Audi Activesphere Concept
The Audi Activesphere concept is the fourth in a series of Sphere concepts and this one is an off-roader full of augmented reality. It’s a sporty crossover that, if it was a built car, could take on the outdoors with ease. The real insight into what Audi is planning is the interior and all the new tech.
This is a concept, so what we see in the Activesphere is likely decades away from production. But, it’s still a fun car to look at and see what is going on at Audi.
Sleek, sporty design with an interesting use of glass.
The body has the shape of a sporty sedan but the stance and wheels of an SUV. This usually means very little space for passengers, but it’s a concept. I’m not going to get neck cramps here. To tackle the off-road, the Activesphere rides on an air suspension with adaptive dampers and 22-inch wheels. Those wheels feature something Audi calls active aero. This opens up when off-roading to cool down and closes on the road for efficiency.
To keep the design as sleek and advanced as possible, the side view mirrors have been replaced by cameras. This also helps eek out that extra little bit of efficiency. At the back of the car is an active back. This uses a split tailgate to fold the lower section down to create a small bed. Perfect for carrying a light load like bicycles or golf clubs.
One of the coolest features of the exterior is the use of glass in the lower parts of the body. Similar to how Land Rover uses cameras to show what is underneath the car, the Activesphere uses glass so the driver can see right through the car. This is in both the grille area and the doors.
Augmented reality drives the Activesphere interior.
Opening the doors invites a lot more colour with the extensive red trim. The dashboard is simple with a full-width soundbar, but you might notice a lack of controls. There are the basics that the driver needs but the rest all gets hidden away when the car goes into autonomous driving mode.
That’s not the only thing keeping physical controls to a minimum because to drive this car, you need to put on augmented reality glasses. Replacing all screens are four headsets that allow you to engage with what the company calls the Audi dimension.
This will allow the driver to see a topographical map of their surroundings and traffic information with the route they are on. Safety warnings are also displayed here for those busy commutes. Passengers can see their own feed and change the climate and entertainment system. It also might have access to the internet to look at local activities.
Naturally electric with a lot of power.
Like all the Sphere concepts, the Activesphere is an electric car that rides on the same PPE platform that will underpin the A6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan. It will power the wheels with 325 kW and 720 Nm. While the 100 kWh battery can provide an estimated range of 600 km.
While the tech is far-fetched for production, the idea of AR while driving if implemented correctly, seems like a lot of fun. The need to put on a headset every time you go out could get a little tedious, but what do you think?
Source: Audi | Car and Driver
