• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • The Rearview Mirror: Triumph of the Bean Counters
  • VW Teases U.S. Version of ID.Buzz — and Here’s What We Know About the Electric Microbus
  • Make Sure You're Good to Go for the Holiday Weekend
  • Hyundai, LGES Building $4.3B EV Battery Plant in U.S.
  • New Vehicle Sales Set to Rise, Used Vehicle Sales Expected to Drop in May
  • Ford Teaming with Tesla to Make Charging Even Easier
  • Q&A: VinFast CEO Van Anh Nguyen Talks Tough Reviews, Tough Learning Curve, Bright Future
  • Stellantis Invests in new Lithium-Sulfur EV Battery Tech
  • The Safest Cars For Your Teenage Driver
  • Honda Teams with Aston Martin in Formula One Return
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige
    • A Week With: 2023 BMW XM
    • A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4Matic
    • First Drive: 2024 Audi Q8 e-Tron Prestige
    • First Drive: 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge Single Motor
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford Bronco Everglades Edition
    • First Drive: 2024 Kia Seltos
    • A Week With: 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD
    • 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD
    • First Drive: 2023 VinFast VF 8 City Edition
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automakers > Audi’s Grandsphere Concept is a “Private Jet for the Road”

        Audi’s Grandsphere Concept is a “Private Jet for the Road”

        Second of three prototypes examines luxury in a time of electric, autonomous transportation.

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        Sept. 02, 2021

        The new Grandsphere is the second of three futuristic concept vehicles Audi is introducing as a way to examine the massive transformation it sees coming as automakers combine cutting edge technology with more traditional luxury features.

        Audi Grandsphere concept side
        The second of three “Sphere” concepts from Audi, the Grandsphere will go on public display next week at the Munich Motor Show.

        The all-electric, fully autonomous Audi Grandsphere can be seen as a four-wheeled luxury jet or, if you prefer, a “first class lounge” on wheels. While the Audi concept is part of a long history of fantasy-in-chrome show cars, the automaker contends it shouldn’t be dismissed outright.

        “The technologies and design features assembled in it are expected to turn up again in future Audi series,” the automaker said in a statement released ahead of next week’s Munich Motor Show where the show car will be officially unveiled. “The Audi Grandsphere concept illustrates the brand’s claim that it is becoming a trendsetter at the top of the automotive industry for technological transformation and completely new, holistic mobility offerings.”

        Second of three

        From a design perspective, the Grandsphere is a bit less radical of a departure than the earlier Skysphere which had the ability to stretch its length by nearly a foot, transforming itself from a sporty grand tourer into a mobile living room. The Grandsphere measures 17.6 feet, nose-to-tail, and vaguely resembles a stretched version of Audi’s current A7 line.

        Audi Grandsphere concept rear
        Audi describe’s the Grandsphere as a “private jet on wheels.”

        The technology built into the Audi Grandsphere falls roughly into three distinct categories. To start with, the show vehicle uses an all-electric drivetrain pairing twin motors — one on each axle — to produce 711 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque. According to Audi, that would permit a launch from 0-100 kmh, or 62 mph, in about 4.2 seconds.

        Range is 750 kilometers, or 466 miles, using a 120 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The system operates at 800 volts and can draw up to 270 kW from a Level 3 quick charger, letting it go from a 5 to 80% state-of-charge in just 25 minutes. In 10 minutes, it would yield another 300 km, or about 186 miles.

        “Its range and charging speed can keep pace with those of combustion engines, making it the perfect universal car for everyday needs,” Audi claims.

        Driving on its own

        The Gransphere, meanwhile, features Level 4 autonomy. That’s not quite go-anywhere, anytime capability but could allow a driver to effectively hand off control on most roads and under most weather conditions.

        Audi Grandsphere concept steering wheel
        The concept uses an all-electric drivetrain pairing twin motors — one on each axle — to produce 711 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque.

        When that were to happen, the concept could be transformed into a mobile lounge, with business jet roominess and seats that could recline or even swivel.

        “In level 4 driving, the steering wheel and pedals disappear and the front area of the cabin becomes actual free space in all its breadth, with a perfect view through the large front and side windows, as well as maximum possibilities for movement,” Audi explained.

        And this is where the third level of technology comes into play, the interior becoming a showcase of smart functions.

        Sitting back and enjoying the ride

        “The driver and passenger positions are automatically detected and an array of personal comfort features — such as the climate control settings and the seats — are adjusted for the individual seats,” noted the Audi statement. “At the same time, the infotainment system accesses the passengers’ most recently used services and seamlessly resumes them inside the car. For instance, a video that a passenger was streaming on a tablet is automatically played back over the display surface in the Audi Grandsphere.”

        Audi Grandsphere concept interior w:o steering wheel
        The concept could be transformed into a mobile lounge, with business jet roominess and seats that could recline or even swivel.

        Numerous surfaces, in fact, double as video displays. And while it’s not quite up to Star Trek tech, there’s even what Audi calls a “holoride” system using VR, or virtual reality, glasses stored in pockets on the doors.

        There’s actually a fourth level of technology built into Grandsphere, an active suspension system that uses sensors to not only respond to road surfaces but also predict how to respond before the concept hits a bump or pothole.

        “That makes it possible to actively control the state of the chassis and therefore significantly reduce pitching and plunging when accelerating or braking,” the automaker said. “Thanks to the front camera, which recognizes unevenness, the adjustments happen predictively. The navigation system’s topographical data are also used to integrate curve radii, gradients, and inclines into the system’s projection.”

        While Audi says the Grandsphere is a concept vehicle, it contends it will serve to influence future models it is working on.

        Next up is the Audi Urbansphere. Set to debut sometime in 2022, that concept will show the sort of design and technologies the automaker believes will find a place in future products targeted for application in the crowded cities of tomorrow.

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published

        The Rearview Mirror: Triumph of the Bean Counters

        May 27, 2023
        VW tease for ID Buzz three row

        VW Teases U.S. Version of ID.Buzz — and Here’s What We Know About the Electric Microbus

        May 26, 2023
        Hyundai and LGES handshake for GA battery plant REL

        Hyundai, LGES Building $4.3B EV Battery Plant in U.S.

        May 26, 2023

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: