Audi Urbansphere: 5 Important things to know about this futuristic EV

The future of the automotive industry is changing, and the one carmaker that is well aware of this fact is Audi. The German car brand known for developing its cars with luxury and performance as priorities has added one more feature to the mix, i.e., eco-friendly. It is working on three EV concepts - Skysphere (an electric roadster), Grandsphere (a big, posh GT car), and the just-revealed futuristic MPV called the Urbansphere. Let's check out the key highlights of the latest one.

Lounge on wheels

In the urban areas, where personal space is in particularly short supply, the Audi Urbansphere offers the largest interior space of any Audi car to date. 

With dimensions bigger than a minibus, this lounge on wheels gets only four seats across two rows, offering passengers a serene space while roaming through the hustle and bustle of a city. There is enough room for extended leg rest, and tilt the seats as much as 60 degrees. Further adding to the comfort are headrests with speakers integrated into them.

The control screen is projected onto a panel made of wood, and the most amazing thing is that one can control the menus by eye-tracking and gesture controls. Infotainment screens are available for second-row passengers on the rear of the front seats.

Autonomous driving

Audi's Urbansphere concept will underpin the level 4 autonomous vehicle tech, and during the automated driving, the dashboard, steering wheel and pedals will remain hidden. For this, the German automaker is currently working on a system with CARIAD. The latter is Volkswagen AG's software wing that is set to roll out Level-4 autonomous driving tech by 2030.

Sustainable interior stuff

For the interior of the Audi Urbansphere, the automaker uses hornbeam veneers, which come from sustainable sources. The seat pads are made of ECONYL, a recycled polyamide that can also be recycled after its use in the car without losing quality. The fabric used in the armrest and on the back is Bamboo viscose; the bamboo grows quicker than the normal woo and does not need herbicides or pesticides to grow. Moreover, no chemicals are used during the manufacturing process.

Minimalist exterior

Audi's third sphere concept is unlike the first sleek, sporty models in terms of exterior design. It has a minimalist aesthetic appeal with a body that blends the look of a crossover and van. There are groups of triangular LED lights that illuminate in a complex pattern; these can also display messages to road users with different flashing patterns.

A steeply raked windshield flowing into the roof and suicide doors are among the other exterior highlights.

Driving range of 750 km

Under the skin of the Audi Urbansphere lies two electric motors delivering a maximum power output of 401 hp and a peak torque of 690 Nm. The motors are paired with a 120 kilowatt-hours battery pack that will offer an estimated range of 750 kilometers on a single charge.

Overall, the technologies present in this futuristic EV concept appeal to all the senses and set a new benchmark for the passenger in-vehicle experience. What do you think?

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