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Morphing Audi Skysphere concept: Variable wheelbase for cruising or sporty drive

Audi Skysphere in full-extension, autonomous Grand Touring mode.

 

 

Easily one of the coolest concept cars this year, the all-electric two-door Audi Skysphere has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. It's a low prowling sportscar in Sports mode and raises up and lengthens by almost 10 in. when autonomous Grand Touring is selected (Level 4 autonomous driving) -- and the steering wheel and pedals disappear too. If this is the future, it's full of surprising design tech.

Skysphere is part of a trio of new all-electric concept vehicles from Audi (including the Grandsphere and Urbansphere) -- and from what we can tell so far it is the most radical. It was designed for two different driving experiences: a grand touring experience and a sports experience. Electric motors and a sophisticated mechanism help its body and frame components slide into one another so the wheelbase and the exterior length of the car can grow or shrink by 250 mm (9.84 in.). Simultaneously, the vehicle's ground clearance is lifted or lowered by 10 mm (.4 in.) to enhance comfort and the driving dynamics depending on mode.

A characteristic feature of the side view is the rocker panels, which seem to protrude into the rear wheel arch -- a necessary feature when varying the wheelbase actually pushes it backwards. The rocker panel is attached to the front end of the car, and as it moves, the panel also slides to the rear under the fixed door. From a design perspective, the slide point is identified by a vertical, gold diamond-patterned panel that gets exposed behind the front wheels.

The concept convertible was conceived and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, CA, so it's easy to imagine the car in this environment cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in autonomous mode and then morphing for the driver to take hands-on control in more vehicle-dense or demanding environments.

With the touch of button, the driver can choose their own driving experience: either they pilot their 4.94-m-long e-roadster themselves in Sports mode with a reduced wheelbase and rear-wheel steering that ensures vehicle agility, or they can choose to be chauffeured around in a 5.19-m GT in the autonomous Grand Touring driving mode while enjoying the sky and the scenery, maximum legroom, and the services offered by a seamlessly integrated digital ecosystem.

Here you can see the car with its shorter wheelbase in driver-control mode.

 

 

Here the car is in its long-wheelbase, cruising autonomous-drive mode. Note the expanded diamond panel just behind the front wheel.

 

 

When transitioning from Sport to GT, the steering wheel and pedals move into a hidden area inside and below the dash. The interior becomes more spacious all around, and the driver is now a passenger onboard.

A single electric motor positioned on the powered rear axle is responsible for delivering power to the Skysphere roadster's wheels. It produces a total of 465 kW of power and 750 Nm of torque. The vehicle weighs about 1,800 kg (3,968 lb). The weight distribution of around 60% on the powered rear axle results in ample traction and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 sec.

The battery modules are primarily positioned behind the cabin, which Audi sees as an ideal configuration for the vehicle's low center of gravity and agility. Some modules are placed between the seats in the center tunnel of the Skysphere interior. The battery's capacity is expected to be more than 80 kWh, giving the car a range of more than 500 km (310 miles) according to the WLTP standard in its most economical GT mode.

But Skysphere is more than a souped-up and stylish accordion; it also boasts rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension. It features double wishbone axles in the front and rear. The upper and lower wishbones are aluminum. Steering takes place via a steer-by-wire system that controls both the front and the rear wheels. Because the system is not mechanically connected to the front axle, the driver can select different steering ratios and steering settings -- all at the touch of a button. This allows the steering to be adjusted from extremely direct to comfortable, but also from high self-aligning forces to minimal self-aligning forces, for example when parking. The rear-axle steering and adaptive wheelbase also contribute to the car's small turning radius.

Look close, and you will notice there is no steering wheel or driving pedals in autonomous mode -- both disappear into the dash when this mode is active.

 

 

The latest version of Audi's adaptive air suspension has been used and features three independent air chambers to provide a comfortable base suspension. Individual chambers can be deactivated for a more sporty ride with fast acceleration. According to Audi, the result is that the characteristic curve of the spring becomes more progressive, reducing roll and pitch to a minimum. Lowering the body by 10 mm reduces aerodynamic drag, particularly relevant when driving long distances.

That's not all. When simply coasting along, the individual wheels are selectively raised or lowered to compensate for unevenness and undulations in the road surface -- the result of a symbiosis between the navigation system's digital predictions and the active chassis' sophisticated control and actuation systems. Mounted on aerodynamically styled 23-in. alloy rims, the 285/30 tires strike a perfect balance between suitability for long-distance trips thanks to minimal rolling resistance and a sporty, active driving style with high longitudinal and lateral acceleration.

Design-wise, Skysphere looks like a far-out fantasy Hot Wheels collectible. With its wide curved and flared wheel arches, the car is a beefy prowler. Viewed from the side, the proportions are impressive with a long hood and, especially at the front, a short overhang. The surfaces of the wheel arches and front hood are organically curved.

The rear end was developed in a wind tunnel and combines elements of a speedster and a shooting brake with large glass surfaces in a traditional streamlined design. Two overnight bags designed specifically for the Audi skysphere find space under the glass, and are held in place with straps that are stretched in a crosswise pattern. Other than this, there is little storage room.

When the wheelbase is changed, the LEDs in the front and rear display a specially composed dynamic sequence. The rear end is dominated by a digitally controlled LED surface that extends across the entire width of the vehicle. Countless red LEDs are scattered like rubies across the vertical rear surface. Reflections create dynamic lighting and shadow effects when the lighting units are switched on and off.

Inside, the "sphere" is how Audi refers to the luxurious, light, and spacious cabin. As mentioned, some control elements such as the steering wheel and pedals can be swiveled into an invisible position completely removed from the interior. Seats are upholstered in sustainably produced microfiber fabric and, thanks to their variable position in the interior, offer legroom akin to flying first class on an airplane. Environmentally certified eucalyptus wood and synthetically produced imitation leather are other materials found in the interior.

Large touch monitor surfaces that are 1,415-mm wide and 180-mm high (55 in. x 7 in.) on the dashboard and in the upper area of the center console are used to operate the vehicle and infotainment systems. In Grand Touring mode, this can be used to display content from the Internet, video conferences, or streamed movies. Small touch panels in the doors are used to operate the air conditioning. The shifting-control area is a piece of art in itself.

Will the Skysphere come to life in the future as a production model? That is still up in the air. Since Audi has invested so much money, time, and careful design execution into it (and its other sibling concept all-electric vehicles), we bet that many elements will be key features that show up in new real-world releases one day.

Source: Audi

Published September 2021

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