The Audi grandsphere concept impresses with its minimalistic interior, projection display, and level 4 autonomous drive.
“The private jet for the road” as Audi likes to describe its new grandsphere project. Launched at the International Motor Show in Munich, 2021, the grandsphere concept is a 17.6 ft long sedan encompassing all the premium luxury features normally found in the first-class cabin of any top airline.
The second of the three spheres from the four-ringed automaker (skysphere, grandsphere, and urbansphere), the grandsphere, is of heightened importance since it will pave the way for the technologies and design features that would grace all of Audi’s future models. The ambitious concept strengthens Audi’s claim that it is slowly but surely establishing itself as a trendsetter at the top of the automotive world.
Working with parent company Volkswagen’s “think tank” CARIAD, Audi loaded the grandsphere concept with a ton of futuristic tech. If you thought the exterior design was impressive, then the cabin will knock your socks off.
Audi claims that grandsphere would come complete with level 4 autonomous driving features, allowing it to drive itself without human intervention under certain conditions. The tech would redefine the car’s interior space, transforming it into a “third” place where the occupants can live, sleep, and socialize.
In a suicide-styled 4-door luxurious sedan, it is the rear passenger seats that hog all the attention. Indeed, in a saloon, the rear seats are usually the more comfortable ones. However, it is not quite the case with the grandsphere concept. If you want some unprecedented driving experience, then you better call “shotgun” and occupy the front seats.
What particularly grabs our attention is the notable absence of screens inside. The designers opted for a total digital detox and removed any digital display from the car. Instead, all relevant information and infotainment displays are projected onto the wooden dashboard under the windscreen. Sounds like a car from the Mission Impossible franchise yet?
However, the biggest catch is that once the level 4 self-driving feature is initiated, the steering wheel and the control panel retract into the dashboard, freeing up space inside the cabin and letting the driver focus on the ride rather than on the drive. The passengers have an unobstructed view of the projected image in this setting, which is great for watching video content.
Set to replace the A8 as Audi’s new flagship model, the grandsphere concept should be a reality by 2024. However, take that with a grain of salt as automakers are notorious for making unrealistic promises, specifically about new tech. The car has to pass through many regulatory checks affirming the safety offerings, especially since the controls would remain out of the driver’s grasp for long trips. So, if you want a piece of Audi’s luxury in a “private jet for the road,” you might have to wait for a very long time.
Gallery: Audi grandsphere concept
