Metal halide lamp and vehicle headlamp

The invention relates to a metal halide lamp for a vehicle headlamp comprising a cylindrically-shaped discharge vessel having a ceramic wall which encloses a discharge space comprising Xe and ionizable filling, and a cylindrically-shaped outer bulb surrounding the discharge vessel. According to the invention a portion of the surface of the outer bulb facing away from the discharge vessel is shaped as a negative lens. Preferably, the portion encompasses a segment of the outer bulb with a segment angle α in the range between 30≦α≦60°. Preferably, the portion forming the negative lens is shaped as a flat surface.