Porsche's Lighting Masterclass: Evolution Of Four-Point Principle

Porsche follows the natural evolution

The German brand has always been about “evolution, not revolution". While this is most prominent with the rear-engine 911, which still retains the classic design and form of the 1964 original, it also extends to the lights. The Porsche 964 was the last to feature traditional, halogen headlights. The Porsche 993 may have been the last air-cooled 911, but it was also the first to feature H.I.D. lights. Litronic is the first iteration of Porsche HID headlights. The name was trademarked by Bosch and first came out in 1994, for the 993-generation Porsche 911.

It all started with the four-point LED design on the 2009 Porsche Panamera Turbo

The four-point LED, Porsche design has been around for 15 years and counting. It first appeared on the 2009 Panamera Turbo as LED daytime running lights. Since then, this setup has continuously evolved and is still present on new Porsche models in 2024. While models like the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder are considered the brand’s first hybrid model unless we count the 1901 Lohner-Porsche mixte, which most people don’t know about, the hybrid Porsche supercar did more than introduce hybrid powertrains for high-performance applications. It too adopted and popularized the four-point headlight design. Eventually, it was offered as an optional extra on other Porsche models but in 2015, LED headlights became a standard Porsche feature, albeit LED daytime running lights have been around for a bit longer in the Porsche lineup.

The original four-point design was short-lived

What started as a four-point LED design in 2009 evolved into the four-square headlight design on Porsche models. It also featured on the Porsche 919 hybrid LMP race car. We first saw it on the 2016 Cayenne and the 2017 Panamera, which means the original, Porsche four-point LED design stayed around for just eight years before being completely replaced by the four-square LED graphics. An iteration of this headlight design was also seen on the Porsche Taycan – the German brand’s first all-electric model – and would also hint at what was to come. The design is still relevant as it continued to feature on the heavy-weight Porsche Panamera until 2023. At that time, Porsche announced the third-generation Panamera, which packs even more tech and weight, along with another revision to the four-point LED design.

Porsche’s HD Matrix LED features insane capabilities

Porsche’s top performers also have Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) Plus. These units feature everything from dynamic range control to adverse weather function and a camera-based system that adjusts light distribution. In December 2022, Porsche introduced its latest development in LED lighting – the HD Matrix LED headlights. Those quickly became a feature on the Panamera, Taycan, Macan, and Cayenne. From what we have seen so far, the upcoming Porsche 718 would also get a similar LED design. Porsche’s HD Matrix LED adaptive headlights illuminate a wide field of view with a 40-degree horizontal range and a 10-degree vertical range, at over 1,400 lumens. Moreover, the new design features more than 32,000 individual pixels per headlight. The high beams can also illuminate at distances of up to 600 meters** while the non-dazzling function ensures the bright light doesn’t disorient oncoming vehicles.

How long until the four-line LED design transitions to other Porsche models?

Not long, it would seem. The 2024 Porsche Panamera already features the four-line LED headlights, and we know the fully-electric Porsche 718, said to debut in 2025, will also score a very similar headlight design. The Taycan scores a variation of this design, bridging the gap between the four squares and the newer, four-line LED headlight design. The 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS previews some of the updates we can expect on the SUV model, and those include the new, four-line LED headlights.

For the first time, the Porsche 911 hasn’t been left behind when it comes to unified headlight design. While the 992.2 update still retains the classic, round headlight body, it now features a unique variation of Porsche’s HD Matrix LED headlights. The 911’s LED headlights feature a unique, LED graphic, where the four lines converge towards the centerpiece in an X-formation. Porsche purists will be happy, as the 911 remains unique in the brand’s lineup, even after getting Porsche’s T-Hybrid powertrain.