In the new Tucson, Hyundai has cleverly camouflaged the LED daytime running lights. Only when it is switched on does it emerge from the large radiator grille.
A recent trend in car manufacturing is the so-called Shy technology, in which user interfaces in the interior blend inconspicuously into their surroundings. Hyundai implemented a similar principle for the design of the daytime running lights on the new Tucson SUV. If the lights are switched off, they are perceived as part of the radiator grille. They only reveal themselves as such when the lights are activated.
In order to camouflage the lights, chrome layers were applied between the LED light and the glass on the smaller daytime running lights using laser technology. These make the surface look chrome-plated on the outside, but at the same time it is permeable to light. Half-mirror technology was used for the large daytime running lights: Here, too, the coating is translucent, but less thick than on the small lights. That is why more LEDs and a temperature sensor are used in the large daytime running lights in order to reduce the light output when the heat is too high.
Hyundai intends to use the hidden light technology in other new models in the future, which should also be able to transmit information and advice to other road users via their headlights and taillights. Accordingly, the hidden light principle should be more than just an innovative design principle.