When Vision X told us they had built a driving light from the ground up to match the styling of a modern truck, we wanted to see it in person. So we took a close look at the brand new Vision X Explora Series lineup, mounted on a GMC Canyon AT4X, and walked through everything from the housing shape to the switchback DRL to the way the modular wiring harness comes together. Nate from Vision X gave us the full rundown, and in this article we are breaking down what makes these Vision X Explora Series lights stand out, section by section.

A Housing Shape Built for Modern Trucks

The first thing that jumps out about the Explora Series is the shape of the housing. It is not really a square, and it is not really a circle. Vision X jokingly calls it a “squirle,” but the point behind the design is serious. The housing was purpose built to match the modern lines of modern trucks, with chamfered edges and rounded corners. When you stand back and look at the truck as a whole, the lights look far more style matched to the headlights and the other body lines than a traditional round or square off-road light would.

That design language carries across the whole family, so whether you are looking at the driving light pods or the light bars, you get the same hybrid square-circle profile with the chamfered edges. If you want to compare this styling approach against traditional round and cube options, it is worth browsing a range of LED Off-Road Pod Lights to see just how different the Explora shape really is. You can also see the complete family for yourself in the Explora Series Off-Road Lighting Lineup.

Smoked Lens Covers Standard, With Options

Every Explora light we looked at ships with a smoked lens cover. These smoked covers come standard on all Explora lights, light bars, and light pods. If the darker look is not what you are after, or you want to change the beam behavior, you can also run a clear cover or a selective yellow cover. That gives you some flexibility to dial in the appearance and the on-road versus off-road performance without buying a different light.

The covers do more than change the look, which we will get into when we talk about beam output. For now, the key takeaway is that the smoked, clear, and selective yellow covers are all part of the system, so you can decide what suits your truck and your driving conditions.

The Switchback DRL Demo

One of the most impressive features on this particular install is the switchback DRL. Vision X purpose built it so the light will match the DRL that is already in a lot of these modern trucks, including this Canyon. On the demo truck, the Explora lights are wired so they run amber alongside the factory amber DRLs. Then, based on the vehicle’s daylight sensor, they switch back to a white DRL at night. So the Explora lights seamlessly switch between white and yellow in step with the factory truck, and they also flash in sync with the turn signals.

Watching it in person, the amber-to-white transition really does line up with how the truck already behaves, which makes the aftermarket lights feel like they came from the factory. If you want the full detail on the dual color DRL functionality, the Explora 7-Inch Driving Light Pod page lays it out. This is the kind of feature that separates a purpose built driving light from a generic pod.

Swappable Silicone Trim Rings

Another feature that makes these lights highly customizable is the silicone trim ring. On the demo truck, Nate is running a black ring, so it blends in and effectively disappears against the housing. But when you pull the cover off, you can see that black edge is a separate trim ring. Vision X makes that ring in green, red, orange, and a number of other colors, so you can match the trim on your truck if you want the lights to pop or tie into an existing color scheme.

Because the rings are silicone and swappable, changing the look is a quick job. That is a nice touch for anyone who likes to refresh their build or coordinate the lights with wheels, badges, or other accents on the truck.

A Polycarbonate Bracket for Durability

With the lens off, we got a better look at the mounting bracket, and it is a highlight worth calling out. The bracket uses a super beefy polycarbonate design. Vision X chose that material specifically so it will resist corrosion and fading. If the bracket gets chipped or dinged up over time, you are not going to see the corrosion that can creep in under a powder coated finish. It gives the light that modern styling Vision X was going for, and it adds real longevity.

For anyone who has watched powder coated brackets start to rust at the edges, this is a meaningful upgrade. The material choice means chips and scrapes stay cosmetic rather than turning into a corrosion problem down the road.

16,000 Lumens of Beam Output

Vision X saved the best feature for last, and it is the light output. A pair of the 7 inch Explora driving lights produces 16,000 lumens. The beam is a really wide spot beam with a really even fill, which makes it an all-around great driving beam. It is not so narrow that you lose sight of the sides of the road, and the even fill means no harsh hot spots or dark gaps.

Here is where the covers come back into play. When you run the smoked covers, you are cutting the beam intensity by about 30 percent, which is great for on-road use and typical everyday driving. If you want maximum performance in an off-road condition, you can take the covers off entirely, or switch to the clear covers or the yellow covers. That flexibility lets one light serve both a street-friendly role and a full-power off-road role. If you are weighing these driving lights against a bar-style setup, it can help to compare against a lineup of Off-Road LED Light Bars to see which format fits your bumper and your driving needs.

Integrated Relay and Modular Wiring Harness

One of the most unique features on the Explora lights is the integrated relay built into the light itself, and that makes wiring a breeze. Because the relay lives in the light, the modular wiring harness that comes with the light pods and light bars does not need a separate relay of its own. That cuts down on clutter and simplifies the install.

Looking at the connector on the back of the lights, you will see two leads. The three pin Deutsch handles power, trigger, and ground. The second lead is for the DRL in the light, meaning your amber or white DRL. The harness carries those same leads, with a connection to the battery and the hookup for your trigger wires, and again, there is no relay needed in the harness. The coolest part is that you can wire this more than one way. You can use a switch inside the cab to control the lights, or you can use a trigger wire designed to go to the vehicle high beam or any source in the vehicle that you want to use to switch the lights on and off. There is also a set of DRL wires, so you have your white DRL along with your right and left turn signal connections. That is what enables the switchback and turn signal sync behavior we saw earlier.

Our Takeaway on the Explora Series

After spending time with the Explora Series on the GMC Canyon AT4X, what stands out to us is how much of the design is aimed at fitting a modern truck rather than just bolting a light on it. The hybrid square-circle housing, the color-matchable silicone trim rings, the switchback DRL that mirrors the factory lighting, and the corrosion-resistant polycarbonate bracket all point in the same direction. Add in 16,000 lumens from a pair of 7 inch lights and a wiring harness with an integrated relay that supports both switch and trigger control, and you have a driving light that is thoughtful from the housing to the connector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the shape of the Explora Series lights different from other off-road lights?

The housing is described as neither a square nor a circle, a purpose built shape with chamfered edges and rounded corners designed to match the lines of modern trucks.

What does the switchback DRL feature do on the Explora Series lights?

On the demo GMC Canyon AT4X, the lights run amber to match the factory amber daytime running lights, then switch to white at night based on the vehicle’s daylight sensor, and also flash in sync with the turn signals.

Can the trim ring color be changed on the Explora Series lights?

Yes, the silicone trim rings are swappable, and they are available in black, green, red, orange, and other colors to match a truck’s trim.

How much light output do the 7 inch Explora driving lights produce?

A pair of the 7 inch Explora driving lights produces 16,000 lumens with a wide spot beam and even fill, and using the smoked lens covers reduces beam intensity by about 30 percent.

Does the Explora Series wiring harness require a separate relay?

No, the lights have an integrated relay built into the light itself, so the modular wiring harness does not need an additional relay, and it supports either an in-cab switch or a trigger wire to the vehicle’s high beam or another source.