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Visteon Laser Light Technology Honored as One of the Best in 1999

9 November 1999

Visteon Laser Light Technology Honored as One of the Best in 1999

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 9 -- Visteon 's revolutionary
application of laser technology to tail lamps has captured the spotlight.
    The editors of Popular Science Magazine named the lighting technology one
of the year's 100 best innovations in their 1999 "Best of What's New" award
issue.  The best-selling December issue annually scrutinizes thousands of new
technologies, products and scientific achievements to identify those that
display the greatest innovations.
    Visteon Automotive Systems' laser-based lighting will reshape vehicle
designs in the future and offer customers extraordinary lighting effects.
Because the technology uses fiber optics to transmit light from a central
source to brake and rear lights, laser tail lamps can be ultra thin and
transparent, taking on the vehicle's body color when they are off.
    "We are honored to receive this award and are gratified that innovations
like Visteon's laser lighting technology receive widespread recognition by the
scientific community," said Marcos Oliveira, vice president and chief
technology officer, Visteon.  "Visteon is committed to offering its customers
unsurpassed technology and integrated systems.  Laser lights give designers
the flexibility they need to integrate vehicle lighting into body designs and
explore unique optical systems that can't be achieved with conventional
bulbs."
    Visteon's laser tail lamps take the thickness of a brake light from
today's approximate four inches to just one-half inch.  But in addition to
extraordinary styling opportunities, Visteon's laser lighting technology is
also safer than conventional lights.  Laser tail lamps have a "fast-rise time"
-- light is generated instantaneously -- and drivers have more time to react
to brake signals.  They also last the life of the vehicle and consume seven
times less electricity than incandescent bulbs, making them a prime candidate
for electric and hybrid vehicles.
    "We are dedicated to offering consumers revolutionary vehicle technologies
that will make driving safer, more economical, more stylish and more fun,"
said Larry Maier, Visteon's strategic business unit director of lighting.  "We
are also looking at ways to help our customers bring new, more
environmentally-friendly vehicle designs to the market.  Visteon's laser tail
lamps offer the industry some truly unique design and power requirement
opportunities."
    With a global delivery system of more than 125 technical, manufacturing,
sales and service facilities located in 21 countries, Visteon Automotive
Systems is leveraging the talents of its 77,000 employees to deliver
innovative, consumer-driven systems solutions to its customers.