Audi Unveils Skysphere: A Car That Adapts to You

Author: Chang Yan

This is an era of contradictions.

This is an era of division.

As material wealth increases, people have more desires and aspirations for different levels of needs. Meanwhile, new technologies have further stimulated the growth of desires.

For example, in the past, it was difficult to satisfy both the need for a comfortable ride and the desire for a fun driving experience in the same car. The former requires a spacious and comfortable vehicle, while the latter requires a compact and agile one.

Moreover, it is difficult to reconcile the two different preferences of those who favor human-driven cars and those who prefer autonomous driving. The former wants full control of every detail, while the latter wants everything to be automated.

It’s a challenge.

Audi says, “If it’s not difficult, we won’t do it.”

Today, Audi unveiled its Skysphere concept car, which can be two cars in one.

The car’s most remarkable feature is its variable wheelbase technology, which allows the entire motor and chassis structure to slide forward and backward, with a maximum range of motion of 25 centimeters. With the help of an air suspension system, the vehicle can also adjust its ride height dynamically.

As the driver, you can touch a button and select which car you want, just like the protagonist in a science fiction novel.

If you select the Sports mode, the car will transform into an agile sports car measuring just 4.94 meters long, and all driving functions such as rear-wheel steering will be activated. Most importantly, the steering wheel and pedals will slowly emerge from the firewall, exchanging the car’s driving authority for your expert control.

If you select the Grand Touring mode, the car will return the 25 centimeters of space previously used for the variable wheelbase to you, becoming a GT model measuring 5.19 meters in length. All unnecessary distractions will be eliminated, and you will enjoy a Level-4 autonomous driving experience. The sustainable microfiber fabric seats are adjustable and provide you with first-class cabin-like freedom and legroom.

Audi’s Skysphere is truly a revolutionary concept car that adapts to your needs and desires.

Since vehicles can now drive themselves, you should have some confidence in its ability to take care of itself. According to Audi’s design, this car can automatically pick up passengers based on their location information and independently complete parking and charging. To make your ride more enjoyable, Audi also offers a variety of digital services in the car. For example, owners can directly upload scenery from inside and outside the car to the social media platforms they want through the software services on the car.

At this point, we can finally breathe in the seashore air freely and take a closer look at the car in front of us.

Perhaps the exaggerated visual proportion of skysphere does not conform to the aesthetic of everyone nowadays, and it is not surprising. The overall proportion of the car, in fact, comes from a classic work 80 years ago- the Horch 853. The elongated engine hood at that time was designed to accommodate a straight eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 5 liters. Nowadays, this space will give way to the key electronic and mechanical components of the whole car, including chargers and DC/DC converters, actuators, and variable wheelbase components.

But that’s not all. Most of the front space can be used to store things that the user cherishes, like this.

In terms of length and width, the size of the two cars from 80 years apart is almost the same, but in terms of height, skysphere’s 1.23-meter height is undoubtedly much better in aerodynamics and sports performance than its 1.77-meter predecessor.

The exaggerated and spacious front part of the car leaves the most imposing position to the four-ring emblem. Behind the non-air-inlet grille, the white LED elements can be displayed in a variety of styles according to the scene, and can even create a sports effect through pulse lighting effects.

Especially when the vehicle wheelbase changes, the unique lighting effect can ensure that passers-by won’t miss it.

The rear end of the entire vehicle is truly the most memorable part, blending the large glass shape of a sports car and an SUV in traditional streamlined design. Two travel bags designed specifically for the Audi skysphere concept car are placed under the glass and fixed by interlacing straps. Countless red LED units are scattered on the vertical rear surface like rubies.

Under this beautiful body is a similarly beautiful chassis and electric drive structure.

As a driver’s car, Audi naturally cannot neglect the chassis configuration of this car. I plan to directly quote Audi’s official description for this part: Both the front and rear suspensions use double-wishbone structures. The upper and lower wishbones are made of forged or cast aluminum, and the front and rear axle steering is controlled by a line control system. Since the system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, users can select different steering ratios and settings by simply pressing a button, from direct and swift steering to comfortable and slow steering, from high return force to the minimum return force during parking, all of which can be selected.

This car uses the relatively rare rear-wheel drive form, but the power parameters are not sloppy. The total output power of the single rear motor is 465 kilowatts, and the torque is 750 Newton meters. With 285 wide tires, the vehicle can complete 0-100km/h acceleration in less than 4 seconds.

The 80 kWh battery has 30% located in the cabin and 70% located in the rear compartment, providing a front/rear weight ratio of 40/60 for the entire vehicle, and providing a more classic sports car feedback sensation.

As we all know, Audi likes to release a series of concept cars with the same theme every once in a while to concentrate on thinking about the needs of cars for a while. The skysphere is just the opening of another chapter, followed by the Audi grandsphere and the Audi urbansphere, two brother works that will be launched in 2022.

It seems that Audi is finding its latest label in the new era, which is not only about technology, but also about providing users with an exciting and unparalleled experience.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.