Owners with ALH, what do you think of it?

[Sukarno]

Just got my 2016 CX-5 GT with the tech package that comes with ALH (Adaptive LED Headlights).

Owners out there with ALH, what do you think about this new headlight feature?

Coming from the old 2012 GT model, I find Xenons much brighter and the AFS more useful than the ALH feature.
It's pretty useless if you are driving in the city.

Please sound your comment! =)

Cheers~~(friday)

 

[yrwei52]

So what is the difference between ALH and AFS? 2016 CX-5 GT w/Tech in US has LED lightings with AFS. And I don't know what else you can add to with AFS?

Personally I feel CX-5 LED headlights are as bright as old Xenon headlights. I like the "single-element" LED headlight approach from Mazda instead of "multiple-elements" like most other manufactures such as Acura or Porsche. At least we don't have to wait for 30 seconds to let Xenon growing into its full brightness! And LED will last almost forever which is better off replacing expensive xenon bulbs once in a while.

 

[inlinev]

So what is the difference between ALH and AFS? 2016 CX-5 GT w/Tech in US has LED lightings with AFS. And I don't know what else you can add to with AFS?

Personally I feel CX-5 LED headlights are as bright as old Xenon headlights. I like the "single-element" LED headlight approach from Mazda instead of "multiple-elements" like most other manufactures such as Acura or Porsche. At least we don't have to wait for 30 seconds to let Xenon growing into its full brightness! And LED will last almost forever which is better off replacing expensive xenon bulbs once in a while.

It looks like on the CX-5 with tech package, the high beams are also LED. Can you confirm?

 

[Pongchanok]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZK_i4Zeoo

US model only have High Beam Control (also LED) but not ALH.

 

[yrwei52]

It looks like on the CX-5 with tech package, the high beams are also LED. Can you confirm?

Yes, high-beams are also "single-element" LED's.

 

[yrwei52]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZK_i4Zeoo
US model only have High Beam Control (also LED) but not ALH.

Thanks for the link. So in theory, ALH (Adaptive LED Headlamps) definitely is more advanced headlight technology than what we have here in US. It uses LED array to adapt the road condition ahead instead of a motorized projector for low-beam and traditional reflector for high-beam with single-element LED's. With ALH, we don't need mechanical AFS system. The adaption should be instantaneous and the system should be more reliable. The only thing is the LED array headlights, if designed like Acura MDX, look very ugly to me!

Why we can never get latest and greatest automobile technologies here in US? (uhm)

 

[52804x4]

I was told at the dealer that my 2016 has that tech. (?)

 

[adgjqetuo]

We like them - they are VERY bright. If you turn on the high beams you can see the entire road.

One thing that is interesting though, other cars we've owned the light sort of fades into the distance ahead, the Mazda has a crisp, cut line where the light ends. It's hard to explain but when driving on a dark road you can almost see a horizontal "line" where the light just stops. All in all though, i'm a fan.

 

[Sukarno]

To my knowledge, adaptive led headlights are not legal in the states.
That's why only japan and some other countries have the ALH package.

But let me assure you you are not missing out on the tech.
I very much prefer just the LEDs with afs and hbc!

These ALHs don't turn when you go around a corner.

 

[yrwei52]

We like them - they are VERY bright. If you turn on the high beams you can see the entire road.
One thing that is interesting though, other cars we've owned the light sort of fades into the distance ahead, the Mazda has a crisp, cut line where the light ends. It's hard to explain but when driving on a dark road you can almost see a horizontal "line" where the light just stops. All in all though, i'm a fan.

The LED headlight system with AFS in US is totally different from the ALH LED headlight system the OP was referring to. The sharp cut-off horizontal "line" on the low-beam headlight output pattern you're seeing is the EU headlight output pattern standard which is better defined (in my opinion) than US DOT headlight standard.

 

[yrwei52]

To my knowledge, adaptive led headlights are not legal in the states.
That's why only japan and some other countries have the ALH package.
But let me assure you you are not missing out on the tech.
I very much prefer just the LEDs with afs and hbc!
These ALHs don't turn when you go around a corner.

The highly advanced ALH LED headlights are illegal in the US? How could it be that there is a law to prohibit this new LED headlight technology used in the US as these lawmakers don't even know there is a such lighting system exists!

According to the ALH video, the LED array divided into four sections should cover very wide angle and turn the individual LED section on and off to change the light coverage. There is additional "wide low-beam lights" located on the side of DRL LED strips illuminate further to the sides of the car when the speed is at or below 40 km/h (25 mph). I assume it will turn on additional LED's which are shooing the light to the side the steering wheel is turning to like those old Cadillac did. Thus you don't need to make the LED headlights turn like AFS system.

 

[Seminole]

The highly advanced ALH LED headlights are illegal in the US? How could it be that there is a law to prohibit this new LED headlight technology used in the US as these lawmakers don't even know there is a such lighting system exists!

According to the ALH video, the LED array divided into four sections should cover very wide angle and turn the individual LED section on and off to change the light coverage. There is additional "wide low-beam lights" located on the side of DRL LED strips illuminate further to the sides of the car when the speed is at or below 40 km/h (25 mph). I assume it will turn on additional LED's which are shooing the light to the side the steering wheel is turning to like those old Cadillac did. Thus you don't need to make the LED headlights turn like AFS system.

The U.S. instituted a regulation that required all vehicle headlights to be capable of switching from high-beam to low-beam in 1968. That rule is still on the books.

These new LEDs don't have a high or low beam. They're smarter than that, adapting to conditions without requiring input from drivers. hence, they are banned

 

[yrwei52]

The highly advanced ALH LED headlights are illegal in the US? How could it be that there is a law to prohibit this new LED headlight technology used in the US as these lawmakers don't even know there is a such lighting system exists!

The U.S. instituted a regulation that required all vehicle headlights to be capable of switching from high-beam to low-beam in 1968. That rule is still on the books.
These new LEDs don't have a high or low beam. They're smarter than that, adapting to conditions without requiring input from drivers. hence, they are banned

According to ALH introduction video, the ALH system is activated when the headlamps are set to the AUTO and the level is in the high-beam position. A forward sensing camera monitors the road ahead and automatically switches the headlamps between low and high beams as needed. The high-beam will also be automatically activated at the speed of 95 km/h (~59 mph). So ALH does have low/high beams and you can do manual switch as usual as long as the ALH is not activated. Very advanced ALH uses motors to lower/raise the LED arrays to act as low/high beams, and turns selected section of LED's on/off according to road conditions. But the way ALH activated is the same as HBC (High Beam Control) we have here is US. If HBC is legal, I really don't see why ALH can't be legal here? Am I missing something? (uhm)

 

[Cis4]

According to ALH introduction video, the ALH system is activated when the headlamps are set to the AUTO and the level is in the high-beam position. A forward sensing camera monitors the road ahead and automatically switches the headlamps between low and high beams as needed. The high-beam will also be automatically activated at the speed of 95 km/h (~59 mph). So ALH does have low/high beams and you can do manual switch as usual as long as the ALH is not activated. Very advanced ALH uses motors to lower/raise the LED arrays to act as low/high beams, and turns selected section of LED's on/off according to road conditions. But the way ALH activated is the same as HBC (High Beam Control) we have here is US. If HBC is legal, I really don't see why ALH can't be legal here? Am I missing something? (uhm)

ALH is illegal in the US because they are not high beam and low beam only, which is required in the US. ALH are high beam, low beam, and stuff in between. That stuff in between that makes them awesome is what is illegal in the US.

http://blog.dupontregistry.com/mercedes-benz/why-are-adaptive-headlights-illegal-in-the-usa/