Audi has just released its first official teaser of the 2016 R8, ahead of the car’s highly anticipated debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.->ke228 Rather than revealing any of the performance or styling aspects of the brand’s halo performance vehicle, our first look at the next-gen R8 instead focuses on the advanced laser spot headlights.

These new lights, first introduced on the limited-production 2015 Audi R8 LMX, will be an optional feature on the 2016 R8, and each will consist of four high-intensity laser diodes that are brighter and have a longer lighting range than LED headlights. For a sports car capable of speeds of close to 200 mph, the farther ahead you can see, the better. Unfortunately, laser headlights have still not been approved for use by the U.S. DOT, so don’t expect to see this option available on U.S.-spec R8s anytime soon.

The 2016 Audi R8 will come standard with full LED headlights. Each headlight will feature 37 LEDs, and that includes the daytime running lights. Audi has turned these running lights into somewhat of an art form on all of its current cars, and the all-new R8 will definitely continue this trend.

Click past the jump to read more about the next generation Audi R8.

Why it matters

The best part of this image is that it confirms that the recently leaked image shown on Instagram was indeed legit as the pulled-back drape reveals the headlight design and some of the front fascia. Also important is the fact that Audi is continuing its focus on laser headlights, whichwill also be in the R18 e-tron quattro racecar as well as the 2014 Audi Sport Quattro Laserlight Concept.

Audi R8

Audi launched the R8 almost eight years ago and gave it a hefty refresh just a couple of years ago, but the 2016 R8 is expected to exhibit a new level of performance and technology. On the performance side, the standard engine is likely to be a more-powerful and more-efficient version of the 5.2-liter V10, and there are also rumors of a possible e-tron hybrid model pairing electric motors with a V-6 or four-cylinder engine.