Audi launches R8 LMX featuring world’s first laser headlamps
The race between BMW and Audi to implement laser headlamps in a production car has concluded with the launch of the new limited edition R8. Christened the R8 LMX, this is the manufacturer’s most powerful car yet with 562bhp and employs the world’s first laser headlamps on a production car.
The launch on May 09 took place just ahead of rival BMW, who were slated to launch a similar version of laser headlamps in the i8. However, laser headlamps were to feature on the BMW as an option as opposed to the LMX which offers it as standard equipment.
Audi claims that the need for better lighting surfaced during the 24-hours Le Mans endurance race. It’s when the production car engineers along with colleagues from the racing division worked in tandem to usher in rapid development of the technology. “The transfer of the laser headlight to the Audi R8 LMX underscores our leading position in lighting technology. The safety benefit this provides to the customer truly represents Vorsprung durch Technik (advancement through technology),” said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi AG Board Member for Development. The technology will also feature on their new R18 e-tron quattro at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.
One laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all‑LED headlight. Each module comprises of four high‑power laser diodes. The 300 micrometre laser diodes generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometers. A phosphor converter transforms this into white light which is better suited to the human eye and enables the driver to recognize contrast more easily thus preventing fatigue.
The laser headlamp activates at speeds above 60kmph to supplement the existing LED high beam on the R8 LMX. An intelligent camera‑based sensor system detects other road users and actively adjusts the light pattern to exclude them. The light produces a colour temperature of 5500 Kelvin (5500K) which is said to be ideal for a range of driving conditions.
The limited-edition R8 V10 will feature an amped-up version of Audi’s naturally aspirated 5.2-Litre V10 petrol engine, which churns out 562bhp, 20 more than the R8 V10 Plus and 10 more than the RS 7. The additional power finds its way to the wheels with the help of a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox along with Audi’s four-wheel-system, quattro. Audi claims a 0 to 100kmph time of 3.4 seconds (0.1 seconds faster than the R8 V10 Plus) and has a top speed of 320kmph.
When launched in 2008, the R8 became the first production car to feature all-LED headlamps which was followed by Matrix LED headlights on the A8. The R8 LMX continues with the tradition of advanced lighting technology from Audi and is slated for launch in a few month at a price of Rs 1,73,08,413 crore (excluding taxes and duties).
