Audi Grandsphere concept, the next electric Audi A8?
Audi is taking advantage of the Munich Auto Show to present a brand new concept vehicle, theAudi Grandsphere. Presented in the guise of a large luxury sedan, the Audi Grandsphere has ultra-futuristic lines and aims to demonstrate the direction that Audi will take in the development of its next large electric luxury sedans.
The Audi Grandsphere concept is one of a trio of concept vehicles designed to demonstrate the German manufacturer’s vision for driver-vehicle interaction. It follows the unveiling of the Audi skysphere concept last August, an electric and autonomous racing car combining the attributes of a roadster and a grand touring convertible. A third concept vehicle called Urbansphere should be presented later.
The Audi Gransphere concept describes itself as a luxury car whose environment reflects, according to the manufacturer, the experience of a first class flight. He calls it a private jet for the road. With its elegant, slender and ultra-modern design, it gives a good overview of what the brand’s future products will look like. At 5.35 meters (17.6 feet) long, 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide and 1.39 meters (4.6 feet) high, the Grandsphere concept has virtually the same dimensions as the current Audi A8.
The heart of the concept is its 100% autonomous driving which will allow passengers to go about other occupations while the journey from point A to point B. You could work or even watch a movie. The idea is to give passengers complete freedom when traveling and give them back the time lost driving.
The interior is therefore devoid of everything that is normally found on board a classic vehicle. The two doors that open in the opposite direction and the absence of a B pillar make it possible to discover a fully open passenger compartment. At the front, there are two seats similar to those in business class in airplanes.
Technology is also ubiquitous. The Audi Grandsphere does not have a screen, rather the information is displayed directly on a wooden piece positioned just below the windshield.
What if you want to drive?
If you ever lack the pleasure of driving, a control allows you to deploy a steering wheel and a retractable pedals, so you can take control of the vehicle.
Fully electric, the vehicle is based on Audi’s PPE platform. It is powered by a pair of electric motors (one in the front and one in the rear) deploying a total of 717 horsepower and 708 pound-feet of torque. The engines draw their power from a set of 120 kWh lithium-ion batteries, which Audi claims would provide a range of 750 kilometers.
The Audi Grandsphere concept above all predicts what the next one will look like Audi A8 electric, the manufacturer’s large luxury sedan, which should be marketed in 2025.
