The 2014 Audi R8 LMX will officially be crowned as the ‘world’s first production car with laser high beam’ beating BMW i8. BMW and Audi have recently been seen battling for the glory in every other segment and class in the market. Advertising, marketing and campaigns have seen some of the most fierce competition between the two German auto-giants. But when it comes to lighting, Audi has been a dominant force since the very beginning. Audi will be launching the R8 LMX- the most powerful R8 yet, in the UK, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed which will take place from June 26 to 29, 2014. The car will be a limited edition of just 99 models and will hit the German showrooms around the same time.
Legacy of Lighting
In 2008, the Audi R8 became the first production car in the world to boast all-LED headlights; this was followed in 2012 by dynamic turn signals. Audi launched a new chapter in automotive lighting with the Matrix LED headlights, which debuted in the updated 2014 A8, launched recently. The Audi engineers since the very beginning have worked very closely with their racing colleagues on the development of lighting technologies. The combination of LED and laser high beams, for example, will be used for the first time on the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14 and 15. The premium brand is thus continuing its tradition of using racing to test new technologies destined for production. And now with laser high beams, the brand has set both the road and stage on fire. “Audi has long dominated the most important 24-hour race. In addition to the outstanding TDI drive technology, a maximum light yield gives our pilots a major advantage, and with night racing in particular is a key factor to our success,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg who is a board member of Technical Development for Audi. The new technology on roads will take road safety to new levels.
Speaking of Science
Its really amazing to get into the science of this micro scale power-plant housed in these head lamps. With the new laser high beams, one laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all-LED headlight. Each module comprises four high-power laser diodes. With a diameter of just 300 micrometers, these generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometers. A phosphor converter transforms this into roadworthy white light with a color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin – ideal conditions for the human eye that enable the driver to recognize contrast more easily and help prevent fatigue. The laser spot, which activates when the speedo hits 60 km/h and above, supplements the LED high beam in the R8 LMX and greatly enhances visibility and safety. An intelligent camera-based sensor system detects the incoming traffic and pedestrians and avoids dazzling them by adjusting into a pattern which excludes them.
Engine and other specs
The car is powered by a 5.2-litre, V10 engine producing 568 BHP and 540 Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed S-tronic transmission, propelling this car from 0-100kmph in just 3.4 seconds through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. The R8 LMX has a top speed of 318 KMPH. This supercar gives fuel efficiency of 7.74 KMPL and has carbon emission figures of 299 g/km. The body is painted from Audi’s exclusive customised Ara Blue paint which are well complemented by the rear view mirror, side-blades, a fixed rear spoiler made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), in matte black. The dynamic lines carry over into the black interior, which also features blue accents. The folding bucket seats are covered in Fine Nappa leather with Sepang Blue diamond pattern. Matte carbon is used on the covers of the center tunnel console and the parking brake lever, on the inlays in the doors and the arc around the cockpit.
The Audi R8, originally released in 2007, is nearing the end of its lifespan. That doesn’t mean, however, that Audi has given up on its aging supercar. The Audi R8 LMX will take it to the streets this summer. The base price in Germany is approximately €210,000 (Rs. 1.73 Crore). With the addition of taxes the supercar will cost you a little over 2 Crores.
With only 99 of this limited edition Audi R8 LMX up for sale, do tell us what you think of this supercar.
Pic Courtesy: audiworld.com
