diff --git a/docs/overnight/LOG.md b/docs/overnight/LOG.md
index ec65c77..8d3f098 100644
--- a/docs/overnight/LOG.md
+++ b/docs/overnight/LOG.md
@@ -63,3 +63,11 @@ Run: `npm run build:preview` then serve `dist` (dev server shows a blank page).
 - **Verdict: KEEP with fixes** (Fable, hardware GL): near/far pairs overlapped and the near-right mast clipped, so layout is now aspect-aware with the far mast closer to centre; lamps were white and rungs grey, now hot violet above the bloom threshold; beams brightened and widened with a eased base; hover flash made visible.
 - **Known weaknesses:** lamp cores still tonemap to lavender-white (violet lives in the halo); masts are slivers on phones and modest at 1024 wide; hover flash is a peripheral beat; chirp verified by unit test only.
 - Screenshots: docs/overnight/round7/.
+
+## Round 8: IGNITION (the first three seconds)
+- **What:** the site opens as a film: the first rendered frame is cold (exposure 0.35, lamps off, road stopped) and dissolves over the SSR poster in 0.6 s; dipped lamps at +0.6 s, main beam at +1.0 s with the hero-name sweep; from +1.0 to +3.0 s the road and streaks ease to cruise while the exposure rises and the crane starts; the HUD subline reads IGNITION, then SHIFT START · 02:58, fading out by +4.5 s. html[data-ignition] walks cold → lamps → rolling and is removed. Returning visitors (localStorage nightdrive:route) get the short form; a scroll, nav, dashcam or section change inside 3 s cuts to driving in 0.4 s; deep links skip it; reduced motion, static and data-saver keep the poster only.
+- **Why:** the previous opening was a poster that silently became a lit, cruising scene: a loading state. An ignition beat is a reason for the dark first frame and makes the pull-away the first thing the visitor watches.
+- **Build:** scene/world/ignition.ts, journey/ignition-feed.ts, styles/ignition.css; environment.ts, useHeadlightBeam.ts, car.ts, road.ts. 854 tests (74 files), initial JS 118.23 KB gz (1.8 KB left), CSS 26.73 KB gz, scene chunk 215 KB gz.
+- **Verdict: SHIP** (Fable, hardware GL 1440x900, fresh context): beats land on the spec clock (lamps +0.60, rolling +1.00, sweep +1.05, attribute removed +4.5 s); the dissolve is one exposure pull (the poster darkens with the canvas fade, frame luminance 47.7 → 28 with no step over 15 per 200 ms); rAF p50 16.7 / p95 16.8 ms after the first frame. Fixes made during review: (1) the ignition clock no longer counts the first-frame shader stall, so the cold hold is a real 0.6 s; (2) the poster dims with the dissolve instead of a bright image giving way to a dark one; (3) the hero name is unlit until the sweep (the lamp's idle drift pre-lit letters the hold then darkened); (4) every program is compiled in frame 0 behind the poster by a warm render of the whole scene (hidden objects visible, culling off) through the real post-processing pipeline. renderer.compile() keys programs for the screen and never matched the composer's linear targets, so the car, the sign and the streaks each compiled on first sight: 230-280 ms stalls on the first scroll, which tripped the 250 ms catastrophic-frame downgrade and rebuilt the scene mid-opening (a 350 ms freeze and a brightness pop). After the fix no long task follows the first frame in any scenario; the first scroll cuts cleanly in 0.4 s.
+- **Known weaknesses:** the first frame now lands ~1.7-1.9 s after navigation on a cold GPU (all ~60 programs compile behind the poster in one 1.2 s task; the poster holds, nothing is blank); clicking a nav link inside the opening fires the pre-existing exit-sign flare, one bright frame (mean 80/255) on arrival; the phone opening is quieter (no hero sweep on coarse pointers); the short form's road start is a small 5-point dip in luminance before cruise.
+- Screenshots: docs/overnight/round8/ (01 long contact sheet 1.5-6.0 s, 02 cold frame, 03 lamps on, 04 rolling + sweep, 05 short form, 06 early-scroll cut sheet, 07 phone 390x844).
diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/01-long-contact-sheet.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/01-long-contact-sheet.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/03-lamps-on-2.6s.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/03-lamps-on-2.6s.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/04-rolling-sweep-3.3s.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/04-rolling-sweep-3.3s.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/05-short-form-returning-1.5s.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/05-short-form-returning-1.5s.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/06-early-scroll-cut-sheet.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/06-early-scroll-cut-sheet.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round8/07-phone-390-rolling-2.9s.webp b/docs/overnight/round8/07-phone-390-rolling-2.9s.webp
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diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index c673b9f..c6a01a9 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import './styles/route-log.css';
 import './styles/billboard.css';
 import './styles/dashcam.css';
 import './styles/relay.css';
+import './styles/ignition.css';
 
 defineProps<{ inputs: Readonly<ProductionInputs> }>();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/composables/useHeadlightBeam.ts b/src/composables/useHeadlightBeam.ts
index 725b430..9ff5455 100644
--- a/src/composables/useHeadlightBeam.ts
+++ b/src/composables/useHeadlightBeam.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { onMounted, onUnmounted, watch, type Ref } from 'vue';
 import { createHeadlightBeam, type BeamSample } from '@/journey/headlight-beam';
+import { readIgnition } from '@/journey/ignition-feed';
 import type { QualityTier } from '@/journey/motion-policy';
 import type { SectionId } from '@/content/types';
 
@@ -83,8 +84,11 @@ export function useHeadlightBeam(sources: {
       heroBeam.x = hero.ex;
       heroBeam.y = hero.ey;
       heroBeam.intensity = sample.intensity;
-      // Letters lit by the intro arc stay lit at dipped level (CSS).
-      const next = beam.swept(now) ? '9999px' : `${Math.max(-1, px - hero.left).toFixed(0)}px`;
+      // Letters lit by the intro arc stay lit at dipped level (CSS). Before
+      // the arc, nothing is lit: the lamp's idle drift must not pre-light
+      // letters the title card then reveals and IGNITION's hold would darken.
+      const next = beam.swept(now) ? '9999px'
+        : sweepRequested ? `${Math.max(-1, px - hero.left).toFixed(0)}px` : '-1px';
       if (next !== wipe) {
         wipe = next;
         hero.el.style.setProperty('--beam-wipe', next);
@@ -130,8 +134,13 @@ export function useHeadlightBeam(sources: {
     if (next) {
       root().dataset.beam = 'on';
       measure();
-      // Without a scene frame (a slow or failed scene), the name still lights.
-      fallbackTimer = window.setTimeout(sweep, 2_500);
+      // Without a scene frame (a slow or failed scene), the name still lights;
+      // a scene mid-IGNITION plays it itself when the main beam comes on.
+      const fallback = (): void => {
+        if (readIgnition().phase < 2) fallbackTimer = window.setTimeout(fallback, 400);
+        else sweep();
+      };
+      fallbackTimer = window.setTimeout(fallback, 2_500);
     } else {
       delete root().dataset.beam;
       if (raf) cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
@@ -204,9 +213,9 @@ export function useHeadlightBeam(sources: {
   return {
     /** The scene's per-frame read; null when motion is not allowed. */
     sampleBeam: (now: number): BeamSample | null => (allowed() ? beam.sample(now) : null),
-    /** Called for every rendered scene frame: the first one plays the sweep. */
+    /** Called for every rendered scene frame: the first one with the main beam on (IGNITION phase 2) plays the sweep. */
     sceneFrame: (): void => {
-      if (sweepRequested) return;
+      if (sweepRequested || readIgnition().phase < 2) return;
       sweepRequested = true;
       sweep();
     },
diff --git a/src/journey/ignition-feed.ts b/src/journey/ignition-feed.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdb7c32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/journey/ignition-feed.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * IGNITION, the slot the DOM and the scene share (initial chunk, kept tiny).
+ * The scene writes the phase of its first three seconds (0 cold, 1 dipped
+ * lamps, 2 rolling, 3 driving); useHeadlightBeam holds the hero sweep until
+ * the main beam comes on (phase >= 2). With no scene the phase stays 3, so
+ * nothing waits on it. Nothing here schedules work.
+ */
+export type IgnitionPhase = 0 | 1 | 2 | 3;
+
+const feed = {
+  phase: 3 as IgnitionPhase,
+  /** A generation already started the ignition: later ones (tier swap, context restore) begin driving. */
+  played: false,
+  /**
+   * A returning visitor gets the short form. Read once, at module evaluation:
+   * the route memory writes this key as soon as the shell mounts, so a later
+   * read would see every visit as a return.
+   */
+  returning: ((): boolean => {
+    try {
+      const raw = typeof window === 'undefined' ? null : window.localStorage.getItem('nightdrive:route');
+      const visited = raw === null ? null : (JSON.parse(raw) as { visited?: unknown }).visited;
+      return Array.isArray(visited) && visited.length > 0;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  })(),
+};
+
+export const readIgnition = (): typeof feed => feed;
diff --git a/src/scene/world/car.ts b/src/scene/world/car.ts
index 5fcafc1..8ed44b1 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/car.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/car.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export interface CarWorld {
     distance?: number,
     /** 0 driving, 1 parked at the destination: lamps drop to parking level. */
     engineOff?: number,
+    /** IGNITION: 0 cold (every lamp out) .. 1 lit; multiplies the lamp level. */
+    ignition?: number,
   ): void;
 }
 
@@ -419,8 +421,9 @@ export function createCar(
   return {
     group,
     setDetail,
-    update(speed, acceleration, elapsedSeconds, _distance, engineOff = 0) {
-      const lamps = 1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.62;
+    update(speed, acceleration, elapsedSeconds, _distance, engineOff = 0, ignition = 1) {
+      const lit = clamp01(ignition);
+      const lamps = (1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.62) * lit;
       const safeSpeed = clamp01(speed);
       const response = clamp01(acceleration);
       const elapsed = Number.isFinite(elapsedSeconds)
@@ -603,10 +606,11 @@ function createAuthoredCar(
       detail = nextDetail;
       setScale(detail);
     },
-    update(speed, acceleration, elapsedSeconds, distance, engineOff = 0) {
+    update(speed, acceleration, elapsedSeconds, distance, engineOff = 0, ignition = 1) {
       // Parked at the destination: the tail bar and the cyan running lamps
-      // drop to parking level, the underglow almost out.
-      const lamps = 1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.62;
+      // drop to parking level, the underglow almost out. Cold (IGNITION): all out.
+      const lit = clamp01(ignition);
+      const lamps = (1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.62) * lit;
       const safeSpeed = clamp01(speed);
       const response = clamp01(acceleration);
       const elapsed = Number.isFinite(elapsedSeconds)
@@ -645,7 +649,7 @@ function createAuthoredCar(
       for (const material of cyanMaterials)
         material.emissiveIntensity = (2.2 + response * 1.6) * lamps;
       underglowUniforms.uOpacity.value =
-        (0.09 + safeSpeed * 0.04 + response * 0.075) * (1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.8);
+        (0.09 + safeSpeed * 0.04 + response * 0.075) * (1 - clamp01(engineOff) * 0.8) * lit;
       contact.uniforms.uOpacity.value = 0.21 + response * 0.055;
     },
   };
diff --git a/src/scene/world/environment.ts b/src/scene/world/environment.ts
index 7be55c1..d2e1ceb 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/environment.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/environment.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ import { dawnLightUniforms } from '@/scene/world/dawn-light';
 import { isTestFault, recordTestFaultEvent } from '@/testing/fault-hooks';
 import { readDashcam, takeDashcamCapture } from '@/journey/dashcam-feed';
 import { createDashcamLens } from '@/scene/world/dashcam-lens';
+import { createIgnition, IGNITION } from '@/scene/world/ignition';
+import { readIgnition } from '@/journey/ignition-feed';
 
 declare const __PORTFOLIO_TEST_BUILD__: boolean;
 const TEST_BUILD =
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
   renderer.outputColorSpace = THREE.SRGBColorSpace;
   // ACES plus the film grade in cinematic-grade.ts, shared by every tier.
   renderer.toneMapping = THREE.CustomToneMapping;
-  renderer.toneMappingExposure = 1.12;
+  renderer.toneMappingExposure = IGNITION.exposure;
 
   const scene = new THREE.Scene();
   scene.name = 'world-root';
@@ -257,6 +259,9 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
   let dawnState: DawnStep | '' = '';
   // DASHCAM: the pointer drifts the lens and the letterbox closes while open.
   const dashcamLens = createDashcamLens();
+  // IGNITION: the first frame is cold; lamps, beam, roll and exposure come up
+  // over three seconds (src/scene/world/ignition.ts).
+  const ignition = createIgnition();
 
   const resize = (): void => {
     const nextWidth = Math.max(1, canvas.clientWidth || canvas.width || 1);
@@ -367,6 +372,23 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
       // lifting off slows the spectrum to rest without rewinding its phase.
       terrainSpectrumPhase =
         (terrainSpectrumPhase + deltaSeconds * overdrive * 0.38) % 1;
+      // IGNITION: the first three seconds. A scroll, a navigation, a sign, the
+      // dashcam or a stuttering start (the crane's rule) cuts to driving. The
+      // clock starts on the frame after the first: the first frame compiles
+      // the shaders (hundreds of ms on a cold GPU) while the canvas dissolves
+      // in on the compositor, and that stall must not eat the cold hold. A
+      // later hitch stretches the timeline instead of skipping a beat.
+      const ignited = ignition.update(renderedFrames <= 1 ? 0 : Math.min(0.1, wallSeconds), {
+        cut: snapshot.scrollY > 40
+          || snapshot.activeSectionId !== 'start'
+          || snapshot.sign !== null
+          || readDashcam().open
+          || introSlowFrames >= 3,
+        short: readIgnition().returning,
+      });
+      const roll = ignited.roll;
+      renderer.toneMappingExposure = ignited.exposure;
+      if (renderedFrames === 0) canvas.dataset.lit = '';
       writeChapterPalette(targetPalette, snapshot.chapter, snapshot.chapter, 0);
       // The 03:12 window: section-local scroll progress drives every beat.
       const service = maintenance.update(
@@ -427,7 +449,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
       dawnLightUniforms.uDawnLight.value = dawnRims ? dawn : 0;
       dampPalette(currentPalette, targetPalette, deltaSeconds);
       const driveDistance = travelDistance.advance(
-        deltaSeconds * (1 - engineOff),
+        deltaSeconds * (1 - engineOff) * roll,
         snapshot.driveSpeed,
         response.roadEnergy,
       );
@@ -435,11 +457,11 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
         0.18 + response.roadEnergy * 0.82,
         0.18,
         1,
-      ) * (1 - engineOff);
+      ) * (1 - engineOff) * roll;
       road.update(
         driveDistance,
         visualSpeed,
-        response.roadEnergy,
+        response.roadEnergy * roll,
         currentPalette,
       );
       expressway.update(
@@ -473,7 +495,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
       skyline.update(currentPalette, elapsedSeconds);
       traffic.update(
         deltaSeconds,
-        (18 + snapshot.driveSpeed * 54 + response.roadEnergy * 48) * (1 - engineOff),
+        (18 + snapshot.driveSpeed * 54 + response.roadEnergy * 48) * (1 - engineOff) * roll,
         elapsedSeconds,
       );
       sun.update(
@@ -490,9 +512,10 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
         elapsedSeconds,
         driveDistance,
         engineOff,
+        ignited.lamps,
       );
       speedWake.update(
-        overdrive,
+        overdrive * roll,
         elapsedSeconds,
         car.group.position,
         width < 1100 || height < 620 ? 2.32 : 2.78,
@@ -509,7 +532,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
       atmosphere.update(
         driveDistance,
         visualSpeed,
-        response.streakEnergy,
+        response.streakEnergy * roll,
         currentPalette,
         atmosphericTime,
         overdrive,
@@ -658,7 +681,8 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
         introFrames += 1;
         if (introFrames > 3 && wallSeconds > 0.1) introSlowFrames += 1;
         if (introSlowFrames >= 3) introProgress = 1;
-        introProgress = Math.min(1, introProgress + deltaSeconds / INTRO_SECONDS);
+        // IGNITION: the crane holds its top position until the main beam is on.
+        if (ignited.phase >= 2) introProgress = Math.min(1, introProgress + deltaSeconds / INTRO_SECONDS);
       }
       outroProgress = THREE.MathUtils.clamp(
         outroProgress
@@ -699,8 +723,11 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
         camera.fov = lensFov;
         camera.updateProjectionMatrix();
       }
-      const beam = headlights.update(snapshot.beam, snapshot, camera, 1 - engineOff, deltaSeconds);
-      road.setBeam(beam.yaw, beam.lift);
+      // IGNITION: the dipped level lights the road throw; the steerable main
+      // beam (spot, haze cone, lift) only comes in above it.
+      const mainBeam = THREE.MathUtils.clamp((ignited.lamps - IGNITION.dipped) / (1 - IGNITION.dipped), 0, 1);
+      const beam = headlights.update(snapshot.beam, snapshot, camera, (1 - engineOff) * mainBeam, deltaSeconds);
+      road.setBeam(beam.yaw, beam.lift, ignited.lamps);
       const stage = signStage.update(width, height);
       sign.compose(camera, width, height, stage.dock, now, stage.tilt);
       const gantry = sign.dockState();
@@ -756,6 +783,37 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
           );
         }
       }
+      if (renderedFrames === 0) {
+        // IGNITION parks the wake, the streaks and the beam cone until the
+        // pull-away, and the first scroll brings the sign: each would compile
+        // its program as a 70-280 ms hitch inside the opening shot (three slow
+        // frames end the crane; one over 250 ms is a quality downgrade that
+        // rebuilds the scene). Draw everything once now, behind the poster,
+        // through the real pipeline: renderer.compile() keys its programs for
+        // the screen (sRGB output, tone mapping) and never matches the post
+        // processor's linear targets, so every program compiled twice. The
+        // drawing buffer is presented once per task: the cold frame below
+        // is what the canvas shows.
+        // Culling is off too: the car sits outside the crane's frustum.
+        const hidden: { visible: boolean }[] = [];
+        const culled: { frustumCulled: boolean }[] = [];
+        scene.traverse((object: { visible: boolean; frustumCulled: boolean }) => {
+          if (object.frustumCulled) {
+            object.frustumCulled = false;
+            culled.push(object);
+          }
+          if (object.visible) return;
+          object.visible = true;
+          hidden.push(object);
+        });
+        try {
+          if (postProcessor) postProcessor.render(scene, camera);
+          else renderer.render(scene, camera);
+        } finally {
+          for (const object of hidden) object.visible = false;
+          for (const object of culled) object.frustumCulled = true;
+        }
+      }
       if (postProcessor) {
         postProcessor.setDynamics(response.bloomEnergy, dawnRims ? dawn : 0);
         postProcessor.setLens({
@@ -791,6 +849,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
       delete document.documentElement.dataset.interlude;
       delete document.documentElement.dataset.interludeArmed;
       delete document.documentElement.dataset.dawn;
+      ignition.dispose();
       dawnLightUniforms.uDawnLight.value = 0;
       // Quality changes reuse the canvas context. Leave texture upload flags at
       // defaults before the next renderer creates its empty array textures.
diff --git a/src/scene/world/ignition.ts b/src/scene/world/ignition.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96bcd92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scene/world/ignition.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+/**
+ * IGNITION: the first three seconds. The first rendered frame is cold (low
+ * exposure, lamps off, road still, camera held at the crane's top) and the
+ * car starts from there: dipped lamps at 0.6 s, main beam at 1.0 s, then the
+ * road rolls up to cruise and the exposure lifts until 3.0 s. Ramps only
+ * rise (no lamp ever switches off: photosensitivity). A returning visitor
+ * gets a short form (lamps already on, no hold); any scroll, navigation,
+ * sign, dashcam or slow-frame run cuts to the driving state in 0.4 s.
+ *
+ * ignitionAt() is the pure timeline; createIgnition() adds the cut, writes
+ * html[data-ignition] (cold | lamps | rolling, CSS keys the HUD sub-line and
+ * the canvas fade off it) and the phase the DOM reads (ignition-feed.ts).
+ */
+import { readIgnition, type IgnitionPhase } from '@/journey/ignition-feed';
+
+export type IgnitionAttr = 'cold' | 'lamps' | 'rolling' | null;
+
+export interface IgnitionLevels {
+  /** Car lamps and road throw: 0 cold, DIPPED at 0.6 s, 1 with the main beam. */
+  lamps: number;
+  /** 0 parked .. 1 cruising: multiplies road, wake, streak and traffic speed. */
+  roll: number;
+  /** renderer.toneMappingExposure. */
+  exposure: number;
+  phase: IgnitionPhase;
+}
+
+/** Tunables (seconds from the first rendered frame unless noted). */
+export const IGNITION = {
+  coldExposure: 0.35,
+  exposure: 1.12,
+  dipAt: 0.6,
+  dipFor: 0.15,
+  dipped: 0.45,
+  beamAt: 1.0,
+  beamFor: 0.25,
+  rollAt: 1.0,
+  rollEnd: 3.0,
+  /** html[data-ignition] stays 'rolling' this long so the sub-line can fade (CSS 3.5 s). */
+  sublineFor: 3.5,
+  /** Returning visitors. */
+  shortRoll: 1.2,
+  shortExposure: 0.6,
+  cutFor: 0.4,
+} as const;
+
+const DRIVING: IgnitionLevels = { lamps: 1, roll: 1, exposure: IGNITION.exposure, phase: 3 };
+
+const clamp01 = (v: number): number => (v > 0 ? (v < 1 ? v : 1) : 0);
+const ramp = (t: number, from: number, span: number): number => clamp01((t - from) / span);
+const easeInCubic = (t: number): number => t * t * t;
+const easeOutCubic = (t: number): number => 1 - (1 - t) ** 3;
+const smooth = (t: number): number => t * t * (3 - 2 * t);
+const mix = (a: number, b: number, t: number): number => a + (b - a) * t;
+
+/** The uninterrupted timeline at t seconds after the first rendered frame. */
+export function ignitionAt(t: number, short = false): IgnitionLevels & { attr: IgnitionAttr } {
+  const s = Number.isFinite(t) ? Math.max(0, t) : 0;
+  const k = IGNITION;
+  if (short) {
+    const p = ramp(s, 0, k.shortRoll);
+    return {
+      lamps: 1,
+      roll: easeInCubic(p),
+      exposure: mix(k.shortExposure, k.exposure, smooth(p)),
+      phase: p < 1 ? 2 : 3,
+      attr: s < k.sublineFor ? 'rolling' : null,
+    };
+  }
+  const p = ramp(s, k.rollAt, k.rollEnd - k.rollAt);
+  return {
+    lamps: s < k.beamAt
+      ? k.dipped * ramp(s, k.dipAt, k.dipFor)
+      : mix(k.dipped, 1, ramp(s, k.beamAt, k.beamFor)),
+    roll: easeInCubic(p),
+    exposure: mix(k.coldExposure, k.exposure, smooth(p)),
+    phase: s < k.dipAt ? 0 : s < k.beamAt ? 1 : s < k.rollEnd ? 2 : 3,
+    attr: s < k.dipAt ? 'cold' : s < k.beamAt ? 'lamps' : s < k.rollAt + k.sublineFor ? 'rolling' : null,
+  };
+}
+
+export interface Ignition {
+  update(dt: number, input: { cut: boolean; short: boolean }): IgnitionLevels;
+  dispose(): void;
+}
+
+export function createIgnition(): Ignition {
+  const feed = readIgnition();
+  const root = typeof document === 'undefined' ? null : document.documentElement;
+  // A tier swap or a context restore rebuilds the scene: it starts driving.
+  let done = feed.played;
+  let started = false;
+  let short = false;
+  let t = 0;
+  let cutFrom: IgnitionLevels | null = null;
+  let cutT = 0;
+  let attr: IgnitionAttr = null;
+  let out: IgnitionLevels = DRIVING;
+
+  const write = (next: IgnitionAttr, phase: IgnitionPhase): void => {
+    feed.phase = phase;
+    if (next === attr || !root) return;
+    attr = next;
+    if (next) root.dataset.ignition = next;
+    else delete root.dataset.ignition;
+  };
+
+  return {
+    update(dt, input) {
+      if (!started) {
+        started = true;
+        short = input.short;
+        // Landing mid-page (a hash, a restored scroll): no ignition at all.
+        if (input.cut) done = true;
+        if (!done) feed.played = true;
+      }
+      if (done) {
+        write(null, 3);
+        return (out = DRIVING);
+      }
+      const step = Number.isFinite(dt) ? Math.max(0, dt) : 0;
+      if (cutFrom === null && input.cut) {
+        cutFrom = out;
+        cutT = 0;
+      }
+      if (cutFrom !== null) {
+        cutT += step;
+        const e = easeOutCubic(clamp01(cutT / IGNITION.cutFor));
+        if (e >= 1) {
+          done = true;
+          write(null, 3);
+          return (out = DRIVING);
+        }
+        out = {
+          lamps: mix(cutFrom.lamps, 1, e),
+          roll: mix(cutFrom.roll, 1, e),
+          exposure: mix(cutFrom.exposure, IGNITION.exposure, e),
+          phase: 2,
+        };
+        write(attr, 2);
+        return out;
+      }
+      t += step;
+      const at = ignitionAt(t, short);
+      write(at.attr, at.phase);
+      if (at.attr === null) done = true;
+      return (out = { lamps: at.lamps, roll: at.roll, exposure: at.exposure, phase: at.phase });
+    },
+    dispose() {
+      feed.phase = 3;
+      if (root) delete root.dataset.ignition;
+      attr = null;
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/scene/world/road.ts b/src/scene/world/road.ts
index 7341a6f..7e7cb72 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/road.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/road.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ export interface RoadWorld {
     palette?: Readonly<MutableChapterPalette>,
   ): void;
   /** HIGH BEAM: yaw (beam x, -1..1, scaled by presence) and high-beam lift (0..1). */
-  setBeam(yaw: number, lift: number): void;
+  /** throwLevel: IGNITION's lamp level for the headlight throw (default 1). */
+  setBeam(yaw: number, lift: number, throwLevel?: number): void;
 }
 
 interface WorldGroup {
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ export function createRoad(
     uHazeColor: { value: new THREE.Color(initialPalette.haze) },
     uBeamYaw: { value: 0 },
     uBeamLift: { value: 0 },
+    uThrow: { value: 1 },
     ...dawnLightUniforms,
   };
   const material = resources.own(
@@ -97,6 +99,7 @@ export function createRoad(
       uniform vec3 uHazeColor;
       uniform float uBeamYaw;
       uniform float uBeamLift;
+      uniform float uThrow;
       varying vec2 vRoadUv;
       varying float vRoadX;
       varying float vViewDistance;
@@ -206,7 +209,7 @@ export function createRoad(
         float beamX = vRoadX - uBeamYaw * 3.4 * clamp(ahead / 26.0, 0.0, 4.6);
         float cones = exp(-pow((beamX - 1.25) / spread, 2.0)) + exp(-pow((beamX + 1.25) / spread, 2.0));
         color += vec3(1.0, 0.84, 0.66) * min(cones, 1.4) * throwZ * (0.07 + 0.16 * film) * asphaltMask
-          * (1.0 + 0.3 * uBeamLift);
+          * (1.0 + 0.3 * uBeamLift) * uThrow;
 
         // Pylon lamps reflect as long streaks towards the camera.
         float pylonGap = mod(vWorldZ + 24.0 - uPylonPhase, ${PYLON_SPACING.toFixed(3)});
@@ -252,9 +255,10 @@ export function createRoad(
         uniforms.uHazeColor.value.copy(palette.haze);
       }
     },
-    setBeam(yaw, lift) {
+    setBeam(yaw, lift, throwLevel = 1) {
       uniforms.uBeamYaw.value = THREE.MathUtils.clamp(finiteOrZero(yaw), -1, 1);
       uniforms.uBeamLift.value = clamp01(lift);
+      uniforms.uThrow.value = clamp01(throwLevel);
     },
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/styles/ignition.css b/src/styles/ignition.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02bac09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/styles/ignition.css
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/* ---------- IGNITION (the first three seconds) ----------
+   The poster holds until the scene has drawn its first (cold) frame, which
+   marks the canvas data-lit; the canvas then crossfades over the poster.
+   The scene writes html[data-ignition] = cold | lamps | rolling and removes
+   it at the end; the server HTML carries neither attribute. */
+.journey-canvas {
+  opacity: 0;
+  transition: opacity 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.33, 0, 0.2, 1);
+}
+.journey-canvas[data-lit] { opacity: 1; }
+/* The poster is the lit, cruising shot; the cold frame sits at a third of its
+   exposure. Pull the poster down over the same 0.6 s so the dissolve reads
+   as one exposure pull, not a bright image giving way to a dark one. */
+html:is([data-ignition='cold'], [data-ignition='lamps']) .journey-poster {
+  filter: brightness(0.5) saturate(0.9);
+  transition: filter 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.33, 0, 0.2, 1);
+}
+/* Returning visitors (short form, rolling from the first frame). */
+html[data-ignition='rolling'] .journey-canvas { transition-duration: 0.8s; }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .journey-canvas { transition: none; }
+  html:is([data-ignition='cold'], [data-ignition='lamps']) .journey-poster { filter: none; transition: none; }
+}
+
+/* The gantry sub-line is free at the start: dawn, the maintenance window and
+   the route log all leave it empty there, and any of them still wins. */
+html:is([data-ignition='lamps'], [data-ignition='rolling']) .journey-hud__subline:empty { display: block; }
+html[data-ignition='lamps'] .journey-hud__subline:empty::before { content: 'IGNITION'; }
+html[data-ignition='rolling'] .journey-hud__subline:empty::before { content: 'SHIFT START · 02:58'; }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+  /* 'rolling' lasts 3.5 s: hold, then fade over the last second. */
+  html[data-ignition='rolling'] .journey-hud__subline:empty { animation: ignition-subline 3.5s linear both; }
+}
+@keyframes ignition-subline {
+  0%, 71% { opacity: 1; }
+  100% { opacity: 0; }
+}
diff --git a/tests/browser/visual-regression.spec.ts b/tests/browser/visual-regression.spec.ts
index 6de49b7..7e39595 100644
--- a/tests/browser/visual-regression.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/browser/visual-regression.spec.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ const waitForRenderedPortfolio = async (
     "data-scene-state",
     "running",
   );
+  // IGNITION: the first frame is cold and the canvas crossfades in; wait for
+  // the first frame (data-lit), the end of the ignition and the fade.
+  await expect(page.locator(".journey-canvas[data-lit]")).toHaveCount(1);
+  await expect(page.locator("html:not([data-ignition])")).toHaveCount(1, {
+    timeout: 10_000,
+  });
+  await expect(page.locator(".journey-canvas")).toHaveCSS("opacity", "1");
 };
 
 const captureViewport = async (
diff --git a/tests/unit/ignition.test.ts b/tests/unit/ignition.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00df53d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/ignition.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { createIgnition, IGNITION, ignitionAt } from '@/scene/world/ignition';
+import { readIgnition } from '@/journey/ignition-feed';
+import { SceneResourceBag } from '@/scene/resources';
+import { createCar } from '@/scene/world/car';
+import { createRoad } from '@/scene/world/road';
+import { renderQualityFor } from '@/scene/render-quality';
+
+const FRAME = 1 / 60;
+const root = (): HTMLElement => document.documentElement;
+const run = (seconds: number, step: (t: number) => { cut: boolean; short: boolean }, ignition = createIgnition()) => {
+  const frames = [];
+  for (let t = 0; t <= seconds + 1e-9; t += FRAME) frames.push({ t, ...ignition.update(t === 0 ? 0 : FRAME, step(t)), attr: root().dataset.ignition });
+  return { frames, ignition };
+};
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  const feed = readIgnition();
+  feed.played = false;
+  feed.phase = 3;
+  delete root().dataset.ignition;
+});
+afterEach(() => { delete root().dataset.ignition; });
+
+describe('ignition timeline', () => {
+  it('starts cold: lamps out, road still, low exposure', () => {
+    expect(ignitionAt(0)).toEqual({ lamps: 0, roll: 0, exposure: IGNITION.coldExposure, phase: 0, attr: 'cold' });
+  });
+
+  it('dips the lamps at 0.6 s, then the main beam at 1.0 s', () => {
+    const at06 = ignitionAt(0.6);
+    expect(at06.lamps).toBe(0);
+    expect(at06.phase).toBe(1);
+    expect(at06.attr).toBe('lamps');
+    expect(ignitionAt(0.6 + IGNITION.dipFor).lamps).toBeCloseTo(IGNITION.dipped);
+    const at10 = ignitionAt(1.0);
+    expect(at10.lamps).toBeCloseTo(IGNITION.dipped);
+    expect(at10.roll).toBe(0);
+    expect(at10.exposure).toBeCloseTo(IGNITION.coldExposure);
+    expect(at10.phase).toBe(2);
+    expect(at10.attr).toBe('rolling');
+    expect(ignitionAt(1.0 + IGNITION.beamFor).lamps).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('rolls to cruise and full exposure by 3.0 s, easing in', () => {
+    expect(ignitionAt(2.0).roll).toBeCloseTo(0.125);
+    const at30 = ignitionAt(3.0);
+    expect(at30).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, roll: 1, exposure: IGNITION.exposure, phase: 3, attr: 'rolling' });
+    expect(ignitionAt(1.0 + IGNITION.sublineFor).attr).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('only ever raises the lamps, the roll and the exposure', () => {
+    let previous = ignitionAt(0);
+    for (let t = 0; t <= 5; t += 0.005) {
+      const next = ignitionAt(t);
+      expect(next.lamps).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(previous.lamps);
+      expect(next.roll).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(previous.roll);
+      expect(next.exposure).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(previous.exposure - 1e-12);
+      expect(next.phase).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(previous.phase);
+      previous = next;
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('short form (returning visitor): lamps on, no hold, rolling from the first frame', () => {
+    const first = ignitionAt(0, true);
+    expect(first).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, roll: 0, phase: 2, attr: 'rolling' });
+    expect(first.exposure).toBeGreaterThan(IGNITION.coldExposure);
+    expect(ignitionAt(IGNITION.shortRoll, true)).toMatchObject({ roll: 1, exposure: IGNITION.exposure, phase: 3 });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('createIgnition', () => {
+  it('steps html[data-ignition] cold, lamps, rolling, then removes it, phases in order', () => {
+    const { frames } = run(5, () => ({ cut: false, short: false }));
+    const attrs = frames.map((f) => f.attr ?? null).filter((a, i, all) => i === 0 || a !== all[i - 1]);
+    expect(attrs).toEqual(['cold', 'lamps', 'rolling', null]);
+    const phases = frames.map((f) => f.phase).filter((p, i, all) => i === 0 || p !== all[i - 1]);
+    expect(phases).toEqual([0, 1, 2, 3]);
+    expect(readIgnition().phase).toBe(3);
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBeUndefined();
+    for (let i = 1; i < frames.length; i++) expect(frames[i]!.lamps).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(frames[i - 1]!.lamps);
+  });
+
+  it('publishes the phase for the DOM (the hero sweep waits for 2)', () => {
+    const ignition = createIgnition();
+    ignition.update(0, { cut: false, short: false });
+    expect(readIgnition().phase).toBe(0);
+    for (let t = 0; t < 1.05; t += FRAME) ignition.update(FRAME, { cut: false, short: false });
+    expect(readIgnition().phase).toBe(2);
+    ignition.dispose();
+    expect(readIgnition().phase).toBe(3);
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('a scroll before 3 s cuts to the driving state within 0.4 s, lamps never dropping', () => {
+    const { frames } = run(2, (t) => ({ cut: t >= 0.7, short: false }));
+    const cutAt = frames.findIndex((f) => f.t >= 0.7);
+    const driving = frames.findIndex((f) => f.phase === 3);
+    expect((driving - cutAt) * FRAME).toBeLessThanOrEqual(IGNITION.cutFor + FRAME * 1.5);
+    expect(frames[driving]).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, roll: 1, exposure: IGNITION.exposure });
+    expect(frames[cutAt]!.phase).toBe(2);
+    for (let i = 1; i < frames.length; i++) expect(frames[i]!.lamps).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(frames[i - 1]!.lamps);
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('landing mid-page skips the ignition entirely', () => {
+    const ignition = createIgnition();
+    expect(ignition.update(0, { cut: true, short: false })).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, roll: 1, phase: 3 });
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('short form skips the hold', () => {
+    const ignition = createIgnition();
+    const first = ignition.update(0, { cut: false, short: true });
+    expect(first).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, phase: 2 });
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBe('rolling');
+  });
+
+  it('a rebuilt generation (tier swap, context restore) starts driving', () => {
+    const first = createIgnition();
+    first.update(0, { cut: false, short: false });
+    first.dispose();
+    const second = createIgnition();
+    expect(second.update(0, { cut: false, short: false })).toMatchObject({ lamps: 1, roll: 1, phase: 3 });
+    expect(root().dataset.ignition).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ignition feed', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    window.localStorage.removeItem('nightdrive:route');
+    vi.resetModules();
+  });
+
+  it('reads a returning visitor once, before the route memory writes', async () => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem('nightdrive:route', JSON.stringify({ visited: ['start', 'profile'], last: 'profile' }));
+    vi.resetModules();
+    const returning = (await import('@/journey/ignition-feed')).readIgnition().returning;
+    expect(returning).toBe(true);
+    window.localStorage.removeItem('nightdrive:route');
+    vi.resetModules();
+    expect((await import('@/journey/ignition-feed')).readIgnition().returning).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('treats unreadable storage as a first visit', async () => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem('nightdrive:route', '{not json');
+    vi.resetModules();
+    expect((await import('@/journey/ignition-feed')).readIgnition().returning).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ignition lamp factor', () => {
+  it('the car is dark when cold and lit at 1', () => {
+    const resources = new SceneResourceBag();
+    const car = createCar(resources);
+    const light = car.group.getObjectByName('rear-light-bar') as unknown as { material: { emissiveIntensity: number } };
+    const glow = car.group.getObjectByName('car-underglow') as unknown as { material: { uniforms: Record<string, { value: number }> } };
+    car.update(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+    expect(light.material.emissiveIntensity).toBe(0);
+    expect(glow.material.uniforms.uOpacity!.value).toBe(0);
+    car.update(0, 0, 0.1, 0, 0, 1);
+    expect(light.material.emissiveIntensity).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+    resources.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it('the road throw follows the lamps (default fully lit)', () => {
+    const resources = new SceneResourceBag();
+    const road = createRoad(resources, renderQualityFor('high', 1, false));
+    const surface = road.group.getObjectByName('road-surface') as unknown as { material: { uniforms: Record<string, { value: number }> } };
+    expect(surface.material.uniforms.uThrow!.value).toBe(1);
+    road.setBeam(0, 0, 0);
+    expect(surface.material.uniforms.uThrow!.value).toBe(0);
+    road.setBeam(0, 0);
+    expect(surface.material.uniforms.uThrow!.value).toBe(1);
+    resources.dispose();
+  });
+});