---
title: "Sick of Split Headlights? Here’s How Today’s Cars Would Look Without Them"
description: "In case you hadn't noticed, a lot of new cars have split headlights these days with tiny DRLs on top. Here's how they'd look without them."
date: "2022-04-27"
modified: "2022-04-27"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Holderith"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-holderith"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/sick-of-split-headlights-heres-how-todays-cars-would-look-without-them"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
---

# Sick of Split Headlights? Here’s How Today’s Cars Would Look Without Them

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/26/cars-with-skinny-DRLs-deleted-look-silly-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Hyundai\</em\>*

Design trends in automotive styling come and go like the wind, and the theme of the 2020s so far seems to be [extremely skinny daytime running lights.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023-bmw-7-series-i7-ev-the-flagship-gets-seriously-striking-new-looks>) Enabled by advances in automotive lighting technology, these narrow strips of light define the front fascias of vehicles from almost every car company, from BMW to [Hyundai.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/41914/2022-hyundai-kona-n-first-drive-review-yep-its-a-big-hot-hatch>) What if they went away, though? I'm not talking about totally redesigning a car around them, I'm talking about just... deleting them.

Don't know what I mean? Well, I've prepared a few examples for you. Truth be told, I've been doing this casually for months to get my sick kicks, but now I think it's time the monstrosities I've created with my limited Photoshop skills are shared with the general public.

The first car I ever did this with was the Hyundai Kona. Without DRLs, as you will see, a lot of these cars actually look pretty interesting. The Kona is no exception.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/26/hyundai-kona-no-DRL.jpg>)

My original Photoshop was actually better than this because it was much lower resolution. I figured this time around, though, since this stuff was actually going to be published, I would try to make a bigger version. The end result is a slightly worse 'shop but a more visually pleasing overall result.

For those who have seen BMW's new i7 and [X7](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023-bmw-x7-bmws-biggest-suv-gets-a-more-is-more-facelift>), you might know where this is going. As you can see below, I've removed the DRLs from both of those cars, as well as [the Lotus Eletre SUV](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/44980/2023-lotus-eletre-lidar-batteries-and-0-60-in-under-3-seconds>) for good measure. And before someone suggests [the new Kia Niro](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2023-kia-niro-is-a-home-run-for-small-cars>), that car doesn't actually have thin running lights where you might expect them to be. It's just a piece of plastic.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/26/bmw-i7-no-DRL.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/26/bmw-x7-no-DRL.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/26/lotus-eletre-no-DRL.jpg>)

Yes, the results are truly cursed, but at the very least they're interesting. If anyone has any other ideas, I can certainly update this article with additions if I can pull off the edit. Or just comment your edits, because that means less work for me but more fun for *everyone.*

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: peter@thedrive.com*

## Author
Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-h-5ba447192/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/_baldtires>)