and not create models with pop-up headlights. Nevertheless, there was a “sinner” behind them - the C111 concept sports car with gull-wing doors.
Nissan 300ZX
In 1983, Nissan launched the 300ZX coupe, which became one of the brand's most popular models. Only first-generation cars could boast of rising headlights; the more massive second-generation 300ZX was equipped with the most common headlights.
oldsmobile toronado
After the Cord 810/812 front wheel drive car, the Oldsmobile Toronado was the first model to feature this layout in over 30 years. To emphasize the technical innovation, the model also received pop-up headlights.
Opel GT
The headlights on this tiny Opel GT targa, which appeared in 1969, were raised mechanically by pressing a special knob next to the gear lever.
Porsche 914
Volkswagen and Porsche teamed up to create one of the ugliest Porsches of all time, the 914. And in this case, the pop-up headlights only make it worse.
Porsche 924 / 944
Porsche's attempt to produce a supercar at the price of Volkswagen and Audi. Many fans of the brand took this fact as a personal insult. Naturally, such frivolity as rising headlights was also not to our liking.
Saab Sonnet III
From 1970 to 1974, Saab produced the Sonett III coupe with pop-up headlights. The model did not become popular due to its scary appearance and not the best build quality.
Subaru XT
From 1984 to 1990, Subaru sold the XT model in Europe (locally called the "Alcyone"), which had retractable headlights and an angular appearance.
Triumph TR7
In 1974, the Triump TR7 coupe entered the British market, which adopted fashion trends in world automotive design. The model had a wedge-shaped front end with a pair of lifting headlights.
Toyota Celica
Japanese Toyota Celica cars of the third, fourth and fifth generations were equipped with pop-up headlights. In our country, the latest generation model has become the most popular, primarily due to its success in the rally.
Toyota Supra
The big brother Toyota Celica was produced with pop-up headlights from 1982 to 1993 in the A60 and A70 generations. Subsequently, the model lost this feature.
Toyota MR2
Tiny two-seat Toyota MR2 coupes were distinguished by a central location of the power unit, as well as rising headlights. The model quickly became popular.
Volvo 480
Volvo developed the extravagant 480 specifically for the North American market. The pop-up headlights here were made not so much for style, but because of the need to comply with local state standards for the height of the beams of light above the road surface.
pangolin
The auto industry of the Soviet Union did not produce cars with pop-up headlights, but the designers of home-made cars did not lag behind the West in this. In the photo - Pangolin's car.
Blind or retractable headlights are a cool feature that gives the car an exclusivity. The first car to feature such headlights was the 1935 Cord 810. The headlights were lowered using a manual mechanism. On the first prototype, the handles were on opposite sides of the cabin (this was inconvenient), and later everything was improved.
Over time, blind headlights began to be used on many legendary cars. Starting in 1975 and ending in 1995, sports cars were most often equipped with retractable headlights. Here are some of them:
Toyota AE86 with blind optics
Suzuki Katana motorcycle with retractable headlights
Lamborghini Countach LP400 with retractable headlights
Honda Accord sedan with pop-up headlights
Aston Martin Lagonda with blind headlights
Pre-styling Mitsubishi 3000GT with retractable headlights
Mazda 323F with pop-up headlights
Legendary Toyota Celica
However, these days, car companies have forgotten about this option, which not only decorated cars, but also protected the optics from an aggressive external environment. In 2004, retractable headlights became history as they were deemed unsafe. They severely injured people in an accident. Today I propose to recall the 10 most recent cars that were equipped with just such headlights.
Chevrolet Corvette 2004
Lotus Esprit 2004
It is extremely subjective, but in order to understand how expensive design delights can be, we will also provide objective data: how much such headlights cost to replace.
The cost of the headlight is 25,850 rubles.
It is known that one of the first Range Rover exhibited in the Louvre - as an example of design art. If individual car parts were exhibited somewhere as a similar example, the headlights of the C6 would take pride of place in such a collection. A true masterpiece of modern automotive design!
Suzuki XL7
The cost of the headlight - no data
If it weren't for the "eternal French", XL7 would be the leader of our rating. However, losing to such a competitor as C6, I think, is not shameful. Moreover, no one else has thought of such a form of head optics on a crossover: a pentagon pointing downwards is, at least, original!
mercedes benz
R class
The cost of the headlight is 14,418 rubles.
(56,835 rubles - for bi-xenon)
Mercedes designers are clearly tired of exploiting a ten-year-old solution (with a pair of oval lights). They decided to experiment with fundamentally new ideas on a chic R-class monocab and finally found the original shape of the head optics. I wonder if the new solution will take root on other Mercedes models?
The cost of the headlight is about 9,000 rubles.
Making the front of the Actyon is something beyond good and evil! But the headlights look really stylish and would be quite suitable for some kind of luxury crossover. That's just the originality of the head optics is completely "pushed" by all the other elements of the front of the car ...
The cost of the headlight is 7,815 rubles.
(xenon - 19,000 rubles)
It would seem, how can you revive the rather boring Volkswagen design - with its rectangular radiator grille, a similar niche in the bumper and quite traditional "foglights"? The answer was obvious: the original headlights. Combining a circle with a quadrilateral, the Germans found a beautiful solution.
BMW 5 Series
The cost of the headlight is 35,000 rubles.
(per xenon unit)
For a long time, twin round headlights were for BMW the same family trait as branded “nostrils”. In one form or another, the Bavarians still use this solution, experimenting only with caps for “round” head optics. The result of perhaps the most daring experiment was catchy and stylish headlights for the "five".
The cost of the headlight is 12,760 rubles.
Created by French stylist Olivier Boulet, when he was Mitsubishi's chief designer, the Grandis became a model for the Japanese company, laying the foundation for a new direction in the design of all the models that followed it. A special role in creating a spectacular image was played by headlights, shaped like arrowheads.
The cost of the headlight is 5,785 rubles.
The intricate design of the headlights for the Note compact van suggests that Nissan's designers created them on a computer using 3D graphics. Round lights are taken away by caps of complex shape, “flowing” onto the hood, and at the top of these caps there are also relief ledges for “dimensions”.
