Audi skysphere Concept Set for Reveal August 10th

Car design is entering exciting new territory — and Audi’s skysphere concept is a glimpse of what to expect.

Last month, we wrote about the hat trick of wild concept cars Audi is set to release over the next year. And now, we know the wraps will come off the first design exercise on August 10th. Dubbed the skysphere, the darkened profile in the teaser shows a long hood, space for two, an open top, and some gloriously pointy hindquarters. Given that this is a concept car, and not destined for production, pesky little things like pedestrian safety regulations aren’t really a concern.

In the video below, Audi senior vice president Henrik Wenders and design chief Marc Lichte share that the inspiration for the futuristic ride came from the gorgeous Horch 853A. If you’re looking to create a GT masterpiece? That’s hardly a bad place to start, but in keeping with Audi’s pivot toward electric vehicles, all the concepts will be pure electric. So the long hood is a bit of puzzler. My guess is that the car rides on a skateboard-style chassis with motors at each corner, which would leave the space free for passenger luggage.

That’s presuming it’ll be able to move under its own power, of course, which many concepts don’t. What will presumably function are the trick banks of lights in the front fascial and rear section. Upon the reveal, I’ll expect to see some shock and awe from these set ups, as lighting is one of the next frontiers in automotive design. But what I’m really stoked to check out is the cabin, which will have the capability to transform from a cockpit to a lounge, where drivers can either control the machine or let the autopilot take over.

At this point, the skysphere concept is still largely a mystery. But it will certainly speak to the challenges and opportunities facing the folks who’ll design the next generation of personal transport. Because in the next few decades, the rulebook that’s defined car design is going to be thrown out the window, and we’re all going to get a chance to see what engineers and artisans can do with a truly clean sheet design.

Check out the video to for more about the philosophy behind this concept — and stay tuned for the reveal next month!

Photos: Audi

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