Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
Audi’s latest concept car is a sleek, creepy-looking electric convertible called Skysphere, which blends Batmobile-like technology and aggressive design features with luxurious amenities.
The roadster concept is primarily characterized by an adjustable wheelbase, which can be changed in size depending on the driving mode, and a digital cockpit with a retractable steering wheel and pedals that can be stowed away when the car is driving itself.
“We call that progressive luxury,” said Audi boss Henrik Wenders during a media event for the digital unveiling of the vehicle on Tuesday. “It’s not a car, it’s an experience device.”
The concept vehicle represents what company representatives believe Audi could likely achieve in the second half of this decade if it turns to electric and autonomous vehicles. Audi plans to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2033, following the launch of its last internal combustion engine vehicle in 2026.
Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
Audi said the Skysphere was designed to be self-propelled but currently can’t really do that. It is unclear how feasible a resizing vehicle would be for a production model. According to Audi, the range of the electric car is around 310 miles.
Wenders said car brands like Audi need to think about what could be possible with electric vehicles, even when advanced technologies like an adjustable wheelbase may not be in sight right now.
“Two vehicles in one”
Apart from the technologies, the vehicle signals a new design direction for Volkswagen’s own luxury brand. Gael Buzyn, head of the Audi design studio in Malibu, said “many elements” of the car will make it into future production vehicles.
Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
Audi executives said the vehicle was essentially “two vehicles in one”. The first is an aggressively driving roadster that can reach 60 mph in about four seconds and offers about 553 pound feet of torque. The second is a great touring coach that drives itself and expands about 10 inches for a bigger, more comfortable cabin.
“It’s not just a design study, it’s a concept that shows us internally and externally what is possible,” said Wenders. “It’s a concept that shows us how we can combine both an automotive driving experience with an immersive digital experience.
The car was unveiled Tuesday for Monterey Car Week 2021 in California, a high-end auto festival that includes the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance auto show.
Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
New concepts
The Skysphere is the first of a new family of concept vehicles that focus on Audi’s transformation from a car to an “experience device”. The second vehicle, called Grandsphere, is due to be presented on September 1, followed by the Urbansphere in the first half of 2022.
According to Audi, the term “sphere” is intended to symbolize the interior of the vehicle for the driver and passengers.
Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
“These concept vehicles are characterized by a new design that ultimately re-introduces the interior, the passenger compartment, as the center of the vehicle and no longer subordinates the passenger experience to the requirements of the technology,” the company said in a press release.
Automakers routinely use concept vehicles to measure customer interest or to show the future direction of a vehicle or brand.
Audi Skysphere concept
Audi
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