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Hyundai Design Chief Ends LED Light Bar Trend

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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes


Key Takeaways

  • Hyundai's design chief, Simon Loasby, believes the widespread LED light bar trend is ending due to cost and market saturation.
  • While popular in some markets like China, the LED light bar isn't a universal expectation, especially in Europe.
  • Hyundai is shifting focus to innovative pixel lighting, particularly for its Ioniq EV range, to create unique vehicle identities.
  • This move aligns with Hyundai's design philosophy of 80% distinctiveness and 20% familiarity, ensuring each model stands out.
  • The automotive design industry is continuously evolving, with lighting potentially facing similar design saturation limits as chrome trim did previously.

Table of Contents


Is the LED light bar trend over? Hyundai's design chief explains why they're moving on from this popular automotive lighting style. Get the full story!

In an automotive landscape increasingly defined by sleek, minimalist aesthetics, one feature has become almost ubiquitous: the LED light bar. From the futuristic lines of Tesla to the refined curves of Porsche, and especially across the burgeoning Chinese car market, this distinctive strip of light has served as a unifying design element. It offered instant recognition, a modern signature that transcended brand boundaries. But what if this dominant trend is nearing its end? Can we still afford for cars to lose their individual character in pursuit of a common aesthetic? This article delves into the insights from Hyundai's design boss, Simon Loasby, who believes the era of the LED light bar is concluding, paving the way for a more distinctive and personalized approach to vehicle illumination. We'll explore the reasons behind this significant shift, the innovative direction Hyundai is taking with pixel lighting, and what this means for the future of automotive design.


The Ubiquity of the LED Light Bar: A Fading Icon?

For years, the LED light bar represented the pinnacle of contemporary car design. It was a stylistic shorthand for 'modern,' 'electric,' and 'premium.' Its clean lines offered a futuristic appeal, allowing designers to create a seamless visual flow across a vehicle's rear end, sometimes even extending into the sides. Simon Loasby himself acknowledges its past success, noting how the light bar "once worked well on models like the Grandeur, Kona, and Sonata." This design choice helped establish a new visual identity for these vehicles, setting them apart from previous generations with traditional, segmented taillights.

The allure was undeniable. A single, unbroken strip of light offered a powerful, cohesive statement. It was a simple yet effective way to standardize a brand's visual identity, making cars instantly recognizable from a distance, even at night. This global adoption, particularly by major players and new entrants, solidified its status as a defining characteristic of modern automotive aesthetics. However, as with any trend, saturation eventually sets in, prompting questions about its long-term viability and ability to differentiate.


Hyundai's Bold Pivot: Why the LED Light Bar Era is Ending

Despite its past triumphs, the LED light bar's reign appears to be challenged. Simon Loasby, a prominent voice in automotive design, has declared this trend "finished." His reasoning is multi-faceted, touching upon both practical and strategic considerations. Firstly, the cost of manufacturing these extensive light bars is proving to be a significant factor. As technology evolves, so does the expectation for advanced features, and balancing innovation with affordability becomes paramount for mass-market brands like Hyundai.

Secondly, market differentiation plays a crucial role. While customers in some regions, such as China, have come to "expect it" as a standard feature, its importance diminishes in other key markets like Europe. This geographical disparity creates a design dilemma: a feature that is a must-have in one area might be an unnecessary expense or simply not valued in another. Hyundai's analysis indicates a declining return on investment for a design element that no longer resonates universally. The goal, ultimately, is to give each car its own unique identity, and a shared light bar dilutes that distinctiveness across a brand's diverse portfolio.


The Rise of Pixel Lighting: A New Chapter for Vehicle Identity

Steering away from the uniformity of the light bar, Hyundai is championing a new design language centered around "pixel lighting." This innovative approach, especially prominent in their Ioniq EV lineup, allows for unprecedented levels of personalization and brand identity. Instead of a continuous strip, pixel lighting utilizes individual LED elements that can be arranged in intricate patterns, creating unique and dynamic signatures for each vehicle model. Think of it as a digital canvas for light, offering granular control over illumination.

This shift isn't just about aesthetics; it's about reclaiming individuality. As Loasby highlights, pixel lighting ensures that "each car [has] its own identity, instead of making all models look the same." For drivers, this means owning a vehicle with a distinctive visual signature that stands out on the road. For brands, it offers a powerful tool for differentiation in an increasingly crowded market. The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are prime examples, showcasing how pixelated lights can be both functional and deeply characterful, evoking a retro-futuristic charm while maintaining a thoroughly modern appeal.


Hyundai's Design Philosophy: Standing Out in a Crowded Market

Hyundai's move to pixel lighting is deeply rooted in its overarching design philosophy, which Simon Loasby succinctly describes as "80% different and only 20% familiar." This principle is a masterstroke in balancing innovation with brand recognition. It ensures that while there might be subtle, unifying design cues across the Hyundai range (the 20% familiarity), the vast majority of each car's design elements (the 80% difference) are unique and distinctive. This approach is critical in an era where consumers seek individuality and brands strive to avoid visual homogenization.

For the consumer, this translates into a fresh and exciting experience with every new Hyundai model. No longer will the tail-lights simply echo a sibling model; instead, they will tell a unique story. This strategic decision showcases Hyundai's commitment to pushing boundaries and establishing a design leadership position, rather than simply following existing trends. It's a calculated risk that, if successful, will cement Hyundai's reputation as a brand unafraid to innovate and redefine automotive aesthetics. Loasby even humorously notes that other brands, like Fiat, are already copying the pixel look, which he takes as a compliment – a clear indicator that Hyundai is on the cutting edge.


The Future of Automotive Lighting: Beyond Limits

While the transition to pixel lighting marks an exciting new chapter, Loasby also offers a pragmatic outlook on the future of car lighting design. He admits that it "may soon hit its limit, just like chrome trim once did." This insightful observation suggests that even the most innovative design elements eventually reach a point of saturation or become so commonplace that their impact diminishes. The challenge then becomes not just inventing new styles, but finding practical solutions that also evoke an emotional connection with drivers.

The industry constantly grapples with this balance. How do you create something visually stunning that also serves a functional purpose and adheres to regulatory standards? For Hyundai, the focus remains on finding new ideas that are both practical for daily driving and emotionally resonant in their design. This means exploring advancements in LED technology, new materials, and smart lighting systems that can adapt to different driving conditions or even communicate with other vehicles. The evolution of automotive lighting is far from over; it's simply shifting gears, moving from a broad, unifying aesthetic to one that is more detailed, dynamic, and distinctively personal. The question is the LED light bar trend over? Hyundai's design chief explains why they're moving on from this popular automotive lighting style. Get the full story! is not just about a single design element but the larger paradigm shift in how cars will express their identity.


A New Dawn for Automotive Aesthetics

The automotive world is at an inflection point where design differentiation is paramount. Hyundai's decision to move beyond the ubiquitous LED light bar and embrace pixel lighting is a bold statement—a declaration that individuality, innovation, and market-specific relevance are the new driving forces. While the LED light bar served its purpose, its cost implications and diminishing capacity to differentiate have led to its decline in favor of more versatile and expressive solutions. As is the LED light bar trend over? Hyundai's design chief explains why they're moving on from this popular automotive lighting style. Get the full story! becomes a resonant question across the industry, Hyundai is already setting the pace for what's next.

This pivot toward pixel lighting, guided by a philosophy of 80% difference, promises a future where vehicles reclaim their unique visual identities. It's an exciting time for car enthusiasts and designers alike, as we anticipate a new era of automotive aesthetics that prioritizes distinctiveness and emotional connection. What are your thoughts on this shift? Do you believe the LED light bar trend is truly over, or will it find new life in different forms? Share your insights and let us know what design elements you hope to see define the next generation of cars!


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is pixel lighting in cars?

Pixel lighting refers to automotive lighting systems that use individual LED elements (or "pixels") arranged in specific patterns. Unlike a continuous light bar, these individual pixels can be controlled independently to create intricate designs, dynamic animations, and unique light signatures for each car model. It allows for much greater design flexibility and personalization.

Why did the LED light bar become so popular initially?

The LED light bar gained popularity due to its sleek, modern aesthetic and its ability to create a distinctive, futuristic signature for vehicles. It offered a clean, continuous line of light that often conveyed a sense of premium quality and advanced technology, making cars instantly recognizable and modern-looking.

Is Hyundai the only brand moving away from the LED light bar?

While Hyundai's design chief, Simon Loasby, has been vocal about this shift, other brands are also exploring diverse lighting solutions. Fiat, for instance, has already incorporated elements similar to pixel lighting. Design trends are cyclical, and as one feature becomes ubiquitous, brands naturally seek the next differentiator to stand out.

What does "80% different and 20% familiar" mean for Hyundai's design?

This design philosophy means that Hyundai aims for each new model to have a largely unique design (80% different) while retaining some subtle, overarching brand cues or design language elements (20% familiar) that tie it back to the Hyundai family. The goal is to ensure every car stands out on its own without completely abandoning brand identity.

Will LED light bars disappear entirely from new cars?

While Hyundai may be moving away from it, it's unlikely LED light bars will disappear completely. Design trends often ebb and flow. They might become less dominant, evolve into different forms, or remain a popular feature in specific markets where customer expectations demand it. However, their role as the primary, universal identifier in car design is certainly diminishing.

How does market expectation influence car design, like with the LED light bar?

Market expectation significantly impacts car design. In regions like China, where the LED light bar became a symbol of modern luxury and technological advancement, customers came to expect it. In contrast, European markets might prioritize different design elements or functional attributes. Designers must balance global trends with local preferences and manufacturing costs to create successful products.

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