When it comes to design and luxury, Audi has always been known to push the envelope. And the Activesphere EV is yet another conquest by the legendary carmaker.
A concept vehicle that combines a luxury SUV, sports car, and pickup truck into one, the Audi SUV is any car aficionado’s wet dream. It also comes equipped with superior off-roading capabilities.
Designed to impress, but built to ride like a dream, the Audi concept car is the most luxurious crossover between an SUV and a pickup. Before the Activesphere EV, Audi teased its fans with the Skysphere roadster, grandsphere sedan, and the urbansphere space concept. The urbansphere concept was supposed to be your home away from home — a SUV that will allow you to be yourself and take a break no matter where you are.
When it comes to leaving people wanting for more, no one does it better than Audi.
Audi Activesphere EV: Blending Realities
The SUV is Audi’s fourth activesphere concept and has been designed on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture with Porsche. Its cabin reflects the carmaker’s vision with regards to augmented reality.
According to the company website, the Audi SUV was conceptualized and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu. The automaker calls it “A luxury coupe that turns into a pickup.” Studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team are responsible for the futuristic project. They were also the artists behind the Audi skysphere concept.
Although not a lot of details have been released, the Audi SUV is built for multiple vehicle profiles. The automaker claims that the Activesphere EV will have a range of over 372 miles, fast 270kW charging using an 800V architecture. Audi noted that the 100kWh battery pack can charge from 5% to 80% in less than half an hour.
The Activesphere EV takes inspiration from Audi’s sports cars and Allroad series. It’s a four-door sportback and has a couple-like roofline. With 22-inch wheels and superior ground clearance capabilities, it is meant to make off-roading a memorable experience.
Electric motors on the front and rear axles of the all-wheel drive work together to deliver a total output of 325 kW and a system torque of 720 Newton meters. The front and rear wheels of Audi Activesphere are connected via a five-link axle. The concept car features Audi adaptive air suspension with adaptive dampers to smoothen the ride and offer good handling.
When comfort and tech craft an interior
The interior design boasts of four seats, a center console, along with an additional console on the roof, and four AR headsets for the mixed-reality system. The high-tech headsets will also reveal a host of information such as driving status and navigation. They are individually configurable for the driver and passengers.
All controls are visible from the interior but the minimalist design means that the untrained eye might consider a part of the design. The beauty of mixed-reality comes alive when users interact with these touch-sensitive zones and carry out different functions by reacting in real-time.
The steering wheel and pedals allow the driver complete control, but it is also equipped with autonomous driving for a more relaxed time on the go. The car can also transform into a pickup to transport sports gear or equipment — the cargo is spacious enough to ferry two e-bikes.
All of Audi’s concept cars have the “sphere” in them. It alludes to the interior that is designed and packaged for the comfort of the user. The space and architecture of the car is meant to show the occupants’ “living and experience sphere” whilst traveling.
An ever-changing exterior
The press release states, “Its dimensions — 4.98 meters long, 2.07 meters wide, and 1.60 meters high — make the Audi Activesphere concept a member of the premium segment.”
The wheelbase is 2.97 meters and gives spacious legroom. The 285/55 tires can take on all forms of terrain and their contoured tread highlights optimize it for off-roading.
The Audi concept car also boasts of a transparent glass panel for passengers to keep an eye on the road beneath their feet. Its doors have glass cutouts that give a feeling of added space and openness. The headlight units appear like focused eyes and lighting reflects the brand logo by enlarging and isolating the intersection of two rings to form a pupil. A thrilling look, the digital signature was first introduced in the Audi grandsphere.
A skirack is integrated with the roof structure for safely transporting skis on the luxury EV. It is practically invisible and makes for a stylish carry-on.
Conclusion
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development: “The sphere concept vehicles show our vision for the premium mobility of the future. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, especially in the interior of our future Audi models. The interior becomes a place where the passengers feel at home and can connect to the world outside at the same time. The most important technical innovation in the Audi activesphere is our adaptation of augmented reality for mobility. Audi dimensions create the perfect synthesis between the surroundings and digital reality.”
As with older concept models, the Activesphere EV is not a preview of a model in production. Rather, it is Audi’s vision of what vehicles will look like in the future and its aspirations. The German-brand is set to significantly expand its electric lineup in the coming years.
Only time will tell whether Audi’s concept cars will influence its production and give people something at the edge of luxury and sci-fi.
