Audi Activesphere Concept: What Cybertruck could have been

Audi's most recent concept vehicle is a bit of a mixed bag in the space of concept cars. On the one hand, it is by far the most production-like vehicle Audi has issued in this series, despite its futuristic appearance.

However, its brand-new operating system is far superior to anything we have ever seen in an automobile. The AR controls look like they have been taken straight from Star Trek.

Let’s have a look at the car itself before talking about the operating system.

This is one of Audi's best-looking concepts, if not the best. Although the concept of an off-road coupe is neither novel nor ground-breaking, the way it is carried out commands your attention.

Although Porsche was the obvious influence here, or more specifically, Porsche was paying the costs and expecting results, there is some Audi DNA visible in the silhouette.

It is a big car; at 4.98 metres, it isn't a fast coupe that can easily manoeuvre through narrow mountain roads. This coupe is designed to go through extremely difficult off-road roads and has an adjustable height and 22-inch wheels covered in off-road rubber.

Audi is not marketing the Activesphere for everyone, they know the car is for the people who like to do extreme offroad stuff but want to do it in style.

Activesphere has two strategies up its sleeves, or more precisely, up its trunk, to assist with the active lifestyle. Two bicycles can fit inside the cargo bed that is created when the rear glass slides up and the trunk lid retracts. The roof also has a ski rack that can be folded away when not in use.

How far is it from becoming a reality?

The PPE platform, which will be used by both Audi and Porsche for its vehicles, serves as the foundation for the Audi Activespere. One may argue that Activesphere serves as a sneak peek for the next Porsche Tycan and Audi e-tron GT models. Heck, we're probably looking at the Panamera, which is entirely electric. Of course, minus the enormous wheels.

The AR operating system

Though I was really excited when I saw the Augmented Reality operating system in the concepts, it is pretty clear it won’t come into production anytime soon.

It won’t be anything weird to put on glasses before entering the car. It will be similar to the helmet you put on before riding the bike.

It's not as unsettling as you might think to consider driving a car while wearing AR glasses. Similar to when you have to zip up your suit and put on a helmet before getting on a motorcycle, this would feel special and contribute to the moment.

The concern here is safety. AR would not perfectly work with passengers in the car, especially children and pets.

What will be the outcome of this?

The future is revealed by Audi Activespere. The PPE platform, which powers all four wheels with 325 kW electric motors and a 100 kWh battery, is where the true future lies. The Activesphere has 720 Nm of torque, which makes it move like a much smaller car, but its performance isn't spectacular—it actually has less power than the Audi e-tron GT.

The PPE platform can add up to 300 km of charge in just 10 minutes and supports up to 270 kW of DC charging. You can charge the new 100 kWh battery from 5 to 80% in just 25 minutes, if you have that much free time. Again, they are hardly revolutionary figures, but they are good, decent, and presumably reliable ones.

There are a few things to take from this. First off, the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron of the next generation will look fantastic. The second message is that despite Audi's sincere desire, use of AR is not possible because VW technology is used.

Third, future electric vehicles will be more multi-functional, more power-efficient, and will not chase raw power numbers. Waiting for that future is worthwhile. Who really requires that much power? Did someone just say Porsche?