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When the new VW Touareg debuts, one special feature will stand out! Because even while driving the VW logo at the rear of the car will light up red. This used to be forbidden, but since January 4, 2023 a new ECE law has allowed illuminated Logos on the front and (or) on the back while driving, but only under certain conditions. UN-ECE Rules R48 and R148 dealing with the approval, installation and operation of position lights have been adopted for this geändert. Officially, the glowing symbols count as position lights, which are only allowed in the European Union. In other countries, such as the USA and China, there are less strict regulations for vehicle lighting anyway.
Retrofit glowing logo?
The inclined tuner immediately asks the question, is it actually possible to retrofit an illuminated logo – regardless of whether it is on the front or the back? We can say that in theory it is possible, but in practice it is (unfortunately) hardly possible. But it is not possible to retrofit the sparkling logos. The amended UN-ECE regulations R48 and R148 in January state that everything that emits light while driving is entered as a system of dependent luminaires. This means that headlights, taillights and position lights are specified as part of the vehicle lighting in the type approval and cannot simply be changed.
Manufacturers will therefore also have their difficulties integrating the technology into existing models. In addition to the installation, the control must also be implemented in the vehicle's software. In addition, an illuminated logo requires a certain amount of space to ensure cooling, control and light distribution. This increases the space requirement by a few centimeters and also requires a clear demarcation from other parts. If you want to retrofit, then you have to be loud UN Regulation No. 148 – Light Signaling Devices (LSD) pay attention to the following things:
- Size of the logos maximum 100 cm²
- Logos must be symmetrical
- The logo on the rear must glow red
- Distance to the nearest illuminated surface at most 75 millimeters
- it must be the manufacturer's logo
- no more than two logos per vehicle (both front or rear is theoretically conceivable)
Precisely prescribed sizes
Europe's rules for logo size and distance to the nearest illuminated area are clearly defined. The size of the logo is limited to a maximum of 100 cm², with the area being limited by the outer luminous edge of the logo. When it comes to round logos like those of VW, BMW or Mercedes, this corresponds to a diameter of around 10 centimetres. However, this is a bit small in the radiator of the facelift model of the Touareg, which is why only the VW emblem on the rear is illuminated.
And the rules also stipulate that the distance to nearest illuminated area must not be more than 75 millimeters as specified in UN-ECE R148. So we can look forward to even more light strips leading between the headlights to a central illuminated company logo. In the new Touareg, the taillights of the production vehicle are connected by an LED light strip in order to let the VW emblem shine red in the middle. However, the IQ Light option pack, which includes the HD triple matrix headlights, is a requirement.
Symmetrical position lights required
The UN-ECE regulations R48 and R148 specify the shape of the position lamp that symmetric have to be. The rules also stipulate that the currently registered company trademark must be used and that no illuminated model names, anniversary logos or traditional lettering are permitted. And allowed per vehicle at most two logos mounted, such as one at the front and one at the rear. However, it is theoretically possible to have two at the front or to be attached to the stern as long as symmetry is maintained both in positioning and in the logo itself.
Stay away from retrofit solutions!
We already have a tip: keep your hands off various retrofit kits from the internet. As of today (February 02.2022) there is none with approval and so trouble is inevitable. Such a set may only be installed on show vehicles that are not used on public roads. According to § 49a StVZO, there is a risk of a fine of at least €20 if there is no permit. Depending on the individual case, the operating permit for the car can also expire.
We hope that you have received our information report on the topic / term glowing logo (Other designations/keywords are: illuminated logo, illuminated logo at the front, illuminated logo at the rear, LED emblem, LED emblem, LED logo, LED logo, LED badge, LED badge, LED car logo, illuminated emblem) from the Autotuning category. Our goal is to create the largest German-speaking tuning lexicon (Tuning Wikipedia) and to explain tuning technical terms from A to Z easily and comprehensibly.
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