NOT “LIGHT” ON PRICE

Over the years, I have bought CAR magazine on and off when the cover photo caught my eye and so it was the bright yellow GT2RS that did it on the cover of your July issue.

What then brought a tear to my eye in the Audi R8 review in the same issue was the cost of the left headlamp noted as R198 720. I’ll say it again, the cost of a headlight is R200 000! Are they mad? Initially, I thought it may be a typo, but no, the total parts basket is R249 143 so, I guess it’s the correct price. Do the LED headlights really cost that much? Sure, there’s the rand/ euro problem, but c’mon, that cannot be right.

Could CAR magazine do an article on LED lighting to shed some light on these crazy headlamp prices?

GARY VAN DER WALT Hermanus

We hope the article on the evolution of vehicle headlamp technology in our January 2022 issue helped provide some clarity. The headlamp units fitted to the Audi R8 test unit include daytime running lights (DRL) with an LED headlamp and laser light high beams. They are a R64 500 option compared to the normal LED headlamp units. As described in the article, laser lighting is a new technology that is currently very expensive but it provides significant benefits, especially at high speeds, thanks to its high-beam range of about 600 m being approximately double that of LED high-beam units. In addition to the cost of combined Led/laser lighting technology, the high cost of tooling the headlamp assembly with its complex reflectors, amortised over the limited sales volumes of an exclusive vehicle like the R8, will also significantly add to cost. With our speed limits and most road conditions, HID or LED headlamps provide excellent lighting, while adaptive beams will add significant benefits in terms of increased highbeam operation, glare reduction and reduced dazzle for oncoming traffic – tech editor.