audi's matrix light technology

[nature boy]

the last paragraph is really all you need to read, and it's pretty dang cool.
i still think the lights are ass-ugly though.
http://fourtitude.com/news/Audi_News_1/ ... -for-2013/

[jeSteR]

Um... as far as I know, BMW, and Mercedes has had adaptive turning headlights on even the basic 3 series and C class since '07 or '08. And I think they are all LED based headlights now too.

[geForce]

The BMW and Merc adaptive lights are only auto-leveling and corner turning.

I think the Audi Matrix lights are a bit more comprehensive than that though. It looks like it adapts to different weather conditions, time of day, adjusts to highway or city roads and you can even plan your lighting output according to a mapped route. All that plus the auto-leveling.

That being said - I'm always kinda wary of these kinds of car gadgets. It's like the heads up display or the auto windshield wiper, which are kinda cool, but not entirely necessary.

[nature boy]

the adaptive turning headlights i think were introduced by cadillac in the early 2000's. but the matrix light doesn't just turn (on signal as i understand the other technologies), but it lowers high beams *when other cars are coming*, and maybe just for those spots where the cars are, as well as predictive turning according to gps, as well as all that other stuff that gordon already mentioned.

the led tech is upped like nuts with these audi headlights. but again, they're still ass-ugly. i much prefer the angel-eyes of the bmw's.

[Wetundies]

we've been driving with normal lights for years, are these going to make that much of a difference besides increasing the cost of your car?

[nature boy]

apparently safety and reduction in energy usage.

wait, don't you sell lightbulbs?

[geForce]

I can see energy usage as being a big deal, but like Fynn said - we've been driving for years with normal lights. I've actually never had HID or advanced lights on my car in my entire 15 years of driving and I've never caused an accident. The accidents where others crashed into me, lights wouldn't have made a difference.

[Wetundies]

I can see energy use be a factor in hybrid or electric cars, but in normal cars your not going to see your mileage go up because you have LED lights. All the electronics required is probably gonna eat up some electricity as well.

[nature boy]

even turning your radio off gives you minor gains in gas mileage, i would imagine lights would be more.
i think the bigger selling factor is safety though.

and yes, we've been driving with regular headlights for years. we've also been throwing our kids in without seatbelts of any kind, driving without airbags, no sort of rebars and gas tanks near the engine bay. but yet we keep buying new cars with all these unneeded features.

[se7entse7en]

How much do you even use your highbeams? You can pretty much get around in the city with just your lows. The last time I drove home, I think it was over the summer, I was struck by how long it had been since I had used mine.

Slightly off topic: I got a front LED light for my bike. 1000 lumens. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet though.

[Wetundies]

Actual or rated? Rated is always higher. It'll have to be at least a 15W bulb to get that kind of output on a consumer product.

[se7entse7en]

Dunno... Here's a link: http://www.spokegrenade.ca/sg-1000/

Quick math tells me it might be a shake over 12W.
(8.4V * 4400mAh) / 3 hours = 12.32W

[geForce]

[nature boy]

my point is that cars will always have new technology, whether or not we think it's useful. i thought it was neat, so i posted it. i never asked anyone to buy it.

[geForce]

I thought it was neat too... we were just debating about the safety benefits of the lights.

I'd get fancy lights for cool factor, but not for safety reasons. These are definitely cool, but if it comes to looks, I would agree with you that I prefer the look of the BMW angel eyes.