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The Saab "bi-xenons" are in fact dual beam (that's what the name means) - they use a movable shutter to change the angle and focus of the single xenon bulb. This is the only way to get proper light performance on high beam with a xenon light, since the bulb takes a half second or so to light off and achieve full output. This is the reason previous xenon light systems use a halogen bulb for high beam, and leave the xenon lows on continuously. Saab includes a high beam halogen bulb (in European cars) that comes on _in addition to_ the xenon high beam, which, I think, has lead to considerable confusion.
Here is a partial quote from a July 4, 2001 Saab press release. I can't give you a link because Scott will delete my post ;( Please email me if you want details or the full text.
QUOTE:
Until relatively recently, only xenon light systems have been on the market. They used a combination of xenon lighting with its projector modules for dip-beam work and halogen bulbs with reflectors for high-beam situations, simply because the xenon projector modules just weren't big enough to work effectively on high beam.
However, two years ago, the first bi-xenon lights were made commercially available, the projector module featuring a shutter which rises to reveal the whole lamp on high beam. That's when Saab decided to incorporate the lighting system as an option on the new Saab 9-5 range.
However, to ensure world-leading performance, Saab has for European markets included a halogen bulb for increased high-beam illumination. This provides supplementary brightness in addition to the beam from the bi-xenon lamps. "It gives our light units the extra performance," says Ingemar. "Halogen just gives us that extra bit of spread. It makes all the difference.
"We have our own internal Saab scale for assessing lamps," continues Ingemar. "We look at all the small details - I really believe that's what makes us the best. On a scale of 0 to 10, a good lamp will register seven. When we started with bi-xenon it was only at four. By the time we finished, it was up to nine - that's how good it is."
UNQUOTE
posted by 64.38.1...
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