Audi's new EV concept takes a completely different approach to the term "convertible"

The new Sky Sphere may look like a traditional convertible roadster, but the wheelbase can be extended to make it a grand tourer At the push of a button, the front of the Sky Sphere extends and retracts 98 inches and lowers 04 inches Basically, it is the closest thing to a Transformer that man could create

The Sky Sphere seems to have been inspired by the 1931 Audi Horch 853 That is, it follows the design of a low-slung roadster with a protruding hood and roomy cabin However, it also has a much more modern look than the Horch, which gives the impression of being a car of its time

Similarly, since this is an EV, the internal combustion engine is gone in favor of a 623 hp motor and 80 kWh battery According to Audi, torque is 553 ft lbs and 0-60 acceleration is only 4 seconds The range, based on the WLTP test cycle, is 310 miles

Inside, Audi aimed for a cabin reminiscent of 1930s Art Deco design, but with the convenience of modern electronics Level 4 autonomy is included, where the car drives itself as much as the infrastructure allows

It is also designed to provide a luxurious experience, allowing the Sky Sphere to relax and unwind when it is driving itself In addition, there is even space for custom-made luggage and two sets of golf clubs

Of course, there are many reasons why the Sky Sphere is a concept, and Level 4 autonomy is only part of it After all, Level 3 autonomous vehicles are not yet on the road, and Level 4 is still quite a ways off

The transforming nature of the Sky Sphere, while incredible, is not particularly realistic The car has a mechanism that literally moves the car forward and backward to convert it from GT mode to roadster mode Not to mention the need to activate active aerodynamics to increase downforce [The steering wheel, dashboard, and pedals all move forward, while the passenger seat moves backward

All in all, there are a lot of things that need to move and may not work One day a car like this may appear, but for the time being it will remain in the realm of "a concept I want but can't get" One can only hope that some of these features will actually make it into production vehicles

However, Audi is not done dreaming just yet, and we can expect to see two more concept cars in the coming months, the Grand Sphere and the Urban Sphere Details are scarce on either, but both are sure to be as outlandish and interesting as the Sky Sphere