Audi’s first concept car co-created with Chinese customers, showing the vision of high-end urban mobility in the future

Beijing, April 19 , 2022 – Incorporating the future design concept from the inside out, the new Audi urbansphere concept car has made a stunning debut, focusing on China’s urban transportation and providing insight into the future global high-end smart travel vision. In a bustling city, the private space that individuals can have is often extremely limited, and the Audi urbansphere concept car has the largest interior space in Audi’s history. With the blessing of intelligent interconnection technology and digital services, it brings users a full range of senses. Enjoy and renew your travel experience.

Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, which is responsible for the Chinese market, said: “In order to be closer to Chinese consumers, Audi’s design teams in Beijing and Ingolstadt have always maintained close cooperation and ultimately succeeded in Let’s build this Audi urbansphere concept car together.” This is also the first time that Chinese consumers have participated in the Audi vehicle design process, fully expressing their opinions and suggestions in the design concept of “innovation and co-creation” with Audi, so that the Audi urbansphere concept car can better meet the needs of users. demand for high-end travel.

“The Audi urbansphere concept car fully demonstrates Audi’s definition of China’s future urban high-end travel blueprint,” said Dr. Wen Zeyue, President of Audi China, “Through this concept car, we can see that we are continuously committed to providing Chinese users with innovative products and The technology roadmap will also become the first strong evidence of Audi China’s aggressive 2030 strategy.”

The stunning interior of the Audi urbansphere concept car is the result of the “innovative co-creation” between Audi and Chinese consumers. It has a spacious interior and is not only a mobile exclusive room, but also a mobile office, so it has become a “third living space” for users on their journeys. Even during peak daily travel times, the Audi urbansphere concept car provides users with an excellent ride experience that combines a high-tech cabin with extreme privacy. Advanced autonomous driving technology has also greatly driven changes in vehicle interior design. The traditional steering wheel, pedals and instrument panel are omitted, and the interior layout of the car is more open and spacious, becoming a mobile interaction space, seamlessly connecting to the digital ecosystem, bringing an extraordinary sensory experience.

Audi sphere series concept car: playing the strongest sound of the trilogy

Audi skysphere, Audi grandsphere and Audi urbansphere, as the four-ring brand, have successively launched three concept cars, fully demonstrating Audi’s vision of enterprising new luxury. Through the Audi sphere series of concept cars, Audi is making every effort to create a new and unique travel experience, so that travel is no longer just from the start to the end, but far beyond the driving experience itself.

The first model in the Audi sphere series of concept cars, the electric convertible Audi skysphere concept car, which debuted in August 2021, represents the grand vision of an autonomous GT model with variable wheelbase technology and can be freely switched to a car A sports sports car that can be driven by the driver himself.

Just a few weeks after the release of the Audi skysphere concept car, Audi once again launched the second model of the Audi sphere series concept car at the 2021 Munich International Motor Show in Germany – the Audi grandsphere concept car. This large four-seat luxury sedan also fully reflects Audi’s determination to define the future of enterprising new luxury.

These two concept cars have the same autonomous driving function as Audi urbansphere, and reach the level of L4 autonomous driving.

Interior space: Audi’s largest ever

At first glance at the Audi urbansphere concept car, you will be amazed at its super size. The Audi urbansphere concept car is not only the largest in the Audi sphere series of concept cars, but also the largest model of all Audi concept cars to date. With a length of 5.51 meters, a width of 2.01 meters and a height of 1.78 meters, it is undoubtedly a leader in the high-end car category. The design of the Audi urbansphere concept car can be said to be fundamentally breaking the rules and having a unique vision.

The whole car is designed from the inside out, with the interior space as the core, and always around the needs of users. The ultra-long wheelbase of up to 3.40 meters has become its most prominent dimension data. Audi’s urbansphere interior design breaks with tradition. Instead of arranging as many seats, storage devices and functional elements as possible in a limited space, the user’s need for ample space is prioritized as an important aspect of ride comfort. Considerations.

Dussman, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, said: “In order to make electric mobility more attractive, our design idea is to start from the whole and start from the needs of users.” The decisive role is not only the product itself, but also the product itself. Including the entire ecosystem is more important than ever. Therefore, Audi is actively building a comprehensive digital ecosystem for the entire vehicle. The Audi urbansphere concept car provides a variety of options for all drivers and passengers. The in-car experience is highly personalized and has an unprecedented freedom of experience: users can flexibly switch between being busy with work and enjoying their personal and private space in the car, communicating or relaxing. Therefore, the Audi urbansphere concept car has been transformed from a car in the strict sense into a “mobile experience terminal”, only to bring an unparalleled user experience.

With Audi’s own services and the integration of digital services from suppliers, Audi offers customers endless possibilities. Users can access a variety of services related to their current itinerary, as well as handle daily tasks outside of travel, such as ordering food in the car or shopping online. In addition, the Audi urbansphere concept car with advanced autonomous driving functions can automatically pick up passengers at the user’s residence and independently find parking and charging facilities.

The car also offers personalized in-car infotainment services such as seamless integration of in-car music and video streaming. Audi will also provide customers with exclusive event services including concerts, cultural events and sporting events based on their personal preferences.

Design Architecture : Inside Out

It can be seen from the naming of “sphere”: the core of the three concept cars Audi skysphere, Audi grandsphere and Audi urbansphere lies in the interior space. The basis of vehicle design and technology becomes the interior space, that is, the space where passengers live and experience while traveling.

Audi shapes the interior space, vehicle architecture and functions according to the needs and expectations of passengers. As a result of this value shift, the design process itself has also changed. The first step in the design discussion is to always focus on the interior of the car, followed by the overall structure, exterior lines, body proportions, etc. With the blessing of technology, the car will become a complete work of art.

Human-centred interior design: touch, form, function

The front and rear doors of the Audi urbansphere concept car are designed with side-by-side doors, and the B-pillar is eliminated. When a passenger gets into the car, the entire interior space is open to the passenger. At the same time, the seats are rotated outward, and a beam of lights is lit up like a “red carpet”, full of emotional ritual.

The ultra-long wheelbase of 3.40 meters and the vehicle width of 2.01 meters give the Audi urbansphere concept car a majestic momentum and a luxurious attitude. Coupled with a body height of 1.78 meters and a large glass surface, it brings passengers an extremely spacious interior experience.

Two rows of four individual seats provide passengers with luxurious comfort like first class. The rear seats are particularly spacious and have various adjustment options. In relaxation and entertainment modes, the backrest can be tilted up to 60 degrees and the leg rests can be extended at the same time. The central armrest on the side of the seat and the door armrest provide a high level of comfort and security.

In addition, the seats can easily meet the diverse social needs of passengers in a variety of ways. When communicating with each other, passengers can rotate their seats and talk face-to-face. And those who want privacy can use the privacy screen behind the headrest, which effectively isolates the area above the head from other passengers beside them. Each seat also features a separate audio zone with speakers located in the headrests. There are also separate displays on the backrests of the front seats.

When passengers want to share the in-vehicle infotainment system, a large transparent OLED screen will drop vertically from the roof between the two rows of seats. Two passengers in the rear can participate in video conferences or watch movies together through a “big cinema screen” that runs across the interior of the vehicle. The large screen can also be used as a split screen. When the large screen is not in use, passengers can see directly ahead due to its transparent design. Passengers also have the option to fold the screen upwards to integrate with the glass roof.

Like the Audi grandsphere concept car, the interior of the Audi urbansphere concept car integrates space, structure and digital technology. The line design highlights the horizontal proportions of the interior, and the open and spacious interior layout gives a unique sense of space. In the process of autonomous driving, the steering wheel, pedals and conventional instrument panel can be hidden, which greatly enhances the sense of space and freedom of the interior space.

Visually, the seat cushion and backrest of the two integrated belt seats are separated from each other. In the lower position between the rear seats, there is a center console that can be moved upwards, with exquisite drinking equipment and glasses. This further demonstrates the ultimate quality of the Audi urbansphere concept car.

Display and control: simplicity first

The Audi urbansphere concept car follows the principles of minimalist design. Before turning on the driving function, both the circular instrument panel and the black screen of the virtual driving system will be hidden.

In its place is a well-defined, quiet comfort zone made of top-quality materials. The interior perimeter, seat cover and carpet are made of wood, wool and synthetic textiles, which are extremely soft to the touch.

At eye level, the interior is dominated by soft beige and grey tones. The seat shell is dark green to better soothe the eyes. The interior of the car is gradually lighter in color from top to bottom, creating a well-proportioned, spacious interior together with the natural light entering the car.

With just a tap of your fingertips, the entire car can be awakened, and various functions can be activated at the right time, perhaps the first surprise is the projection on the solid wood panel under the front windshield. Under different driving modes, such as traditional manual driving mode or L4 level automatic driving mode, the projection or distribution across the entire interior space, or separately displayed in front of the driver or co-pilot, presents the required journey in high resolution All the information is amazing.

In addition, users can quickly switch functions such as music or navigation by using the sensing area under the projection, which will display all the active functions and applications of the vehicle. At the same time, the icons will flash with different function menus.

Near the inner cut-out of the facing door, a unique and innovative control element is installed: the MMI Inductive Control. When the user sits upright and there is a certain distance from the control area, he can manually select various function menus through the knob or button on the control element, and click the corresponding interface, the operation is simple and intuitive.

Additionally, users can still use this handy feature when the seat is fully reclined, thanks to a combination of eye tracking and gesture control that can be applied. Sensors will track eye movements, identifying gaze and sight. Users can easily operate the system by simply making simulated hand movements similar to touch operations, without leaning over or making any contact.

Eye tracking, gesture control, voice recognition, physical touch and more are available in all operating modes. Audi urbansphere concept car can be based on the needs of different users, understand their preferences and common functions. Based on this, the vehicle can not only intelligently complete basic instructions, but also directly provide users with personalized suggestions.

Combined with innovative digital technology, the Audi urbansphere concept car can also become a mobile personal wellness space, which is to a large extent the result of the co-creation of Audi and Chinese consumers. Among the many features, occupant stress monitoring is a very important one – through facial interpretation and voice analysis, the car can intelligently judge how the passenger is feeling and provide personalized relaxation suggestions, such as through a separate screen and a private audio zone on the headrest Use the Meditation app to soothe your mind and body and heal your stress anytime, anywhere.

In addition, the control panel is integrated into the armrest of the door. In this way, the car can always provide passengers with a touchscreen with visual information and an optical indicator showing their position. At the same time, the armrests of the left and right doors are equipped with VR glasses, which can be used in conjunction with the infotainment system including the Holoride.

Interior Materials: Sustainability throughout

Many of the materials used in the interior of the Audi urbansphere concept car are sustainable, such as hornbeam trim. In this way, the wood can be obtained directly from the production site, and the entire trunk is fully utilized, and no chemicals are added during the manufacturing process.

Seat padding made of ECONYL® material. This is a recyclable polyamide that can still be fully recycled after the car has been scrapped. Individual installation of various materials is also more conducive to subsequent recycling, on the contrary, if mixed installation, the possibility of its recycling will also be greatly reduced.

Bamboo pulp fiber fabrics are applied to the armrests and the rear of the vehicle. Bamboo grows faster than regular wood, absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide as it grows, and doesn’t require the use of herbicides or pesticides. The application of this material also fully reflects Audi’s pursuit of sustainability.

Exterior Design: Future Luxury Space Concept

The Audi urbansphere concept car is 5.5 meters long, about 1.78 meters high and more than 2 meters wide. The body contours are smooth, and the iconic Audi design elements and shapes have been reinterpreted in this car: a unique one-piece grille, digitally embellished light surfaces, large and dynamic, curved roof arches. Line, surround the sill panel where the battery unit is located, and match with 24-inch double six-spoke design wheels (inspired by the classic Audi Avus concept car of the 90s).

The body’s wedge-shaped profile is clearly visible against the flat, wide windshield. At the front and rear of the vehicle, there are large-area CNC lighting units, which not only become the iconic design of the body appearance, but also serve as an interaction tool with the outside world.

The Audi urbansphere concept car boldly breaks the definition of traditional car categories, at the same time, it still maintains the pure DNA of the Audi brand. In the two models of the Audi urbansphere concept car and the Audi grandsphere concept car, the overall body design is similar in purpose, and the clear outline of the wheel arches and the rounded shape also complement each other. The wheelbase of more than 3 meters, combined with short front and rear overhangs, fully demonstrates the characteristics of its electric vehicles. Although the Audi urbansphere concept car has a larger size, its elegant and dynamic design language is in the same vein as the Audi grandsphere concept car.

Visualization Technology: Unique Lighting Effects

The front part of the car innovatively adopts an octagonal one-piece grille, which shows the true character of Audi. Although the cooling grille is no longer required at the front of the body, the Audi’s iconic one-piece grille design is still retained. The digital light panel sits behind a light-colored transparent panel that covers a large area of ​​the front face. The upper and lower edges of the integrated grille are still made of aluminum alloy and are connected vertically through LED lights.

The light surface inside the one-piece grille acts like a stage or a canvas (as its “Audi Lighting Canvas” is called), with a unique interactive function that increases driving safety by sending a clear signal to other vehicles or pedestrians through dynamic lighting effects. The rear also has a matrix LED glossy finish with a similar function.

The light groups above the left and right of the integrated grille look slender and narrow, like piercing “eyes”. Also known as the “Eye of Audi”, these digital lighting units echo the four-ring brand identity – they can magnify the lighting or separate the intersection of two rings, like “pupils”, forming a new, digital light Label.

The light surface area can be adjusted according to traffic conditions, environment and user experience. For example, when used as a running light during the day, the light can be focused and dispersed, just like the “pupil” changing size under adjustment.

When necessary, the digital light strip can also be used as a dynamic turn signal, further highlighting the car’s safety excellence due to its high visibility and easy identification.

Advanced power system and charging technology: efficient travel and abundant battery life

The Audi urbansphere concept car is built on the PPE platform focusing on electric drive systems, making full use of the platform’s technical advantages. The core element of the PPE platform is the battery module between the axles, and in the Audi grandsphere concept car, the battery module has a capacity of up to 120 kWh. Thanks to Audi’s use of a monolithic underbody between the axles, the battery modules can be laid out flat.

The total output power of the two motors of the Audi urbansphere concept car is 295 kW and the torque can reach 690 Nm. At the same time, the Audi urbansphere concept car is also equipped with an electric quattro four-wheel drive system: a motor is equipped for the front and rear axles, which can pass through the vehicle when necessary. Electronic control enables all-wheel drive, maintaining the perfect balance between driving dynamics and energy economy.

An innovative design related to this is that the Audi urbansphere concept car can choose to disable the front axle motor as needed to reduce friction during coasting and effectively reduce energy consumption.

At the heart of the drive system of the Audi urbansphere concept car is 800-volt charging technology. Thanks to this technology, in the fast charging station, the vehicle can reach a charging power of 270 kilowatts, charging the battery in the shortest possible time. In this way, the charging time is as fast as that of a traditional fuel vehicle when it is stopped for refueling. It only takes ten minutes to charge, which is enough to increase the cruising range of more than 300 kilometers. The battery can be charged from 5% to 80% in just 25 minutes. This means that according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), a total range of up to 750 kilometers is expected. Even in high-energy-consuming urban areas and short-distance driving, it is usually possible to avoid the trouble of parking halfway for charging.

Air Suspension : Smooth and Comfortable

The front axle of the Audi urbansphere concept car adopts a five-link suspension structure optimized for electric vehicles, and the rear axle adopts a multi-link structure. The front and rear axles are made of lightweight aluminium alloy. Its steered rear axle ensures excellent handling despite its long wheelbase of 3.40 metres.

One of the commonalities between the Audi urbansphere concept car and the Audi grandsphere concept car is the use of Audi adaptive air suspension, which is an air suspension system with semi-active damping control. Thanks to this, the vehicle can provide superior driving comfort on the highway, and even when driving on bumpy urban roads, the body will not shake significantly, and the state is stable and comfortable.