The future of Audi's LED DRLs

[JappleS]

There an article in the January 2013 issue of Automobile magazine where they do a Q/A session with Wolfgang Egger (Audi's Design Chief). He talks about the LED DRL design for the future. It seems Audi went from the "dot" style LEDs and then moved to LEDs that look more like a continuous tube of light. A good example is the pre-facelift A5 vs the facelift A5. Well, now they are changing it up again, but they won't be using the shape of "waves, loops, or swooshes", according to Egger. Instead, they'll be arranged in geometric shapes with distinct vertical and horizontal elements. He goes on to say that Audi has trademarked this light pattern so that it will be exclusive to Audi vehicles and it will eventually be used on all models.

I guess Audi got tired of all the other companies copying their LED DRL style.

An example of what Egger was talking about can be found on the 2015 Q2:

[A84]

Love the RS5 lights style. Really sets the car apart. Would have to see the geometric shapes at night.

[JappleS]

BTW, after seeing pictures of the new BMW 4-series (which is now the designation for the coupe version of the 3-series), it seems that even BMW is starting to abandon their round halos and moving more towards an Audi style for their DRLs.

[b4a41point8t]

Regardless, I love all these new tube LEDs. Not a huge fan of dots. A continuous line looks straight Tron and futuristic. Love them all

[JappleS]

Ironically, Tron was from the 80s. Nothing very modern or futuristic about that! LOL

[Turbavanttro]

In my opinion, there isnt another car company that has an LED that looks half as good as Audi's. The shape of Audi DRLs flow with the subtle body lines so well.

[Got No Game]

I think they're starting to add a FULL LED option for headlights instead of just the DRLs. The new S6 has the optional full LEDs. Have not seen them in person. Would be interesting to see that in action.

[DinB]

They need to make sure first that they last more than 4 months.

[Got No Game]

Right, I'm fairly certain they're designing them to fail at 5 months, just to annoy the customer. Seriously dude, you must be a very unhappy guy.

[endless5]

They need to make sure first that they last more than 4 months.

[JappleS]

They need to make sure first that they last more than 4 months.

Not really sure what you're talking about here. Most LEDs last beyond the life of the car. I'm sure there are some documented case of failure, but I'd bet that they are very far and few between. Nothing is perfect, you know what I mean? Still though, I don't think anything can beat LEDs as far as longevity is concerned.

[DinB]

Not really sure what you're talking about here. Most LEDs last beyond the life of the car. I'm sure there are some documented case of failure, but I'd bet that they are very far and few between. Nothing is perfect, you know what I mean? Still though, I don't think anything can beat LEDs as far as longevity is concerned.

I am referring to my headlight LED which died, but yes, they should last longer than regular bulbs.

[DanDanDans]

The A5/S5/RS5 face-lift would have been perfect if Audi went with the "tube-style" LED but kept the original design. The new, bent "staple" design lacks character and doesn't accentuate the lines of the facia as well as the pre-face-lift LED design, which was a signature flourish of the A5.

The 2013 A5/S5/RS5 headlight design is basically an inverted version of the 2013 A4 headlights.

[Marshall_Placid]

The A5/S5/RS5 face-lift would have been perfect if Audi went with the "tube-style" LED but kept the original design. The new, bent "staple" design lacks character and doesn't accentuate the lines of the facia as well as the pre-face-lift LED design, which was a signature flourish of the A5.

The 2013 A5/S5/RS5 headlight design is basically an inverted version of the 2013 A4 headlights.

Yes, it is inverted. But, it is not a perfect invert. The A5 DRL covers the entire top side of the light system. The A4 DRL covers only 80% of the bottom side and the bottom side is straight, and reveals a slight disconnect from the light system in the corner. I do prefer the A5 style DRL over the A4 style DRL. The A4 ones are... weird looking. It makes the new A4 DRl seem "unfinished" or "incomplete". The A5 style ones look much better. I think it is also because the A5 DRL frames the light system better and more complete than the A4 ones. And, the A5 DRL is more slanted than the A4.

I think they're starting to add a FULL LED option for headlights instead of just the DRLs. The new S6 has the optional full LEDs. Have not seen them in person. Would be interesting to see that in action.

The 2012 A6 has the full LED headlights option. I got the regular xenon headlights on my 2012 A6.

but I have spotted the full LED headlights option on the A6. At night, it is much too glaring. It is like a xenon light, except its intensity is multiplied 3 times over. Any onlooker would not recognize the headlight LEDs as LEDs.... they would think it was a high beam instead.

But, during dusk or when it is semi-dark around dusk or when raining, the full LED headlights look "above average". They look as if the were simply DRLs....... like those found on the pre-facelift A5, A6, A4, etc. But, one good thing is that the full LED headlights option changes the lane-change signal lights at the front so that it is an one single line framing the bottom side of the lights instead of a blinking yellow dot close to the grille in my regular 2012 A6.

[NPuter]

I don't like the way Audi is moving to light pipes... I do, however, like the way they are making the DRLs continuous. A perfect example is the new A6. Without the full LED option, the DRLs are light pipes. With the full LED option the DRLs are multiple LEDs lensed so they look like a continuous strip. The result is a more "powerful" looking led strip and looks much better IMHO (I've seen both numerous times). I have also driven past the full led lights at night. I did not find the glaring/blinding in any way. If anything, they were less glaring than halogen or xenon headlights.
In my opinion, the full LED A6 lights (front and rear) are the nicest lights audi has created.

Light pipe/xenon version:



Full LED:


The bottom strip is the DRL. As you can see, it is still composed of an led strip. the LEDs change to yellow for the turn signal.



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[JappleS]

...The new, bent "staple" design...[/IMG]

Bent staple. That's funny. Now that's going to be stuck in my head every time I see one. LOL

[GSS5]

I did not find the glaring/blinding in any way. If anything, they were less glaring than halogen or xenon headlights.

exactly.

[JappleS]

I'm sure the LED headlights are awesome, but I really don't like they way they look. I much prefer a nice projector lens instead. Maybe my preferences will eventually change, but right now nothing looks better than a nice set of projectors framed in a great looking headlight housing.

As for "dots" versus "tubes", I don't really have a preference. I think both look good. The "dot" style doesn't really look like dots in real life anyway. They are so bright that they form a continuous line of light when you look at them with the naked eye. Only in pictures do they really show up as "dots" of light.

[JappleS]

I am referring to my headlight LED which died, but yes, they should last longer than regular bulbs.

Wow, it died huh? You might be the only person on this forum who had a faulty LED in his headlight. I've never seen anyone else mention that. Oh well, like I said, nothing is perfect. Someone has to get a bad one eventually. No worries though, you got a warranty and I'm sure the replacement will last forever.