Night Driving Experience in the Macan

[RunningOnSolar]

Went out on a night drive in the Macan to evaluate the LED Matrix headlights and cabin illumination from the interior lighting and displays.

I am used to the steerable headlights on my Subaru. I really appreciated these when handling curves and turning at intersections. The Macan takes an entirely different approach by providing a wider field of illumination. With the wider illumination, cornering is still just as effective as the steerable headlights and possibly more so because you don’t have to wait for the area you are steering into to be illuminated. The auto switch to low bean headlights is OK, but I’m really looking forward to when the adaptive headlight software change is made for US drivers. This will provide a much more uniform lighting experience with no need to flip between low and high beams.

There was quite a lot of discussion about how effective the more Taycan like black background was than the tinted dashboard instrument dials. So much so, that I picked the dark theme and haven’t regretted it, especially at night.

The ambient lighting is mostly in indicating drive mode changes and any driver warnings, day or night. This feature is kind of subliminal in a good way.

An extended night drive was a great confidence builder for the efficacy of lighting and driver assistance features at night. Maybe someday, the night vision capabilities of the Taycan that warn of people and animals outside of headlight range will be made available on the Macan. Until then, Macan drivers can enjoy the enhanced night driving experience that we have now and will soon have with adaptive headlights.

 

[Salmonfisher]

Being in UK with a Polestar with adaptive headlights I can tell you they are a total game changer and I couldn’t do without them now. They were the first option on my list but I doubt I would have bothered with LED matrix lights without them being adaptive. Just wait until you get the update you will be blown away

 

[Diego]

Same experience here (but with adaptive lights). The only thing I changed is the interior lighting system level from Medium to Low and when I'm on dark mountain road I tried to turn off the center display and use the minimal main cockpit view and it's amazing for eye fatique.

 

[PaoloPix]

Today I tested the Macan 4 and ordered it. Last accessory added the adaptive matrix headlights

 

[PanameraFrank]

Note that at least Gen2 Rivians are already using adaptive lights in the US. It should be enabled soon for Porsches.

It's really nice on my R1S.

 

[Diego]

Well done @PaoloPix !!!

 

[bbmertz]

Note that at least Gen2 Rivians are already using adaptive lights in the US. It should be enabled soon for Porsches.

It's really nice on my R1S.

Does the conversion to adaptive LED lights in the U.S. simply involve a software update or does it require different hardware? Is Porsche likely to retroactively enable this feature in the U.S.?

 

[SergeyIndy]

Does the conversion to adaptive LED lights in the U.S. simply involve a software update or does it require different hardware? Is Porsche likely to retroactively enable this feature in the U.S.?

This is just software and fully enabled on Canadian versions for example.
However, I would like to see more compelling evidence that this will happen retroactively, than just hope it will happen. The process involves certification that is a cost to the manufacturer and then this is most certainly not an OTA update requiring a dealer visit, which is time consuming to perform. I just cannot see Porsche will go through this at scale even if it will be for cost to the owner update. If anyone has more than hope evidence, please share.

 

[RunningOnSolar]

Being in the business of producing product software I’m 98% sure this is a configuration change only. If you didn’t order LED matrix headlights, you are out of luck, lacking the appropriate hardware. if I had the appropriate diagnostic gadget I could do configuration change myself..

Finally, I have no reason to believe my SA is lying to me because he is not that kind of guy and there is no reason for him to. Obviously the proof is in the future.

 

[PanameraFrank]

Being in the business of producing product software I’m 98% sure this is a configuration change only. If you didn’t order LED matrix headlights, you are out of luck, lacking the appropriate hardware. if I had the appropriate diagnostic gadget I could do configuration change myself..

Finally, I have no reason to believe my SA is lying to me because he is not that kind of guy and there is no reason for him to. Obviously the proof is in the future.

There is an independent party that is enabling it in Porsche cars currently, so it's 100% doable. The problem is the certification required before Porsche will do it, which they may or may not pay for.

 

[SergeyIndy]

Being in the business of producing product software I’m 98% sure this is a configuration change only. If you didn’t order LED matrix headlights, you are out of luck, lacking the appropriate hardware. if I had the appropriate diagnostic gadget I could do configuration change myself..

Finally, I have no reason to believe my SA is lying to me because he is not that kind of guy and there is no reason for him to. Obviously the proof is in the future.

I am 100% sure this is a flip of a switch config change to enable full Matrix function, however, the dealer would follow a formal process to make any such changes similar to a TSB or an XYZ campaign that has specific instructions on how to perform it, tools to use, version of software to have, most likely requiring the computer to be authenticated with Germany, then they have to be sure 12v battery voltage needs to be stable, then they login to flip the switch, create a log, send it to Germany to record this has happened for the VIN, and so forth. My point is that this is not a phone or a Tesla OTA update type system, far from it, and very involved regardless how simple the config change may appear.

 

[Diego]

ON my Tesla I had the hardware for 2 years and magically after 2 years they decided to "enable" matrix adaptive function simply with an update. So I think it's completely doable but, since it's Porsche (and as I wrote more and more even if they trying to grow faster on the software side they are still back), I don't know if they will do sooner or later and at which cost.

 

[PaoloPix]

Do the matrix lights do any special effects/games/movements? If so please post some videos

 

[RunningOnSolar]

Do the matrix lights do any special effects/games/movements? If so please post some videos

Unfortunately none I’m aware of. My steerable Subaru lights do a start sequence. Maybe those with full adaptive (outside the US) see something more. I saw video of a startup sequence For Taycan.

 

[Diego]

Do the matrix lights do any special effects/games/movements? If so please post some videos

No but they work when you need it . I’m not a fan of any light show (and yes I owned a Tesla that was able to do a “light and sound” show each new Xmas ).