Audi's Activesphere concept is part pickup truck, part sexy GT

Audi has managed to combine elements of various car models in the fourth and final installment of its Sphere concept car series.

The new Audi Activesphere concept, unveiled Thursday, is a crossover with a coupe-like body and an integrated bed and tailgate at the rear.

The concept is designed for an active lifestyle and thus features high ground clearance and underbody protection for rough roads.

Take away some of the off-road gear and the Activ Sphere's sleek fastback profile would make it a sexy next-generation A7. The Activesphere's 196-inch overall length is the same as the current A7, so this may not seem so far-fetched.

A standout element of the design is the clear glass front section, which includes windows in the shape of Audi's traditional grille. By clearing this area, occupants have an unobstructed view of the road ahead through the front trunk.

Occupants also have headsets that provide an augmented reality experience. The headset shows the wearer the real environment and overlays additional information in 3D graphics. Since the driver is provided with primarily driving-related information, the composition of the information is different for the driver and the occupants. The wearer can also interact with the information displayed on the headset by operating the touch-sensitive area of the cabin.

The Active Sphere joins the existing Glan Sphere, Sky Sphere, and Urban Sphere concepts. Other body styles include a fastback sedan, sports car, and minivan.

All concepts are EVs based on the Volkswagen Group's PPE platform, which Audi will first use in the new compact crossover Q6 E-Tron due in 2023 or early next year. for the Activesphere, The platform features a 100kwh battery and charging capabilities of up to 270kw. According to Audi, a 5-80% charge takes about 25 minutes.

The Sphere concept also features an automatic driving function, allowing the driver to either drive or sit back and relax while the vehicle is in motion; in the Activesphere, the dashboard, steering wheel, and pedals all fold down when the vehicle enters automatic driving mode.

Sphygne's Sphinx is a "spherical" vehicle.

The Sphere concept was developed by Artemis, Audi's skunkworks team established in 2020 to accelerate vehicle development in order to compete with more agile startups in the EV race. Artemis' responsibilities were significantly reduced in 2021, but at least one of the vehicles it was developing is expected to reach production around mid-decade. That car is expected to be a production version of the Gransphere, the rumored successor to the A8, but given the current crossover boom, the Active Sphere may get the white feather.