Audi activesphere concept is a luxury coupe that transforms into a pickup

MANILA: The Audi activesphere concept is the pinnacle of the sphere concept cars from the brand.

This four-door crossover coupe follows on from the Audi skysphere roadster in 2021 and the Audi grandsphere sedan and the Audi urbansphere space concept in April 2022.

The activesphere concept, which measures 4.98 meters in length, is more than just a luxury sports car. Its exceptional ground clearance and large 22-inch wheels flaunt its off-road prowess.

The Audi activesphere demonstrates how opposites may be combined in perfect synthesis to create a versatile boundary-crosser with a driving system and suspension that make it equally adept on and off the road. The car's steering wheel and pedals give the driver hands-on control while also enabling autonomous driving for a stress-free drive. It has traditional dimensions and lines and is as elegant as it is dynamic as a coupe. However, in a matter of seconds, it can be transformed into a pickup to haul sporting equipment, with enough in the cargo bed for two e-bikes.

The Audi activesphere concept was developed and designed at the Audi Design Studio in California, USA. Audi Design Studio Manager Gael Buzyn and his team  are responsible for the project's innovation.

As passengers enter the Audi activesphere through the wide-open doors, they will be immediately captured by how neat and orderly everything is. The architecture of the space is dominated by vertical and horizontal surfaces and right angles.

The seating surfaces and door and front paneling in warm lava red, are the  focal point of the interior zones' horizontally contrasting color schemes. The four individual seats are suspended like high, full-length center console extensions.

The dashboard, steering wheel, and pedals vanish into an invisible position when the Audi activesphere concept runs in autonomous mode. A large area, especially in the front row of seats, opens up in front of the driver and goes all the way to the front of the Audi activesphere. The fully glazed Singleframe offers passengers an unobstructed view of the road in front for a clear field of vision. In both the deployed and stowed positions, the dashboard itself serves as a smart, full-width air vent and a large soundbar. Each driver can find their own ideal ergonomic posture by adjusting the dashboard and steering wheel, which swivel out from their flush position below the windshield when the driver wants to take the wheel.

The MMI touchless controls in the doors are always accessible by eye and hand to adjust the seat and control the windows. The center console plays a significant role in shaping the design and sense of space in the Audi activesphere. The console provides space for storage and an onboard bar that is either heated or cooled as a driveshaft is no longer required. The transparent top cover not only lets passengers see the bottle and glasses inside, but it also aesthetically integrates the large console into the room.

The four AR headsets for the mixed reality system are also stored on a console in the roof, immediately above the center console and sized to match it. This console is easy to reach for all passengers.

Because of its size and performance level, the Audi activesphere concept is well suited for usage with Audi's innovative electric drive system, the Premium Platform Electric (PPE).

Just like the Audi grandsphere and Audi urbansphere concept cars, the Audi activesphere concept car uses this modular system for series production. The first Audi production cars built on PPE will be unveiled one after another by the end of 2023, under the supervision of Audi and Porsche AG. The PPE is specifically made for battery-electric drive systems, allowing it to fully benefit from all of this technology's advantages for improved driving dynamics, fuel efficiency, and package options.

The 800-volt charging system will be at the center of the drive technology in all upcoming PPE models. This guarantees that the battery can be charged at fast-charging stations with up to 270kW in a very short amount of time, just like the Audi e-tron GT quattro. This groundbreaking technology will make its debut in the high-volume mid-range and luxury segments with the PPE.

The Audi activesphere actually outperforms its competitors who use internal combustion engines in terms of dynamic attributes because it is a genuine quattro and typical of an electric vehicle. With its high torque from the first revolution, the Audi activesphere sprints from 0 to 100kph in 4.9 seconds.

Photos from Audi

Also read: Audi’s new EV charging service to be available in Europe next month