A multifunction adaptive projector system for motor vehicles is provided having a positioning mechanism designed to vary the position of a shield between three defined positions. The system includes an ellipsoidal reflector, a light source, a shield and a mechanism for variation of the position of the shield, in relation to the reflector, between a position for low beam light, a position for motorway light and a position for high beam light. For low beam light, the shield is in proximity of the focal point of the reflector. For motorway light, the shield is shifted by a first distance below the focal point of the reflector. For high beam light, the shield is shifted by a distance below the focal point of the reflector.