Building on the La Paz Legacy
The Baja Designs La Paz light was arguably the greatest single off-road light of its time. Run by some of the best drivers, the La Paz was tried and true getting them through the toughest races in the world. The La Paz was often referred to as a “light cannon,” and it lived up to that name. But change is inevitable. LED technology brought the slim and sleek look of a lightbar coupled with performance and lower energy draw. HID technology was now a thing of the past, and the “light cannon” was now just a part of off-road history. However, not completely lost in the dust.
Baja Designs used the La Paz as inspiration for the new LP line of lights. The distinctive round profile was brought back with a modern twist to the overall aesthetic. Packed inside the aluminum housing is all the latest LED technology we could ask for, and some that we never even knew existed. Upon getting our hands on a set of the LP4, we knew these lights would make a statement on the A-pillar of our Polaris Pro XP. It’s no secret that I miss the styling of the La Paz but the performance of the LP4 quickly made that nostalgic feel fade as I ran through the desert as hard as the Polaris would allow me too. The 200 degrees of light spread not only illuminated the trail ahead, but it also allowed me to see through the corner.
The phrase turning night into day is often used when talking about lighting, I think that’s a bit of a reach for any off-road light. I also believe that anyone can drive fast in a straight line, but it’s the corners where races are won and lost, and trail riding goes from just fun to an absolute blast when you get in the twisties. Baja Designs also recognizes this, which led them to develop Integrated Peripheral Technology or IPT as they like to call it. This technology takes 1700 of the 8750 available lumens in the LP and spreads them out. So rather than having the exit of a corner dark as you make your way through the entrance, light is flooded out in all directions giving you light where you need it to comfortably keep your speed up.
The unique housing design lets air flow through and around it keeping those light emitting diodes cool, ensuring all the components inside will keep operating reliably for years to come. Baja Designs has been among the leaders in driving innovation in lighting, and the LP line is a testament to that. As the heat inches closer, I can’t wait to use these lights on all the night rides we do throughout the hot summer months.
