At Audi, the first sketch of a more than perfect future, where the process of converting the car from a means of transport to a vehicle to experience special moments, to an interactive partner and, later, autonomous, is the concept skysphere.
The basic idea is to provide the occupants with quality moments in their lives while on board, more than just taking them from point A to point B, but also in two very different ways: as a GT (Grand Touring) and as a sports car.
The main secret for this changing character is the variable wheelbase, thanks to electric motors and a sophisticated mechanism, through which bodywork and car structure components slide to vary the length between the axles and the vehicle by 25 cm (which is equivalent to shrinking from the length of an Audi A8 to that of, more or less, an A6), while the ground height is adjusted by 1 cm to improve either comfort or driving dynamics.
If it's one of those days when you really feel like enjoying the thrills of your skin, just press a button to turn the Audi skysphere into a sporty roadster measuring 4.94 m in length, all electric, of course.
Or, choose to be calmly driven by the autonomous chauffeur in a 5.19 m GT, gazing at the sky, benefiting from the increased legroom and various services well integrated into the digital ecosystem. In this mode, the steering wheel and pedals are retracted and the car becomes a kind of sofa on wheels, in which occupants are invited to share their trip with their friends and family through social networks.
The Audi skysphere can even pick up a passenger interested in experiencing something so special, being able to know their exact location and even park and charge the batteries independently.
an aspect of being alive
The long hood, short front body overhang and protruding wheel arches make the skysphere look alive, while the rear combines speedster and shooting brake elements, and can accommodate two small, stylish travel bags designed specifically for it. model.
The front shows the typical contour of today's Audi single frame grille, even replacing the cooling functions with other ones with lighting sequences (thanks to LED elements that are also very numerous at the rear) and functional.
Like the future Audi concepts for this sphere series — which will be called grandsphere and urbansphere — the interior (sphere) was designed to maximize the use of Level 4 autonomous driving technology (in specific traffic situations, the driver can delegate full responsibility for the movement of the vehicle itself, no longer having to intervene).
The main difference can be seen, of course, in the driver's space converted into a passenger, who now has more space, being invited to enjoy every moment more, once he is freed from the vehicle's control functions.
Like the Mercedes-Benz EQS already in production, this experimental Audi also features a dashboard entirely made up of a giant “tablet” (1.41 m wide) where all the information is displayed, but which can also be used to pass internet content, videos, etc.
Playing "at home"
The stage for the world presentation of this futuristic concept, on the 13th of August, are the lush green lawns of the exclusive Pebble Beach golf club, during the Monterey Car Week activities, which the pandemic was unable to cancel, unlike most of the world car fairs in the last year and a half (in part because almost all activities take place outdoors).
It means that the Audi skysphere plays “at home” as it was designed and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, California, a very short distance from the mythical Pacific Coast Highway, on the edge that connects the suburbs of Los Angeles with the Northern California.
The team led by studio director Gael Buzyn was inspired by the historic Horch 853 Roadster model, which represented the concept of luxury in the 30s of the last century, having even been the winner of the 2009 Pebble Beach Elegance Contest.
But, of course, the inspiration was mostly in terms of design and dimensions (the Horch was also exactly 5.20 m long, but it was much taller with its 1.77 m against the skyphere's only 1.23 m), since the brand's model that launched the genes of what we know today as Audi was powered by an imposing eight-cylinder engine and five liters of capacity.
In the Audi skysphere, on the other hand, there is an electric motor of 465 kW (632 hp) and 750 Nm mounted on the rear axle, which takes advantage of the relatively low weight (for an electric car) of the roadster (around 1800 kilos) to be able to provide external performance. as standard, as illustrated by the brief four seconds to reach 100 km/h.
Battery modules (over 80 kWh) are positioned behind the cabin and between the seats in the central tunnel, helping to lower the car's center of gravity and improve its dynamics. The estimated range will be around a maximum of 500 kilometers.
Another key technical aspect to make the experience behind the wheel of the Audi skysphere very versatile is the use of a “by-wire” steering system, that is, without mechanical connection with the front and rear wheels (all directional). This allows you to choose between various steering adjustments and ratios, making it heavier or lighter, more direct or reduced depending on the situation you recommend or according to the driver's preference.
In addition to the directional rear axle — which substantially reduces the turning diameter —, it has a pneumatic suspension with three independent chambers, highlighting the possibility of deactivating the chambers individually to “step on” the asphalt more sporty (the spring response makes it progressive), reducing body roll and sag.
The active suspension, in conjunction with the navigation system and sensors and monitoring cameras, allows the chassis to adapt to bumps or dips in the road even before the wheels pass there, raising or lowering them depending on the situation.
