In a move that may signal the way for other countries, Korean drivers can now upgrade their headlights from halogen to LED following approval of the second-generation Philips Ultinon Essential. Developed by Lumileds, the bulb brings superior LED brightness with a stylish white light.

Philips Ultinon Essential gen2’s homologation (H7 bulb size) earlier in the year, broke new ground for the use of LED headlamps on public roads in Korea. For the first time anywhere, motorists can legally fit a H7-compatible LED bulb to any existing car model and drive on the national road network. The second-generation Philips X-treme Ultinon LED has also now been certified.

The approval of Philips Ultinon Essential gen2 in Korea builds on Lumileds LED expertise to make upgrading from halogen to LED legal on public roads in a new world-first. To secure homologation  Philips LED bulbs underwent a comprehensive testing program devised by the Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute.

The Philips H7 Ultinon Essential gen2 delivers razor-sharp brightness and features greater durability via advanced heat-management technology. A built-in fan provides active cooling, while the aluminium heatsink maximizes heat extraction, a critical element for product reliability and lifetime, enabling the accessibly priced bulb to perform longer at peak brightness.

Lumileds say the Philips X-treme Ultinon gen 2 boosts visibility by up to 250% to help drivers see further, while Lumileds OEM chips, as supplied to leading automotive manufacturers, deliver a perfect beam pattern that illuminates accurately without dazzling other road-users.