yvantheterrible

What's the difference with the European Matrix Led? Do they handle the high/low beams differently?

VM

I thought the entire issue was that the European lights don't have distinct binary 'high' vs 'low' beams as expected/required by U.S. (and Canadian) regulations...

JDA_yeg

The real MATRIX headlights (the highest available one has 84 LEDS per headlight = 168 LED total which are in a grid pattern) is practically always in high beam mode but it can individually turn segments into low beam (like shadowing a passing car or a car in front) (https://youtu.be/xYSix5r38qY)

The NA model doesn't individually dim zones but simply switches to low beam mode when it detects a car. It's not anything great because a normal car can do that without requiring those 84 LEDS... so in essence, if you get a MATRIX headlight as of today, you're paying a high price for it when it's not even doing what it's suppose to do lol

Glisse

They have low beam, high beam, and matrix (full auto) settings. Audi could do what Porsche and Mercedes are doing by disabling the auto function for North America, but have chosen not to. Of course, with Audi matrix beams you get sweeping indicators at the front

The matrix function does tend to freak out other drivers.

skuzapo

I asked my salesman about the front sequential turn signals that euro lights have and he said that those also arent allowed in the US (which makes sense as far as i know ive never seen a front dynamic /sequential/ whatever you wanna call it on a car in the US) so i think there could be additional regulatory issue there (also, the rear sequentials dont do their thing if you set on the 4 way flashers, he said that was due to a requirement to have the hazard light be a certain size )

JDA_yeg

While it is too soon to celebrate, I have received new words from the Regulations Officer that, "Transport Canada solicited comments from stakeholders regarding the allowance for new lighting technologies (AFS and ADB) in Canada. We received comments from stakeholders on this matter and have taken those comments into consideration while working on the Canada Gazette, Part II final regulation publication. At this time, it is our intention to allow the use of ADB on vehicles in Canada, meeting the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice J3069, Adaptive Driving Beam."

For those unfamiliar, SAE J3069 are the guidelines used for adaptive headlights that is used under UN Regulation 48. These are the same guidelines used for the active MATRIX/MULTIBEAM headlights you see sold in Europe. Since Transport Canada has indicated that they will update the CMVSS to meet SAE J3069, among others, that will make European automotive vehicles a lot more aligned with EU-spec than NA-spec coming to Canada.


How was this possible:
- Canada has passed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with EU not too long ago, allowing for a free trade agreement between Canada-EU market. Under CETA mandated a cooperation in the field of motor vehicle regulations under Article 4. Under consideration of the allowance of AFS/ADB was based on UN Regulations 48; which was not included in the annexed regulations. (Tables can be found here: Text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement ? Annex 4) So as of now, UN48 was under an amendment change which is showing promising results.

What we know:
- Gazette Part 2 of the "Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Interpretation and Standards 108 and 108.1)" is expected to be released by the end of this year. Which means that manufactures can implement the changes immediately on the date of publication of Part 2.

What will come:
- Active MATRIX LED will most likely be sold (subject to Audi of course) in 2019 models with no limitations to the technology since it would be permitted in Canada.

What that means for US:
- Historically, Canada has maintained or pursued close motor regulations to be aligned with US to help reduce trade barriers under NAFTA. The current US gov't is attacking NAFTA balance, but that's a whole other story to talk about. Since Canada has a trade agreement with EU, Canada is making part in the deal to align with EU regulations as well, despite many not applicable to US regulations. Since US has no direct relationships with EU, the SAE J3069 standard cannot be applied. Unfortunately, US regulation FMVSS 108 doesn't seem to be in the progression of an update anytime soon.
Therefore, Canada will allow the technology and US will not.
We may see the active MATRIX LED being sold in Canada but not in US, if Audi so chooses to offer it in the Canadian market.

Obsidian3K

Just bumping this thread to say that I've been haunting the Canada Gazette site like a ghost with some serious unfinished business and so far there's been no sign of the CMVSS update that JDA_yeg mentioned above.

Hopefully the update comes along in time for Audi to add a MATRIX option to 2019 cars, because I can only put off buying something for another 6 months at most.

JDA_yeg

Well the expectation was supposedly by the end of the year but that wasn't a promised expectation.

It is in the works but I'm not sure how much more longer it will take. It will come!

JDA_yeg

Obsidian3K

Came here sure that you'd have beaten me to this update, and indeed you have!

The amendment seems to provide several alternatives to the existing 108 standard, including all of the UN standards I'd hoped to see. There's some unusual verbiage around J3069 ("If the adaptive driving beam is formed by the entirety or a portion of an upper beam or lower beam, or both, the lamps shall also conform to TSD 108, except that despite S10.18, horizontal aim adjustment is allowed"), but overall I think this is the change we've been waiting for!

Now to hope that:
a) Audi hasn't finalized configurations for MY2019 vehicles
b) Audi actually offers the Matrix LED option in Canada