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Audi A8 super high-tech headlight teased, whole car coming Aug 21

We have to wait one more week before we get to see the 2015 Audi A8 and S8, but it doesn't look like Audi is going to stay quiet until then. After releasing a pair of teaser videos over the last week, it has now released a first detailed picture of the new A8 revealing the trick Matrix LED headlight.
Between the high-beam and low-beam lights, the headlights contain 43 LEDs (not including those for the DRL/turn signal), but the innovative part of Matrix LED system is that a camera can control the high-beam lights - by either dimming them or shutting them off - when other vehicles are detected on the road to prevent the lights from distracting other drivers. Of course the big question remaining is if Audi can get these new headlights to pass the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The taillights also get a cool design with 24 LEDs that use a sequential turn signal
As for the debut of the A8 and S8, we already knew the sedans would be unveiled on August 21 ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show, but Audi finally made it officially official in a press release, which is posted below. Also be sure to check out the pair of teaser videos Audi has released for these cars recently.

Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan e-NV200 Workspace, Audi Shared Fleet pilot in NC

Nissan has collaborated with Studio Hardie to create the e-NV200 Workspace mobile office. The one-off electric van includes a desk space, touchscreen PC, pop-up coffee machine, Wi-Fi, wireless charging, mini fridge, pull-out rear deck, and app-controlled lighting. The e-NV200 Workspace allows freedom to work to work in a variety of places while avoiding the high rent of city center office space. It also eliminates the added cost and time of traveling to work. There's even a storage mount inside the van for a folding bike to facilitate for when you want to leave the office behind. Check it out in the video above, and read more from Nissan. Audi is launching a pilot program of its on-demand Shared Fleet service in Durham, North Carolina. With Audi Shared Fleet set to debut around the country next year, the pilot program will be housed at the American Underground technology incubator in Durham for this initial trial. Users will be able to book and unlock the fleet's 2017 A4 sedans using the Audi Shared Fleet app. The program will help Audi refine the service ahead of its nationwide launch. Learn more from Audi. The Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) is raffling off a Tesla Model S as part of a fundraiser. In its Green Your Ride contest, the ISEA will pick a winner from 2,500 tickets sold at $100 apiece (or four for $300). If the winner doesn't need a car, or doesn't want to pay the associated taxes and fees, they can opt instead for $60,000 cash. Second and third prize winners get a Tesla Model S for Kids by Radio Flyer, or $500. If less than 2,000 tickets are sold, the winner takes half the raffle proceeds, while the ISEA will use the rest in its mission to promote solar power. Read more at ValueWalk.

NHTSA expands new Takata probe to 4 more automakers

DETROIT — The U.S. government's highway safety agency has launched an investigation into four additional automakers that have a potentially deadly type of Takata air bag inflator in their vehicles but have yet to recall them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted Thursday that it is investigating Audi, Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi in connection with a Takata recall involving 1.4 million inflators. This brings the total number of manufacturers potentially impacted to five, as BMW was connected to the issue when it was brought to light earlier in December. The inflators made by the now-bankrupt Takata have a distinct and separate problem that can cause them to blow apart a metal canister and spew shrapnel into people's faces and bodies. The problem killed a driver in Australia who was in an older 3-Series BMW, which has already recalled more than 116,000 vehicles. The problem is so dangerous that in some cases BMW has told drivers to park their vehicles until repairs can be made. The safety agency says in documents that Takata didn't provide details on the affected makes, models or model years of vehicles with the defective inflators. So it is telling the companies to recall them promptly. The agency says that based on when the faulty inflators were produced, it's likely that the vehicles to be recalled came from the 1995 through 2000 model years. In letters to all four automakers, NHTSA says they have five business days to notify the agency after finding out about a safety defect. “If your company has not yet gathered enough evidence to make a determination that the subject air bag inflators present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety, reply with a detailed work plan including the benchmark dates required to make the determination,” the agency wrote in letters to all four automakers dated Wednesday. A Honda spokesman said Thursday it hasn't determined yet whether its vehicles are affected, but a decision should be made soon. Audi, Mitsubishi and Toyota said they are still investigating. NHTSA has told the companies to respond by Jan. 17. On Dec. 4, NHTSA posted documents from Takata and BMW detailing the problems. The documents said the Australian driver was killed, while another Australian driver and a driver in Cyprus were injured. Unlike previous recalls, the Takata non-azide inflators do not use volatile ammonium nitrate to fill the air bags in a crash.