BMW Enlightens with Laser Headlights

BMW has made developing cutting-edgecar-headlight technology a priority in models like the 2012 BMW 6 Series, which utilizes adaptiveHowever, the technology in the new 6 Series is just the beginning. The luxury automaker recently announced the development of its Dynamic Light Spot technology, which identifies and illuminates pedestrians in harm’s way, and now BMW is fine-tuning headlights that utilize laser illumination. Still a few years from seeing action at BMW dealers, the laser headlights are featured on the BMW i8 Concept hybrid sports car, set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15. BMW says its laser technology is capable of generating light a thousand times more intense than that of headlights while using less than half the power, which makes the laser system even more attractive to automakers looking to eke out the most miles from a gallon of fuelWe often find ourselves talking about engines and transmissions when it comes to increasing efficiency, but there are many other areas that BMW is exploring, including lighting,” said Marshal Cabot, general manager of Greater Boston BMW dealer BMW of Peabody. “The truth is that there are lots of inefficiencies in our vehicles today that BMW is working to eliminate without sacrificing quality and performance. Laser headlights are a clear example of that detailed approach.Beyond efficiency, BMW’s laser-lighting technology also saves space with a diode length of just 10 microns, which is one hundred times smaller than the cells used That miniscule size allows engineers to use light in new ways throughout the car and gives BMW designers the ability to change the face of vehicles making their way to BMW dealerships in the future.The laser lighting is just one innovative aspect of the new BMW i8 Concept, which is part of the sustainable and sporty BMW i brand and is set to see production in 2014. A plug-in hybrid car, the i8 features a 170-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels, and a turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 220 horsepower driving the rear wheels. The result is a car that can travel up to 20 miles on electricity alone before using the combustion engine for more dynamic handling.The front and rear drive units on the BMW i8 can work simultaneously to give the vehicle four-wheel-drive-like capability in inclement weather. With a top speed of 155 mph, the i8 can accelerate to 62 mph in less than five seconds and was found to return approximately 94 mpg in European cycle testing.The new BMW i lineup also includes the all-electric i3 hatchback, which features a 170-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels and an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. Expected to arrive at dealerships in 2013, the BMW i3 has room for four within its spacious interior that, thanks to its large windows, has an open and airy feel. All the drive components, including the battery pack, are underneath the car, which means more space for passengers and cargoIt is good to know that performance cars will remain viable in the future thanks to BMW’s efforts,” Cabot noted. “BMW's new i lineup of cars will provide efficient, sporty transportation that will set the standard for driving dynamics and comfort. I’m really excited for the future of the brand, and I see many reasons why our customers should be as well.”