Audi has patented a lot of things in the recent past, Matrix LED headlights and the movable spoiler to name a few, but this one takes the cake! The German carmaker has developed a patented process to create matte lettering and graphics on the surface of their cars, which in layman’s terms is giving your car a permanent tattoo.
The R8 in the picture above with that Audi Sport logo on the side blade is the simplest interpretation of this new art, but with the manufacturer signalling that any graphic can be etched on to the surface, we are curious to see how far this art is pushed. The technique is quite simple – a template is placed on the surface where the lettering or graphic will be etched, then a blasting system sprays a powder on the surface that roughens the lacquer to a depth of a few thousandths of a millimetre – less than a tenth of the thickness of the human hair. This creates a matte surface of the pattern on the paint. Because it’s a part of the paint, it is weather resistant unlike stickers.
For now, Audi will do that for the R8 Coupe and Spyder but the sand blasting will extend to other models in the future. If you plan to get your car inked though, think about the pattern carefully because when it’s time to sell, your tattoo could hit the car’s resale value.