Audi Skysphere Previews A Sexy Autonomous Roadster For The Future

• Features a sleek silhouette with an illuminated front end, 23-inch wheels, sleek LED tail lamps, and a streamlined rear end.

• Cabin gets a widescreen and opulent seats for the two passengers.

• Gets Level 4 autonomous driving tech that retracts the steering wheel and pedals under the dashboard.

• Rear-mounted electric motor makes 624PS and 750Nm, with a 0-100kmph sprint time of under four seconds.

• Boasts a WLTP-claimed range of 500km thanks to an 80kWh battery pack.

• Unlikely to make it to production, but elements could be used for future models.

After several teasers over the past month, Audi has taken the wraps off its Skysphere electric two-door convertible concept. The first of three ‘Sphere’ concepts being showcased by Audi, the Skysphere boasts everything from a sleek design, futuristic tech, and digital cabin to interesting performance wizardry.

Pictures really do justice to the Skysphere’s design, which is clearly poster-worthy! Up front, you have Audi’s single-frame front grille dominated by LED elements with various visual effects, an illuminated Audi logo right at the centre, and a rather sleek pair of LED headlights. The rest of the concept gets nicely sculpted proportions, with a streamlined rear end that harks back to classic racing cars. The 23-inch wheels and sleek ruby-like LEDs running across the rear round off the stunning bodywork.

The real party trick for the Skysphere is that it can be converted into a grand tourer with a simple change of modes. While the current 4,940mm roadster setup is classified in ‘Sports’ mode, the Grand Touring mode extends the length to 5,190mm. This is achieved via actuators behind the front axle that move the entire front end forwards or rearwards depending on the mode selected. 

Head inside and the Skysphere is as futuristic as it can get. The dashboard is largely dominated by a wide screen for the driver’s display and infotainment system. The standout bit is that it features Level 4 autonomous driving tech. So you can be chauffeur-driven by your car itself. When the Skysphere switches to ‘Grand Touring’ mode, the steering wheel and pedals retract under the dashboard to have an opulent cockpit for the two passengers seated inside.

Under the hood, the Skysphere is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that pushes 624PS and 750Nm of torque juiced up by a battery pack that Audi expects is capable of more than 80 kWh. Despite weighing 1,800kg, it can sprint to 100kmph in just under four seconds from standstill. 

The Skysphere offers a WLTP-claimed range of over 500km in the economical GT mode. The roadster also gets performance trickery in the form of rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension to keep it potent in the corners.

There’s no word yet on whether the Audi Skysphere will make it to production, but it's a feel-good teaser of Audi’s new design philosophy for future models. This isn’t the only ‘Sphere’ concept from Audi. The carmaker is planning to introduce the Grand Sphere luxury sedan concept at the 2021 Munich Motor Show. The third model, the Urban Sphere, seems to be a big SUV or a minivan slated for a 2022 debut.