Audi R8 boasts LEDs aplenty

Audi has already managed to work some LEDs into a few of its cars (concepts and otherwise), but the automaker has gone all out with its latest Audi R8, which employs LEDs for seemingly every lighting function. That includes the 24-LED running lamps the R8 had before, along with some brand LED high and low beam headlights, and LED turn signals, which add up to some 54 LEDs in all. Of course, given the prices that single LED bulbs demand these days, it should come as no surprise that this is quite the pricey option, with it adding a full €3,590 (or about $5,560) to the R8's already lofty sticker price.

[Colin Potter @ May 30th 2008 10:55PM]

I've seen the LED running lights on the current R8, they seem decently bright, but I'd love to see the highs on this thing!

[John @ May 30th 2008 11:00PM]

that is the sweetest looking car ever. I wish my A4 looked that sweet..

[Ayman @ May 31st 2008 12:29PM]

so Add some LEDs

[Burke @ May 30th 2008 11:01PM]

I saw one of these in Fargo (of all places) and this car is niice. Little excessive on the price.

[PeteC @ May 30th 2008 11:01PM]

The R8 has been out for some time now guys but hell yeah, those LEDs just top off what is already a phenomenal package. If only I had £76,000, maybe I'll be able to afford a second hand one in like 20 years!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ May 31st 2008 1:39AM]

You may be able to afford the car used in 20 years, but the way gas prices are going you won't be able to afford to fill up the tank; so keep dreaming.

[bjorn_ahlm @ May 31st 2008 4:32AM]

Yeah, but by then he can buy the Mr.Fusion conversion.

[Panathas17 @ Jun 4th 2008 12:36PM]

@I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY

don't you mean - YOU MAY BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE CAR USED IN 20 YEARS, BUT THE WAY GAS PRICES ARE GOING YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FILL UP THE TANK; SO KEEP DREAMING.

[roman.kim @ May 30th 2008 11:02PM]

You can get those LED running lights on most of the new cheaper Audis as well, including the 09 A4, it looks really good.

[Jeff @ Jun 6th 2008 5:18PM]

I wasn't a fan of the christmas-light running lights at first, but seeing them IN PERSON makes all the difference. i got to drive around the S5, which had me somewhat convinced, and later in Newport i saw the R8 for the first time "in the wild" ...and they look fantastic.

I'm looking forward to this bleeding out to all the other models. :)

[Keith MacDonald @ May 30th 2008 11:10PM]

Yeah... If you can afford an R8, you can afford all-LED lighting. And why wouldn't you?

[lawyer bird @ May 31st 2008 5:06AM]

You wouldn't.

Obviously any clown with that kind of income would get the maximum of options.

In other words...bicycles FTW

[Ace b @ May 30th 2008 11:15PM]

Didnt we know about this option like a good two months ago?

[Laughing Man @ May 30th 2008 11:25PM]

Yes, and we still don't care. Its cool and out of our price range. Hell for the option I can get a nice used car.

[Kyle @ May 30th 2008 11:28PM]

I bet Tony Stark got the LED add on!


Love this car.

[jebo @ May 30th 2008 11:28PM]

pretty neat looking car, it was only a matter of time before leds found their way into autos. i'm more-so looking forward to my led refrigerator light.. high def 3-d groceries; that's what it's all about


..still doesn't change the fact that walt mossberg looks like a garden gnome... maybe better lighting will help him out too

[Stem $ell @ May 30th 2008 11:35PM]

$2K+ for 'tail' lights? Talk about being LED ass-tray!

[chrischr @ May 31st 2008 7:38AM]

Actually the option is for LED HEAD lights

[DESTOS @ May 30th 2008 11:41PM]

Now I know that anybody who can afford an R8 can afford to drop an extra 5.5 grand on LED lights, but is the cost really worth the gains in the LED lights?

[Sachin @ May 30th 2008 11:49PM]

Someone remind me to buy this in a few years.

[Reader @ May 30th 2008 11:53PM]

I'll put that on my calendar. "Remind Sachin to buy LEDtastic R8"

[morcheeba @ May 31st 2008 1:37PM]

There's a 2 year waiting list, so bump that appointment up a little.

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 30th 2008 11:56PM]

Beautiful machine, and it looks even better in person. I passed by the Park Avenue Audi dealership a few times and they had a silver model with the bare carbon fiber flank blades on a turntable, and my is it a stunning piece of work. The Ferrari/Maserati dealership uptown from it doesn't have anything in the showroom that compares, though the Maserati GranTurismo is such a kickass looking ride.

I was always hoping and praying that Audi would put their original RSQ concept (featured in I, Robot) to some use in production cars. God I'm such an Audi fanboy.

[Hawkeyexb @ May 31st 2008 12:04AM]

damn I was late and got the quote wrong!

[Alex @ May 30th 2008 11:59PM]

TONY STARK WAS ABLE TO BUILD THIS IN A CAVE

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 31st 2008 12:03AM]

You saying that the R8 is made from a box of scraps? Them's fighting words boyo.

[Hawkeyexb @ May 31st 2008 12:03AM]

USING A BOX OF SPARE PARTS

[cydonia @ May 31st 2008 12:36AM]

I'm sorry sir, but I'm not Tony Stark.

[The Apple @ May 31st 2008 4:26AM]

But i am...

[Interpol @ May 31st 2008 12:06AM]

Dude. The car already costs what, $110K or so?

If $5000 is going to break the bank, then maybe you shouldn't be buying this car...

[Andrew @ May 31st 2008 1:33AM]

For the price its a DAMN good car though. I have seen them go for $160k+

Consider what it is, and consider how much Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, etc cost. Though the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR took a Lamborghini (Gallardo?) down on a track... 400HP 2.0l I4 bone stock...

Still, I'd love to get my filthy grubby little hands on one of them beasties for a day. Still I love my A4. Turbo and Quattro, what more does one need in life...

[jon @ May 31st 2008 1:36AM]

that's it. i'm opening a $100-a-plate hamburger joint next to the audi dealership.

[morcheeba @ May 31st 2008 1:43PM]

@Andrew - Audi subsidies track days in the R8 - I did it, it's an awesome car, and now I've got figure our how to get one :-(
http://www.audidrivingexperience.com/ASE/

[CharlieX @ May 31st 2008 12:46AM]

Yes, it drives like a banshee let loose from hell. Top Gear loves this fugly beast.

But it looks like Star Trek meets Ferrari.

[The Apple @ May 31st 2008 4:28AM]

"Top Gear loves this fugly beast."

Doesn't Everyone...



I know I do.

[Ally @ May 31st 2008 8:35AM]

Star Trek meets Ferrari? AWESOME!!!


Ferrari red enterprise :P

[restingshon @ May 31st 2008 1:27AM]

Does anyone know if this option can be added on to an R8 that is already been shipped?

[Shan @ May 31st 2008 8:55AM]

Yes it can. My cousin who bought one 2 weeks ago from a private dealer who managed to get on the waiting list sent the car to the Audi dealership to get all the optional extras fitted ie. carbon fibre around the engine, carbon fibre around the speaker grills on the door, leather on the dashboard and full LEDs. The only thing my cousin didn't get was the electric seats.

Having gone for a ride, it certainly pulls very fast and it is very smooth on the roads. The roar of the engine definitely gives it that luxury sports car edge. It is also a total show off piece! I mean riding in it, everyone stops and stares, people driving around, people on the sidewalk. We went to a bar to have lunch and got mobbed by some Japanese tourists who wanted to take photos! In traffic, people always give you right of way! At a traffic light, a couple of girls pulled up in their beat up Toyota and offer themselves and their car in exchange for the R8 lol. If you have the opportunity to ride in it, definitely go for it.

Now I need to find an excuse to get my PC illiterate cousin to visit again! Come on new iPhone firmware!!

[jncojoke @ May 31st 2008 3:41AM]

[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/jncojoke/DSC00347.jpg[/IMG]

[jncojoke @ May 31st 2008 3:42AM]

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/jncojoke/?action=view¤t=DSC00347.jpg

[keithwwalker @ May 31st 2008 5:11AM]

A good site to monitor for LED and advanced lighting technology is the international Hella site. Some amazing advances are happening, LED's, adaptive beams, radar, turning headlights (hooked up to an accelerometer).

[r3loaded @ May 31st 2008 6:44AM]

Mmm, the US models of European cars never look as good as the original model because of the amber sidelight requirement. They always somehow mess up the clean design.

Compare the US-spec model above to the European model here: http://www.thelightisgreen.com/Audi%20R8%2002.jpg

[mattclarkie @ May 31st 2008 9:53AM]

I've never understood who thought "The slowest car we've ever built" was a good advertising slogan. I understand what they are trying to say, but when you hear the slogan you always perceive it as the car is slow.

[DB @ May 31st 2008 2:38PM]

yeah it seems slow even though it registers 220 (mph). ha

[L.Rawlins @ May 31st 2008 10:02AM]

If you think the Audi R8 V8 pictured in the article is sexy you should see the Limited Edition V12.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2513844566_5e1f286770_o.jpg

[Drew @ May 31st 2008 11:15AM]

Ugh! Wow
Sex. On. Wheels.
^_^

[Jherez @ May 31st 2008 11:28AM]

This one is so much better looking http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-r8-tdi-le-mans-1/677399/

[Pingmeister @ May 31st 2008 12:10PM]

I think the amazing thing here is the advances in LED technology that allow for LED Headlights and natural lighting in places where LEDs have been struggling to get into. Probably need a bit of a disclaimer since I work making LEDs but I am becoming increasingly convinced that they have a chance to phase out other light sources.

[Rincewind @ Jun 1st 2008 2:16AM]

Say, if you're working in the LED field, do you know if anyone's making any progress with LED bulbs for projectors? The one in my Sharp XR30-X only lasted five months!

[Arcaynn @ May 31st 2008 12:51PM]

LEDs improve anything. That's a fact.