Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

The Exclusive Edition R8 is Audi USA’s first foray into laser lighting

By
Audi brings laser lights to the US
Laser headlights have been a long time coming in the United States. They use a fraction of the power that an LED lamp uses, yet they boast far better range and power in a smaller, more efficient package. Seems like a no brainer, right? Sadly, laser headlights have only recently started to come to our side of the pond, as auto manufacturers have had to cut through miles of regulatory red tape to get the technology approved.
Recommended Videos

The BMW i8 was the first production car to feature laser headlights in the U.S., but now one of its biggest competitors is bringing its gear stateside. Audi USA has announced that a new version of the 2017 R8 — dubbed the V10 Plus Exclusive Edition — will be its first production car to feature laser light technology. The vehicle will debut later this month at the 2016 LA Auto Show.

According to Audi, the Exclusive Edition uses full LED headlights enhanced by a laser high beam module, which greatly improves visibility. The automaker has offered a similar system on the Euro-spec R8 since 2014, and it claims the laser module offers twice the range of standard LED high beams.

1 of 3
Audi R8 V10 Plus Exclusive Edition
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Audi R8 V10 Plus Exclusive Edition
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Audi R8 V10 Plus Exclusive Edition
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Despite how it may sound, laser headlights don’t actually emit a blinding ray of radiation onto the road ahead. Instead, diodes inside a laser module shine several beams onto a phosphor converter, which effectively transforms blue light into white light. Then, the light is projected outward with much improved definition, however the lights only work above 40 mph.

Read more: Classy, wild, and a little bit mean, Audi’s TT RS is a race car in a business suit

When the Exclusive Edition goes on sale, it will wear several enhancements to differentiate it from other R8s. The factory shoes have been scrapped for 20-inch, 10-spoke Y-design wheels finished with high-gloss black, and the exterior itself is offered in Quantum Gray with Titanium Black accents. Inside, racing shell seats and a full leather interior package with orange contrast stitching come standard. Performance wise, the car wears carbon ceramic brakes.

Can’t wait to feast your eyes on these trick laser lights? You’d better get your wallet ready, because just 25 examples of the Exclusive Edition will be sold for a starting price of $229,200. Stay tuned for the vehicle’s debut and much more from the LA Auto Show starting November 14.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andrew Hard
Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more