The Grandsphere is the second in a trio of design concepts that Audi is creating to showcase how its future cars could look when autonomous driving becomes a reality. Following on from the open-topped Skysphere gran tourer, the Grandsphere is, in Audi's words, a 'private jet for the road'.
We'll let you decide on what you think of the exterior, but Audi's designers have said that it is indicative of the future direction that production models will take.
High-performance electric power in the Audi Grandsphere
While the Audi Grandsphere is categorically a concept car and design study, it is built on the company's new PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture that will underpin its future large electric vehicles. Within that floor is a 120kWh lithium-ion battery that Audi says provides for a driving range of up to 750 kilometres. A dual electric motor setup can accelerate the car from 0-100km/h in just over four seconds.
The PPE platform's 800-volt architecture enables rapid DC charger at up to 270kW, adding up to 300 kilometres of range in ten minutes in optimal conditions.
A five-link front axle is designed especially for electric vehicles, while a multi-link rear utilises aluminium construction and air suspension. Active suspension tech is also employed. A front-facing camera scans the road surface for imperfections and the suspension alters to suit.
The suspension control system can also tap into the navigation's topographical data to adjust for gradients, inclines and curve radii. To add greater manoeuvrability to the Grandsphere's 5.35m length, it uses rear-wheel steering, too.
Luxurious Audi Grandsphere interior
On each side of the car, the doors open in opposite directions to reveal a vast pillarless entry to the Grandsphere. There is seating for four, the rear using a two-person bench seat while the front features two seats that wouldn't look out of place in a private jet.
Unlike almost every modern Audi today there aren't any digital screens inside the concept. This car is an exercise in tasteful minimalism. So the relevant driving information is projected onto the wooden 'dashboard' surface that wraps around the interior of the car below the windscreen.
A rounded rectangular steering wheel and small digital instrument binnacle allow the driver to pilot the car when they wish to, but they can switch to the Level 4 autonomous driving mode to let the car take over. When this takes place, the steering wheel folds and retracts into a compartment that is then integrated into the dashboard.
Although this technology is not currently available or legal to use on the road, it demonstrates how such a system could work in the future. Audi claims that such technology could become available before the end of this decade. Currently there are no commercially available 'self-driving' cars on sale.
Other aspects of the concept are also likely to appear in future Audi models, including the use of more environmentally friendly materials. There is no leather upholstery, for example; instead the Grandsphere uses synthetic fabrics, wool and wood from sustainable sources and recycled raw materials.
Audi's use of eye-tracking may also make its way into future menu systems, as could advanced gesture control. The MMI touchless technology allows people in the Grandsphere to adjust the door-mounted climate controls by virtually twirling the dial without having to touch it.