Euro tail lights are also known as Altezza tail lights after the vehicle in which they first appeared. ?Altezza? is pronounced ?al-TEYTS-ah? in Italian, and roughly translates as ?height.? However, in North America it is more commonly pronounced ?al-TEEZ-uh? or ?AL-tez-uh.?

Ironically, ?euro? taillights did not originate in Europe at all, but in Japan, where they were first installed on the 1993 Toyota Supra. However, they were made popular by Toyota's Lexus division, which manufactures high-end luxury vehicles. The first Lexus model to have this type of tail light was introduced first to the European market; hence the appellation ?euro tail lights.?

Euro taillights are unique in that they consist of lamp clusters rather than a single lamp. Their distinctive appearance can add to the style of any vehicle; however, euro tail lights can also provide superior performance in terms of safety and visibility.

A Short History

As mentioned above, the euro tail light was first used on the Mark IV Toyota Supra; this essentially started the trend. These cluster-type tail lights were also used on the 1999 Lexus IS, which was first sold in Europe but also marketed to Japanese consumers under the name Toyota Altezza ? which is why they are also known by that name as well.

As euro tail lights grew in popularity, several after manufacturers of after market automotive accessories attempted to cash in by offering their own versions for other makes and models. Unfortunately, these early euro tail lights were of inferior quality; they leaked, failed to fit properly, and had easily scratched and/or damaged finishes and chrome coatings.

Today's after market euro tail lights are manufactured under much stricter quality controls; most manufacturers also offer some kind of warranty as well. Twelve companies are primarily engaged in the manufacture of after market euro tail lights for a wide variety of makes and models, including the leading domestic (U.S. manufactured) vehicles.

Why Euro Tail Lights?

Aside from the fact that euro tail lights represent the pinnacle of contemporary automotive styling (translation: they are very cool looking), they also offer better visibility and illumination. Headlights are for you as the driver; tail lights are for the benefit of those following you. The eye-catching appearance of euro tail lights helps to make sure that drivers who are behind you on darkened roads at night are fully aware of your presence.

In addition, the cluster lamps provide a redundancy that helps to ensure constant illumination. With traditional tail lights, if the bulb goes out, you're left without a tail light, making for dangerous night driving conditions. If or when a single bulb in a euro tail light array burns out, it doesn't leave you in the dark.

Install Euro Tail Lights Today

Euro tail lights provide extra safety and a dash of Continental style ? what more could any true automotive aficionado want from an after market accessory? Take a look at some of the many offerings in euro tail lights today and see what they can do to improve the appearance and safety of your vehicle.