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TECH Feature: 2010 Audi R8 LED Headlights

Agent00R submitted on 9/2/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:33:15 PM

13 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.caranddriver.com

Are incandescent headlights on their last flicker? They lit the road ahead for almost a century, but interest in incandescence, or light made with heat by pushing current through a thin filament, is going cold.

Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, promise greater light for less power and waste heat. Already used in taillights and turn signals, the LEDs’ steadily improving efficiency means this technology is moving up to the big job.

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TECH Feature: 2010 Audi R8 LED Headlights

About the Author

Agent00R

"There are two opinions in this world. Mine and the wrong one." -- Jeremy Clarkson

— Agent00R (View Profile)


User Comments

Joe_Limon

The LED strips are fugly and look cheap, the moment they ditch them and use LED clusters in place of bulbs in conventional headlight designs will I like them. If anything these headlights are a needed must for Audi preventing them from getting abysmal fuel economy and only getting poor fuel economy.

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 4:42:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

StarSearch

I disagree Joe, heck now MB and even BMW are following suit (angel eyes will all be led, from off-white prior, coming in 2011).

What I don't understand is why cars like the Accord had led tails last gen, yet don't in their new model, is it really that expensive?

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 9/3/2009 9:00:49 AM | | Votes: 2   

freshseth83

what does fuel economy have to do with LED lighting? Audi used the LED lights on the R15TDI race car too. If you actually seen any of audi's cars with the LED lighting you would know they look good. the use of less energy is also good, which is why they are using LED technology in TV sets.

— freshseth83 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 5:46:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Joe_Limon

I do see them on the street and I think you are confused, the car looks good, except for the headlights. It looks they got a deal from made in china.com....

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/net99200/product-detailkeBnsDavLgVO/China-LED-Icicle-Light.html

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 6:17:23 PM | | Votes: 0   

theman

Audi LED headlights are without a single doubt the best in the world...by a long stretch...without argument...on all their cars, but especially the R8..

— theman (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 7:03:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

WorldofLuxury

I'm confused... have the R8's headlights always been all LED?

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 7:32:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

chewy

No, all LED headlights were an option on the R8 V8 and are standard on the US R8 V10.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 11:29:46 PM | | Votes: 3   

WorldofLuxury

Thanks for clearing up that for me.

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 9/3/2009 1:24:03 AM | | Votes: 2   

mocashflo924

Escalade Platinum has had LED headlights for almost a year now. They were the first to have ALL LED lighting, high & low beam. The Lexus LS600H uses LED for low beam but NOT high beam. Audi seems to be really big on LED lighting, the daytime running lights really grab your attention when the car is coming at you. With LED lighting it should be interesting what kinda of headlamp designs come out.

— mocashflo924 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 10:31:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

huu76

I've seen the new LEDs on the A6 and A8s, I'm not a fan of them. LEDs may make great headlights, but they stand out too much during the day. Maybe its just Audi's pattern?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/2/2009 11:48:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

AlleVier

Daytime running lights that stand out during the day--how awful. They should use black lights instead.

— AlleVier (View Profile)

Posted on 9/3/2009 12:40:53 AM | | Votes: 2   

StarSearch

huu, where did you see them on an A8? I know the next one will offer it, didn't think the current one did though?

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 9/3/2009 8:57:11 AM | | Votes: 1   

GermanNut

All Audi models sold in the U.S. either have LED daytime running lights as standard or as an option.

The minor-refreshed current A8 has the LED lights as standard on all models.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 9/3/2009 9:29:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

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