German automobile manufacturer Audi took to the stage at CES, a few hours ago, to show off the latest innovation for its road-going models: laser headlamps.
The new technology is showcased on a concept model, the Sport quattro, and marks Audi’s second major breakthrough in headlight technology: it was first to use LED headlamps on a road car when it launched the V10 version of its R8 supercar.
Combining its existing MatrixBeam LED technology with lasers, the Sport quattro uses the former as a dipped/low beam, while the laser tech is used as a high/bright beam. At maximum brightness the lasers can illuminate out to 500 metres
The Stuttgart-based manufacturer has been on the forefront of automotive lighting technology, originally capturing the attention of the public with the LED daytime running light (DRL) system that it fitted to models starting in 2007. While DRLs on cars were a requirement dictated by European legislation, Audi was the manufacturer that turned them into a fashion statement, something evidenced by countless copycat kits on eBay at at discount car styling outlets. Since then, other manufacturers have followed suit and added LED technology to the DRLs on their cars.
Not ones to stand still and let the competition catch up, engineers at Audi used their expertise in LED lighting to then create headlight systems using the same technology. The manufacturer’s Le Mans program saw the first benefits: racers at the 24-hour endurance race need optimum lighting when blitzing down long straights in the dead of night, at speeds in excess of 300km/h. LEDs are not just brighter, they’re also more compact, lighter, and efficient – everything that’ll make a difference in a racecar.
When it launched the R8 with a V10 engine in 2008, Audi also gave that car LED headlights, the same ones it had perfect at Le Mans. Since then, its more luxurious models have gained the tech. The A6 and A8 models have LED headlights as optional extras, also boasting the MatrixBeam technology which automatically adjusts lighting depending on driving conditions. This includes dimming lights selectively to prevent blinding other road users.
