Audi, which will only launch electric cars globally from 2026, has unveiled its Audi activesphere concept electric vehicle (EV). This marks the culmination of the sphere concept vehicles from the German carmaker following on from the Audi skysphere roadster in 2021, and both the Audi grandsphere saloon and the Audi urbansphere space concept in April 2022.
The Audi activesphere concept is a sleek-looking four-door electric crossover coupé. It’s 4.98 meters long with impressive ground clearance and 22-inch wheels announce its off-road talent. What’s neat with this electric coupé is that can also transform into a pickup at the flick of a switch. This makes it ideal for transporting sports equipment, such as bikes or water and winter sports gear.
This new concept car was conceived and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu, USA. Studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team are the creative minds behind the project.
The Audi activesphere is a versatile crosser of boundaries, with a drive system and suspension that make it equally at home both on and off road. The steering wheel and pedals allow the driver to actively control the car while also offering autonomous driving for a more relaxed time on the road.
The Audi activesphere offers a range of over 372 miles and extremely fast charging thanks to 800-volt technology. It combines the sustainability, dynamics and long-distance capability of state-of-the-art electric vehicles.
The heart of the drive technology in all future Premium Platform Electric (PPE) models will be the 800-volt charging technology. Like the Audi e-tron GT quattro before it, this ensures that the battery can be charged with up to 270kW in a very short time at fast-charging stations. This revolutionary technology will enter the high-volume mid-range and luxury segments with PPE for the first time.
PPE technology enables charging times that come close to a conventional stop to refuel a combustion engine car. Just 10 minutes is enough time to charge the battery to a level sufficient to power the car for more than 186 miles (300km). In less than 25 minutes, the 100kWh battery charges from 5 to 80 per cent. Together with its range of well over 372 miles (600km), the Audi activesphere positions itself as unconditionally suitable for long distances, when need be.
In terms of dynamic qualities, the activesphere – as a genuine quattro and typical of an electric car – truly outshines its rivals with combustion engines. Thanks to its high torque right from the first revolution, it accelerates to 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 4.9 seconds. The top speed can be variably fixed depending on whether the car is driving in on-road or off-road mode.
The innovative operating concept, Audi Dimension, combines the physical and virtual worlds (mixed reality) by displaying digital content in the occupants’ fields of vision in real time. High-tech headsets provide a view of the real environment and the route, while simultaneously displaying 3D content and interactive elements – individually configurable for drivers and passengers.
This means all driver-relevant information, such as driving status and navigation, can be displayed. In the interior, headset users can see control panels and other virtual displays in a tidy, minimalist design that remains hidden from the unaided eye. Mixed reality optics gives users the ability to interact precisely with these real, yet invisible, touch-sensitive zones, as the headsets display and carry out functions by reacting in real-time when users touch them.
