Audi presented their Sport Quattro Laserlight Concept this week at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The car has impressive specs, such as 700 hp from a combination of electric and gasoline motors and up to 90 mpg. However, as the car’s name implies, it is the lighting package that we’re supposed to notice, and it is impressive. The small-profile headlights comprise a combination of laser high beams and a matrix of LED low beams. Audi claims the laser high beams will illuminate out to more than 500 yards, snow, rain, fog, or oncoming vehicles notwithstanding.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has been quoted as saying that Audi plans to be first into production with a car using laser headlamps, although he didn’t specify which model, or when.
BMW found some humor in that claim, and said as much on their Instragam page:
"No fear of the dark. Sorry we didn't present our #laserlight concept from 2011 at the #CES2014. We're too busy with series production. The #BMW #LaserLights for the #BMWi8."
The new BMW i8 hybrid plug-in sports car, scheduled to go on sale this spring, will be available with laser headlights.—Scott Blazey
Click here for BMW’s video on development of the laser lights for the BMW i8.
