With
the touch of button, the driver can take advantage of their freedom and choose
their own driving experience– either they pilot their 4.94-meter-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 5.19-meter GT
in the autonomous “Grand Touring” driving mode while enjoying the sky and the
scenery, maximum legroom, and the services offered by a seamlessly integrated
digital ecosystem.
In
this mode, the steering wheel and pedals move into an invisible area; the
feeling of space in the concept car opens up completely new realms of
possibility for such a sporty convertible. Meanwhile, the Audi skysphere
automatically keeps an eye on the road and traffic with its sensor system and
drives the occupants safely to their destination.
Similar
to how the interior design offers a new, contemporary interpretation of luxury,
digitization and the ecosystem open up unprecedented levels of freedom and
worlds of experience for the vehicle’s passengers. Thanks to Audi’s own
services and the ability to integrate digital services, the possibilities are
nearly endless. In addition, the passengers can share their experience on the
road with friends via social media, with images of the interior and the
surrounding area. The vehicle also takes care of everyday tasks that go beyond
the ride itself. For example, the autonomous Audi skysphere concept picks up its
passengers with information about their current destination and independently
handles parking and charging.
Audi skysphere to be unveiled on its home turf in California
The
Audi skysphere concept will make its public debut on August 13, 2021, as part
of Monterey Car Week – on the legendary fairways of the Pebble Beach golf
course. This means the vehicle’s unveiling in California is taking place more
or less on its home turf. This is because the concept car was conceived and
designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, just a stone’s throw away from
the Pacific Coast Highway, the legendary coastal road that connects the suburbs
of Los Angeles with northern California. Studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team
are the creative minds behind the project.
A legendary classic model from the company’s
own history – the Horch 853 roadster – served as the inspiration for the new
groundbreaking model. The impressive convertible, which is also around 5.20
meters in length, was not only the definition of modern luxury in the 1930s,
but also won the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach in 2009.
But
the visual inspiration from its predecessor is limited to the concept car’s
dimensions and typical proportions with a rather compact cabin and long front
end. A look under the hood of the Horch reveals an imposing straight-eight
engine with a displacement of 5 liters. The Audi skysphere, on the other hand,
mainly has electric drive components between the front axle and the windshield,
such as the charger and the DC/DC converter, plus the actuators and electronic
and mechanical components for the adaptive wheelbase. It also features a
spacious trunk filled with two golf bags specially designed for the concept
car.
The drive system: 465 kW of power
An
electric motor positioned on the powered rear axle is responsible for
delivering power to the wheels of the Audi skysphere. A total of 465 kilowatts
of power and 750 Newton meters of torque have an easy time with the roadster,
which only weighs around 1,800 kilograms. The weight distribution of around 60
percent on the powered rear axle results in ample traction and acceleration
from 0 to 100 km/h in just four seconds, if required.
The
Audi skysphere’s battery modules are primarily positioned behind the cabin – an
ideal configuration for the vehicle’s center of gravity and agility. Further
modules can be found between the seats in the center tunnel of the skysphere
interior – another position chosen in favor of vehicle dynamics. The battery’s
capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving the car a range of more
than 500 kilometers according to the WLTP standard, at least in the economical
GT mode.
The chassis: rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension
The
vehicle features double wishbone axles in the front and the rear. The upper and
lower wishbones are forged or cast from aluminum. Steering takes place via a
steer-by-wire system that controls both the front and the rear wheels. Because
the system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, the driver can
select different steering ratios and steering settings – all at the touch of a
button.
This
allows the steering to be adjusted from extremely direct to comfortable, but
also from high self-aligning forces to minimal self-aligning forces, for
example when parking. The rear-axle steering and adaptive wheelbase also
contribute to the car’s small turning radius.
A
long-established Audi chassis technology ensures that the suspension delivers
the necessary level of versatility – the latest evolutionary stage of Audi’s
adaptive air suspension has been implemented in the concept car and features
three independent air chambers to provide a comfortable base suspension.
Individual chambers can be deactivated for a more sporty ride with fast
acceleration. The result is that the characteristic curve of the spring becomes
more progressive, reducing roll and pitch to a minimum. Lowering the body by 10
mm reduces aerodynamic drag – particularly relevant when driving long distances.
The
Audi skysphere’s active suspension plays a key role in the versatility of the
car’s handling characteristics. When simply coasting along, the individual
wheels are selectively raised or lowered to compensate for unevenness and
undulations in the road surface – the result of a symbiosis between the
navigation system’s digital predictions and the active chassis’ sophisticated
control and actuation systems.
Mounted
on aerodynamically styled 23-inch alloy rims, the 285/30 tires strike a perfect
balance between suitability for long-distance trips thanks to minimal rolling
resistance and a sporty, active driving style with high longitudinal and
lateral acceleration.