‘Game changing’ tech lets Toyota swap standard safety feature vehicles have had since the invention of the car

WHILE most aspects of automotive technology are defined by evolution and advancement, the headlight has largely remained the same in essence since its introduction.

A new automotive lighting product seeks to change that with a revolutionary step forward for the key piece of equipment, with Toyota customers getting the first crack at the new approach.

Oracle Lighting has developed a new set of LED headlights which have no lenses whatsoever, leaving the lights within totally exposed to the elements.

Although it may seem foolhardy on the surface, the lights are notably rated as IP68 waterproof, meaning they’re fully protected from dust and can withstand continuous submersion in 1 meter of water or more for at least 30 minutes.

In other words, the headlights are more than capable of standing up to the typical precipitation and elemental forces a standard headlight relies on a lens to shield itself from.

The lack of lenses also gives the headlights the benefit of not dimming over time as the lens becomes cloudy, scratched, or even discolored.

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Additional features include those pertaining to temperature management, and a modular design using Bi-LED emitter pods to generate light which can be easily and individually replaced.

This is in contrast to modern, industry standard LED headlights, which more often than not require a full replacement even if one diode and one diode only has gone bad.

The headlight housing can also be paint-matched to each vehicle according to Oracle, which allows for a level of personalization and customization never before seen in headlight technology.

The first lights to hit the market will be delivered by the start of 2026, and will retail between $800 and $900 per set.

While this technology would notably and excitably replace the need to swap out entire headlight units, its application is fairly limited in its current form.

Toyota is the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offering Oracle’s headlights for its vehicles, and even then the product is only compatible with 2016 to 2023 Toyota Tacoma models.

However, Oracle has confirmed that it intends to expand the product to other models, including the Toyota 4Runner.

Oracle also lists the Ford F-150 as an eventual expansion target on its official website, with the tech likely to make the jump to other OEMs if it proves a viable step forward for the industry in the real world.