Audi activesphere electric concept car is built on the PPE platform

Audi's activesphere transcends conventions thanks to its drivetrain and suspension, allowing it to perform well in urban and rural environments. You can take charge of the vehicle with the steering wheel and pedals or take advantage of the autonomous driving features for a stress-free drive. The coupé's traditional proportions and lines belie its dynamic nature and the car's ability to convert in a matter of seconds into a pickup capable of hauling high-end sports equipment—including two e-bikes.

The Audi Design Studio in Malibu is where the concept automobile was developed and designed; the studio is located conveniently close to the famed Pacific Coast Highway. Producer Gael Buzyn and his crew at the studio he manages came up with the concept. "The activesphere is unique," he says, explaining the project's central concept. It's an innovative crossover that fuses the luxury of an Audi Sportback with the utility of an SUV and the ruggedness required for real off-roading.

The Audi activesphere is an electric car that utilizes Audi's PPE modular system's quick-charging technology and is thus a member of the sphere family of concept automobiles. It combines the environmental friendliness, dynamism, and long-distance capability of cutting-edge electric vehicles, with a range of over 600 km and incredibly fast charging periods thanks to 800 V technology.

As Oliver Hoffmann, a member of the Board of Management responsible for technical development, put it: "The spherical concept cars represent our vision for the premium mobility of the future. As a result, we are experiencing a paradigm shift, which is especially noticeable in the inside of our upcoming Audi vehicles. Passengers will feel at ease and connected to the outside world thanks to the transformation of the cabin. Our use of AR for transportation is the single most significant technical breakthrough in Audi's activesphere. Audi dimensions provide an ideal balance between physical space and virtual reality."

Using the activesphere in new and exciting ways is made possible by the improved display and operational technology, which complements the autonomous chauffeuring capacity on appropriate terrain. Audi dimension is a novel operating idea that merges the actual and virtual worlds (mixed reality) through head-up displays to place digital information directly in the line of sight of the vehicle's occupants.

High-tech goggles show the real world and the route with 3D content and interactive features that can be customized for each passenger and driver.

This allows for the presentation of all data pertinent to the driver, such as the vehicle's current state and whereabouts. And inside, hidden from view to those without a headset, are control panels and other virtual displays. By displaying and performing actions in response to users' touches in real time, mixed reality optics enables precise interaction with these real, yet unseen, touch-sensitive zones.

Audi's activesphere concept is the ultimate all-arounder for the picky needs of tomorrow's Audi buyers, who don't see personal mobility and environmental responsibility as mutually contradictory. People who want the most cutting-edge features and the hallmark brand-typical beauty and energy from their vehicle. The Audi activesphere idea provides an intriguing vision of bridging these dimensions for such clients.

The Audi activesphere concept is a high-end vehicle thanks to its size (4.9 meters in length, 2.07 meters in width, and 1.60 meters in height). The wheelbase is a spacious 2.97 meters and ensures that everyone within has plenty of room to stretch out. Overhangs at both the front and back are short of giving the car the appearance of being considerably more compact than its actual dimensions would suggest. The Audi activesphere concept is a single piece that was cast in one mold from every angle.

Proportions that are reminiscent of a sports vehicle include the large 22-inch wheels and impressive ground clearance and the dramatic roof arch.

The 285/55 tires are large enough to handle any terrain, and their sculpted tread shows the activesphere's prowess off the beaten path. The wheels have adjustable parts, which open for better airflow off-road and close for better aerodynamics on-road. Similarly, the attractive and fashionable camera mirrors on the two front doors are made to reduce wind resistance.

Having no sharp corners means that the body's convex and concave surfaces flow into one another without any abrupt changes and that the body's shadows are also pliable. The concept vehicle's dynamic potential is visualized by the striking horizontal appearance of the rear tire wells when viewed from the side or behind.

Almost the whole exterior of the car is made out of glass, and not just at eye level. The Singleframe, the activesphere's brand face, is a transparent glazing that allows passengers a clear view of the road ahead through the vehicle's wide frunk.

While the activesphere is in its off-road configuration, the glass surfaces on the sides near the lower doors give the impression that there is no separation between the exterior and the interior. In addition to the roof being see-through and allowing an abundance of natural light to flood the cabin, the broad, curved tailgate also boasts large windows for maximum lighting.

The exterior design prominently displays the vehicle's variable, electronically controlled quattro all-wheel drive by emphasizing the large wheel arches. The ground clearance of the Audi activesphere can be adjusted from its standard height of 208 millimeters to a maximum of 240 millimeters, making it suitable for both on- and off-road use. This is good for the vehicle's center of gravity and aerodynamics when going rapidly. Audi activesphere has an approach angle of 18.9 degrees, which is useful for off-road driving, and a departure angle of 28.1 degrees.

The Audi all-road, a model family popular in the C and then the B sectors since 2000, thanks largely to its variable ground clearance, serves as a good inspiration. Air-spring suspension with variable ground clearance and underride guard elements have been the hallmarks of this family's design since the beginning. The Avant package is an important addition to any all-road model.

The activesphere is the first automobile with a Sportback hatchback to adopt the look and features of an all-road. Audi differentiates the new body style from the all-road by calling it "active Sportback."

The Audi activesphere concept is a new take on the all-road design motif, with Arctic Teal high-gloss paint on the front and rear, under the doors on the side, and black matte surfaces contrasting the floor assembly and cabin. Here, we see metal strips with somewhat asymmetrical vertical studs incorporated into a parallel arrangement. When the vehicle's ground clearance is raised, these features come into play, symbolizing the transition to off-road mode.

The Audi activesphere is similar to the Audi grandsphere concept in that it lacks a B pillar and has doors that open in opposite directions at the front and back. This technological advancement makes the entire cabin accessible to the occupants at entry.

The Singleframe's small headlamp units, located on the car's extreme right and left sides, look like a pair of intently staring eyes. There is currently more than one form of this signature in the activesphere, one for on-road and one for off-road use. The ultra-nanoscopic micro-LED technology is used for both the daytime running lights and the backlighting, increasing the lights' precision and contrast.

The Audi activesphere idea is a master of transformation since it can easily move between different forms. The hatchback's rear area, in particular, is designed to accommodate the busy lifestyle of its consumers by accommodating even the most cumbersome sports equipment without compromising the Sportback's sleek and sporty profile.

The transparent rear window slides of the Audi activesphere can be slid almost to the top if necessary. Simultaneously, the rear's lower, vertical part folds horizontally, creating a spacious luggage bed known as the active back and equipped with attachments for e-bikes, among other things. To keep the activesphere's dynamic profile intact, the rear C-pillars remain fixed in place, and a motorized wall extends from behind the back seats to seal off the interior from the elements.

The middle of the roof features a ski rack. Skis can be securely attached and carried when it is extended from their normal flush position in the roof arch.

The space's design is predicated on the use of vertical and horizontal planes, as well as right angles. Seating surfaces, doors, and front paneling are a striking warm lava red, contrasting the otherwise gloomy exterior even when viewed via the side windows. Black, anthracite, and dark gray are preponderant above and below this core area.

Each of the four seats appears to float in midair as if they were extended from the tall, full-length center console. The top of the seat shell's inner side is curved horizontally as an armrest that rests on the center console. Even at first glance, the seat, back, and shoulder surfaces look like three distinct, circumferential shells, which bodes well for the lateral support that the designers intended. They manage to strike the right note between vehicular use and the refined style of a chaise lounge by appearing to float.

The Audi activesphere concept's dashboard, steering wheel, and pedals disappear when in autonomous mode. When sitting in the front seats, a large area opens up in front of the driver that reaches the tip of the activesphere. The dashboard doubles as an xlarge soundbar and a smart, full-width air vent when extended, and it can be hidden away when not in use.

The dashboard and steering wheel can be swiveled out from their normal flush position below the windshield when the driver is ready to take control, providing a wide range of ergonomic adjustments. Access the windows and seats with the flick of a finger using the MMI touchless controls in the doors.

The tall, full-length console is important to the Audi activesphere's layout and sensation of spaciousness. Having a see-through top cover is convenient for keeping an eye on your wine and glasses, but it also helps blend the large console into its surroundings. Also, the four augmented reality headsets for the mixed reality system are stored on a console installed in the ceiling, immediately above the central console, and sized to match it.

The Audi activesphere concept shines in its ability to transcend traditional barriers at the intersection of vehicle, user, and surroundings. This revolutionary system brings together the real and virtual worlds for the first time, resulting in the Audi dimensions.

The new system's crowning innovation is cutting-edge mixed reality headgear, one for each driver and passenger. While in the Audi activesphere, users have access to a whole digital ecosystem.

Initially, virtual reality spectacles could only simulate a sterile environment. However, technological advancements have led to augmented reality, where digital information is laid on top of the physical world. Thanks to technological advancements, mixed reality can accurately portray digital content in three-dimensional space relative to the physical environment. There is little doubt that mixed reality will greatly expand the capabilities of augmented reality head-up displays in terms of adaptability, accuracy, and information that can be shown in the future.

The Audi activesphere idea is the first to implement a new generation of this technology, which overlays the physical and virtual worlds with a new interactive layer. Behind the wheel, the technology places control surfaces and displays that are normally invisible to the naked eye directly into the driver's field of view, with remarkable optical precision, maximum resolution, and great contrast.

This means that initially, the user can only access virtual content for educational purposes. The system responds by providing extra context when the user looks at a piece of data with intent. When the user pays attention and participates (via gestures, for example), the content comes to life and takes on new meaning.

The user interface responds to changes in real-time, just like a regular instrument, allowing the hand to follow the user's gaze to control car operations intuitively. An especially helpful feature is that the virtual control can be repositioned to face the user regardless of where they are seated.