Re-think Headlight Design

[dleepnw]

I'm not a huge fan of the 4 array headlight design, looks too similar to the ones Porsche uses. Also kinda looks like a merge of the Porsche and Bronco lights. IMO, its not actually that distinctive/iconic.

I do really like how the DRL blends into the side/parking light and the light bar that wraps around the front/rear grille. Very distinctive.

More than that, I'm concerned about how they are inset and there is a "ledge" in front of each light. This is going to accumulate snow and cover the light. LEDs don't generate much heat so its going to melt off. This being an adventure vehicle, a lot folks who live in and travel to places where it snows are not going to be happy about this.

I'd recommend making the headlights flush so there is no ledge, having a heating element or maybe a washer (though this will be least effective).

Update:
Case study - Cybertruck with this issue. Scout, hope you’ve got a plan to accout for this: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...cumulate-and-block-the-headlights-230818.html

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I'm not one who worries much about appearances, so the appearance doesn't bother me.

What's intriguing is that it seems like they may be matrix headlights and Scout Motors is going to be one of the few with dynamic anti-glare high-beam lighting capabilities. This will greatly enhance night-time visibility with oncoming traffic.

Glare Free light operation

I used the F150 Lightning Forscan thread

www.f150lightningforum.com

 

[dleepnw]

I don't have Photoshop, so forgive the crudeness of the look, but what do you think about two larger light bars vs the 4 smaller ones? looks cleaner to me

 

[Scoutsie]

I don't have Photoshop, so forgive the crudeness of the look, but what do you think about two larger light bars vs the 4 smaller ones?

Now seeing it that way, I feel like it loses some of its character with two light bars and a dividing light bar in between. I like it with 4 smaller ones more. They could denote four corners of a rectangular box. Visual language!

 

[dleepnw]

Now seeing it that way, I feel like it loses some of its character with two light bars and a dividing light bar in between. I like it with 4 smaller ones more. They could denote four corners of a rectangular box. Visual language!

yeah, ultimately design is subjective so whatever they go with is going to look great to some, fine to others and awful to the rest.

 

[Angie M.]

The headlights are a miss. Still time for a redesign to respect the original front grill and light design.

I completely agree. I expected it to have round lights, and I think it really needs them and a different grill to distinguish it more from the Rivian.

 

[J Alynn]

I completely agree. I expected it to have round lights, and I think it really needs them and a different grill to distinguish it more from the Rivian.

As noted over variations. It was noted early on that the new Scouts were to be evolution design-not nostalgia design. Year one I was on board completely with round headlights and softened rectangular bezels (even posted drawings if you go way back). Seeing the evolution and vehicles in person at reveal I think the design is awesome.
Ironically the new Toyota Land Cruiser (in my opinion) looks WAY better with the modern rectangular headlights than round. And just to add-I owned and abandoned a 2023 Bronco and loved the round headlight design.
Imagine having LC, Bronco,Jeep and Scout all with round headlights (and don’t forget MB-G wagon and LR defender). Would be bland. And as noted earlier the headlights if rotated have a slight nod to original iH logo.
Ultimately everyone gets an opinion but as good as it looked in person I will continue to vote to keep them

 

[Albal]

At first I was disappointed, but after looking at them awhile and considering the front end as a whole, I think it’s a very nice clean design that is also a bit unique. Well done. My bigger concern is whether they’re going to be matrix or not.

 

[KarlT]

I completely agree. I expected it to have round lights, and I think it really needs them and a different grill to distinguish it more from the Rivian.

I’d say the Rivian’s are more round than square.

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

I'm a bit lost how this vertical Dyson-esque headlamp:

looks like this rounded rectangle:

I'm totally open for debate, but I don't see a similarity. I suspect if we had put round headlamps in the front end we would have been labeled as copying the Ford Bronco (even though the original Scout was on the market five years before the Bronco).

 

[R1TVT]

I don't have Photoshop, so forgive the crudeness of the look, but what do you think about two larger light bars vs the 4 smaller ones? looks cleaner to me


View attachment 3949
View attachment 3950

I think the original design looks better, and gives a nod to a more "squared off" light with the 4 small bars. It has grown on me.

 

[R1TVT]

I'm a bit lost how this vertical Dyson-esque headlamp:

View attachment 3955

looks like this rounded rectangle:


View attachment 3956


I'm totally open for debate, but I don't see a similarity. I suspect if we had put round headlamps in the front end we would have been labeled as copying the Ford Bronco (even though the original Scout was on the market five years before the Bronco).

Agreed - and Rivian goes so far as to call them "stadium lights" based on the roundness - The new update to the headlights for the Gen2 R1's moved the amber turn signal from the "surround" on stadium light to the lower lights. Not sure what they are doing with the R2 lights (which is what is in your image). The stadium lights are also active and will direct the beam based on steering inputs, and now offer a feature that sees oncoming traffic, and will prevent high beams from blinding oncoming traffic, but leave the high beams on around that oncoming vehcile.

 

[J Alynn]

I'm a bit lost how this vertical Dyson-esque headlamp:

View attachment 3955

looks like this rounded rectangle:


View attachment 3956


I'm totally open for debate, but I don't see a similarity. I suspect if we had put round headlamps in the front end we would have been labeled as copying the Ford Bronco (even though the original Scout was on the market five years before the Bronco).

Agree

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I'm a bit lost how this vertical Dyson-esque headlamp:

View attachment 3955

looks like this rounded rectangle:


View attachment 3956


I'm totally open for debate, but I don't see a similarity. I suspect if we had put round headlamps in the front end we would have been labeled as copying the Ford Bronco (even though the original Scout was on the market five years before the Bronco).

I have to agree here. These come across as two completely independent, unique, and distinctive designs.

I also agree that you’ll never win everyone all at once. It just won’t happen. If Scout Motors had used round headlamps, then you’d have part of the crowd saying “meh, good job copy-pasting the new Bronco guys”. I had sort of expected they would come up with their own spin on a modern round design, so I’m still getting used to the front end design they came up with but I don’t dislike it. They could go the Land Cruiser route and have more than one headlamp design…

I don’t love the Rivian design, but I don’t hate it either. If nothing else, in the sea of look-a-likes these days there’s no doubt what it is when you see a Rivian on the road. I do think the Scout design looks more slick and rugged though, while still being distinctive.

 

[DBHowe]

Well, now I feel like a salmon swimming upstream. I like the front lights and would not change them (except for the snow build up concern).

The way I see it, the new Scout design is not trying to reproduce the original Scout II, it is a subtle nod to that heritage. I would not prefer round headlights like Jeep and Bronco. It seems to me that the two "bars" of the headlights give a nod to the square headlight of the 1980. I wonder what slightly taller "bars" with just slightly rounded outside corners would look like. It would be a little more heritage without just running with the round headlight herd.

Having said all this, it must make designers crazy to hear people with no design experience critique their work. (But they requested it, right?)

I feel if it were me making the design decisions, we'd end up with a Camel or a Platypus. I'm glad I only have to drive it, not design it! *grin*

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

Well, now I feel like a salmon swimming upstream. I like the front lights and would not change them (except for the snow build up concern).

The way I see it, the new Scout design is not trying to reproduce the original Scout II, it is a subtle nod to that heritage. I would not prefer round headlights like Jeep and Bronco. It seems to me that the two "bars" of the headlights give a nod to the square headlight of the 1980. I wonder what slightly taller "bars" with just slightly rounded outside corners would look like. It would be a little more heritage without just running with the round headlight herd.

Having said all this, it must make designers crazy to hear people with no design experience critique their work. (But they requested it, right?)

I feel if it were me making the design decisions, we'd end up with a Camel or a Platypus. I'm glad I only have to drive it, not design it! *grin*

Thank you for mentioning the snow build-up concern. It’s a real thing and I hope it will not be overlooked.

 

[Harris005]

Well, now I feel like a salmon swimming upstream. I like the front lights and would not change them (except for the snow build up concern).

The way I see it, the new Scout design is not trying to reproduce the original Scout II, it is a subtle nod to that heritage. I would not prefer round headlights like Jeep and Bronco. It seems to me that the two "bars" of the headlights give a nod to the square headlight of the 1980. I wonder what slightly taller "bars" with just slightly rounded outside corners would look like. It would be a little more heritage without just running with the round headlight herd.

Having said all this, it must make designers crazy to hear people with no design experience critique their work. (But they requested it, right?)

I feel if it were me making the design decisions, we'd end up with a Camel or a Platypus. I'm glad I only have to drive it, not design it! *grin*

I've always been in the '79 SSII round headlight/grill camp. Sometimes its hard to remember the 44 years we lost in the Scout design changing a bit each year. Chevy sure didn't stick to a round headlight. It didn't take long after the Scout rolled out at the reveal, and seeing it in person, to come around to liking the new Scout front end look.

In the words of John Lennon (kinda) " All we are saying ....is give [the new Scout front end] a chance "

 

[J. Sweat]

When I first saw the headlights during the reveal, I instantly thought, 'Oh boy, they're trying too hard to avoid looking like a Bronco and ended up butchering the frontend' and it appears I was right. When your design is led by not being something instead of being something, you get weirdness like this that doesn't match the rest of the vehicle.

 

[J Alynn]

When I first saw the headlights during the reveal, I instantly thought, 'Oh boy, they're trying too hard to avoid looking like a Bronco and ended up butchering the frontend' and it appears I was right. When your design is led by not being something instead of being something, you get weirdness like this that doesn't match the rest of the vehicle.

Again. We all have opinions but in person it really works. Are there other things they could’ve done-SURE!
Is there a tiny bit of a Porsche feel-SURE, but I can say I despise the Porsche lights and these just look good in person. I’d actually be disappointed at this point if they changed it-especially if round. It’s clean and simple without being too modern. It speaks to a rectangular shape without being obvious. On the road at night, you will know this vehicle just like you know a Rivian but in a unique way that reflects back to the late 70’s/80 models. Where there are no chrome frames there is a thin simple light border that in person reads like a grill surround. I think everyone saying they don’t like it need to wait and see it in person because like many of us who wanted round-we’re very pleased seeing it in person.
The shape is linear horizontal which ties back to horizontal elements of the 70’s Scouts. All just my opinion so carry on!

 

[R1TVT]

When your design is led by not being something instead of being something, you get weirdness like this that doesn't match the rest of the vehicle.

I never heard the Scout team say this.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion (I happen to like the front end b/c it doesn't look like any other truck out there), and I think it looks very good, but we shouldn't assume that the design team was charged with designing around "not being a Bronco"... That actually seems like an appeal to hypocrisy in the case of Bronco.

 

[Albal]

I like the front but I, for one, will be unplugging the illuminated "Scout" logo..