Video: 10 reasons to love the Audi Activesphere

The fourth and apparently final in Audi’s forward-looking ‘sphere’ series of concept cars, the Activesphere is lifestyle on wheels, as Alexandra Legouix has been finding out. Let her be your guide to the car in the video while here we list 10 reasons we are especially excited…

1 - It’s the best of every car format

It looks distinctively cool and futuristic, merging a luxury four-door coupe with an off-roading pick up. Forget boring old SUVs!

2 - Audi is thinking outside of the box

Over this series of concepts get a glimpse of Audi’s vision for the future. Following the two-door Skysphere Roadster, the luxury saloon Grandsphere, and the Urbansphere MPV, this Activesphere is the fourth final model in the series.

3 - Quattro … reinvented

To back up the chunky looks the Activesphere reimagines Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive for the electric age, with power to all four wheels thanks to motors on both front and rear axles. On or off the road the Activesphere should be unstoppable.

4 - It’s a transformer

It’s far more than meets the eye – at the press of a button, the rear can turn into an open cargo bed and the car becomes a luxury pick-up with the capability to really go places. Audi calls it the ‘active back’, equipped to carry your fancy equipment such as bikes or winter sports gear. And for when the rear is closed, there is the option of a deployable ski rack.

5 - It can go anywhere

It rides on 22-inch wheels, with chunky tyres that can sustain tougher terrain. The vehicle can also flexibly raise and lower its ride height depending on where you’re heading, or if should you encounter rough rocks.

6 - Let the car take control

The Activesphere can drive autonomously – the steering wheel, pedals, and dashboard can all disappear into the footwell and hide away seamlessly so you can enjoy a driverless vehicle within a more spacious cabin. And when you want to take back the reins the controls can all be redeployed in the blink of an eye.

7 – You float in space

The four slim, lightweight seats extend from the centre console and appear to float above the floor, keeping it clear and clutter free.

8 – Virtual reality meets the real thing

You get a ‘mixed reality’ interior combining digitalisation with physical interaction, like VR but with real life elements. Four augmented reality headsets on the ceiling allow occupants to see the world around them, with the addition of virtual information to enhance driver and passenger experience behind the wheel. It can display an overlay of useful information, which when a certain area is focused on, can expand into more detail. And if that seems like a lot to get your head around with these headsets on you can look around the car and control its various settings using only the movement of your eyes.

9 – The fantasy is more real than you think

The introduction of a customised drive technology platform being may appear like a mere wild imagination, but reality suggests it’s coming sooner than you think. In fact, Audi is working with Porsche on the foundations underneath the Activesphere concept to develop a road car built on the same technology before the end of 2023.

10 – A place to relax

Audi has definitely prioritised comfort over neck-breaking acceleration across all the ‘sphere’ concepts, which makes sense as the idea of a driverless vehicle comes closer to reality. Less time spent concentrating on driving alone means you can fully indulge in the car’s interior refinements as you cruise along. The inside is beautifully upholstered, focusing on the comfort of all its occupants in the most practical and minimalist way as you enter the wide-open doors to sit back into a lounge-like environment.

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