Audi to unveil autonomous EV sedan concept it likens to “first class flight”

Audi has given a sneak preview of the second of its three “sphere” concept vehicles, the Grandsphere, a luxury electric sedan with Level 4 autonomy which means “the front seats become a first class lounge”.

Measuring in at 5.35-metres in length, the Grandsphere is the second of three “sphere” concept vehicles Audi is planning to unveil this week, following the Skysphere which the company unveiled in August.

Unlike the open electric roadster concept Skysphere, which was styled in recognition of the Horch 853 roadster – a favourite of Nazi Luftwaffe chief Hermann Göring – the Grandsphere is a more traditional sedan, with a long sloping front that is dominated by the mammoth windshield which projects far forward as the foremost limit of the large interior.

The stylishly designed interior does away with a steering wheel and pedals and places passengers into a first class level of luxury which harkens to first class flying. Designed as a concept and not as a production vehicle, the Grandsphere is able to focus on the promise of Level 4 autonomy.

“Like a first class flight, the 5.35 m (17.6 ft.) long grandsphere sedan combines the luxury of private travel in the greatest of comfort with a comprehensive onboard experience offering,” it begins in a hyperbole-laden press release.

Freeing the driver “from the tasks of driving whenever possible,” the Grandsphere would allow its passengers to “use that freedom for individually variable experiences: communication or relaxation, work or withdrawal into a private sphere as desired.”

The passenger is greeted by a complete lack of screens and dial instruments, all of which only become visible as projections on the wooden surface under the windshield when seated.

Instead, woods, textile fabrics, metals, and wool present a high-quality interior that is pleasant to the touch, from wall cladding to seat covering and carpeting.

A steering wheel can be included if the car is driven by a human, but can also be entirely removed, with no obvious connection point if and when autonomous driving is enabled.

Unlike some concept vehicles, which don’t bother to make a feature of the powertrain, the Grandsphere is based on the Premium Platform Electric, or PPE, designed exclusively for battery electric vehicles. A 120kWh battery powers two electric motors capable of delivering a total output of 530kW and torque of 960Nm.

Recharging using an 800-volt charging technology, the battery can be charged with up to 270kW at fast-charging stations, with 10 minutes enough to add more than 300-kilometres. Meanwhile, in less than 25-minutes, the 120kWh battery can be charged from 5% to 80%.

Total range for the Grandsphere is billed at over 750-kilometres depending on the selected drive system and power output and is able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just over 4 seconds.

A 23-minute unveiling video gives an even closer look at the Grandsphere, which will be of particular interest to car lovers interested in the design process involved at Audi.