Cadillac XTS 'choreographed' LED lighting explained [w/video]

The introduction of LED lighting into vehicle lamp graphics has seen manufacturers strive to create their own identifiable lighting signatures. Cadillac, for example, is looking to take this one step further with the introduction of LEDs throughout the XTS, rather than just within its light clusters.

Designed to greet drivers through a choreographed sequence, 20 separate light sources begin their routine once the key fob is pressed. These include LEDs embedded in the door handles, ambient lighting inside and out of the car as well as the traditional signature strips in the head and tail lamps.

"The new LED offerings now provide a new palette of color to bring more dramatic lighting effects that have never been available before," said Christos Roustemis, Cadillac interior designer. "We sketched each phase of the process to carefully choreograph how every important area inside and outside of the vehicle would come up and fade back down, similar to a production crew lighting a theater stage."

White was chosen for the ambient lighting so as not to clash with the car's instrumentation and CUE HMI system's illumination, enhancing the driving experience, whilst minimizing driver distraction. As a result, interior lighting is limited to subtle highlights that extend horizontally across the IP and door cards.

Lighting spilling out of its traditional boundaries is a growing trend as seen on the BMW VisionConnected Drive, Audi A2 concept and Honda AC-X concept.

By John O'Brien