The final piece in Audi’s three-part concept study has been revealed: enter the Urbansphere, an ultra-spacious automobile described as “a lounge on wheels and a mobile office” by the German marque.
The concept car, which is the largest ever dreamt up by the brand, was designed by Audi’s Beijing and Ingolstadt design studios to suit the sensibilities of the burgeoning Chinese market, and any future megacities sprouting up in the country.
The concept is based on the unavoidable truth that we spend more time than we’d like stuck in traffic, so one might as well be comfy and productive.
That comfort stems, firstly, from an abundance of leg and headroom. The vehicle is a massive 5.51 metres long, more than 2 metres wide, and 1.78 metres tall. This is made even roomier by the complete removal of steering apparatus, pedals or displays.
Enter through a pair of passenger doors that are hinged toward the front and the rear, with no dividing pillar between them. Once inside, expect four seats – with a myriad of customisation options – that can recline or swivel to facilitate conversation, each equipped with extendable footrest, privacy screen and personal ‘sound zones’, thanks to built-in speakers.
The vehicle also taps into a comprehensive infotainment and digital services ecosystem that’s still in development. Think Alexa or Siri, built into your ride – meaning that you can make dinner reservations, attend concerts or do some retail therapy from the comfort of your car.
Other niceties include a large screen that can pivot vertically onto the roof area, a water dispenser, and a self-illuminating umbrella.
All this, with an expected range of 750km – thanks to an extra-large 120kwH battery pack hidden in the base of the vehicle. Just ten minutes at a fast-charging station will be enough juice for a 300km jaunt.
Before the Urbansphere, the German marque showed off the Grandsphere – a futuristic EV with a retractable steering wheel and display – as well as the Skysphere, which could transform between a convertible roadster into a grand tourer with the flick of a switch.
Both concepts, like the Urbansphere, were anchored on level four autonomous vehicle technology, which isn’t really commercially viable yet. But we can dream.
(Related: Audi’s futuristic E-Tron interior, revealed)
