In honor of Monterey Car Week 2021 and its new Malibu design studio, Audi has unveiled the first member of a new family of three concept vehicles. The Skysphere concept is an electrically powered, two-door convertible illustrating how the brand wants to redefine luxury in the future, which it says is no longer just about driving. The car’s interior “becomes an interactive space and the vehicle a platform for captivating experiences,” made possible by autonomous driving and a seamless digital ecosystem.

 

Two modes and lengths

The concept was designed for two different driving experiences/modes—Sports and Grand Touring—enabled in part by changing vehicle length. Electric motors and mechanisms slide body and frame components to vary the car’s wheelbase and exterior length by 250 mm (9.8 in)—while ground clearance is adjusted by 10 mm (0.4 in)—to emphasize comfort and driving dynamics aspects in each mode. In the process, the wheelbase varies from A8 L to RS5 length.

As the wheelbase varies, the rocker panel attached to the front slides to the rear under the fixed door. The interior is accessed by rear-hinged and wide-opening doors.

At the touch of a button, the driver can choose the Sports driving experience to pilot the 4.94 m (194 in) long e-roadster with a reduced wheelbase, with rear-wheel steering enhancing agility. The instrument and console monitor panel move toward the driver, as do the major driver controls including the steering wheel and pedals.

In autonomous Grand Touring mode, the “driver” can choose to be chauffeured in a 5.19 m (204 in) long car, enjoying a smoother ride and more digital-ecosystem services. In this mode, the steering wheel and pedals move away, opening up more interior space, while the car automatically drives the occupants safely to their destination.

 

Interior experiences

Large touch monitor surfaces—1415 mm wide by 180 mm tall—in the instrument and upper center console operate the vehicle and infotainment systems. In Grand Touring mode, this can be used to display content from the Internet, video conferences, or streamed movies. Small touch panels in the doors are used to operate the air conditioning.

The sound system is said to deliver concert hall audio quality even when the vehicle is in motion, with speakers hidden in the door panels and rear interior wall to produce surround sound. The headrests were designed to prevent turbulence and the associated wind noise.

As with many luxury-vehicle concepts these days, sustainability is a focus of the Skysphere. The seats, which were inspired by designer furnishings, are upholstered in sustainably produced microfiber fabric. Environmentally certified eucalyptus wood and synthetic leather are other sustainably manufactured materials in the vehicle’s interior.

Audi says its new interpretation of luxury, using digitization and the ecosystem will enable new experiences for the vehicle’s passengers. The brand will provide its own services and integrate others.

For one example, passengers can share their experiences on the road with friends via social media using images of the interior and surrounding area. For another, the autonomous concept picks up its passengers with information about their current destination and independently handles parking and charging.

 

Design inspirations

The concept made its public debut as part of Monterey Car Week on the Pebble Beach golf course in California near the brand’s design “home turf.” The car was conceived and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, with studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team the creative minds behind the project.

“New technologies like electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving gave us the opportunity to create an experience that goes way beyond the one that typical roadsters offer today,” said Buzyn.

The 1930’s Horch 853 roadster, a classic model from the company’s family history, served as the inspiration. Around the same length as the Skysphere in Grand Touring mode, a version of the “definition of modern luxury of the 1930s” also won the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach in 2009.

Sticking to the Horch 853 vs. Audi Skysphere comparison, their footprints are similar—at 5.23 vs. 5.19 m (206 vs. 204 in) in length and 1.85 vs. 2.00 m (73 vs. 79 in) in width–but their heights are not, at 1.77 vs. 1.23 m (70 vs 48 in), the latter in Sport mode.

The Skysphere’s design emphasizes its wide track with wide, curved, and flared wheel arches. From the side, the front features a long hood and short overhang. The rear combines elements of a speedster and wagon with large glass surfaces in a streamlined-for-efficiency design. Under the rear glass are two overnight bags designed for the car held in place with straps.

In front, with no need for a radiator grille, Audi’s Singleframe replacement has a three-dimensionally designed illuminated four-ring emblem and white LEDs on adjacent surfaces for full-width visual-effect sequences such as gentle dimming and a rhythmically pulsating light. When the wheelbase is changed, the LEDs front and rear display a dynamic sequence. The rear end also has a digitally controlled LED surface across the vehicle width, with the red LEDs “scattered like rubies” across the vertical rear surface.

 

Electric power and control

While the 853 had a 5.0-L straight-eight engine for propulsion upfront, the Skysphere has electric drive components there such as the charger, DC/DC converter, and the actuators and electronic/mechanical components for the adaptive wheelbase. The Skysphere has an electric motor on the rear axle, delivering 465 kW and 750 N·m (553 lb·ft) for 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 4 s.

Battery modules are primarily positioned behind the cabin, with further modules between the seats in the center interior tunnel. Total battery capacity is “expected to be” more than 80 kW·h, giving the car a range of more than 500 km (310 mi) by WLTP measures in the more economical GT mode. Total vehicle mass in 1800 kg (3970 lb), with about 60% on the rear axle.

The vehicle features aluminum double-wishbone suspension front and rear. Steering is via a by-wire system controlling the front and rear wheels. With no mechanical linkages, the driver can select different ratios and settings from extremely direct to comfortable, for example when parking. The rear-axle steering and adaptive wheelbase contribute to the car’s small turning radius.

The latest evolution of Audi’s adaptive air-spring suspension uses three independent air chambers for a comfortable base suspension. Individual wheels are selectively controlled to compensate for unevenness in the road surface based on the navigation system’s digital predictions and chassis control and actuation systems.

The individual air-spring chambers are deactivated for a sportier ride, progressively reducing roll and pitch. They also can lower the body by 10 mm to reduce aerodynamic drag on the highway. The aerodynamically styled 23-in alloy wheels are fitted with 285/30 low-rolling-resistance tires.

 

“Sphere” family

After the Skysphere, the trio of concept cars will be completed by the Grandsphere and Urbansphere. The space that surrounds the passengers, the “sphere” or interior, is the center of the designs. This is because all three vehicles are designed for SAE Level 4 autonomous driving. In certain defined road and traffic situations, the driver can delegate complete responsibility to the car and no longer has to intervene.

For each concept, Audi says it is creating a unique vehicle experience that goes beyond getting from point A to point B. The concept cars feature a new interior design that “no longer subordinates the passenger experience to the requirements of the technology.” This is reflected in the Skysphere’s variable layout of the interior, the disappearance of the controls, and the sheer expanse of the cabin.

Customized infotainment options are also a focus. Audi aims to provide personalized and exclusive options for its users in the future—such as concerts, cultural events, and sporting events that are by special invitation.