Dubai: Audi has unveiled the "GrandSPHERE" experimental car at the IAA 2021 Motor Show.
When you ride the new salon, you will feel that you are on a plane trip on a first -class, as the 5.35 m (17.6 feet) combines the highest luxury and comfort levels to provide passengers with an exceptional experience as if they were on a trip with their own plane.
The fourth -level self -driving technology provides the highest levels of freedom: in this situation, the cabin turns into a spacious space and the steering wheel, pedals and screens disappear.The front seats are just like the first -class seats in the plane while providing more spaciousness and wonderful views, while the driver can use all functions of the comprehensive digital system for the trial.
The "GrandSphere" has a special place for Audi, it is the second car of three trial cars from the four -episode brand, and its technologies and design elements will be used within a few years in the future Audi cars that will enter the production line.
The "Skysphere" electric electric car was shown for the first time in August 2021, which is the self -driving Grand Torring car that can turn into a sports car driven by the driver himself thanks to the wheelbase that is controlled.
The two experimental cars - in addition to the "UrbanSPHERE" that will be presented in the year 2022 to be the third trial car in this group - shares the fourth -level self -driving technology.Audi cooperates with the Cariant Center for Software Research of the Volkswagen Group for the launch of this technology in the second half of this contract.
The fourth level: It is not only to change the traditional driver's cabin area and passenger seats and increase its spaciousness after the disappearance of the wheel and pedals.At the same time, all passengers have the highest levels of freedom, because the new experimental car frees the driver from the driving task, whenever possible, and all passengers provide a wide range of exceptional trial options: internet or relaxation, work or sitting alone quietly as desired.Thanks to this, the "GrandSphere" turns from just a car into a "world in which we live in exceptional experiences."
Thanks to advanced digital technologies, innovative Audi services and a comprehensive operating system, passengers will have an unparalleled enjoyable experience.These advanced technologies can be used to access a variety of services, such as designing a road surrounded by great landscapes, in addition to the availability of restaurants or hotels.The car can also implement the daily tasks that go beyond driving itself, such as providing information on the current passenger destination, cornering itself and charging its battery automatically.
Information and entertainment services are also available, such as linking the car broadcasting service with music and video services providers on at home entertainment.In another additional step, Audi aims to provide exclusive services to future luxury cars users such as concerts, cultural events, or even sporting events that are only available under a special invitation.
Design: From the inside out, Audi focuses on the three future experimental cars, Skysphere, GrandSPHERE, and UrbanSphere on the field (SPHERE) surrounding the passengers, that is, the car cabin. The movement and control system in the car are no longer the top priority for the design in this new generation of cars, but the design process begins from the cabin; The place where passengers live their experiences while moving. The requirements of passengers and their desires that determine their area, design and functions available in it were accompanied, which changed the same design process. The focus was at the beginning of all discussion sessions directed towards the cabin and its design, after which the equipment, exterior structure lines and dimensions were designed so that the car appeared an integrated artwork, in addition to advanced technologies.
The cabin: the area, design and functions opens the doors of the experimental GrandSPhere in the opposite direction so that the front and back doors come into contact with the middle of the car, with the absence of the pillar B. Once the passengers enter the cabin, they find themselves in a completely new world. Even before that, the car can recognize its passengers - an innovative technology - and open its doors to welcome them through the screens and peripheral lighting. The car also monitors the places of the driver and the passenger automatically and adjusts the personal comfort preferences in each seat, such as the air conditioner system settings and the seats themselves. At the same time, the information and entertainment system connects to the latest services that every passenger used and resumed operating inside the car, so the system can, for example, occupy the display in the car the same movie that one of the passengers was watching through his tablet.
On the other hand, the display screen in the driver’s side recognizes the news he was reading before entering the car and displaying it automatically.
The decorative surfaces in the cabin and their practical parts are distinguished by their prominent horizontal design.The design of the wide and open cabin gives the impression of the uniqueness, while providing the absence of the wheel, pedals, and traditional meters panel a sense of openness and spaciousness.
This feeling also enhances large glass surfaces, wide windshield, transparent ceiling and engineering design of the side windows: the upper half of them tends at a specific angle so that the wider part is a little higher than the level of the eye.Audi used this design for the first time in 2017 in its future trial AI: Con, which is now heading towards entering the production line.
Raising comfort levels: If the top characters prefer to sit at the back in the traditional salon, the first -class travel atmosphere has now moved to the front row seats.In the fourth level self -driving, the steering wheel and pedals disappear and the front area of the cabin becomes a wide space, with the ideal vision of the car's surroundings through the windshield and large side windows, as well as the highest levels of freedom of movement.
The cabin becomes very spacious when the two front seats will be returned to the back completely.The GrandSPHERE comes with a 2 + 2 design for seats, where there is a comfortable seat that can accommodate two people with an armrest on the side as an additional option to sit in the back, while the two front seats were designed to provide the highest levels of comfort and spaciousness.
Sitting places and back in the two seats with separate built -in seat belts appear, while the side pillars in the backrest are characterized by an incomplete curved design, ensuring support of passengers while bypassing turns. The seat positions have also been improved to suit all uses: in the vertical position, the car can be perfectly controlled when you want to drive and not activate self -driving from the fourth level. Passers can relax and use the information and entertainment system by tilting the backrest by 40 degrees, while the seat turns into a maximum comfort position when the backrest is tilted by 60 degrees. The headrest can be tilted by 15 degrees forward. The cabin includes climate control vents that come equipped with air purification filters with temperature control. Perfumes can also be added as desired, in addition to loudspeakers whose sound does not hear other passengers, so that it provides a special audio area for each seat.
There is also a cooler between the two front seats - usually hidden under decorative metal touches - with two cups and an elegant bottle of soft drinks.These equipment emphasizes the provision of an atmosphere that simulates travel on the first degree.
Without meters or screens when you look throughout the GrandSPHERE cabin in its natural colors and simple design you will find a surprise, as there are no meters or black screens before running driving functions, and this reflects the highest levels of simplicity in the design.
The cabin features a range of high -quality materials with a relaxing stylish design.Doors, seats and carpets are characterized by elegant touches made of wood, wool, artificial fabrics and metal.Many cabin materials, such as white beech wood, are made in a sustainable way or from recycled raw materials.There are no leather parts in the car cabin, as this is in line with the concept of advanced luxury that is never separated from sustainability.
With one touch, the car pulled life, and here another surprise occurs: the screens appear in the cabin, but they take the form of pictures displayed on the wooden surfaces under the windshield.The screen appears with the entire cabin width or divided into two parts in front of the driver and the passenger in the front seat according to the chosen driving position, whether it is a regular driving position or self -driving.All necessary information is displayed during the journey with high accuracy and clarity.
Display surfaces can be used in self -driving mode to display information and entertainment content or even video conferences.In addition, a sensor bar was combined under the surfaces of the display to switch quickly between the displayed content, such as music or navigation.This tape displays all the functions and applications in the car and includes illuminating symbols for different lists.
The MMI Information and Entertainment Control Unit is located without touching near the door on the inner brushes, which is an innovative control element.And when the driver is sitting in the front behind the steering wheel in the regular driving position, it can use the console to choose different functional lists through the rotating loop, buttons and movement between different levels, highlighting the simplicity of design and ease of control.
On the other hand, if the driver returns the seat back while driving from the fourth level, he will not have to dispense with the superior control and comfort unit it provides.In this case, the unit can identify the driver's gestures and follow the movement of his eyes, as the sensor monitors eyes movements when the control unit is needed.The passenger only has to move his hand as if he grabbed the console - even without the need for moderation in his session - to implement what he wants without touching anything.
The car adapts to each user and gets to know its preferences and the lists he uses frequently, and whether it is preferable to control the eye tracking, gestures, voice commands, or manual writing on the screen or by touch, in all driving modes.The car also submits allocated proposals directly to the user based on his preferences and completely completing simple orders.
Audi also combined control panels into the armrests on the doors in the form of non -visible touch surfaces and includes a light indication to show their position.There are also glasses of virtual reality technology in arms supports on the right and left doors that can be used with information and entertainment system, such as the function of the "Holoride" virtual driving flight.
Exterior design: The highest dynamic levels The GrandSPHERE car is a luxury salon car with distinction thanks to its ideal dimensions, with a length of 5.35 m (17.6 feet) and 2 m (6.6 feet) and a height of 1.39 m (4.6 feet). . The tallest car is part of the Audi cars, equipped with a 3.19m wheelbase (10.5 feet), and the current A8 version is equipped with a long wheelbase. But the visual impression you leave when seeing it for the first time is more surprising than it can be imagined through these numbers, because the car does not resemble any traditional salon car, but it is very similar to the Grand Torring car with four doors and lines accurately drawn at the wind tunnel without any protrusion Or unnecessary decorations.
The experimental car adopts the standards of electric cars design at the front end, which are the short hanging parts, the flat front cover, and the windshield that appears forward and represents the beginning of the large cabin. However, the car's design does not seem to be from the future at all, unlike many electric cars, but it follows traditional aesthetic standards. The upper edge of the engine cover on the side of the structure extends in a horizontal line, highlighting the length of the engine room, which is one of the elements of the Grand Torring car design. This line extends towards the back at the same height to the back wheel, to include the entire cabin and highlight its large size.
The second horizontal line extends from the lower edge of the cover under the side windows and on the side of the entire cabin.This line divides the doors into horizontal shoulders and convex vertical surfaces below it to the doors of the doors.The wheel arches shine with the elegant and smooth design that distinguishes the Audi cars, while the small back behind the largest c in a simple traditional design comes.The roof line is dynamic and indicates that the car is linked to the Audi Sportback Group.All lines and surfaces of the exterior look are completely consistent and form an interconnected structure.
The experimental GrandSPHERE simulates the leading AVUS of the 1990s using 23 -inch wheels.But the six dual ribs in the wheels indicate lightness and stability, and remind us of the wheels used in car races and Bohhaus elements used in Audi designs.
Visual technologies: Lighting the front end is characterized by the innovative design of the mono -frame that is one of the milestones in the Audi models, it is designed with a hexagonal ribs.The interior surfaces behind the transparent cover are indirectly visible from the top, which gives a very distinctive three -dimensional effect.
The headlights units seem less spacious at the upper side of the mono frame, as if they are eyes focusing on a certain thing. Lighting units simulate the four -episode brand logo, where the intersection of the two episodes expanded and separated to form a pupil, which is one of the new digital optical designs that are unparalleled. This means that the size of the lighting areas can be adjusted according to their job, such as daylight lighting or dynamic flashing signals - depending on the traffic condition - and thus a clear light signal is issued to enhance safety. The rear lights units are characterized by the same distinctive lighting, while it is an important component of the Audi lighting design.
The movement and shipping system The primary technical platform of the experimental GrandSPHERE - what is known as the "Premium Platform Electric" platform (PPE) - exclusively for electric cars, thus achieving the platform fully benefiting from electrical navigation technologies.The main element in this platform is the battery unit between the front and back axis, which stores about 120 kilowatts.Audi managed to design the battery flat thanks to the use of the space available at the base of the car between the entire two axes.
With this platform associated with large wheels, the car dimensions become perfect in all aspects, and not only from the design perspective.The basic advantages of this platform include providing a spacious internal space for legs at both seats.In addition, the absence of a transmission cover, the Kardan tunnel is enhanced by comfort and spaciousness in electric cars.
However, the experimental GrandSPhere did not abandon the SUV, which is essential in Audi cars.The experimental car is equipped with separate electric motors installed on the front and rear axles, and they are coordinated electronically to provide four -wheel drive when needed with the ideal balance between driving dynamics and energy efficiency.Electric two engines can generate a power of 530 kilowatts and a torque of 960 Nm.
Fast shipping and longer distance representing the 800 volt charging technology that is the beating heart of the driving system.Like the E-Tron GT, this technology guarantees the possibility of charging the battery up to 270 kW in a very short time at fast charging stations.
This strategy reduces the shipping times to approach the time it takes the car equipped with a traditional motor to refuel.The car can travel a distance of more than 300 km (186 miles) after charging its battery for only ten minutes.A 120 kW battery can also be charged from 5 to 80 percent within a period of less than 25 minutes.
The experimental GrandSPHERE is suitable for long trips or condition, as it can travel a distance of more than 750 km (466 miles) before the need to recharge, depending on the chosen movement and energy generated by the engines.The distance that the car travels also corresponds before the need for charging and the speed of charging with cars equipped with combustion engines, making it the ideal car to meet daily requirements.
The experimental GrandSPHERE - as usual in electric cars - outperforms its competitors from cars equipped with combustion engines in terms of driving dynamics.Thanks to the large torque that is available from the moment of the engine, the car accelerates from stillness to 100 km/h (62 miles/h) in a slightly more than four seconds, while its maximum speed was determined to increase the distance it travels before the need to ship.
Aerobic suspension and active suspension to provide the highest levels of comfort The front wheels are linked across the five -an aluminum axis and specially developed for electric cars, while at the back there is a multi -connecting axis made of aluminum as well. Although the car is equipped with a long wheelbase, the steering rear wheels provide excellent potential during the maneuver while driving. The luxury salon also uses Audi's air suspension, which consists of one room with adaptive damage, and is ideal for dynamic driving when necessary, as it provides, in normal conditions, the highest levels of comfort without feeling the movement of the body.
This is due to the fact that the car uses the active suspension.The advanced suspension system can reduce or lift each wheel separately in parts of a second through electromechanical engines, which facilitates active control in the chassis in all driving positions, and reduces miles and slipping when accelerating or braking.The front camera helps in making these modifications predicting by photographing the differences on the road surface, and navigation system data is used to enhance the car control properties.