This futuristic autonomous EV was inspired by a 1937 Horch Roadster.
Audi will be focusing on luxury, performance-oriented EVs. The brand will showcase its future with three “Sphere” concept cars. The Skysphere is a two-seater roadster that will be making its debut at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Skysphere concept was unveiled to us in person, which made it even more appealing than the photos.
Under its beautiful bodywork, the Skysphere conceals a secret trick: it can change its wheelbase instantly, turning from a grand tourer-looking vehicle to a more agile roadster with the push of a button. The entire front axle is moved rearward by actuators. This reduces the wheelbase by almost 10 inches when it switches between “GT” or “Sport” modes. Skysphere theoretically also offers Level 4 autonomy. In GT mode, the pedals and steering wheel retract under the dashboard, creating an open, airy cockpit for the two lucky passengers.
The Skysphere looks amazing in both configurations. This concept was inspired by the 1937 Horch roadster, which won Best of Show at Pebble 2009, and has length, width, rear-biased proportions that make it a great classic car. Horch was among the four brands that made up Auto Union, which was Audi’s predecessor. Despite the heritage and similar proportions, the Skysphere’s low-slung design is not a retro redux.
The front ends feature an Audi Singleframe motif, and a protruding illuminated badge with four-rings adorning the panel. Numerous LED accents act as indicators and perform an animated dance on departure and approach. The next generation of Audi lighting design is reflected in the narrow headlights that glow with triangular lighting elements. The bodysides are echoed by the Quattro, which has angular rear and front fenders that rise to the top. Although the rear deck is streamlined, it reaches a point similar to the racing cars of a century past, dozens of red LEDs anchor the backside of the Quattro in the modern era.
Extended GT mode has a rose-toned panel just ahead of the passenger compartment. This coordinates with the trunk panel behind the seats. This configuration also allows the Skysphere to ride slightly higher thanks to its four-corner air suspension, which uses GPS and road preview to give it a soft, cushy ride. The vehicle will lower in Sport mode and the front end will retract to hide the aforementioned panel. The dashboard and steering wheel are visible to the driver. Rear-axle steering is available to give a more sporty and engaging driving experience.
Audi claims that the Skysphere can sprint to 60 mph in under four seconds due to its rear-mounted electric motor, which produces 624 horsepower (465 Kilowatts). The Skysphere’s theoretical range is 310 miles (500 km) thanks to an 80-kilowatt hour battery located behind the seats and in its center console. This generous WLTP cycle gives it a theoretical range that extends to the vehicles interior. The spacious frunk houses two sets of custom-designed golf club (Pebble Beach is a course). A pair of suitcases can be found on the rear deck.
The Audi Skysphere and the future flagship Grandsphere, as well as the versatile Urbansphere, are a preview of Audi’s future styling. In fact, the company claims that the Grandsphere is a production-intent vehicle concept. It will be available by the middle of the next decade. The Skysphere’s elements are unlikely to be rooted in show car fancy. We wouldn’t expect that we would see a variable wheelbase. However, if Audi’s future styling and technology is half as appealing as the two-seat Roadster, then we are all in for a treat.