New Focus to be global

[NickF1011]

I very much hope Ford leaves the amber turn signals on global cars - I think they look better and classier on small cars.

 

Like them or not, amber rear signals are against DOT standards. Just one more little way the US is backwards compared to the rest of the world.

[igor]

Like them or not, amber rear signals are against DOT standards. Just one more little way the US is backwards compared to the rest of the world.

are they ? so all the cars with amber signals have exceptions?

 

interesting ...

 

Igor

[NickF1011]

are they ? so all the cars with amber signals have exceptions?

 

interesting ...

 

Igor

 

What cars sold here in the past however many years have amber rear turn indicators? I don't know of any off the top of my head. Far as I know, DOT mandates amber for front, red for rear.

[MKII]

What cars sold here in the past however many years have amber rear turn indicators? I don't know of any off the top of my head. Far as I know, DOT mandates amber for front, red for rear.

 

So Volvo cars in the USA have red rear turn indicators?

[NickF1011]

So Volvo cars in the USA have red rear turn indicators?

 

Can't say I've ever taken a good look. :shrug:

 

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/09...9cfr571.108.pdf

 

Here we go:

 

Signal lamps may be red or amber.

 

Brake lights must be red.

 

Clearance lamps (parking lights) must be red in the rear and amber in the front.

 

Reflectors must be red in the rear and amber in the front.

 

Took awhile to find it all amongst all that gubmint gibberish.

Edited April 15, 2008 by NickF1011

[igor]

oh ok - that is what I thought - I knew PA did nort care between amber of ren, but that is PA not Feds.

 

igor

[jasonj80]

Can't say I've ever taken a good look. :shrug:

 

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/09...9cfr571.108.pdf

 

Here we go:

 

Signal lamps may be red or amber.

 

Brake lights must be red.

 

Clearance lamps (parking lights) must be red in the rear and amber in the front.

 

Reflectors must be red in the rear and amber in the front.

 

Took awhile to find it all amongst all that gubmint gibberish.

 

Clearance can be clear up front as well but they must also have a front side reflector that is amber (this reflector can be clear in the Euro)

 

Lexus, Volvo, Saab, MB, Toyota(a few Scion Don't), use amber turn signals in the rear. Even the Milan/MKZ/Sable use amber in the rear.

 

The Euro standard far exceeds the U.S. when it comes to lighting classification.

 

I agree tri color tail lamps look better and make the car look more expensive.

[NickF1011]

I agree tri color tail lamps look better and make the car look more expensive.

 

I agree in some cases. I liked the rear lights used on the Cobras that were exported to Australia several years back. Believe they were only exported in 1998 and 2000. Can't find any pictures at the moment, but they had an amber section outboard of the clear reverse lamp section on the tails.

[papilgee4evaeva]

Not my car, but they do this -

 

 

Some months ago, I saw a current-gen Mustang with sequential lights. It was fascinating.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Like them or not, amber rear signals are against DOT standards. Just one more little way the US is backwards compared to the rest of the world.

 

Did you ever get trafficators in the States Nick, they used to be very much in vogue in UK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anwjq4pVM14...feature=related

[NickF1011]

Did you ever get trafficators in the States Nick, they used to be very much in vogue in UK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anwjq4pVM14...feature=related

 

Not to my knowledge.

[papilgee4evaeva]

What cars sold here in the past however many years have amber rear turn indicators? I don't know of any off the top of my head. Far as I know, DOT mandates amber for front, red for rear.

 

Depends on where they build the car. Most built outside the US, especially in Germany, have the amber lights.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Not to my knowledge.

 

You youngsters have missed out on all these great innovations.

[rmc523]

Like them or not, amber rear signals are against DOT standards. Just one more little way the US is backwards compared to the rest of the world.

 

 

are they ? so all the cars with amber signals have exceptions?

 

interesting ...

 

Igor

 

 

What cars sold here in the past however many years have amber rear turn indicators? I don't know of any off the top of my head. Far as I know, DOT mandates amber for front, red for rear.

 

 

So Volvo cars in the USA have red rear turn indicators?

 

I'm not sure if your right about this Nick. Maybe it applies to vehicles built in the US? I know our BMW (and all BMWs, with the exception of the new 5 (red LEDs), Z4, X3, 5, and 6 (the latter 4 of which are built here in SC) have amber rear turn lights)

 

I believe ALL Ford products have a dual taillamp/turn signal function, thus red. I believe most GM products are that way now (G8 isn't, but it's built down under).

 

So, my guess, if there is a limitation/regulation is that it applies to vehicles built in the US.

[papilgee4evaeva]

I believe ALL Ford products have a dual taillamp/turn signal function, thus red. I believe most GM products are that way now (G8 isn't, but it's built down under).

 

So, my guess, if there is a limitation/regulation is that it applies to vehicles built in the US.

 

IIRC, Mercuries (with the exception of the GM) and the MKZ have the amber turn signal.

[rmc523]

IIRC, Mercuries (with the exception of the GM) and the MKZ have the amber turn signal.

 

I said Fords. Also, they are built in Mexico, adding further to the possibility that it's American vehicles that need red turn lights out back. Fusion may have done red lights just to fit in with the lineup?

 

I'm just making a logical assumption, I don't even know if there is a law like this.

[suv_guy_19]

I said Fords. Also, they are built in Mexico, adding further to the possibility that it's American vehicles that need red turn lights out back. Fusion may have done red lights just to fit in with the lineup?

 

I'm just making a logical assumption, I don't even know if there is a law like this.

 

Last Escape had amber, where was it built?

[rmc523]

Last Escape had amber, where was it built?

 

The regulation (if it exists) may have been instituted after that Escape was designed, thus it likely wouldn't have needed to comply until a redesign.

[RichardJensen]

There is no regulation pertaining to cars built here and amber turn signals. Nor is it likely that in a matter where country of origin is immaterial in all other areas (crash testing, etc.), a distinction would be made here.

 

For whatever reason, Ford's designers have cooled on the amber rear turn signal having once been big fans of it (Mustang, Tempo, Taurus, Escort, Fox LTD all had amber rear signals at one time or another--heck, on the Tempo & Fox LTD, the Fords had amber signals, and the Mercuries had red).

[pcsario]

"Ford's designers" my ass, it's simply another embarrasing cost-cutting move by FNA.

 

You can have amber turn signals even if the tailights appear to be all red:

 

 

I agree with Igor, do it properly or stop being mediocre even with the tailights already.

[rmc523]

"Ford's designers" my ass, it's simply another embarrasing cost-cutting move by FNA.

 

You can have amber turn signals even if the tailights appear to be all red:

 

 

I agree with Igor, do it properly or stop being mediocre even with the tailights already.

 

I thought you might like to know that the Passat now has red turn signals, along with a majority of the VW lineup.

 

Why is it such a big deal what color the turn signal is?

 

Personally, I prefer red LEDs.

[TomServo92]

Wow...an internet argument about the color of turn signals...

 

Livin' life in the fast lane!!!

[rmc523]

Wow...an internet argument about the color of turn signals...

 

Livin' life in the fast lane!!!

 

Which do you prefer? Red or amber/orange?

[TomServo92]

Which do you prefer? Red or amber/orange?

 

No comment. :shades:

[jpd80]

Which do you prefer? Red or amber/orange?

I like them all!