Why did they do this?

[Speed_Racer]

So I was driving around today and found myself behind a Land Rover Freelander. As I was driving,  I almost hit the Freelander because it looked like their brake lights weren't working.

Actually, they were working, but I noticed that only the lower lights on a Freelander actually light up when they brake, not the upper "tail lights".



Why is that? It totally threw me off because I normally expect traditionally-placed tail lights to light up, not the lights near a bumper (unless those are the only lights available, like on the Suzuki Samurai).:



Does this bother anybody else? It really strikes me as a bit dangerous.

[Run Away]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

[ifcar]

I assume they turn on with the headlights.  

[footoflead]

thats retarded...why put the lights below the drivers direct line of site...especially if they are in a huge truck (which seems to be the trend these days)

[Colonel Cadillac]

It reminds me of the El Camino.  

[BMWDave]

On my Disco the lights integrated into the bumper light up along with the lights on the side...the Freelander's way of braking does seem strange.

[MaxPower]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

Those are the vehicle's (all-important ) rear fog lights and reverse lights.  It is retarded that Land Rover put them up high, they should have switched it the other way around and put the brake/turn up and the fog/reverse down.

[footoflead]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

Those are the vehicle's (all-important ) rear fog lights and reverse lights.  It is retarded that Land Rover put them up high, they should have switched it the other way around and put the brake/turn up and the fog/reverse down.

Its almost dangerous

[MaxPower]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

Those are the vehicle's (all-important ) rear fog lights and reverse lights.  It is retarded that Land Rover put them up high, they should have switched it the other way around and put the brake/turn up and the fog/reverse down.

Its almost dangerous

agreed....most drivers with rear fog lights don't even know how or when to use them...  so do they really need them in such a promient position?

[TBR]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

Those are the vehicle's (all-important ) rear fog lights and reverse lights.  It is retarded that Land Rover put them up high, they should have switched it the other way around and put the brake/turn up and the fog/reverse down.

Its almost dangerous

agreed....most drivers with rear fog lights don't even know how or when to use them...  so do they really need them in such a promient position?

A better question is does a soft roader like the Freelander need rear fog lights at all?

[93JC]

Most European countries mandate all new cars must have at least one rear fog light.

[Raza]

I've noticed that too.

What do the upper tailights do anyways? They're not turn signals, I know that.

Those are the vehicle's (all-important ) rear fog lights and reverse lights.  It is retarded that Land Rover put them up high, they should have switched it the other way around and put the brake/turn up and the fog/reverse down.

Rear fogs aren't really for sight--they're generally just intense lights that are meant for other drivers to see you in case the regular tail lights are not bright enough in fog.

[Raza]

Most European countries mandate all new cars must have at least one rear fog light.

My E320 had one (which was odd, since it was in one of the tail light housings, but not in the other) but the Passat does not--or if it does, it does not have a separate switch setting for it (the E320 has a turn and pull light system, same as the Volkswagen, but the pull needs two clicks to turn on the rear fog, and only one for the front fogs).

[Champ]

Pretty sure rear fogs are supposed to be one side only.. so people can distinguish them from regular tail lights vs. brake lights.

[MaxPower]

Rear fogs and their location depend on the make...but there is always a left/center illumination.  MBs, Saabs, Volvos, Audis all equip their US-spec cars with rear fogs, but only on the left.  All of the cars have a symmetrical housing on the other side, I don't know but maybe some european countries require both.  Jaguar illuminates both sides.  BMWs, VWs, and others have the spot for a rear fog but they're just not included in the spec that we get over here (example: raza's passat just needs the bulb and the switch, I bet it's already wired for it).  When you see most American vehicles in Europe they've got rear fogs added into bumper, unless there is a place handy in the taillight housing (sometimes they red-out one of the white reverse lights).  There are rules about the proximity of a rear fog to the brake light, and so on...

So long story short the Freelander has the rear fog due to its European heritage, not because it is an SUV.


And, finally, the above proves I know WAY to much about rear fog lights. B)

Just for kicks, here's a Euro-spec Corvette, with rear fogs...

[Madman]

Left-hand-drive cars in continental Europe (where they drive on the right side of the road, just like we do) will have the rear fog light on the left.  Right-hand drive cars (in Britain and Ireland, where they drive on the left side of the road) will have the rear fog light on the right.

Some cars, such as my 1990 Volvo 740, will have rear fog lights in both taillight housings.  A typically safety-concious "more is better" philosophy on the part of Volvo, I guess?  Or maybe they just didn't want to bother with making different taillights for different markets?

I also remember seeing an article in European Car magazine showing how to retrofit rear foglights in US-spec Volkswagens.  If I remember correctly, a bulb (possibly the sockett, too) and a Euro-spec headlight switch were all that was required.


Madman of the People