Automotive

Shape-shifting Audi e-concept grows or shrinks at push of a button

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Audi eliminates the physical grilles on its latest concept and fills in the space with prominent LED lighting arrays
Audi
Audi fuses together an autonomous grand tourer and a sporty roadster in the Skysphere concept
Audi
Audi eliminates the physical grilles on its latest concept and fills in the space with prominent LED lighting arrays
Audi
In autonomous mode the steering wheel, hand controls and pedals disappear away
Audi
In manual mode, the driver can grab hold of the steering wheel and shift knob and put foot to pedal
Audi
Using the Horch 853 roadster as a reference, Audi creates a sleek, muscular sports car to preview future design language
Audi
Audi lights up the Skysphere digital grille
Audi
The Skysphere features a removable roof panel
Audi
The trunk below the tinted glass holds two purpose-designed luggage bags
Audi
As if the grille wasn't enough light, the Skysphere also has a pair of slim headlamps
Audi
The expansive digital dashboard provides relevant ride and vehicle information and serves as an entertainment center
Audi
Audi Skysphere retracted into sports mode
Audi
You can tell the Skysphere is extended by the contrast bodywork below the windshield
Audi
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A retractable hard-top is standard fare, but how about a retractable body shell? That's a futuristic area Audi explores with the all-new Skysphere concept. The electric roadster seamlessly transitions between open-air autonomous grand touring and hard-nosed, hand-on-wheel sports driving by adjusting in length and wheelbase, from the full stretch of an A8 to a shorter, sportier form. Future Audi owners may just get two cars with one lease payment.

When we first put eyes on the Skysphere, we wondered why Audi would design such a long all-electric roadster. But it turns out, it didn't – not permanently, anyway. Instead of using the lack of engine and driveshaft, along with steer-by-wire, as an excuse to permanently increase interior size and shorten up the hood and overhangs, Audi explores how the added space can be used to support a real-life transformer.

As you can see in the clip below, the Skysphere's front hood and fender assemblies nest over top a contrast-color under-bodywork layer. With help from electric motors and underlying frame components that feature similar expansion capability, the front-end can extend forward or retract backward, adjusting the car's length by 9.8 inches (250 mm).

The extension system is meant to optimize the transition between autonomous shuttling and active driving. The extended 204-in (519-cm) grand touring configuration complements autonomous mode, and not only does the cabin grow along with the wheelbase, interior space is further freed via the retracting steering wheel, pedals and controls. The two passengers gain increased legroom and a clear view of the full-width digital dashboard. We initially thought the roof might open in conjunction with the expansion, but it's simply a removable hard panel that works independently, whether in grand touring or sports mode.

The expansive digital dashboard provides relevant ride and vehicle information and serves as an entertainment center
Audi

The interior is where the "sphere" aspect of the concept comes into play, and Audi imagines it as a cozy, personalized space for "world-class experiences" to be enjoyed during fully autonomous commutes. With Audi's autonomous suite handling the driving, the two passengers can sit back and enjoy the fresh air flowing through the open top, converse with each other, or turn their attention to the digital world waiting in front of them, using the large touch displays to browse the internet, host video calls or stream videos, complete with premium surround sound.

Hit the transform button, and the Skysphere shrinks down into a 194.5-in (494-cm) sports configuration that puts control back into the hands of the human driver, boosting handling via the reduced length and wheelbase and an adaptive air suspension drop of 10 mm (0.4 in). Rear-wheel steering kicks in to tighten up cornering and stabilize high-speed runs.

Audi Skysphere retracted into sports mode
Audi

The Skysphere's stretched appearance follows the classic Horch 853 Roadster that served as an inspiration for Audi's Malibu design team. When extended, the concept measures nearly as long as the 853 and makes no attempt to conceal that considerable length. The robust rolling fenders of the Horch are reinterpreted as the Skysphere's long, flowing hood and bulging rear haunches, connected by a set of carefully sculpted rocker panels that serve as a functional part of the extension system.

Being a modern sports car, the Skysphere ducks down more than half a meter (1.6 ft) shorter than the Horch, its windshield barely rising above the headrests inside. At its tallest, the Skysphere stands roughly 4 ft (1.2 m) off the ground.

Audi

Audi colors in the Skysphere's front and rear ends with serious digitization, wiring up wide-stretching LED light panels that lend unmistakable front and rear signatures. Both LED arrays can create a mix of functional and aesthetic visual effects, greeting driver and passenger upon arrival or conveying information to other road users.

The Skysphere relies on a 624-hp rear-mounted electric motor with 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque. Audi splits the 80-kWh battery up between and behind the seats to offer up to 311 miles (500 km, WLTP) of range during economical GT driving. In sports mode, the car can sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in four seconds.

You can tell the Skysphere is extended by the contrast bodywork below the windshield
Audi

Audi will host the public world premiere of the Skysphere concept on Friday, August 13, as part of Monterey Car Week. We don't expect to witness the arrival of an auto-extending Audi at dealerships anytime soon, but the Skysphere is the first in a series of "sphere" concepts that will further explore the evolution of the automotive interior in the increasingly autonomous world. It will be followed later this year by the Grandsphere and in 2022 by the Urbansphere.

Source: Audi

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7 comments
Aross
Instead of spending money and energy to satisfy the wants of the idiot fringe Audi should spend the money on developing ways to not only build mere Eco friendly cars but finding ways to make the whole process more Eco friendly.
JDC1
Have often wondered why a compact/midsized truck could not be designed with a bed that could extend at a push of a button. The majority of time you don't need the full sized bed, but when you're hauling lumber you really need a longer bed. It should be fairly easy to build a telescoping one that expands 2' or so. Similar concept to this one, except if you don't involve the frame/wheelbase with movement it is much simpler to build.
Mark T.
Aross, if Audi offered to let you take it for a test drive, I bet you would join the "idiot fringe" pretty quickly. :-) Concept cars have been around for ~80 years and pushing boundaries is what concept cars are all about. I applaud Audi in their efforts.
Nelson Hyde Chick
I have been thinking the same thing for many years, JDC1. A truck bed should be able to shrink to four feet and then be able to expand to eight to haul sheets of [plywood.
BuddhaKip
Future conversation: "Sorry, but I can't make it into work. My car had a computer fault and now it won't give me my steering wheel."
sonic
Yes a truck that's easier to park in the city and grows when I need it is what I always wanted.
Aermaco
Try to realize that shrinking a vehicle length like a truck bed won't reduce mileage cost,, it will add weight for the heavy mechanisms that are needed to move the massive parts that neglect the efficient monocoque shared static structures and thus it becomes added weight killing efficient millage.