Well, just look at this Audi concept car. They’re calling it the skysphere (with a trendy lower case ‘s’) and it will be unveiled today (13 Aug) at Monterey Car Week. What a design.
It’s an electric-powered luxury roadster, of course. In fact, it’s a two-door convertible that, Audi reckon, represents the company’s vision for the progressive luxury segment of the future. Here is where the interior becomes an interactive space and the vehicle a platform for ‘captivating experiences’. Well, it’s certainly captivated us and we haven’t even seen the real thing yet.
The Audi skysphere concept has been designed for two different driving experiences: a grand touring experience and a sports experience, so of course it has a variable wheelbase. Electric motors and a sophisticated mechanism enable body and frame components slide into one another make it possible to vary the wheelbase itself and the exterior length of the car by 250mm. At the same time, the vehicle’s ground clearance is adjusted by 10mm to enhance comfort and driving dynamics.
With the touch of button, the driver can choose their own driving experience – either they pilot their 4.94-metre-long e-roadster themselves in “Sports” mode with a reduced wheelbase, while the rear-wheel steering ensures that the vehicle remains extremely agile despite its dimensions. Or they can choose to be chauffeured around in a 5.19m GT in the autonomous “Grand Touring” driving mode while enjoying the sky and the scenery, maximum legroom etc etc.
This is what Audi say.
You may be wondering that they mean by being able to ‘choose to be chauffeured around’. So were we. Maybe each car comes with its own driver? If you choose the GT mode do you have to give up the steering wheel? No, it’s a reference to the car’s autonomous driving capabilities where you can speed down the highway without having to get involved in the driving part yourself.
But these are just minor details. Look at this thing. It is a beautiful creature and it is jam-packed with state-of-the-art goodies.
“Audi is renowned for its progressive concepts cars that demonstrate remarkable foresight and technological ingenuity,” said Andrew Doyle, Director of Audi UK. “The skysphere concept is the first of a family of three, that will help shape the vision and direction of our brand as we electrify our business operation and future model line-ups.”