Audi Activesphere Concept: imagining the SUVs of the next decade

El Audi Activesphere Concept it is the last prototype that has presented the mark of the four rings. It's about a Large SUV with fully electric propulsion system that presents several innovations and curious solutions related to autonomous driving, off-road use, visibility, comfort and practicality. Although nothing has been said about its production version yet, for its design people who love nature and have an active lifestyle have been especially taken into account. Hence its name.

The Activesphere Concept joins the series of "sphere" prototypes that Audi has been unveiling since 2021 and whose purpose is to advance the appearance and technical characteristics of the manufacturer's future products. These are the skysphere (convertible), the Grandsphere (saloon) and the urbansphere (minivan). All have large dimensions and enjoy a passenger compartment that gives its occupants (up to four in this case) a high degree of comfort on board and feeling of relaxation.

The new vehicle is no exception, as it measures Meters long 4,98, 2,07 wide and 1,6 high. The size of its tires (with optimized grip) is a 285/55 R22. Its cabin, as in the rest of this family of concept cars, is very spacious and its configuration dispenses with elements that are common in current cars. And it is that the modern and elegant appearance of this Coupe-style SUV moves inside, which is accessed through four side doors, the later ones being “suicide” (open in the opposite direction to the march). As there are no central pillars, an open space is created.

From inside the Audi Activesphere Concept it is possible to see part of what is below and in front of the vehicle (the surface of the ground on which you drive) thanks to a piece of transparent cover located where the front grill would normally be installed. Also, its suspension is pneumatic and capable of raising the body from the 208 mm that it has to the ground in its conventional position to the 248 that it achieves with the one destined to leave the asphalt.

When this happens, special active protections are deployed in order to better preserve the bass. The rims also have a set of moving segments that are automatically shown or hidden to improve ventilation or aerodynamics in every circumstance. Additionally, when the car is stopped, it is possible to extend a loading platform to transport bicycles or other bulky objects They wouldn't fit in the trunk. To do this, the rear glass window slides towards the roof.

Audi says that the Activesphere Concept is equipped with several refrigerated and heated spaces to store belongings or food, as well as equipped with glasses and bottles. Similarly, it has augmented reality glasses for all passengers. According to the German firm, this car dispenses with screens since most of the functions are activated vocally, through three-dimensional holograms or simply with the movement of the eyes. This combination of the physical and the virtual world has been dubbed Audi Dimension.

Regarding the more technical section, the Ingolstadt house has communicated that the prototype in question has been built on the EPP platform, developed in collaboration with Porsche and which will go into production at the end of 2023. It has also reported that it has installed two electric motors, one for each axis, with a combined power of 442 CV (the traction, therefore, is integral). They are powered by a battery with a capacity of approximately 100 kWh that allows recharging in direct current of up to 270 kW and a autonomy greater than 600 km.

Source – Audi