Audi Activesphere EV concept
Audi
Audi’s new concept vehicle is an all-electric luxury SUV that uses augmented reality glasses and can double as a small pickup truck, signaling potential future technologies for the volkswagen luxury brand.
The rear window of the “Activesphere” vehicle can slide forward, opening the SUV’s flatbed trunk and creating an open space for transporting objects. Audi calls the modular open cargo bed an “active back,” but consumers shouldn’t necessarily expect to see a production vehicle with this unique feature anytime soon.
“It’s a completely new range and a new possibility that it gives us,” said Philipp Gündert, Audi brand strategy, during a press briefing. “At Audi, we’re well known for trying new things with cars… there’s also a tradition at Audi of saying ‘Never say never.’ Although there are no concrete plans yet.”
Audi Activesphere EV concept
Audi
Automakers routinely use concept vehicles to gauge customer interest or show the future direction of a vehicle or brand. The vehicles are not intended for sale to consumers.
Augmented reality glasses are used to view gauges, controls, and other items that would typically be displayed via screens. Without screens, the dashboard is clean and unobstructed, allowing occupants to focus on their outside surroundings or vehicle design elements.
Audi describes controls as an “invisible” or “digital” layer of vehicle controls and information. The screens, which it calls “Audi Dimensions”, change depending on where the driver is looking as well as their expected needs. Everything can be controlled with hand gestures.
Audi Activesphere EV concept
Audi
The glasses could hypothetically be used inside the vehicle as well as during activities such as golf or hiking for distances, navigation and other things. Augmented reality glasses superimpose things on top of real things as opposed to virtual reality, which is a separate all-encompassing environment.
Like the “active back”, the augmented reality glasses are a concept of what could be in future vehicles, but aren’t necessarily intended for production vehicles anytime soon.
Audi has stressed that it has no plans to manufacture its own augmented reality glasses. Instead, it would work with partners to integrate the technology into the vehicle.
The vehicle features a retractable steering wheel for human driving that would stow away when the vehicle is in self-driving mode, a technology included in all of Audi’s “sphere” concept vehicles.
Audi Activesphere EV concept
Audi
The term “sphere” is meant to symbolize the interior space of vehicles for drivers and passengers, Audi says, essentially transforming vehicles into another personal experience or living space. This is its fourth “sphere” concept since 2021.
Previous vehicles were the Skysphere roadster in 2021, followed by the Grandsphere sedan and the Urbansphere in April 2022. All vehicles share futuristic design elements and are all modular.
Gündert said there were elements of all the concept vehicles that would go into production, but pointed to things such as lights and design. He said the Grandsphere performance comes closest to a production vehicle.