Appreciating The R8 “Monocle” In The Flesh
Yes, the R8 has been seen everywhere on the internets, but the launch of the new Audi at the L.A. Auto Show is the car's North American debut. Running our fingers over its skin and sitting in its cockpit (which is not unlike an Acura NSX, to be honest), it's easy to fall in love. And we did.
One of the neat little details we liked was the R8 "monocle" in front of the headlight beam. Blaze a path down your favorite road or Mulsanne Straight with the R8 logo as your visual guide.
It should be noted that there is a lens on each headlight, therefore laying waste to our monocle analogy. But, the lenses are attached not by a nose bridge, but by a loop on the side. Bimonocle? Or just a set of eyeglasses? You decide.
Comments
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John Carder
I'm a bit confused by this.
Won't the "monocle" cast a mirror image of the R8 logo as a shadow? In other words, if you look at the monocle from the front and see R8, then it might look like R8 to someone in front of the car looking at the headlight (if it could even be discerned). But, it should look like an 8 followed by a backwards R (both leaning left, in reverse italics) to the driver (as a shadow effect in the beam).
That makes me wonder what the real function of these lenses is. Then again, if it was never tested, it might be a bit like the original Hubble telescope.
jc the cg
Mark Bennett
Looking at the bulb, surely that is a sidelight?
Or have we gone back to bad-old 55W Tungsten candles?
Kal
Its just a light diffuser. The script won't show through as a shadow, its just a nice detail to remind you of how you just spent $100,000+. Besides, does your car have one?
stevelucky
i'm guessing that the picture was reversed just for us. i'm sure the actual "monocle" is reversed so as to cast a proper R8 logo on the road.
netmasta10bt
regarding it being backward. It looks like there is a Fresnel lens (the serrated thing) which will made it big, and will reverse the image back.
As far as the bulb -- yeah thats odd. I thought the R8 was coming with LED headlights -- the European version will not though -- as they have not been approved -- not until 2008.
David R.
That looks like the signal light (turn indicator) and maybe daytime running light. I bet it isn't for the driver to see but for people outside the car to see the amber glowing R8.
Jon
I agree, that must not be the actual head light. It appears int he first image that it has a Xenon head light (as would be expected in a car of this value). That bulb is surely a day time running light or turn signal or something other than a head light. Although neither of those would likely be powerful or focused enough to project an image of a monocle, reverse or not.
nb
John Carder you are correct, it would cause it to appear in reverse.
And Mark Bennett, yup, this article incorrectly says it is on the headlight, which it is not.
Chris
It's the little details that count.. gorgeous
Kevin Adams
I'm almost sure that's a sidelight, as the headlights are xenon. Anyway, it's becoming a common feature, and it doesn't gets in the way pf the light; Volkswagen cars in Europe have a VW symbol right in front of tungsten bulbs and the headlights works perfectly. So it's just a "fashion" item.
MisterKen
And replacing it when it is broken off will only cost you $600.
Niice.
tood nolte
i agree with John C. seems backwards if the driver is to see the logo.
perhaps some clod at the website horizontally reversed the photo?
Adrian Irwin
The 'monocle' won't cast a significant shadow. As the beam is spread out by the reflective elements behind it, any shadow will simply diffuse away. Instead, it's likely it will glow due to light entering the edge of the plastic, providing a sort of side-lit effect on the R8 mark.
Sendep7
Actually at that distance, it would just diffuse the light slightly, you wouldnt see the R8 projected on the road, but you would see the R8 brightly lit up when you looked directly at the headlight.
Audi R8
Pretty cool.. Anyone interested in the Audi R8, please check out www.r8talk.com
--Josh
That doesn't project the image. Most current model VWs have the VW logo in the center of a metal piece within the light as well.
Andrew
Doesn't the new Volkswagen Jetta's have this as well?
http://siraris.net/Gallery/v/CarShow/DSC_0220.jpg.html
I knew I had taken a picture of it :)
Synthe
Maybe the picture was flipped horizontally to show it as R8?
Nick
I would NOT want my car's logo lit on the road every time I go out driving at night. Staring at an advertisement whenever I drive at night? NOT cool.
Laser Chris
This doesn't appear to be part of the headlight.
Hi, The bulb behind the R8 logo appears to be the type used for marker or running lamps and turn signals. The vehicle's actual headlight is visible in the upper right-hand corner in the top photo. It has projection type headlamps.
It is most likely a glare-diffuser in front of the turn signal. These are common as most turn signals are quite bright. Think back to the last time you were driving behind that guy with the busted-out turn signal lens.
Can you imagine the horror if automakers started projecting their logos with the headlights? Driving at night would be like walking through Las Vegas, in a blender.
Mike
"Won’t the “monocle
Erik
Am I wrong, or would this project a logo that would be backwards on the road, and possibly upside down? I bet it doesn't project at all.
Will
I happened to be at a VW garage a couple of weeks ago and it looked as if several of their Golfs had a similar system displaying the VW logo. Not sure if it actually functioned though.
I'm guessing that the lens action will flip the logo round to display it correctly. Kinda like...
...like the camera lense on a SLR??
gyrfalcon
Okay idiots... The logo does not project onto anything, it becomes lit by the headlights. The lamp behind the R8 logo is for the turn signals.
I don't own an R8, but this seems logical to me.
Fred Flummy
One word: Kachow!
New Audi R8 super car has a “monocle” that shines its logo «
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Prime News Blog » Blog Archive » New Audi R8 super car has a
[...] One of the neat little details we liked was the R8 “monocle” in front of the headlight beam. See a closeup shot of the "monocle" in this photo.read more | digg story [...]
A. Wofford
Want to see an actual "Bimonocle"? Go to your Mitsu dealership and ask to see the Eclipse. Now that is actually part of the HEADLIGHT.
But seeing as how no one here seems to read other posts before making their stupid comments, I expect more questions about reverseing the projection and ....blah...blah...blah.
Kyle » Blog Archive » New Audi R8 super car has a “monocle”
[...] One of the neat little details we liked was the R8 “monocle
Capatpin » New Audi R8 super car has a “monocle” that shines
[...] read more | digg story [...]
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