LEDs shine on

The lighting technology's compact size, power, and durability excite designers who still long for flexibility in interior and exterior styling.

It is not very often that more costly technologies win out in the automotive market, but the benefits of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are significant enough to have displaced a number of incandescent bulbs in recent years. Usage of colored LEDs is expected to continue surging, but most observers feel it will be a few years before white LEDs start gaining a significant foothold.

In vehicle interiors, rear center brake lights, and a growing number of taillights, LEDs are gaining in usage. Their compact size gives stylists more options, and their color palette has expanded enough to give them an array of options. Multi-LED packages also make it simple to change colors, further adding versatility.