Audi confirms trio of Sphere concept cars showcasing future design direction
Audi’s ‘Spheres’ concept cars will include a sports car, the Sky Sphere, a limousine, the Grand Sphere, and a new SUV, the Urban Sphere
Audi has teased a trio of new concept cars that will be revealed over the next 12 months. Audi head designer Mark Lichte describes the cars as a look into the future direction of the brand.
Audi brand vice president Henrik Wenders calls the collection of concepts “spheres providing unique high class experiences”, pointing to the names of the three vehicles: Sky Sphere, Grand Sphere and Urban Sphere.
All three will probably be future-gazing concept cars intended to roll out the carpet for a new design era for the brand, penned by Lichte - who has been at Audi since 2014. Autonomy and artificial intelligence features will play key roles in these vehicles, according to the designer.
“They will recognise you, listen and read wishes in your eyes. And know your preferences, what you love and where to find it,” explains Lichte.
The Sky Sphere is described as a driver’s car with autonomous capabilities. While the name teases that it could be a convertible, a simple line sketch of the car’s profile hints that it will have some sort of roof. The proportions lend themselves to a grand sports car with a huge bonnet, a large dash-to-axle ratio, and a sweeping rear.
It’s likely to be the first car to be unveiled in the trio, and could make an appearance at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance in California, where Audi has revealed sporty, futuristic concept cars before, such as the PB18 e-tron.
Audi will also reveal a concept car called Grand Sphere, which Lichte describes as being “all about grand appearances. Immersive and personal. A grand, high-class experience for all senses.”
A similar teaser sketch reveals a large saloon or limousine like appearance, and as the second model in the Spheres line-up it could be timed for reveal at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, which is taking over from Frankfurt for the first time in September.
The third and final model in the trio will be the Urban Sphere. It’s more than likely a new SUV concept, if the teaser sketch is anything to go by. “Together, they are an expression of how we are creating the future,” claims Lichte.
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