OSRAM and an American Dream

LED solutions by OSRAM let the 2010 Ford Mustang shine - inside and out

Munich, Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the new Ford Mustang boasts the latest lighting technology by OSRAM. The American sports car, which hits the market in 2010, features variable LED interior lighting with OSRAM TOPLED. The JOULE LED system is the basis for the American muscle car’s rear signal lighting and gives the car a modern look as well as added efficiency and security.

Probably the most sought-after new car model for fans of American muscle cars was unveiled recently at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Mustang by Ford, a car whose legend has captivated entire generations, made its public debut. Ford presented technical innovations it had added to its bestseller along with a few optical changes. Modern lighting systems by OSRAM provide the 2010 Mustang with visual highlights as well as efficiency and added security.

In 1964, at the beginning of its success story, the Mustang was a sports car for the people. It quickly became a cult item and a symbol of the American dream. These days, it’s a car for individualists – especially in Euope. This also shows inside the 2010 model: the Mustang’s interior can be lit up in color according to personal preferences. OSRAM TOPLED offers the driver a range of color nuances for instrument lighting as well as for illuminating the Mustang lettering on the entry guards. The LED behind the covers change at the push of a button, and with them the ambience in the interior.

The Munich lighting manufacturer also integrated sophisticated technology in the newly designed rear of the Mustang. The OSRAM JOULE LED system, which is hidden behind the Mustang’s three-piece tail lights, is in charge of all light functions, including the brakelight, turn signals and tail light. Developed for the automotive industry, the standardized system is based on powerful and highly efficient LED lamps which use ten times less energy than conventional bulbs. In practice, this form of lighting saves several liters of fuel each year.

JOULE affords designers new levels of design flexibility thanks to its compact design. The multifaceted LED light functions allow for a creative application of lighting. As with the Mustang forebears, the new Ford’s turn signals also work sequentially. They move from the inside to the outside through the cells in the three-piece tail light.

The LED signal lighting system by OSRAM raises the bar when it comes to safety. Braking in particular highlights the advantages of the diodes with their short response times. When braking in an emergency, split seconds often determine whether the car behind will be able to slow down in time to avoid a crash. These properties as well as the module’s ability to integrate smoothly into vehicle electronics leave no doubt about it - the LED lighting system is the future of automotive lighting.

Very soon LED sytems will also light the front parts of modern automobiles. Starting in mid-2009, the newest generation of headlights will be able to use OSRAM JOULE 50mm systems as a light source. Among the areas of application are light functions such as low beams, high beams, fog lights, daytime running lights and other configurable applications. System solutions like JOULE are another step on the path to making efficient LED lights standard in automotive engineering. Pioneers like the 2010 Mustang are already lighting the way.

ABOUT OSRAM
OSRAM is part of the Industry sector of Siemens and one of the two leading lighting manufacturers in the world. Sales for the OSRAM group worldwide in the year ending September 30, 2008 totaled 4.6 billion euros, 88 percent of which came from outside Germany. OSRAM is a high-tech company in the lighting industry. Over 60 percent of sales come from energy-efficient products. This global player employs more than 43,500 people worldwide, supplies customers in some 150 countries and has 46 production facilities in 17 countries.