Swivel headlights - when cars learned to shine around the corner

Adaptive lighting systems are standard today. They shine reliably in the distance without impairing oncoming traffic. They've learned to light up around corners and they have software modes specific to the city, highway, or country road. How up-to-date is the innovation? In fact, cars learned decades ago to light up the curve.

Cornering lights, or pivoting headlights, are much older than you think. It was first installed in Cadillac vehicles over 100 years ago, and Tatra took over the introduction in Europe in the 1930s. Then the innovation went quiet, and it seemed that vehicles had forgotten how to light up around corners.

Until 1968. Then it was the divine DS from Citroën that could shine around the curve in series. Safety at night, wrote Citroën. With the pivoting headlight. And ran an ad.

Safety at night with cornering lights - or pivoting headlights
Safety at night with cornering lights - or pivoting headlights

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