Header: Changan Global Design Center
Light of the City is an automotive lighting system developed by Chongqing Changan Automobile, created for one of the brand’s production models in China. Awarded in the Automotive Lighting category at the LIT Lighting Design Awards, the project was led by Tian Jiyu, BACH Bertrand, Yu Yuze, Hu Wang, and Chen Shouhe, alongside a wider team at the Changan Global Design Center.
The design
Drawing inspiration from the illuminated skyline of Chongqing at night, the design team developed a system that balances visual identity with functional performance. At the front, four horizontal layers of LED light form a continuous strip that stretches across the width of the vehicle, recalling the shape of a flying wing and echoing the dynamism of the city’s architecture. The taillights adopt a similar approach, with sources positioned at varying heights to create a seamless visual flow, while the illuminated “V” logo at the rear references the intersection of Chongqing’s two rivers—an iconic landmark reimagined in light.
Specifics
Beyond its visual qualities, the lighting system includes several features designed to enhance interaction and performance: six different animated sequences are programmed to activate as the driver approaches or exits the vehicle; in high-beam mode, the system achieves 5 lux of illumination across a 16-metre-wide spread at a distance of 50 metres, ensuring road safety; signal lamps are designed with a luminous area of up to 900 cm² for the daytime running lights and a visibility angle of 180 degrees for the position lamps.
Sustainability
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design process. The system uses full LED technology supported by an innovative cooling structure, which together reduce energy consumption by 18% compared to the previous generation. Lamp weight has been brought down from 14.2 kg to 11 kg, contributing to improved energy efficiency and vehicle performance. Components are built from recyclable, environmentally certified materials, while a software port built into the control module allows lighting animations to be updated over time without replacing any hardware.
With a production capacity of up to 21,000 units per month and a lifespan of over 100,000 hours, the lighting system is designed not only for performance and design impact but also for durability and large-scale manufacturing.
