Any reason for these bulging headlights, and if not, is there a mod for that?

I'm not a fan of this bulging headlight, taillight trend. Reminds me of 1950s style extreme car designs that, unless I'm mistaken, seemed to have little or no purpose. Is there any function to these bulging headlights? I thought I read on another car forum that for that particular vehicle it might help with allowing the hood to come down lower and help with aerodynamics if I understood, but that vehicle wasn't a Tacoma. On another forums I read that it is actually a Japanese fashion trend. If there is a function for it I would be more convinced to like it, but if not I don't think it's a good idea to create unnecessary protruding parts coming out of the vehicle. More surface area to accidentally break, let's say you're walking around with a broom or something, or off-roading in a densely wooded area, (no experience off-roading but I'm assuming, so correct me if it doesn't matter). And also more surface area to polish when you have to polish it to get rid of the haze that develops on headlights. If this is just a fashion trend I would be interested in a mod to make it less bulging.

 

Most everything is a trend. With all the new vehicles coming out with non-user serviceable LED’s I suspect the next big trend will be minimalist headlights.

 

They bulge less the more you lift the rear end. Print your solution and see if there is a market for it.

 

I think Morimoto made an LED housing for the Tacoma. Not sure if they left the bulge. You think it's possible to keep the existing housing of the stock and just replace the clear plastic part with a less bulging design? That would be very cheap product.

 

I do. Print it up and see if it seals good.

 

That's great if it is as you say. Wonder why no-one has made the product yet. I don't know about how to do this stuff. Requires I assume someone who knows about design and design software, and then all the other stuff that goes into making a prototype.

 

Yeah, it's probably a bridge too far unless you have these skills. Besides, optically perfect?

 

IMHO if you break this off roading you probably have much bigger problems to contend with. Yes these parts are expensive to replace, but I don’t think they actually protrude as much as you think. They’re also stronger than you think. Additionally, many off road bumpers offer hoops that can somewhat protect the area.

So weather breaking it while off roading or clumsily banging something against it, that’s all on you.

 

Help me understand what bulging headlights you are referring to.

 

By optically perfect you mean it could interfer with the light coming out?

It's actually not the worse I've seen. Some vehicles the bulges are huge and weird. This one is very minimal. I looked at it again and it's not that big of a deal for me. Not perfect design maybe as far as function is concerned, but they seem to have kept it somewhat conservative for the times we are in. @Tullie D the bulge I'm referring to is how the headlight doesn't come straight down, but sort of bumps out like a bubble.

 

I kinda like the bulge...But I can feel you too...

 

I can imagine some scenarios, not off-roading necessarily, but in a construction site for example, where there are harder objects, and a driver accidentally hits a protruding pipe or something. Yes, it would be the driver's fault, but I think its better that vehicle designers design for these situations.