Audi has revealed its refreshed 2014 R18 e-tron Quattro racing car that is to be used throughout next year. At first glance, it doesn’t differ significantly from this year’s outgoing model, but it does have one cool new feature that’s still very rare: laser headlights, similar in tech to those used by BMW on the i8 where they are optionally available.

“The new laser light is just one of numerous technical innovations featured by our new R18,” said the recently appointed head of Audi’s Motorsport wing, Wolfgang Ullrich, who added that “We’re not going to reveal any more than that at this early stage, as in 2014 we’re facing an extremely tough competition and a year full of challenges for Audi Sport.”

So, this means that apart from some photos and hardly any explanation as to how their headlights differ from BMW’s or in regards to any of the other changes, we’ll have to wait for them to announce what this “year full of chances” actually means, and what novel ideas will push it forward.

By Andrei Nedelea

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