Currently in showrooms and priced at $141,695 including $995 Destination & Handling, the MY2016 BMW i8 features Laser Lights available as an option for the first time in the US. BMW brought the i8 with Laser Lights to the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show and we had the chance to take a closer look.
The laser light option was available in Europe since the i8 went on sale in 2014, but in the U.S., FDA has been holding the feature hostage – until now. FDA is the governing agency responsible to approve medical devices, a category where the lasers fall under in the US.
The U.S. market will get a slightly modified version of the laser tech, twice stronger than regular headlights compared to three times as they are in Europe.Tthe laser lights in the U.S. for the i8 will not have the blue lights and they will automatically turn off for incoming cars.
Thanks to the new laser technology, it is possible to increase energy efficiency by a further 30 percent compared to already highly power-saving LED light.
BMW laser lights illuminates the road ahead with a significantly higher light intensity without heating up the surrounding area. Laser diodes are ten times smaller than conventional light diodes. They help to save not only available installation space inside the headlamp, but also weight. The size of the reflector surface can be reduced by a factor of up to ten vs. LED light.
We’re still waiting on pricing information!
