Mercedes-Benz Xenon Headlamps Get Brighter Starting December

Despite what you may be thinking, Mercedes-Benz vehicles will not transform into Christmas trees, but they will gain xenon headlamps with significantly brighter light output beginning December. That is because the German automaker believes that making them as close as possible to daylight could bring enhanced safety benefits.

As said, starting December, production of the E-Klasse and S-Klasse models will make use of new xenon burners from the company Osram, featuring a colour temperature which has been increased by some 20 percent. Achieving a figure of 5000 Kelvin, the new xenon light is even closer to daylight and is therefore even brighter.

“This light colour is in keeping with normal human perception patterns, and as such conveys an impression of greater brightness to the eyes, thus reducing the strain on the driver,” a company statement reads.

“Studies have shown that the closer the colour of artificial light comes to daylight, the less the strain on the eyes. This is a crucial safety benefit, especially if we take into account that only 20 percent of journeys take place at night – yet it is when 40 percent of fatal accidents occur," the manufacturer adds.

But the German automaker will not stop here. After the E-Klasse and the S-Klasse, Mercedes-Benz plans further model series to be gradually fitted with the new xenon burners in 2011.

All previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with xenon headlamps can also be fitted with this additional safety feature, as the new xenon burners will be available from branches and dealers as Mercedes-Benz original parts.