The first of Audi’s new family of concept vehicles (here we go again!), the 2021 Audi Skysphere Concept Roadster, has a design with “the clear objective of offering its occupants captivating and world-class experiences.” Well, about that, it is more like offering people outside of the vehicle a captivating experience. I mean, seriously, just take a look at it.
As much as we hate to use the words “futuristic” and “radical”, the 2021 Audi Skysphere Concept Roadster does embody futuristic and radical. Not sure how much of the aesthetic will actually appear in the real world – if it ever made it to production.
Audi imagined the futuristic ride to have two modes. Driving modes in automobiles are nothing new. But the ones found on the Skysphere are “Sports” and “Grand Touring”.
Hold up right there. Those do not sound that special, does it? Well, it doesn’t – that is until you realized that between “Sports” and “Grand Touring”, the length and the height of the car actually change. Bonkers.
In “Sports” mode, you’d be driving the car as a 4.94-meter-long (16.2′) e-roadster while in the “Grand Touring”, it is an autonomous mode in which you will be chauffeured around in a 5.19-meter (17′) GT.
At a touch of a button, the Skysphere increases or decreases its length and height by 250 mm (9.8″) and 10 mm (0.4″), respectively.
In “Grand Touring” mode, the driver-side dash, steering, and center console will be stowed away for maximum legroom. Audi’s engineers and designers certainly aren’t holding back their wildest imaginations.
Under the hood, the 2021 Audi Skysphere Concept has a rear-mounted electric motor that puts out 465 kW and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque which is capable of propelling the 1,800 kilograms (3,968 lbs) ride from naught to 100 (0-62 mph) in just 4 seconds.
Audi expects the 80 kWh battery system to offer the Skysphere over 500 kilometers (311 miles) range in economical GT mode.
The EV further benefits from rear-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension, a steer-by-wire system with selectable steering ratios, aerodynamically styled 23-inch wheels – just to name a few.
2021 Audi Skysphere Concept is the first of the three upcoming concept cars which include the Grandsphere and Urbansphere.
Images: Audi/Volkswagen Group.
