It is under the name of Grand Sphère and under the guise of a concept car that the successor to the Audi A8 will appear at the Munich Motor Show next September. Gone are the days of the traditional three-box limousine with a combustion engine, with electrics everything is turned upside down inside and out.
[Mis à jour le 24/08/2021] The presentation of Audi’s second “Sphere” concept is fast approaching. On its Twitter account, the manufacturer announces that the Grand Sphere will be officially unveiled on September 2. A photo taken from above the model gives a glimpse of a minimalist interior. Audi also announces that we must prepare “to live a high-end future. The next chapter in progress is about to make a grand entrance“.
Get ready to experience a high-class future. The next chapter in a story of progress is about to make a grand entrance.Discover more at https://t.co/1ZpujRld6I.#FutureIsAnAttitude #Audi #AudiGrandsphereConcept#concept #emobility pic.twitter.com/HrUhzp0F07
– Audi (@AudiOfficial) August 23, 2021
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We told you about it at the beginning of July, Audi will present no less than three concept cars in the coming months. uAfter the Sky sphere exhibited at Pebble Beach (California), it will be u turn of the Grand Sphere on the occasion of the Munich Motor Show, from September 7 to 12, 2021. As for the Urban Sphere, it will still have to wait a few months.
TO READ. Audi Artemis. Three concepts expected at the Munich 2021 show
Audi Grand Sphere: at the top of the range
Let’s take a special look at the latter. We had the opportunity to talk about it with the design managers of the ring brand: Philipp Römers for the exterior styling and Norbert Weber for the interior design, both working under the leadership of Marc Lichte.
The Audi Grand Sphere concept, will give birth to a production vehicle which will position itself at the top of the range in 2025. A date on which, the Audi A8 limousine launched in 2017 and whose restyling is imminent should bow out.
“It will then be a change of course at Audi, with a 100% electric flagship and equipped with level 4 autonomous driving.“
The first teaser images that were shown to us during a digital conference show an imposing vehicle organized like a rolling lounge for four passengers. Moreover, the photos taken carefully in the half-light illustrate the interior of the car more than they highlight its sculpted dress to optimize the aerodynamics and therefore the autonomy of the batteries.
TO READ. Audi A8 restyled (2021). The large sedan already illustrated
Machine back on autonomous driving?
Philipp Römers drew a parallel with the Audi Aicon concept unveiled in September 2017 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The latter was, at the time, equipped with a total autonomous driving (level 5) and precisely for this reason was devoid of steering wheel. An arrangement that caused debate and it is a pitfall that the Audi Grand Sphère concept did not want which, with its level 4 autonomous driving, offers a retractable steering wheel in the dashboard. An Audi can be driven!
We note that the rear seats of the Audi Grand Sphere will benefit from a wide access via doors with antagonistic opening and that a central console with a floral arrangement will offer a luxurious minibar. Drinking or driving, the question no longer arises when the vehicle automatically brings you home. Two years later the Mercedes Vision EQS concept car, which has since become the production Mercedes EQS, Audi makes it clear that it will also take the turn of electrified luxury for the flagship of its range. A page turns.
TO READ. Audi A8. A threatened species. Back on a saga!
