Monday 16th February 2015

New Audi R8 - first look

All-new Audi R8 tips us the wink with its (frickin') laser headlights

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Though the new R8 will be apparently be joining the amazing array of hot metal debuting at Geneva in a couple of weeks, Audi has been relatively quiet about its second-gen supercar. Expect a bit more noise here on PH later this week to put that right but, as is the way, every big launch must be preceded by a teaser campaign. And this condensed one for the new R8 starts with the headlights.

Laser/LED lights, as fitted to the outgoing R8 LMX

Which are actually quite interesting, not least for the fact they've got lasers in them. Or will have if you tick the upgrade box from the already impressive standard LED items.

Introduced on the R18 E-Tron Quattro at Le Mans last year, and featured for the first time on a road car in the limited edition run-out R8 LMX, these use "high intensity laser diodes" for the high-beam. Audi claims almost twice the lighting range of even LED lights, equating to 500m in the case of the Le Mans car. Paired with the existing Matrix LED lights that can peer around oncoming cars and obstructions and pre-empt curves by 'reading' the road via the navigation system the technology is a huge step up, one even Luddites like us can appreciate.

What can we tell about the new R8 from the supplied image though? Well, even though it's just coyly peeking out from under a sheet it's obvious enough that Audi won't be doing anything too radical with the basic shape and proportions. What, you were expecting revolution?

Double the 'range' of LEDs claims Audi

Underneath we know it shares the Modular Sportscar System (MSS) 'hybrid' aluminium/carbon tub with the the Lamborghini Huracan, the mainly aluminium spaceframe using carbon fibre for the rear bulkhead and other structural parts. Audi claims this as the best compromise in terms of weight, stiffness and cost, this a halfway house between McLaren's all-carbon philosophy and Ferrari, which has previously stated it is sticking with aluminium for all but its LaFerrari level flagship models.

Engine-wise we'll have to see but if not at launch expect some manner of hybridisation for the new R8 somewhere along the line. Watch this space for more.

[Modificata]

I just dont get the R8. Its nice but not special. I wouldnt put my money in one.

[TTmonkey]

Modificata said:

I just dont get the R8. Its nice but not special. I wouldnt put my money in one.

Where would your money go instead?

[kambites]

So the headlight brightness war takes another step forwards...

[court]

Nice lights, but does it have an electric handbrake?

[folos]

TTmonkey said:

Where would your money go instead?

Second hand Vauxhall Vectra obviously. Bigger boot.

[TTmonkey]

Is this the real car?

(ok, see its a rendering now)

Edited by TTmonkey on Monday 16th February 09:45

[FastRich]

Nice to see some Le Mans technology hitting road cars, but I dread to think of the cost of a replacement headlight unit after an incident with a weary pheasant.

[utgjon]

So when some turd decides to leave their lights on full beam we get blinded by a freakin' laser now....


wonderful.

[The Badger]

Audi is pathologically obsessed with lights.

[amusingduck]

utgjon said:

So when some turd decides to leave their lights on full beam we get blinded by a freakin' laser now....


wonderful.

PH said:

The spread of LEDs means the beam can be spread, angled and blanked according to need and without the weight and complexity of mechanically adjusted reflectors. You simply leave it on 'full beam' and individual LEDs are switched off, dynamically tracking the position of oncoming cars to spare them a retina scorching as they pass while those facing the kerb can remain at full power. Paired with the navigation it knows the twists and turns ahead before you do and can peer around corners before you reach them.

[IrishAsal]

Great. The headlight arms race continues.

[A Scotsman]

Headlights are already considerably brighter than they used to be and in some instances I would suggest they are downright dangerous.

[vescaegg]

Some Audi lights already blind from miles away.

Why do road cars need lights which are up with the best at Le Mans? Road cars do not blast down the Mulsanne at 200mph!

[allergictocheese]

Aren't laser lights already an (expensive) option on the BMW i8?

[jamespink]

utgjon said:

So when some turd decides to leave their lights on full beam we get blinded by a freakin' laser now....


wonderful.

That's kinda the point of the matrix lights. The tiny square of projected light that would hit your car is switched of instantly it sees your cars lights. Very clever. See it explained here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwLiY-J0bJQ

[blueg33]

Modificata said:

I just dont get the R8. Its nice but not special. I wouldnt put my money in one.

Most Porsche's are the same, and it compares favourably with those

[V8A*ndy]

Thought BMWs Laser headlight demonstration at CES was really cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvK5WC4ns0

[mackie1]

utgjon said:

So when some turd decides to leave their lights on full beam we get blinded by a freakin' laser now....


wonderful.

All the active gubbins will make that unlikely. With the LED ones it can turn of portions of the beam to avoid dazzling oncoming cars.

[405dogvan]

Like Audis need brighter lights to dazzle-the-fk out of oncoming drivers...

They're no worse than some other manufs (Ford and Citroen seem particularly unable to make cars with headlights which aren't blinding) but it boggles the mind that despite the HUGE amounts of tech involved (auto dimming, auto on/off, auto levelling and so on) we've still not eliminated the fkholes who park on the wrong side of the road and forget to turn their lights off...

Less lazers - more hammers whacking the driver eh?

[alanjohnlew]

Detecting on coming cars is all well and good but will they pick up a cyclist or pedestrian?