These Cars Have The Coolest Light Bar Designs

Photo: Hyundai

Light bars have made a gradual return to popularity in new cars, and for the most part they make designs look more futuristic, but not all are created equal. Full-width rear light bars had a moment in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and a few models carried the torch through the ‘80s and ‘90s, but modern cars seem to be embracing full-width lighting elements more than ever before.

The implementation of LED lighting technology in automobiles has opened doors for designers to make more radical lighting designs than ever before, and LED light bars have come back into popularity alongside the rise of EVs. I’m impressed with the variation that automakers have been able to apply to light bars — some are razor-thin, some are thicker, some are recessed and some are three dimensional. Full-width light bars are now used for headlights as well as taillights, too.

As car design is forced to comply with stricter aerodynamic limitations to maximize efficiency and to comply with pedestrian safety standards, the actual shape of new cars seem more homogenized, but lighting elements are an effective way for designers to make new cars stand out without compromising aerodynamics or pedestrian safety standards.

Read along to see what we think are some of the coolest light bars ever implemented on cars. Let us know if we missed one of your favorites in the comments!