The Audi Urbansphere Idea Is an 18-Toes-Lengthy Luxurious Van for China’s Megacities

After tackling the way forward for sedans and convertibles with its Grandsphere and Skysphere ideas, Audi is bringing out the third and closing entry in its spherically-themed trilogy of idea vehicles. And, guess what? It is a van! Say hiya to the Audi Urbansphere idea: a luxurious, three-row, six-seater EV with a boatload of inside room and little to no off-road pretense. The truth is, it was apparently made for Chinese language “megacities” in thoughts, the place area is at an excessive premium.

Therefore, the Urbansphere boasts absolutely the most outright inside area of any Audi ever. Not all that shocking whenever you be taught that the automobile is eighteen whole ft lengthy and has a wheelbase measuring 134.4 inches, longer than that of the A8 L. To provide a greater sense of scale: these wheels are 24 inches in diameter. These very over-the-top lighting remedies entrance and rear, by the way in which, are stated to imitate the lights of Chinese language skyscrapers at evening.

Created by Audi design studios in each Ingolstadt and Beijing with enter from Chinese language prospects, the Urbansphere is recent from the within out, with its ultra-swank lounge-style inside being the first focus. This turns into obvious whenever you see how the doorways on this factor swing open. As a substitute of Dodge Caravan-style rear doorways that slide, this Audi options suicide rear doorways which pair with the standard fronts for a B-pillarless and really grand double-door impact. There’s even a light-based “purple carpet” that rolls out when these open, welcoming the Urbansphere’s crucial homeowners into the cabin. A cabin that incorporates seats—lounge chairs, actually—that swivel outward, presenting themselves to their occupants.

As soon as inside, these chairs can swivel round so passengers face one another. If they don’t seem to be all that pleasant, there are privateness screens that may be deployed from behind the headrests. There’s additionally a minibar-like association in between in case these occupants wish to develop into pleasant.

Every seat has its personal headrest audio system and screens however leisure will also be loved as a gaggle by a big, clear OLED “cinema display” that comes down from the glass roof and takes up the whole width of the cabin. Eye-tracking with gesture controls lets occupants toggle numerous techniques with out using bodily dials or buttons.

Talking of sci-fi stage know-how, Stage 4 automated driving is a part of the Urbansphere’s cope with the steering wheel, pedals, and shows capable of be hidden away utterly. On the subject of the mechanicals, it is fairly typical luxurious EV stuff; dual-motor all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering. The motors produce a complete of 395 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque and draw energy from a 120-plus kWh battery. Packing an 800-volt system, the 270 kW-capable Urbansphere can regain as much as 186 miles of vary in simply 10 minutes of DC quick charging. 5 to 80 p.c can apparently be achieved in underneath 25 minutes. On the WLTP cycle, Audi is claiming 466 miles of vary.

Oh, and if the thought of an ultra-luxury, self-driving Audi van wasn’t thrilling sufficient, this factor apparently comes with a “self-illuminating” Audi Gentle Umbrella. Made particularly to cater to this automotive’s viewers, this built-in umbrella is manufactured from reflective materials, lights up the trail in entrance of you, and brings a little bit of a Rolls-Royce vibe to city, trendy megacity commuting.

Jury’s nonetheless out on whether or not the Urbansphere or one thing like it should truly come to manufacturing—Chinese language market or in any other case—however both method, it is good to know that automakers like Audi nonetheless bear in mind what vans are and have not gone utterly SUV-crazy.

Obtained a tip or query for the writer in regards to the Urbansphere Idea? You’ll be able to attain him right here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com