When chief designer Marc Lichte was supposed to present his ideas to the executive floor of the VW Group, he got the green light for his Grandsphere: “Audi was always successful when you were brave,” was the reaction of VW boss Herbert Diess.
At the IAA 2021, the Grandsphere is now showing what the Audi A8 could look like in the future. Despite its remarkably modern appearance, the Grandsphere is said to be relatively close to series production: Marc Lichte estimates that it is 75 to 80 percent ready for series production.
With a length of 5.35 meters and a wheelbase of 3.19 meters, the Grandsphere has remarkable dimensions and breaks with several conventions at the same time: Not much is left of the mighty radiator hood, which was once a status symbol for powerful engines, on the Grandsphere. “The hood is radically short. The shortest I’ve ever designed,” says Marc Lichte.
The silhouette of the concept car is also clearly different from the classic notchback A8. Instead, it looks more like a GT, but here, too, the impression is deceptive. The Audi Grandsphere is basically a van with lots of space. An elegant vehicle, more glider than fortress. Tricks such as the widely flared side windows, which abruptly taper inwards towards the roof, and the striking rear spoiler result in very good aerodynamics, which translates into a plus in range.
The technical data of the Audi Grandsphere
- 5.35 meters in length
- 3.19 meter wheelbase
- 750 km range
- 120 kilowatt hour battery
- 721 hp total power
- 930 Newton meters of torque
Thanks to a large 120-kilowatt hour battery, the range should be more than 750 kilometers. The Audi engineers are currently still using 800-volt technology for charging, but there will still be a lot of water flowing down the Danube by the end of 2024. The Audi Grandsphere has enough power. This comes from two electric motors with a total output of 530 kW / 721 hp, a torque of 930 Newton meters and a top speed of over 200 km/h.