Let there be Ambient Light
 There's a growing trend in vehicle design at this show, and it comes in the form of ambient interior lighting. Acura and Audi have been effectively employing this technique for a few years now on cars like the A4 and TSX, but other makes are quickly jumping in with various forms of soothing interior lighting. This goes beyond the bright dome lights that come when you open a door. I'm talking about the soft red (Audi A4), blue (Acura TSX), white (Bentley Continental GT) or amber (Saturn Aura) lights that reamain on whenever the headlights are on. These lights add an undeniable "premium-ness" to a cabin, and these days automakers are looking for every advantage they can get to make their product stand out in the eyes of consumers. At the Detroit Show this same type of soothing interior light has been specifically noted by company reps on everything from the updated Ford Focus to the redesigned Cadillac CTS. Think of this soothing light as the latest "it" trait, one that used to be the hallmark of concept cars only. Expect to see an increasing amount of creative cabin lighting in a showroom near you. With every trend there is a trendsetter. BMW has used ambient lighting it its cabins for years. Hold your hand under the front dome lights of the late model 3-series and you will notice a beautiful amber glow, which illuminates the audio / climate controls when the lights are on.
My 96 Chrysler Cirrus has an amber glow that emits from the center console. The use of ambilight might be becoming more prevalent, but it's certainly nothing new.
My 1994 Acura Legend has these lights and they are even adjustable with a dimmer switch. They're called "courtesy lights" and can go from being turned all the way off up to full brightness anytime the headlights are on. This ambient lighting is nothing new.
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