Award Banner
Award Banner

Audi's latest concept car is an EV coupe that doubles as a pickup truck

Audi's latest concept car is an EV coupe that doubles as a pickup truck
PHOTO: Carbuyer

INGOLSTADT, GERMANY - Audi’s ‘sphere’ series of design concepts has just gained a fourth one to the series. The first three that were shown to the public over the last two years were the luxurious and sporty grand sphere and sky sphere, along with the urban sphere MPV concept. Now the active sphere has been released as a concept study.

Audi is quick to add that while these designs are still in the concept stage, thay are also serious studies of what will, and won’t, work with the public and the brand’s fans. They are essentially design testbeds for the next generation of Audi EVs.

PHOTO: CarBuyer

The active sphere is a crossover coupe with a high ground clearance, 22-inch wheels, and electric quattro all-wheel drive. The big design feature that Audi is playing up is how the sport back rear, which is Audi-speak for the hatchback, can be turned into an open cargo bed at the touch of a button. Then it becomes the ‘active back’ because it’s Audi-speak once again. 

Think it’s a revolutionary idea? Not at all. Nissan had a car with a similar idea in series production between 1986 and 1990. The Nissan Exa N13, or Nissan Pulsar NX as it was known in America, was made during the height of popularity of Japanese two-door sports coupes. However, to our loss, this model was never officially available in Singapore.

The Nissan Exa from 1986, goes from coupe to targa-topped pickup too.
PHOTO: CarBuyer

It could convert from a coupe to a pickup and even a wagon, if you have the required rear hatch parts, a place to store them, and a bunch of friends to help you fit them on and off. It was a cool idea with the car selling very well in Australia and America, while doing moderate business in Japan.

The Nissan Exa N13 in coupe form.
PHOTO: CarBuyer

But the Audi activesphere is a car for the EV generation, conceived and designed at the Audi Design Studio in Malibu. Studio manager Gael Buzyn and his team were the creative minds behind the activesphere. He described the idea as being, “a new type of crossover that cleverly combines the elegance of an Audi Sportback, the practicality of a SUV and true offroad capabilities.”

ALSO READ: Audi debuts the all-new e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT in Singapore

Measuring 4.98 metres long, it has been designed to use a fully electric drivetrain and quick-charging technology from Audi’s PPE modular system. It is capable of covering more than 600 km on a single charge and uses 800-volt charging technology.

Electric motors on the front and rear axles deliver a total output of 325 kW, or 435 horsepower, and a system torque of 720Nm.

 

PHOTO: CarBuyer

A wheelbase of 2.97 metres provides lots of legroom for passengers. The front and rear overhangs are correspondingly short for a much more compact impression and better offroading capability. The concept study is designed to use 285/55 tyres that are voluminous enough for all types of terrain, and the wheels feature movable segments: when used off-road, they open for ventilation, and they close on-road for optimum aerodynamics. 

Glass surfaces make up a significant part of the vehicle’s body. It’s apparent from Audi’s current E-Tron cars that the carmaker is really into using glass everywhere, but you have to remember that glass is heavy and expensive to replace after an accident. 

PHOTO: CarBuyer

Still, this is a concept study and Audi can do anything it wants, which is why there are glass surfaces on the side in the lower door area of the activesphere. The wide, curved tailgate features extensive glazing and even the roof itself is transparent, letting plenty of daylight into the interior.

The 
Audi activesphere’s ground clearance is variable. It can be increased by 40mm from the basic height of 208mm, or lowered by the same amount when driving on-road. 

PHOTO: CarBuyer

As with the Audi grand sphere concept, the doors of the Audi active sphere are attached to the A- and C-pillars at the front and rear, and open in opposite directions; there is no B-pillar here either. This means the entire interior space opens up to passengers as soon as they get into the car. Once again it’s not an entirely new idea. In recent years the use of such door arrangements has been a Mazda hallmark, with the Mazda MX-30 launched in 2019 and the older Mazda RX-8 coupe featuring similar door designs. 

PHOTO: CarBuyer

Audi claims that the active sphere concept is a master of metamorphosis. Unlike the Nissan Exa of old, the Audi Active sphere converts with electric motors. The transparent rear window slides almost flush with the roof of the Audi active sphere and the lower, vertical segment of the rear folds horizontally. This opens up a cargo bed called the active back with brackets for e-bikes and the like. 

PHOTO: CarBuyer

The lateral surfaces of the rear, the C-pillars, remain in position to maintain the activesphere’s dynamic silhouette, whilst a motorised bulkhead deploys from behind the rear seats in order to isolate the cabin from the elements.

Like Audi’s other ‘sphere’ concepts, the activesphere is unlikely to see production in its current form, but is almost certainly a design language study for its future crossover SUV EVs. 

This article was first published in CarBuyer.

homepage

trending

trending
    $320m crypto heist suspect: How a Choa Chu Kang student went from gaming to a life of luxury
    Man to be charged for abusing airline staff and kicking wall at Changi Airport over lost phone
    Long delays at Woodlands checkpoint: Over 2-hour wait as school holidays start
    Tay Ping Hui says acting in China was a 'super humbling experience'
    From serving passengers to taking flight: How an ex-SIA flight attendant fulfilled her dream of becoming a pilot
    Rain holds surprise performance in Singapore, feasts on crab afterwards
    'Spectacular sight': SM Lee shares stunning photo of rare sun halo over Singapore
    SM Lee unveils future improvements in Ang Mo Kio, calls for residents' continued support
    Elderly man dies after falling in bus, family appealing for witnesses
    'They deserve an award': Pre-school teachers hailed for carrying children to safety amid Punggol fire
    Keep off the tracks: SMRT issues warning after man climbed over barriers at Boon Lay MRT station to retrieve phone
    This newly MOP-ed 4-room HDB flat at Bidadari sets new record with almost $800k profit

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'Deliberately confrontational': Shanmugam calls out activists for disrupting PAP's meet-the-people sessions
    • Ex-Kinderland teacher gets jail for abusing children in her care
    • GE2025: 5 hot wards to watch
    • Suspected gang boss, who ran gambling dens in Geylang, arrested in Malaysia after 4 years on the run
    • At least $1.7m lost in Singapore to scammers using insurance policies as bait
    • 'If I open this door, what is behind it?' How Coast Guard responded to illegal boarding of tanker in Singapore Strait
    • Mediation by senior establishment figures led to CDL truce, sources say
    • Daily roundup: 5 hot wards to watch in GE2025 — and other top stories today
    • Bus driver, 62, dies after accident involving lorry at Outram Road
    • 4 Dutch crewmen plead guilty for causing Singapore's worst oil spill in 10 years

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Ya Hui toughs it out in new job as creative director: 'I'm not a flower you need to take care of'
    • Kim Soo-hyun admits to dating late Kim Sae-ron, refutes allegations she was underaged
    • 'Here's to new beginnings': Kiki Lim leaves Mediacorp after 5 years
    • 'Where am I supposed to say I'm from?' Jackson Wang addresses controversial clip of him saying 'I'm Chinese'
    • Ellen Pompeo says she won't let her daughter watch Grey's Anatomy
    • 'It's watered down': Will.i.am says TikTok has changed the music industry
    • Jonathan Majors reveals he was 'sexually abused by men and women' since age 9
    • 'I felt this raw nerve on display': Johnny Depp recalls being 'freaked out' by fame
    • 'It's funny, teaching him how to do laundry': Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin's fiancee
    • Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to new indictment as trial nears

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • 2 Singapore pizzerias earn spots on 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2025 list
    • Luckin Coffee launches Maltese-themed drinks and limited-edition merchandise as part of collaboration
    • 23 local attractions offering SG60 deals, here's what Singaporeans can enjoy
    • Hunt the Mouse is back, with $100k worth of coins hidden at Sentosa waiting to be found
    • All-new Skoda Superb Combi unveiled
    • The truth about dual-key living in Singapore: What 3 homeowners want you to know
    • Toyota Camry review: A classic nameplate that vastly amps up the luxury and fun factor
    • Dear teachers, I owe you an apology: Lessons I learnt as a parent
    • Neta X review: Affordable Chinese EV with more than a few flaws
    • Touring Lucky View: Freehold landed homes from $5m in the east

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign
    • Meet the women powering innovation in tech in Singapore and beyond
    • Games in March: JRPGs, co-op games and wrestling
    • Australia fines Telegram for delay in answering child abuse, terror questions
    • Embracing the future: A personal guide to how to get started with artificial intelligence

Money

Money
    • Amid AI push, DBS to cut 4,000 temp jobs over next 3 years
    • Singapore's economy grew 4.4% in 2024, beating forecasts
    • DBS to give staff $1,000 special bonus, introduce capital return dividend
    • Travel insurance for infectious diseases: What you need to know (2025)
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (March 2025): Lady Gaga concert presale, up to 50% off flights and more
    • How high will Singapore property prices get in 2025? Here's what AI predicts
    • Before you say 'I do' to a home: The checklist every newlywed couple needs in Singapore
    • Are older HDB maisonettes and jumbo flats worth the premium? A deep dive into pricing trends
    • Chocolate Finance imposes $250 spending limit on debit card to manage demand for miles rewards
    • Trump threatens further tariffs as EU, Canada retaliate for those already in place

Latest

Latest
  • Chinese training fighter jet pilot parachutes to safety after crash, PLA Navy says
  • Judge temporarily blocks Trump's use of wartime powers to target Venezuelan gang members
  • Peru fisherman lost for 95 days in Pacific Ocean returns home
  • Improving Pope reduces use of ventilation for oxygen, Vatican says
  • US to pay El Salvador to jail 300 alleged gang members, AP reports
  • Angry Canadians get their 'elbows up' in face of Trump threats
  • Pope Francis, showing plans to stay on, starts new Catholic reform process
  • Massive rallies across South Korea ahead of key ruling on impeachment of Yoon
  • Australia's New South Wales sweats through heatwave, faces 'extreme' bushfire risk

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Malaysian woman stunned to find car trapped among diners after car park turns into outdoor eatery at night
  • Johor invests $1.5b in water treatment infrastructure to reduce dependency on Singapore after 2030
  • Ceiling collapses at KSL City Mall in JB, viral videos show
  • Food poisoning outbreak: 187 cases linked to Total Defence Day ready-to-eat meals, probe underway
  • Blazing car on Nicoll Highway: 1 dies, 2 taken to hospital
  • FairPrice giving away 75,000 sets of snacks and drinks to Muslim customers to break fast
  • Disabled Malaysian boy seen 'walking' with hands in school gets walkers from kind donors after TikTok video went viral
  • CDL's Kwek Leng Beng seeks to fire son Sherman as CEO over alleged 'attempted coup'
  • 10-year-old girl hurt by pebbles thrown from condo's 11th storey by toddler
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.