DaveJLBI wrote:

Correct temps for headlights should be about 4300k

IMO, about 3000-3500K is best in its own right for normal headlights - 4300K is a fair compromise for xenon and LEDs. Fogs are best right down at 2500K (selective yellow) though. There's also the matter of contrast, between the ambient light and headlights, which can give a better 3D picture. A warmer colour temperature encourages us to tune in our refined cone receptors for good colour vision, whereas a cooler temperature strikes a chord with our more coarse rods that give us low-colour night vision. It affects not only our ability to see but causes hormonal changes too which affect our "body clock" and fatigue, and I really hope to see manufacturers moving in this direction and pulling the fashion in line with better vision.

J77 wrote:

That's why we all rave about Xenons rather than halogen headlights

My DS with LED fogs gave a better view than the current Disco.

Actually, the xenons, while an improvement, do not allow you to see quite so much further as the colour temperature tricks you into believing. The xenons offer a wider beam and slightly better throw, but it isn't as much as people think. There's also much more to lighting than intensity alone and beam pattern makes a huge difference.

With fogs though, the requirements are more specific though, as the increased glare* from shorter wavelength light is more of an issue and accurate colour perception is all the more useful. That's why selective yellow light is excellent for fog. In snow, however, blue light can offer increased definition, though it would still be harsh to use.

We're actually useless at judging our own vision, so we perceive things very differently to the reality, but our pereptions alone don't allow us to actually see better. Often people reason that light is "closer to daylight" but this is not actually important, because we don't see light in the same way according to light levels.



(* This is not, as some people wrongly believe due to Rayleigh scattering but the way the light reacts with the different receptors in our eyes.)

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Lost for Words wrote:

What is?

Dave T wrote:

I think car designers have just all imagination, lets make them all look the same.

Sitting here now, I don't think I'll be getting one of them, the Jag is a far nicer option.

LT wrote:

Is there a practical purpose for the huge cowling/spoiler on the top of the tailgate?

I always think they look like a stupid aftermarket add on.