Futuristic 2021 Audi Skysphere changes shape in sport mode
The dramatic looking Audi Skysphere concept has been unveiled at the Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California, hinting at Audi’s future design language. The concept can change its wheelbase, transforming it between ‘Sports’ driver-focused and ‘Grand Touring’ autonomous driving modes.
There will be three sphere concepts in total, with the Grandsphere expected at September’s Munich motor show and Audi’s Urbansphere in 2022. The Grandsphere is likely to preview a luxurious limousine that could become a future Audi A8, while the Urbansphere will explore Audi’s vision for an SUV designed to excel in the city.
Inspired by the 1930s Horch 853 convertible, built by one of the firms that would later become Audi, the Skysphere was penned at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu. It sees Audi’s single-frame grille evolve, as it’s no longer required for cooling; instead being covered in LEDs that can be used for functional and welcoming visual effects. There are 23-inch alloy wheels and the convertible is accessed via rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors. A rear storage area is designed for two custom golf bags.
Like the older model, it features an elongated nose, but this houses electronics, including a charger and DC converter, instead of a five-litre straight-eight petrol engine. It also contains actuators for the variable wheelbase, which sees body and frame components able to slide into one another to vary the wheelbase by 250mm. The Skysphere’s ground clearance can also be changed by 10mm to improve comfort or handling.
Weighing around 1,800kg, and with rear-wheel steering, the Skysphere is designed to be agile in its ‘Sports’ mode and has around 60 per cent of its weight over the rear axle, with batteries mounted aft of the cabin. A rear-mounted motor will provide up to 624bhp, getting the Skysphere from 0-62mph in an estimated four seconds. Its ‘steer-by-wire’ system will mean its steering ratio and response can be adjusted ‘at the touch of a button’, and its battery of 80kWh or more, should be good for a range of just over 300 miles. In ‘Grand Touring’ mode, the steering wheel and pedals retract, and the occupants are ‘chauffeured’ by level 4 autonomous technology, whereby the car can take over complete control in ‘defined road and traffic situations’.
Audi has placed plenty of emphasis on the art deco-inspired interior, because it’s this ‘sphere’ that it says is even more important when the car is autonomous. The seats are upholstered in sustainable microfibre and offer different positions to mimic flying first class. A huge 1,415mm wide and 180mm tall display dominates the dashboard, which can be used to enjoy internet content, films and video conferencing in Grand Touring mode.