Audi's new R8 supercar is here but the US government won't let you have its coolest feature
Feb 18, 2015, 01:13 IST
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Since its launch in 2008, the Audi R8 has reached iconic status.Now, the car is about to get a second-generation model featuring the angular headlights and hexagonal front grille first seen in the company's next-generation TT sports car. Even more interesting is what will inhabit those stylish headlights - lasers. That's right, Audi will make its laser headlights available on the supercar. Like the current generation R8 LMX that debuted last year, the 2016 model will also have laser high beams as an available option. That is if you don't live in the good ole' U.S. of A.Audi's laser headlights use a series of blue lasers to create a beam of light that's equivalent to a traditional high-beam. To prevent the lasers from blinding everyone in its path, the laser light beam is malleable and can detect oncoming traffic.Unfortunately, the laser's amorphous lighting abilities violate current US regulations on headlights.America's antiquated Cold War-era regulations require that automotive headlights feature a high beam, a low beam, and absolutely nothing else. This means Audi's laser lights - as well as other modern headlight tech from Toyota and BMW - simply don't fit into the rigid regulations.They are simply banned. A true pity.
