The Audi concept cars of the ‘sphere’ family – Grandsphere, Urbansphere and Skysphere – all appear together during a photo shoot in an old locomotive factory near Munich. After the photo shoot, the cars left for California, heading for Pebble Beach where they will be exhibited at concours d’elegance events. “Each of these concept cars hides secrets that we will find in the production of the future,” says Immo Redeker, head of Audi interior design. We retrace the history of these three prototypes which, in the words of Marc Licthe, Audi head of design, “mark the beginning of a new stylistic course for the brand”.
Audi Grandsphere
The Grandsphere introduced in September 2021 at the Monaco Motor Show hides a mass-production future: “The footprint on the ground is very reminiscent of a current A8, but the cockpit, from which we started when designing, has been transformed into a flexible and highly welcoming space. An idea of ‘progressive luxury’, as we say here, that prefigures much of the car of tomorrow’. As if, in some way, a fragment of the future is spied. Certainly beneath the generous silhouette resembling a five-door coupé, ‘but built with volume ratios that I personally have never seen’, there unfolds a reversal of the functional canons of today’s flagships, in which the first row of seats takes on the most importance (thanks to the absence of a driver) and can slide back, defining an environment of absolute, opulent relaxation for autonomous journeys.
Audi Urbansphere
The Audi Urbansphere is the most generously sized concept within the ‘sphere’ family as well as the largest Audi prototype ever. At 5.51 metres long, 2.01 metres wide and 1.78 metres high, it breaks with the stylistic conventions of the segment, since – as mentioned – it is developed from the inside out: firstly defining the lines and characteristics of the space around the passengers, identified as the ‘sphere’ of their needs, and only secondly the shapes of the bodywork. The wheelbase of an impressive 3.40 metres favours roominess and is unmatched by its competitors. The passenger compartment is not subject to the need to cram as many seats, storage compartments and functional elements as possible into a limited volume, but is geared towards the passengers’ need for extraordinarily large space.
The doors of the Audi urbansphere concept open like a book. Due to the absence of a centre pillar, the passenger compartment immediately presents itself in all its spaciousness. Seats that swivel outwards and the ‘red carpet light’ projected onto the floor make getting on board a refined and comfortable experience. The interior features four individual seats arranged in two rows. The rear seats boast exceptionally generous dimensions and multiple adjustment options. By reclining the backrests up to 60 degrees, a perfect sleeping position is achieved, accentuated by the extension of the leg supports. During a conversation, a passenger can easily address his or her interlocutor by rotating the seat. Those who want maximum privacy, on the other hand, can isolate the head area by means of the screen behind the headrest.
Audi Skysphere
The Skysphere is a GT cabriolet that anticipates the styling canons that the German manufacturer will adopt for its models of tomorrow. The Skysphere was designed completely virtually at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu directed by Gael Buzyn, while the physical model was built at the Ingolstadt headquarters. ‘New technologies have allowed us to create a unique model between electrification, digitisation and autonomous driving,’ says Buzyn. Depending on the driving mode selected, the Skysphere completely changes character and physiognomy. “In GT Mode, driving is autonomous. The steering wheel disappears from the dashboard and the car stretches 250 millimetres, allowing maximum wheelbase for a totally relaxed journey.” In this mode the car is 5.19 metres long. In Sport, the Skysphere is able to shorten to a length of 4.9 metres, while the steering wheel and pedals return to their original position. “This is the mode designed to achieve maximum driving pleasure also thanks to the total system power of 465 kW and 750 Nm of torque.
“The interior has been designed around the driver and passengers. In autonomous mode the cabin is an open space, the main element being the large full-width panel (1,415 mm) displaying the car’s multimedia functions. Passengers sit on two large seats and enjoy the journey surrounded by fine materials that create a luxurious and modern ambience. “At the touch of a button in the middle of the centre console, the Skysphere can be transformed from a luxury flagship to a high-performance sports car. We managed to design two cars in one,” concludes Gael Buzyn.
