Audi Skysphere Concept, The Electrifying And Future Reconceptualizing Luxurious E-Roadster

Built to captivate with world-class experiences, the Four Rings presents the first member of a new family of concept vehicles, a spectacular electric roadster, the Audi Skysphere Concept.

The Skysphere Concept is Audi’s reinterpretation of future luxury, made possible thanks to autonomous driving, a revolutionary interior redesign, and a seamless digital ecosystem.

Audi’s design project manager Gael Buzyn remarked, “New technologies like electrification, digitalisation and autonomous driving allowed us to create an experience that goes way beyond the one that typical roadsters offer today.”

First off, to give occupants maximum liberty, the concept vehicle was designed for two different driving experiences, i.e., a grand touring experience and a sports experience.

Formed with a variable wheelbase, it allows the e-motors, body and frame components to slide into one another using an intricate mechanism.

This enables the exterior length of the car to be adjustable by 250 mm. At the same time, the vehicle’s ground clearance is also adjusted by 10 mm to enhance comfort and driving dynamics.

That said, with the touch of a button, drivers can take advantage of their freedom and choose their own driving experience.

Under ‘Sports’ mode, drivers can manually pilot the 4,940 mm long e-roadster, which has a reduced wheelbase and rear-wheel steering that ensures the vehicle’s extreme agility.

Conversely, occupants can be chauffeured around in a 5,190 mm GT under the autonomous ‘Grand Touring’ mode while enjoying ample legroom and the seamlessly integrated digital ecosystem.

In this mode, the steering wheel and pedals move into an invisible area and the Audi Skysphere automatically keeps an eye on the road and traffic with its sensor system.

Lurking in the chassis of the 1,800 kg e-roadster is a powered rear axle-mounted e-motor with 465 kW of output and 750 Nm of torque.

Its weight distribution of around 60 percent on the powered rear axle results in ample traction and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds.

Likewise, the Skysphere’s battery modules are also primarily positioned in the rear cabin, making it an ideal configuration for the vehicle’s centre of gravity and agility.

Further modules can be found between the seats in the centre tunnel of the interior, which is another position chosen in favour of vehicle dynamics.

The battery’s capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving the Skysphere in the economical GT mode a range of more than 500 km, according to the WLTP standard.

Moreover, the vehicle features double-wishbone axles in the front and the rear. Plus, the upper and lower wishbones are forged from aluminium.

Steering is via a steer-by-wire system that controls the front and the rear wheels. The system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, hence different steering ratios and settings are available.

It permits the steering to be adjusted from extremely direct to comfortable and from high self-aligning forces to minimal self-aligning forces.

Other than that, the latest evolutionary stage of Audi’s adaptive air suspension has been implemented in the concept vehicle.

Featuring three independent air chambers to provide a comfortable base suspension, in which the individual chambers can be deactivated for a sportier ride with fast acceleration.

Also, while simply coasting along, the individual wheels are selectively raised or lowered to compensate for unevenness and undulations in the road surface.

Interestingly made possible through the symbiosis between the navigation system’s digital predictions and the active chassis’ sophisticated control and actuation systems.

Transferring the Skysphere’s power to the blacktop is a set of aerodynamically styled 23-inch alloy rims wrapped in 285/30 tyres.

Exterior wise, having taken inspiration from the legendary Horch 853 cabriolet, it is easy to see the similarity between the two, as the major difference is only most noticeable in its height.

Comparing the autonomous Skysphere and the classic Horch 853, it measures up at 5,190 mm versus 5,230 mm in length, 2,000 mm versus 1,850 mm in width and 1,230 mm versus 1,770 mm in height.

Gazing at the front end, although no longer serving as a radiator grille, it still features the brand’s typical ‘Singleframe’ and the three-dimensionally designed, illuminated emblem with the Four Rings.

Said ‘Singleframe’ and the adjacent surfaces on the sides are designed with white LED elements to act as a stage for visual and functional effects.

Unique to it is the gentle dimming, structured and rhythmically pulsating light, which aids in illuminating an elegant effect.

Additionally, the daytime running lights in the side front sections give the lighting units a resolute and focused gaze.

Similarly, upon adjusting the wheelbase, the LEDs in the front and rear irradiate a specially composed dynamic sequence.

Flipping to the back, the rear end was developed in a wind tunnel and it combined elements of a speedster and a shooting brake light with large glass surfaces in a unique streamlined design.

Equally, it is also dominated by a digitally controlled LED layout that stretches across the vehicle’s entire width, featuring countless red LEDs scattered like rubies across the vertical rear surface.

As a result, the reflections create dynamic lighting and shadow effects when the lighting units are switched on and off.

Apart from that, the Skysphere’s silhouette brandishes wide curved and flared wheel arches that are unmistakably Audi.

Viewed from the side, the proportions are striking with a long hood, especially the front with a short overhang. It also has rear-hinged and wide-opening doors that add to its character.

A characteristic feature of the side view are the rocker panels that protrude into the rear wheel arch. It is a necessary feature when varying the wheelbase as it gets pushed backwards.

Therefore, as the rocker panel is attached to the car’s front end, and as it moves, the panel also slides to the rear under the fixed door.

Interior wise, Audi dubs the space that surrounds the passengers as the ‘Sphere’. This interior design is meant to be an experience and is the centre of the whole concept.

Due to it being created to be a level 4 autonomous driving vehicle, the driver can delegate complete responsibility to the car and no longer has to intervene.

Hence, control elements such as the steering wheel and pedals can be swivelled into an invisible position, thereby completely removed from the interior.

Free of controls, the interior appears as a light, spacious environment, inspired in many areas by the Art Deco universe.

Passengers, including the one in the front left seat, can enjoy the open space or interact with the internet and the world courtesy of the digital ecosystem.

On top of that, the comfortable seats boast the visual elegance of designer furnishings, yet fulfilling the functions of a car seat in the driving mode without any compromises.

Upholsteries are of sustainably produced microfiber fabric and, owing to the variable positioning in the interior, it offers the kind of freedom to move and legroom that is second to none.

Indeed, the interior is also environmentally certified. Featuring eucalyptus wood and synthetically produced imitation leather are just the few contributing factors to the vehicle’s sustainable cabin.

In instances where the Skysphere’s driver-operated mode is used, the interior transforms into an ergonomically perfect driving machine cockpit.

Meaning, together with the chassis and body, the instrument panel and the monitor panel on the centre console also move to the rear.

Thus, all the controls, including the steering wheel and pedals, are arranged in positions to best suit the driver.

Connectivity-wise, large touch monitor layouts measuring up to 56 inches wide and 7 inches high on the dash and in the upper centre console are used to operate the vehicle and infotainment systems.

Under the ‘Grand Touring’ mode, this can be used to display content from the internet, video conferences, or streamed movies.

Complementing the ambience is a high-quality sound system, which delivers concert hall audio quality even when the vehicle is in motion.

Speakers are hidden behind the door panels and a few more in the rear interior wall to balance and produce the surround sound.

Emphasising the luxurious ‘Sphere’, the shape of the headrests has been designed to prevent turbulence and wind noises.

Overall, the Audi Skysphere Concept is the Four Ring’s way to showcase its vision of liberal luxury and a platform for experiences that expand horizons beyond the mere ride.