This innovation will permanently change automotive light design and car-to-X communication: With second-generation digital OLED rear lights, the Audi Q6 e-tron is taking light design, range of functions, and road safety to a new level. Audi is gradually developing the technology into intelligent displays that can communicate with other road users by displaying information via the exterior lights – this is the new communication light. The active digital light signature is another world first making its debut in the Audi Q6 e-tron. It makes an entirely new and vibrant impression, pointing the way to the future of Audi lighting technology. For the first time, customers can optionally select digital light signatures for this new evolution of digital daytime running lights in the Matrix LED headlights and the new generation of digital OLED rear lights. In addition, customers may book digital light signatures on demand.
The new SUV features digital daytime-running lights with 61 individual segments (in place of the 10 on the smaller Q4 E-tron), while the third-generation OLED tail-lights use 60 segments per OLED tile – a tenfold increase over those of the Audi A8. Together, they provide the Q6 E-tron with up to eight different lighting signatures.
This enables the ‘Communication Light’ to display a red triangular warning symbol, in combination with the hazard lights, to warn other drivers of obstructions, which are detected by the car itself or Audi’s cloud-based road monitoring system.
Additionally, Audi has programmed its new Communication Light to show the letter A when the Q6 E-tron’s Intelligent Parking Assistant is triggered and it performs an automated reverse parking manoeuvre.
Audi says this is the first stage of a more advanced system that will include other symbols. “We have opened discussions with regulatory authorities on providing more symbols, including dynamic symbols that flash or strobe for additional effect,” said Audi lighting project manager Werner Thomas.
Via the myAudi app, customers can activate their personal light signatures from outside the car and experience the dynamic lighting scenario and the coming home/leaving home function right on their car. It’s the same with the communication light in the second-generation digital OLED rear lights and proximity indication. On request, the Matrix LED headlights can provide a live demonstration of the sign glare suppression and object masking features.
For an even greater degree of personalization for the Q6 e-tron, customers can book the package of digital light signatures for the LED headlights plus/Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED rear lights after purchasing their car using on-demand functions. Customers can purchase the features permanently or for a specific period. This flexibility lets Audi customers design their Q6 e-tron with up to eight digital light signatures (only in conjunction with digital OLED rear lights and LED headlights plus/Matrix LED headlights) to suit personal preferences. Finally, they can also purchase high-beam assist and the Matrix package on demand.
