Take A Closer Look At 2021 Audi Skysphere EV Concept

Audi is betting big on luxury, performance-oriented electric vehicles, and three "Sphere" concept cars will give us a glimpse of what's to come. Skysphere is the 1st of these, a stylish two-seat roadster that will make its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2021.

We had the opportunity to see the Skysphere prototype in reality right before its premiere, and it's even more appealing in life than it appears on images. This futuristic self-driving electric Audi is based on a 1937 Horch roadster.

Underneath its gorgeous exterior, the Skysphere has a unique trick: it can alter its wheelbase on the fly, morphing from a large, intimidating grand tourer to a compact roadster at the push of a button. In the shift between the so-called "GT" and "Sport" modes, actuators behind the front axle shift the whole front clip of the car backward, decreasing the wheelbase by roughly 10 inches.

In GT mode, the Skysphere's steering wheel and pedals disappear beneath the dashboard, creating an open and spacious cockpit for the privileged two passengers.

With length, width, and rear-biased dimensions that are a deadlock for a classic car, the concept is inspired by the 1937 Horch roadster that won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2009. Horch was one of the four brands, together with Audi, DKW, and Wanderer, that made up Auto Union, Audi's immediate precursor.

Despite its heritage and comparable proportions, the low-slung Skysphere is not a vintage reincarnation. The front end is dominated by an Audi Singleframe theme, with an illuminated four-rings emblem emerging from the panel. During approach and leaving, dozens of LED accents act as indicator lights and perform lively animated dancing.

Newest generation of Audi lighting design features narrow headlights with triangle lighting elements that glow at the path ahead. The geometric front and rear fenders flare from the bodysides, evoking another classic Audi from the 1980s, the Quattro. The streamlined-style back deck reaches a point reminiscent of racing cars from a century ago, yet dozens of ruby-red LEDs anchor the backside in the present day.

Appealing rose-toned panel with triangular features slightly ahead of the main cabin, which coordinates with the smooth trunk panel behind the seats, is visible in lengthened GT mode. Due to four-corner air suspension that employs GPS and route preview to deliver a plush, smooth ride, the Skysphere rides somewhat higher in this arrangement.

The car drops and the front end retracts in Sport mode to hide the abovementioned panel. Internally, the driver is greeted by the steering wheel and dashboard, with rear-axle steering kicking in to deliver a stronger and more engaging experience of driving.

According to Audi, Skysphere will reach 60 miles per hour in little under 4 secs, due to a 624 hp rear-mounted electric engine. Skysphere has an 80-kilowatt-hour battery behind the seats and in the center console, giving it a range of 310 miles (500 km) on the WLTP circuit. Two sets of personalized golf clubs (remember, Pebble Beach is a golf course) are kept in the large frunk, while a pair of suitcases are stored on the back deck.

The inside pays tribute to the design center in Malibu, California, that conceived the Skysphere concept, with walls covered in eco-friendly Agave Blue microfiber and vegan leather.

Door panels have sustainable Eucalyptus trim, as well as stylish, Art Deco-inspired metallic details that harken back to the old Horch. A widescreen panel replaces the traditional dash, with the driver's instrument cluster and infotainment taking up two-thirds of the space. An addition of redundant audio and HVAC controls to the door panels is a pleasant surprise.

Audi Skysphere, together with the upcoming flagship Grandsphere and the flexible Urbansphere, preview Audi's futuristic style and technology. Grandsphere is a production-intent concept of a car that will come by mid-decade, according to the firm.