Hyundai Explains The Science Behind The 2021 Tucson’s Intricate Lights Dec 14, 2020 at 12:21pm ET ++ It's literally done with smoke and mirrors. Once upon a time, having hidden headlights generally meant the lights would pop up from the hood or front bumper when turned on. Some cars concealed lights in the grille behind grille-matching covers, with the classic 1968 - 1970 Dodge Charger arguably being the most well-known example of them all. Hyundai says its new Tucson also incorporates hidden lights, though they're hidden in plain sight as part of the SUV's parametric grille. In this case, hidden is certainly debatable. Looking head-on at a new Tucson with its lights off, it's not hard to distinguish the lights from the rest of the grille. Still, they are technically part of the grille, and it's rather interesting how Hyundai incorporated the lenses into the Tucson's smiling face. In short, the automaker utilizes half-mirror tech that involves applying a thin layer of a metal surface coating on the inner part of the outer lens. In conjunction with the smoked chrome grille, the overall effect is a singular presence on the front clip. Hyundai also talks about clever lighting at the rear, though it's not really hidden.