Mercedes Benz gets it’s shine on!

The Mercedes Benz three-pointed star emblem is one of the most recognizable brand marks in the world. Even so, Benz thinks the star can carry even more, er, star power and has introduced a new option for illuminating the emblem with LED technology. Full post on the Car & Driver website.

Benz’s LED-illuminated badge is available in the accessories catalog, and is currently dealer-installed. Only a lit front star is available, and currently it is compatible with the C-, E-, GL-, GLK-, M-, and CLS-classes. The LED badge will set buyers back $480 before installation if ordered through a dealer, while port-installed units run $550 but carry no additional installation fee.

At present, the emblem lights up under the following scenarios:

  • Upon unlocking the car (stays lit for 40 seconds)
  • When a door is opened (stays lit for up to 5 minutes)

If the car is started or the doors are then closed, it then turns off.

A Mercedes representative says that ‘a star that stays lit when the vehicle is in motion’ is being worked on, with details on that version due later. Automotive illumination is something we at Elumin8 are passionate about, so it’s fantastic to see a manufacturer experimenting with illuminated badge technology.

Check out the LED badge in action in this video:

BMW LED Door Projectors – A must for all BMW enthusiasts!

BMW LED Door Projectors

When you think BMW you think styling and that is very much the case with the BMW LED Door Projectors seen here on the BMWBLOG. Essentially it is a door mounted LED projector that beams a BMW logo on the floor outside the car when the door is opened. Understandably not great during the day but at night the effects are pretty dramatic. As a highlight feature to attract attention (assuming your new M3 isn’t already doing that!) it is a must for any dedicated BMW enthusiast.

“The BMW LED door sill plates turn heads whenever you open the front doors. A white illuminating BMW badge, which is also easily visible during the day, catches the eye every time you climb on board. The badge is framed by high-quality metal with a brushed stainless steel look and creates an aura of class. The battery-powered LED door sill plates are extremely quick to fit due to the lack of cabling required. When the door is closed – or after 30 seconds – the illumination automatically switches off again. The two button cell batteries have a lifespan of approximately three years.”

Purchasers of this product get a choice of BMW logo, BMW wordmark, M logo and the letter X for BMW X models.

OLED panels central to Land Rover Discovery’s Vision

The new Land Rover Discovery range will integrate OLED screens into the driver controls, in-car entertainment system and windows of the vehicle. A prototype of this car was unveiled on 21 April.  See the full story here.

New Land Rover Discovery Review

The New Land Rover Discovery Review by Car Magazine is out. You can read the full review here. In summary it gets the thumbs up from the car journalists who feel that it is filling the hole left by the departing Defender until its replacement arrives in 2016. Practicality is offered with 7 (yes 7) seats, but with the additional sparkle you get from the modern Land Rover design team. This extra bling is offered by our very own illuminated tread plates that give a crisp white illumination. When you look at the vehicle you can’t help but see a genetic link with the hugely popular Range Rover Evoque. This link continues inside with running gear, engine etc.

The size meets Car Magazine’s approval as well, given the fact that a full size Range Rover on British roads can at times be challenging for a daily commute. “A Chelsea Tractor it is not. As you would expect from JLR the quality is exceptional. It is very well built and a beautifully finished cabin. Car Magazines verdict:

“It’s hard to envisage any reasons why the Land Rover Discovery Sport won’t sell well. Yes, styling may be slightly generic for some and some users may still balk at the launch engine’s mid-ranking CO2 (166g/km) and economy (44.8mpg) claims beaten by the Germans. But on first impressions the Disco Sport is an incredibly well rounded package.”

Telegraph Review

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Qatar Air using tri-colour LEDs

Qatar Air have introduced tri-colour LEDs into the cabin interior of their new fleet of Airbus A350XWB. Full story here.

A significant feature, along with all the additional traveler benefits like seating space and connectivity to smartphones, is that they have also incorporated tri-colour LEDs for the cabin interior. It has long been known by the aviation industry that interior illumination and the effects it can have on passengers is a very cost-effective way of improving their user experience. Blue light can actually be used to reduce the affects of jet-lag.

The Qatar Air interior illumination has an incredible 16.7 million colour variations and uses considerably less energy. This move to a dynamic LED array is something that is also starting to take off in the automotive world.