The Audi Activesphere Concept is a sleek Coupe-Crossover that transforms into a pickup truck. Audi’s new concept merges the worlds of coupe, SUV and pickup trucks while providing mixed reality devices for everyone in the four-seater cabin, bringing VR to life. /AR is integrated into the future intelligent transportation experience, enabling the integration between the surrounding environment and digital reality.
Audi has now completed four of its electric Sphere concepts with Activesphere elements. Like other E-studies, this four-door crossover coupe has a special body feature: the rear of the Activesphere’s Sportback can be transformed into an open load floor at the touch of a button.
Like its predecessors to the Skysphere Roadster, Grandsphere Saloon and Urbansphere concepts, Audi’s introduction to the Activesphere focused on the specifics of the body concept and the interior and its intended use, and, obviously, a little Transformers.
In our eyes, it’s the EV equivalent of a future A5 Sportback with Allroad all-road handling. The refreshingly aerodynamic, almost monovolume silhouette is unconventionally mated to a set of 22-inch wheels shod in grippy tires (285/55R22), while the slender and muscular bodywork has plenty of protection sex coating.
In terms of electric data capability, Audi uses a PPE modular system. Since the first production model on the platform (Audi in the form of the Q6 e-tron) won’t be launched until later this year, some details are still a bit hazy. With a battery of around 100 kWh, the crossover should have a range of more than 600 kilometers. Since the entire width between the axles is devoted to the battery, its housing will remain relatively flat.
One thing is clear: an 800-volt system with a peak output of up to 270 kilowatts should shorten charging times. Audi talks about 300km in 10 minutes or less than 25 minutes from a 5% to 80% charge. Based on a net charge of 100 kWh and exactly 25 minutes, this equates to an average charging power of roughly 180 kWh from 5% to 80%.
The Activesphere Concept is powered by one electric motor per axle, which together deliver 325 kW and 720 Nm. That doesn’t make Audi the most powerful PPE model yet: Porsche has already promised up to 450 kW for its electric Macan. The front and rear wheels are respectively connected by a five-link shaft. The concept car uses an air suspension with adaptive dampers.
Now for the specifics of the Activesphere: On the one hand, the 4.98-meter-long crossover coupe should be an elegant luxury-class vehicle capable of touring in comfort—likely to rival today’s Q8-style SUVs. door coupe e-tronComparable.At the same time, however, the vehicle is also suitable as a recreational vehicle, transforming from a Sportback to an “Activeback” with an open load area at the touch of a button – “ideal for carrying leisure equipment, e.g. as an e-bike or water and winter sports equipment”, as Audi explains.
Thanks to the adaptive air suspension, the Activesphere’s ground clearance is variable. Standard height is 208mm (8.2in), similar to the Q5, which can be increased to 248mm (9.8in) in off-road mode, or lowered to a sedan-like 168mm (6.6in) for tarmac driving, with Good for handling and aerodynamics.
The clear rear window slides almost over the roof if desired. At the same time, the lower vertical section of the rear folds into a horizontal position. “This opens up a rather nice loading area, for example, where the mounts for the wheels of the e-bike have been recessed,” is how Audi describes the concept. By the way, the word “Pickup” is only used once in the long press release. Since the load area is limited on both sides by the C-pillars and opens towards the rear, Audi clearly prefers the new word “Activeback”.
Inside, the car features a new display and control technology based on a “mixed reality” approach: the system called “Audi scale” relies on high-tech data glasses worn by the driver. On the one hand, the glasses are designed to allow people to see the real world (and the road if autopilot is not activated), while superimposing three dimensions of information and interactive elements into the field of vision. That’s right, you can understand that this is the metaverse concept that is popular nowadays, and young people in the future may be more willing to experience it.
Since the driver and passenger may display different information, both can use the same area for other tasks. For example, a driver sees all data related to driving. Embedded in the real dashboard, touch-sensitive areas can be used to operate buttons displayed in the glasses—different for the driver and passenger, too.
Like other vehicle concepts, the Audi Activesphere is more about exploring the technical possibilities and future uses of the vehicle, including reactions to them, than it is a preview of a specific model. “This concept car demonstrates our vision for the future of premium mobility. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, especially with regard to the interiors of our future Audi models,” said Oliver Hoffmann, board member for technical development. “The interior becomes a place where passengers feel at home while at the same time being able to connect to the outside world. The most important technological innovation of the Audi Activesphere is our application of augmented reality to mobility. Audi has created a perfect marriage between the surrounding environment and digital reality. “
