Meet Audi’s new off-road EV coupe, the Activesphere

KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, Audi introduced us to its three futuristic concept EVs - Skysphere, Grandsphere, and Urbansphere and now here comes the fourth model of the list, called the Audi Activesphere. The new concept EV is a rugged coupe-style SUV featuring an “astonishingly versatile body design” previewing the vehicle’s off-road talent.

The front is equipped with a new sort of Singleframe grille, which appears as a transparent glazing offering the passengers an unobstructed view through the large frunk. The lower door area of the side profile also houses glass surfaces “dissolving the boundary between the natural world and the interior”. Towards the rear, the EV features a wide, curved tailgate housing extensive glazing for optimum lighting. The roof of the EV is also transparent.

Adding to the visual drama are sleek headlamps, a rakish silhouette, frameless doors, and a sloping roof. The luxury coupe concept rides on large 22-inch wheels wrapped with 285/55 profile tyres) reiterating the EV’s off-road capabilities. 

Size-wise, the SUV is 4,980 mm long, 2,070 mm wide, and 1,600 mm tall and spans a wheelbase of 2,970 mm. The ground clearance is variable; which is ideal for off-road use. It can be increased by 40 mm from its standard height of 208 mm or lowered by the same amount when driving on-road. 

Another big highlight is that Audi’s new off-road EV can be transformed into a pickup truck with just the tap of a button. The rear window slides back and the rear folds horizontally, converting the back of the car into a pickup-like cargo bed. The latter also houses brackets that can be utilised for carrying recreational equipment like e-bikes or water and winter sports gear.

Other futuristic inclusions of the new Audi Activesphere concept are - 

• Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities
• Electronically foldable pedals, dashboard, and steering wheel turning the cabin into a lounge
• A full-length centre console with no transmission tunnel
• Audi Dimensions, which is a unique mixed reality AR interface operated by the AR headsets allowing passengers to use very natural gestures to operate the various functions 

Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development: “The sphere concept vehicles show our vision for the premium mobility of the future. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, especially in the interior of our future Audi models. The interior becomes a place where the passengers feel at home and can connect to the world outside at the same time. The most important technical innovation in the Audi Activesphere is our adaptation of augmented reality for mobility. Audi dimensions creates the perfect synthesis between the surroundings and digital reality.”

Based on the PPE platform, the Audi Activesphere houses a 100kWh battery between the axles mated to two motors and all-wheel-drive. The motors deliver a maximum power of 436 bhp and a peak torque of 720 Nm while the battery lets the EV run for 600 km on a single charge. 

What are your views on the Audi Activesphere concept? Tell us in the comments.

Also read: Audi Malaysia launching two new models soon, the Q8 e-tron & e-tron GT