Every car has a “face” and every face has eyes. We subliminally apply face-like features to car fascias. But real life isn’t a cartoon and cars don’t actually have faces. Once designers get away from that they are free to create anything for a car’s fascia. But in the Hyundai Tucson case, how does it make a car with no headlights?

How does Hyundai get that grille/headlight synergy?

How does Hyundai get that grille/headlight synergy? It’s called Invisible Headlight Technology. They do it by hiding the headlights into the grille graphic. Say, what? That’s called “Parametric Hidden Lights.” Take a closer look at that 2022 Hyundai Tucson front end. Notice how the grille openings that are out toward the left and right of the center are lighter? Those are the headlights. 

The grille graphic gets the outer portions of the grille replaced with headlights. But how does Hyundai get a bunch of small holes to become headlights? It uses half-mirror technology to do it. Using high-definition LED technology Hyundai applies a thin layer of metal to the inner portion of the outer lens to start things off. Then, it gets complicated from there.

The first complication is because of the housing’s small size, more power needs to be fed to the LEDs so they shine bright enough to be effective. Sensors are needed to determine if the brighter, hotter light creates temperatures that distort or melt the lenses. So this simple expansion of lighting into the outer portions of the grille is getting complex.

We’d love to see this exploration of new design from Ford and GM

We’d love to see this exploration of new design elements from the likes of Ford and GM. It would be great to relive those days when the American car companies would flex their muscles and prance about with new technology. We have not seen that swagger from GM, Ford, or Fiat Chrysler. 

Instead, we’re seeing GM try to justify why it should be valued higher than Tesla. Why? GM has had strong leadership, designers, engineers, and manufacturing prowess. Why should it care about how it’s valued? I mean, we know why, but why should it get in the way of doing truly exciting, revolutionary things in the automotive sector? 

So Hyundai is challenging the Detroit 3 and many other manufacturers to step it up. Innovate, excite, and stretch out your ability to apply tech not just to hidden features. They need to apply their tech prowess to design-y features that buyers can see and entertain the neighbors with.