Tag Archives: Audi

Could a Luxury Car Brand like Audi get into Fitness Equipment?

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Luxury car brands don’t sell transportation… they sell a lifestyle, so what if you carried that idea to any other category? Designer Qingsheng Meng asked themself the same question, wondering what would happen if you took a luxury car brand like Audi’s DNA and applied it to another category, for example, exercise equipment. Sure, it sounds odd on the face of it, but Bose makes speakers and truck seats. Yamaha makes motorcycles and pianos… so why couldn’t Audi make a stationary exercise bike? After all, the company already builds electric bicycles, so the transition seems like a natural one. Meet the Audi Smart Spinning Bike, an exercise bike built with Audi’s luxury automotive DNA. After all, luxury car brands sell a lifestyle – why not a healthy one?

Designer: Qingsheng Meng

The Audi Smart Spinning Bike concept carries the company’s automotive aesthetic to home workout equipment. This translates to clean surfaces, chiseled forms, a forward-leaning stance that indicates speed, and a gorgeous matte black and silver colorway that adds to the bike’s appeal. “Different from traditional spinning bikes, this product intelligentizes traditional spinning bikes,” says Meng, the China-based designer responsible for the Audi Smart Spinning Bike concept. “At the same time, it uses simple styling techniques to draw lessons from Audi’s design language, emphasizing Audi’s intelligent and simple brand attributes, and is in line with the market.”

The spin-bike is different from Peloton or any of the other stationary bikes you’d otherwise see. It looks different, feels much more advanced, and comes with features that set it in a class apart. The bike sports an adjustable frame, that lets you manipulate the seat distance, height, or even handlebar heights with the simple push of a button. A dashboard gives you a comprehensive breakdown of your workout, and the energy that you put into the exercise doesn’t go to waste. It charges the e-bike as well as a detachable power bank that sits underneath the dashboard, giving you actual battery power that you can then use to charge your smartphone or other devices around the house.

The handlebars facilitate a sturdy grip while cycling, and a touchscreen LCD dashboard lets you brows through your workout stats, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of how long you cycled, how many calories you burned, your cadence, cardio, etc. The dashboard also lets you choose difficulty settings before each workout. Meanwhile, your exercise doesn’t go in vain – the muscular energy you exert during cycling gets converted into kinetic energy, which then gets stored as electrical energy in a battery pack attached to the base of the handlebars.

With the ability to hold as many as two battery packs, the Audi Smart Spinning Bike gives you impetus to exercise, also allowing you to measure your workout in a unique way. You can compare a single exercise session to literal milli-amp hours, understanding how much physical exertion you’d need to charge your entire smartphone from 0 to 100! Sounds fun, doesn’t it??

It’s precisely that fun that helps the Audi Smart Spinning Bike stand apart from other stationery bikes, that just provide you with ‘exercise’. Quite like how Audi cars are fun to ride and immerse you in the luxurious thrill of style and speed, the spin bike helps elevate your workout to another level, giving you the kind of workout you could only experience from a state-of-the-art bike designed by one of the world’s leading automotive marques!

The post Could a Luxury Car Brand like Audi get into Fitness Equipment? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Molding the Future: The Design Journey of the Audi RS 6 Avant GT

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In the heart of Audi’s creative forge, a groundbreaking project unfolded, marking a blend of heritage and innovation. The Audi RS 6 Avant GT is a canvas where past and future collide. This design journey began with a visionary apprentice project: the 2020 RS 6 GTO concept. In this project, a dozen apprentices from various disciplines, from bodywork to automotive mechanics, painting, and tooling mechanics, brought their dreams to life under the guidance of Audi Design.

Designer: Juergen Loeffler, Exterior Designer at Audi

Drawing deep from the well of history, these young talents channeled the indomitable spirit of the 1989 Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car. Their six-month journey was more than an exercise in automotive design; it was a dialogue between eras, a reimagining of what a car could embody.

The Audi RS 6 Avant GT emerges as a sculptural masterpiece, distinct in its lineage yet boldly forward-looking. Its design language speaks of power and grace, with a front visage that commands attention. The high-gloss black Singleframe and menacing air intakes sculpt a lower and wider facade, a homage to its racing DNA. The introduction of vertical blades, a new intake grille, and a front splitter crafted into the bumper sharpens its predatory stance.

Audi Sport ventures into new territories with a carbon fiber redesigned hood, underscoring the unique identity of the RS 6 Avant GT. This hood is more than just a part; it’s a standout feature, accentuated by the body color, making the carbon weave a spectacle. The air outlets behind the 22-inch wheels intelligently combine aesthetics with aerodynamics.

The car’s side features carbon fiber fenders housing the wheels, showcasing Audi’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship. The side profile is accentuated with glossy carbon inserts and mirrors alongside the bespoke 6-spoke wheels, exclusive to this model.

At the rear, the RS 6 Avant GT wears its “RS 6 GT” lettering like a badge of honor, complemented by a tailgate that seamlessly blends into the car’s silhouette, a functional diffuser, and a motorsport-inspired double wing, directly influenced by the apprentices’ concept.

For the first time, the RS 6 Avant sees its roof rails omitted, crafting a sleeker, more streamlined profile that whispers speed even in stillness.

The palette of options for the RS 6 Avant GT is a tribute to Audi Sport’s heritage, offering decals in striking color schemes that echo the brand’s racing legacy. Whether it’s the stark contrast of Arkona White against the vibrant decals or the subdued elegance of Nardo grey or Mythos black, each choice is a statement of individuality.

Inside, the RS 6 Avant GT is a model of simplicity, where the RS design package is the main feature. Black interiors are punctuated with red and copper accents, creating a vibrant tapestry of colors that dance across the steering wheel, center console, and the luxurious RS bucket seats. The meticulous stitching in Express Red and Copper weaves a narrative of attention to detail and craftsmanship.

The use of Dinamica microfiber throughout the cabin, from the armrests to the dashboard, elevates the tactile experience, offering a glimpse into the future of luxury materials. The optional open-pore carbon twill inlays add another layer of depth, bringing the exterior’s carbon motif inside.

Each RS 6 Avant GT is a piece of history, marked by its unique serial number in a limited series of 660, a reminder of the exclusivity and passion that drives Audi’s design ethos.

The RS 6 Avant GT is not just a car but a symbol of youthful creativity and a bridge between generations. It represents both Audi’s design legacy and its future. More than just being built, the RS 6 Avant GT is crafted. Each line, curve, and stitch tells a story of innovation, heritage, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

The RS 6 Avant GT ramps up the performance with a power output of 463 kW (630 PS) and torque of 850 Nm, marking an increase of 22 kW (30 PS) and 50 Nm over the base RS 6 Avant model. This allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.3 seconds, 0.3 seconds quicker than the base model, and reach 200 km/h in 11.5 seconds, 1.5 seconds faster. The top speed is capped at 305 km/h (190mph). The car comes standard with RS ceramic brakes for effective deceleration.

Power from the 4.0 TFSI engine is delivered through an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox to the quattro all-wheel-drive system, featuring an optimized center differential that improves handling and reduces understeer by adjusting the torque distribution between the front and rear axles as needed.

The RS 6 Avant GT also gets a specially tuned quattro sport differential for the rear axle, enhancing agility and precision, especially in dynamic driving mode. It comes standard with adjustable coilover suspension, lowering the ride height by ten millimeters compared to the base model and balancing dynamic driving and comfort. The suspension setup includes higher spring rates, triple-adjustable dampers, and stiffer stabilizers to reduce body roll and enhance driving enjoyment. Customers can choose between this setup, the RS sport suspension plus Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), or the RS adaptive air suspension.

The post Molding the Future: The Design Journey of the Audi RS 6 Avant GT first appeared on Yanko Design.

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron Review

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PROS:


  • Engaging handling

  • Comfort seating

  • Plenty of storage

CONS:


  • Range still a bit short

  • No hands-off tech

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

A refresh that moves Audi's E-Tron forward in all the right directions.

As far as EVs go, the E-Tron has been around long enough to have seen a few things. Debuting back in 2018, Audi’s first battery-powered ride was a great car in many ways, but it also felt lacking in others. Most notably, its range was on the middling side and its handling made it a pleasant drive but far from a memorable one. Finally, there was the name: E-Tron. It just didn’t really fit in with anything Audi had done before or since.

For 2024, it’s back, and now it’s called the Q8 E-Tron. Despite the new name, now fitting squarely within Audi’s model taxonomy, this is actually a subtle refresh. It’s so subtle that you’d be forgiven for not being able to identify the new car from the old were they sitting side-by-side. But, after having driven both quite extensively, I’m happy to say it’s a refresh that moves the car forward in all the right directions — though perhaps not far enough in some.

By the numbers

The Q8 E-Tron is, like before, a five-passenger SUV that, to my eye, looks more like a tall station wagon. Its height of 64.3 inches splits the difference quite handily between the regular Q8 SUV and the A8 sedan, so it really is its own thing.

It’s available in three trims, with starting prices in the U.S. just under $75,000 on the low end and $85,000 on the high end. The car tested here is a Prestige trim with just a few options added.

It has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system offering a total system output of 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque. The range from the new and larger 114-kilowatt-hour battery is 285 miles per the EPA, while the maximum charging rate is 170 kW. In my testing, I didn’t come anywhere near that EPA rating, averaging 2.3 miles per kilowatt hour at best, for an estimated 243 miles from the 106 usable kWh in that new battery.

But don’t hold that against it. I did all my testing in the winter months, and that result is actually quite good given the low temperatures. Even the best EVs hate the cold. In the summer, I have no doubt that drivers will meet or exceed that EPA figure.

More importantly, the Q8 E-Tron did an excellent job of providing accurate, reliable range estimates based on weather conditions and terrain, something that many other EV makes still struggle with.

Deja-Q

Squint, and you’ll hardly be able to tell the difference between the Q8 and the E-Tron that came before. Put on your glasses, and the differences are still easy to miss. The highlights are definitely in the front facia, which is sharper, cleaner, and fresher than before. Revised lighting, too, makes the Q8 E-Tron have a subtly greater presence than before.

New 20-inch wheels also provide more visual intrigue from the side without compromising ride quality too much, but the overall visual aesthetic of the Q8 is still very much an understated one. That’s doubly so, thanks to a decidedly muted selection of colors. The shade you see here, Plasma Blue, is the most dramatic of the bunch, and yet it easily blends into your average parking lot palette.

Even less has changed on the inside, and that doesn’t bother me so much. The original E-Tron’s interior was a standout, and while it’s perhaps a bit familiar now, it still delivers in all the right ways. It also still bears the indentations in the door cars where the digital side-view mirrors would live in the American version of the Q8 E-Tron, were they legal. Five years after the original E-Tron’s launch, they’re still not.

Though mostly dark and dominated by soft-touch rubbers and plenty of harder, harsher stuff, the look is clean, and everything feels durable. The slash of open-pore wood across the dash, though desaturated and still not providing much visual flare, does at least add some organic appeal to what would otherwise be too cold a space. (Brown leather is also on offer, as well as off-white.)

The primary interface is a pair of touchscreens stacked vertically. The lower is primarily dedicated to HVAC controls and other features like smart home integration, charging, and toggling hill descent control.

The touchscreen above is the more significant of the two, where the bulk of Audi’s MMI lives and where either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will be wirelessly displayed should you choose to enable it. To the left, there’s Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus, augmented further by a heads-up display.

That’s plenty of displays for sure. Though this version of MMI feels more than a little dated at this point, its voice recognition in particular offering little assistance compared to the more recent offerings from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. That said, it’s quick and easy to use, and the haptic pulse received when selecting touch controls is still a pleasant thing.

Interior comfort

At 193.5 inches long, the Q8 E-Tron is a big car, and it makes use of that volume by offering comfortable seating in the front or the rear. Out back, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, plus a pair of USB-C ports and dedicated controls for rear HVAC, plus heating the rear seats.

Front seats add ventilation, and while the cooling isn’t particularly effective, the heating is certainly the more important part of the equation, and there they do not disappoint. The heated steering wheel, however, could use a few more watts.

Front seats are power-adjustable, with two memory settings, and visibility from the driver’s seat is quite good. The shaping of the A-pillars keeps them from blocking too much of your perspective, while the panoramic sunroof above helps keep things looking lighter and brighter than the dark materials otherwise would.

In practical terms, 28.5 cubic feet of cargo space make for a very livable machine. Fold the split rear seats, which flop down at the pull of a lever at the back of the cargo compartment, and you’re greeted with an expansive 56.4 cubic feet of space. Plenty for the most indulgent of trips to the big-box shops.

The drive

The outgoing E-Tron was pleasant to drive, calm and relaxed, quite nicely composed on the sorts of roads that will try the best of suspension systems. The revised Q8 E-Tron, I’m pleased to say, has lost none of that valuable, though ultimately forgettable demeanor.

What’s added is a surprising amount of engagement. The Q8 E-Tron, when pushed hard and toggled over to Sport mode, is quite fun to drive. No, we’re not coming close to the levels offered even by any member of Audi’s RS family. Still, revised steering and some subtle suspension tweaks help make for a car that’s eager when the road turns away from you.

It’s also eager when that road is straight and narrow. The new Q8 E-Tron feels even quicker than its 402 hp. To get maximum power, you need to be in Sport mode, where the throttle is sharpest. The Q8 E-Tron is genuinely eager, so eager that you’ll only want to deploy that mode when you’re by yourself, lest you threaten the patience — or the stomachs — of anyone else in the car.

They won’t have to worry about getting car sick from excessive regenerative braking, though. Like the old E-Tron, the Q8 doesn’t have much to offer. Tap the left paddle a few times to enable maximum regen, but the maximum is barely any. Audi’s dogged dislike of one-pedal driving continues, which continues to be a shame for any buyer who prefers not to step on the brake pedal so often.

Regarding safety systems, the Q8 E-Tron has a comprehensive stack, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, and a lane departure warning system. It was enough to earn it an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

However, where more and more competitors offer hands-off highway driving, this SUV is still very much in the hands-on mode. Its lane-keep system also got a little confused when approaching exit ramps where the right painted lines split off to make room for the exit, resulting in an occasional, uncomfortable lurch. But the adaptive cruise worked well, always identifying and reacting to traffic early and smoothly.

Options and pricing

The 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron you see here had a starting MSRP of $74,400, while the Prestige package added a further $10,400. Compared to the base Q8 E-Tron, Premium Plus adds on the better Bang & Olufsen sound system, ventilated front seats, and the 360 camera. Prestige steps that up further with a basic massaging system on those seats, which are now wrapped in higher-spec leather, with upgraded matrix lighting up front.

This car also blacked out much of the chrome with the $2,000 Black Optic Package, $400 for additional rear side airbags, and $595 for that Plasma Blue paint. Add on the $1,195 destination charge, and you have a final sticker price of $88,990.

That’s a comprehensively equipped and properly luxurious machine for that money. Really, it’s only the range that’s still a bit light compared to the competition, on par with something like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV’s 279 miles, but short of BMW’s iX, which offers 311 miles for comparable money. But, most buyers will find the E-Tron’s 285 miles plenty enough, and they’ll also find the Q8 to be a comfortable, upscale, and now subtly engaging all-electric SUV.

The post 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron Review first appeared on Yanko Design.

In-Car VR Entertainment Solutions that Promise to Eliminate Motion Sickness

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In-car entertainment is gaining importance given the substantial time people spend in vehicles, whether daily commutes, long-distance trips, or leisure journeys. This time can feel unproductive or monotonous, particularly for passengers. Additionally, extended travel can cause discomfort and motion sickness. Car motion sickness often arises from a mismatch between the motion perceived by the eyes and that sensed by the inner ear. This is particularly common when reading or focusing on a stationary object within a moving vehicle.

Designer: holoride

holoride aims to provide engaging in-car entertainment while addressing the common motion sickness problem. It does this through innovative virtual reality synchronized with the vehicle’s motion. By matching the virtual experiences with the car’s real-world movements, holoride creates a cohesive perception of motion. For example, the virtual environment reflects this movement if the vehicle turns. This helps the brain align visual and sensory inputs, reducing the conflict that often causes motion sickness.

The immersive experience of VR entertainment provided by holoride significantly distracts from the monotony or discomfort of travel. Passengers can immerse themselves in a virtual world that moves in sync with the car, transforming the travel experience into an engaging and enjoyable activity. This is especially beneficial on long journeys, where potential hours of boredom or discomfort can be converted into time spent exploring virtual landscapes, playing games, or engaging in other interactive VR experiences.

I first experienced Holoride’s technology at CES 2019. Audi drove me around the Las Vegas Speedway while I played a special demo created by Disney Games and Interactive Experiences. The experience gave me the impression that holoride was on the verge of revolutionizing in-car entertainment by integrating virtual reality (VR) with the car’s movements. The test system utilized Oculus Rift VR glasses, providing a uniquely immersive experience. The initial trial featured a game developed by Disney Games and Interactive Experiences, “Marvel’s Avengers: Rocket’s Rescue Run,” which I played in a virtual space as the car moved.

holoride’s technology uses the car’s telemetry data to sync the VR experience with real-time car movements, such as turns, acceleration, and braking, creating a seamless blend of the real and virtual worlds. This synchronization helps to minimize motion sickness, a common issue when using VR in a moving vehicle.

One of the exciting features of holoride is its adaptability. The duration of the VR experience can stretch or shrink to match the length of the car journey, making each ride a unique adventure. Beyond just entertainment, it can also offer educational experiences based on the journey’s location.

Though holoride was born within Audi, it’s not exclusive to the automaker and isn’t fully owned by Disney. The plan is to invite additional investors and open the platform to other content creators and automakers. It also has potential for use in autonomous vehicles, and the experience could be enriched by integrating data from the vehicle’s sensors.

In its early stages, holoride aims to enhance the passenger experience, transforming every car ride into a unique adventure. As the platform evolves and attracts more developers, the possibilities for in-car VR experiences are expected to expand significantly.

So, where’s holoride today? holoride, the Munich-based tech company, announced the release of its holoride retrofit device at CES 2023. This product is a compact device that turns any vehicle into a platform for extended reality entertainment. The company recognized as a 2023 CES Innovation Awards honoree, has made its mark in the industry by integrating virtual reality (VR) and real-time vehicle data.

The holoride retrofit device is about the same size as a typical smart speaker. It connects to a VR headset via Bluetooth and uses movement and location data to create adaptive virtual experiences that respond to a vehicle’s movements in real-time. This data-driven approach creates a dynamic experience that helps mitigate motion sickness.

Nils Wollny, CEO and co-founder of holoride said that the retrofit device brings them closer to their goal of making every vehicle a portal into holoride’s immersive world. “Any vehicle can serve as your gateway into holoride’s adaptive virtual experiences where each new ride becomes the blueprint for your next immersive adventure,” Wollny said.

In conjunction with the launch of the retrofit device, holoride also announced an addition to their content library. Subscribers will now have access to a new game, Pixel Ripped 1995: On the Road, from Emmy Award-winning studio ARVORE. The game takes place in a car during a family road trip and is available to all holoride subscribers.

The holoride retrofit device weighs less than half a pound and can be mounted on a vehicle’s windshield. It boasts a 14-hour battery life and can simultaneously connect to two headsets. The device is priced at $199, with a bundle option available for 699€/$, including a HTC VIVE Flow headset, and includes a 3-month holoride subscription and 3-month access to VIVEPORT Infinity Vista.

The post In-Car VR Entertainment Solutions that Promise to Eliminate Motion Sickness first appeared on Yanko Design.

Audi Robosphere is a powerful Cyberpunk world machine curious to break records

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Audi never seizes the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to future automotive trends. Their Sphere concepts, namely – Skysphere, Grandsphere, Activesphere, and Urbansphere being the prime examples. There four shapes of future progression resonate with the brand’s philosophy and for now are limited to the four-wheeler domain.

A concept design wants to break the ice for Audi with a dystopian world concept bike that fits right into the German automotive giant’s scheme of things. Dubbed Audi Robosphere, the presumed limited edition electric motorcycle aims to break the world speed record. Perfectly superimposed with Audi’s current Motorsport endeavor in Formula-E and soon to be in Formula-1, the electric bike is a monster under the hood.

Designer: Andrea Di Matteo

The goal of this project is to take Audi into the zone of record-breaking accolades – courtesy of the limited series of 50 road-legal parts honed by motorcycle mechanics. The target market for the handsome two-wheeled performer, well, the opulent class who don’t fret about taking their machine to the absolute limits.

Andrea has chosen a functional aerodynamic design, flowing from the front wheels to the rear, creating a soothing visual unison. Voluminous styling is dominant here, contrasted by the cool graphics and transparent aesthetics. To optimize the airflow even more, the handlebars are not protruding from the sides, rather they are integrated into the body. Those wide wheels and the geometrically aligned LED headlights to the body frame give off the tell-tale future motorbike character.

This bike has an extremely sporty setup just like you’d have in motocross bikes, but can be toggled for normal riding posture as well. Fork of the Robosphere draws inspiration from the Bimota Tesi 3D which is one impressive Italian art on two wheels. One of the most startling features of this Audi bike is the illuminated rear which doubles as a big headlight. Something that’s never-before-seen on a sprinting machine.

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Ken Block’s drifting nirvana in the one-off electric Audi S1 Hoonitron for “Electrikhana”

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Ken Block has bamboozled me all these years with his millimeter-perfect drifting skills in the unbelievable Gymkhana videos. Now a new breed of Hoonigan branded set of wheels is on the horizon paving the way to the future of electric Gymkhana. Well, according to Ken, “Electrikhana” to be precise.

The one-off Audi S1 Hoonitron bespoke electric drift missile with its skillful master has set the Las Vegas Strip on fire for this jaw-dropping video. This is the first ever factory-crafted Gymkhana vehicle, and that makes it even more special whizzy past under the famous neon lights of Sin City.

Designer: Audi

This Hoonitron costing around $10 million – $12 million looks so similar to the Pikes Peak–dominating Audi Sport Quattro S1 of the 1980s, adding the element of nostalgia to the electrified future of drifting. According to Ken, the new installation of the Gymkhana series is the progressive evolution of the brand. While he loves the roar of a V-8 powertrain and turbo engine, the all-electric platform has enough performance under the belly to eat up three times more tires (around 100 tires) than during normal filming. That’s because of the Group B-inspired EV’s Formula E motors powering each axle. The result is an all-wheel-drive bi-motor setup generating a mind-numbing 4400 pound-feet of torque.

The drifting machine gets four 17.3-kWh lithium-ion battery packs feeding the motors running at 800 V. In the S1 Hoonitron there’s one big advantage as Ken certified – the launch is as simple as thumping the throttle pedal. Compare that to a regular car which has to be put in gear and the rider has to wait for the turbo to set in.

It’s obvious that Ken is loving the huge amount of torque generated by this one-off electric Audi drifter, and yet again, I loved all the tire squealing action with the strange motor whining of the Si Hoonitron in the backdrop!

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Apple supercar concept with a distinct Audi and Lamborghini-inspired design is the EV we absolutely need

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I’m waving my Apple Card at the screen but I can’t seem to get it to take my money.

Meet the Apple iCar, a conceptual automobile from the mind of Ukraine-based Echo Studio. Created as an entry for the Motion Design Contest, the concept explores what it would be like for Apple to launch a high-end electric supercar that stands out even against other EV stalwarts like Tesla and Polestar.

Designer: Echo Studio

We’ve seen a lot of Apple Car concepts over the past couple of years, but nothing quite like this one right here. While other cars were mainly focused on creating automobiles that ‘looked’ like a part of Apple’s product family, the iCar is just a phenomenally designed automobile that happens to have the Apple logo on it. There aren’t any MacBook references, cheesegrater grilles, iPhone notches, or lightning ports. It’s just a great-looking car. Perhaps the “best car Apple has ever made”.

The vehicle has a rather luxurious supercar-inspired appeal to it. I see a little bit of the Audi R8 and the lesser-known Lamborghini Asterion in the iCar. The vehicle has an aggressive, speedy silhouette, a rounded back, and some beautifully designed headlights and taillights. There’s obviously an Apple logo on the front, but each wheel sports some drop-dead gorgeous rims with Apple logos on them too.

A little Porsche, a little Audi, and definitely a little Lamborghini in the way this rear form was sculpted.

Do the rims cost extra? Probably!

For Echo Studio, the Apple iCar was just a part of their broader vision for the Apple experience. Below, the studio even designed the entire car-browsing/shopping experience for the iPhone, allowing you to see it in VR, choose paint colors, and even pick the wheels of your choice.

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This transforming Audi roadster morphs into a Segway-like city commuter

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The number of vehicles on the roads is increasing at a fast pace, and there’s no stopping the menace anytime soon. That’s why much emphasis has been on the personal commuter and shape-shifting vehicles which can cater to the driving and traffic conditions.

Yet another concept from this school of thought is the Audi Vista, designed to go from a full-blown roadster (with no retracting roof, mind you) to a more compact commuter on demand. The latter holds merit for crowded cities and tough parking spots. Even more so, when there’s only a couple navigating around the city in this niche Audi roadster.

Designer: Hyunsik Moon

This transforming electric vehicle makes use of Audi Quattro technology to bring forth these two varying experiences. There are four exposed seats on the Audi Vista for the driver and passengers to enjoy the open views while traveling. This however will not be the preferred mode of transport in inclement weather conditions. Driving input is done via a central console which is as simple as moving one hand for everything right from accelerating to braking. Of course, there’s the autonomous mode tracking to prevent the consequences of any unintended inputs.

In the Segway mode up to two riders can travel in the city in standing mode. So, it’s strictly for short trips to the grocery store or at maximum stretch, an evening skirmish to the outskirts of city limits. The transition from the Roadster mode to the Segway mode takes mere seconds, which is a good option to have when you get stuck amid city accident chaos.

Hyunsik imagines this off-beat design in a bunch of peppy colors to appeal to the next-gen riders, but will it be practical enough for real-life scenarios? Instances when the riders want to have shade above their heads or feel cozy when relentless rain is jarring the cityscape?

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This shape-shifting Audi concept prioritizes lounge themed socializing in autonomous mode

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https://youtu.be/Gk67CsWkA-8

The paradigm shift in the interior design of concept cars is weighting towards lounge theme – presuming there’ll be reliable Level 5 autonomy in half a decade’s time. We’ve seen a number of concept designs embellished in big brand logos (of course not the official ones of course) having spacious and airy interiors, just like a living room.

Most of these concepts or even existing ones themed around the lounge styling leverage the ambient lighting or at most, movable steering panels and seating. This Audi concept takes things even further with exterior and interior going the shape-shifting way minus all those gimmicks. One thing to take note of here is the interior design-inspired stacked panels made from wooden material for airiness and a sustainable feel.

Designer: Yunsik Kim

The car gets two modes – Private and Social – which define the shape the car takes on the inside and outside. In the Private mode, the steering wheel pops out of the dashboard and the driving seat takes precedence. The front grille section and the rear morph into a more aggressive stance for a sports car-like feel while driving. In the Social mode which is fully autonomous, the driving seat recesses back to where the rear seats are situated. The steering completely vanishes into the dashboard housing and wooden panels from the inside come up and align themselves on the front of the interior to create a socializing seating arrangement.

If you notice, most of the exterior and interior are crafted out of interlinked wooden panels that make the shape-shifting action possible. How this concept car would address inclement weather conditions or unwanted gusts of air while in driving mode is still unanswered. After all, the wooden panels won’t create a secure seal to wade off rain, snow, or dust. In the autonomous mode, everything is exposed to the elements. So, you can use the socializing mode in cozy sunshine or pleasant weather conditions only.

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Audi bestows old e-tron batteries with purposeful second life as refurbished e-rikshaw batteries

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Audi has partnered with German-Indian startup Nunam to bring electric rickshaws to the Indian roads courtesy of the automotive giant’s sourced second-life batteries. These batteries will be sourced from the Audi e-tron test vehicles, and will be the perfect example for other EV makers to take a leaf from their book. The Audi Environmental Foundation, Audi AG and Nunam plan to bring three electric rickshaws to the Indian market which is going to boost the employment for women too.

If everything goes to plan the pilot project is going to hit the Indian markets by the early half of 2023. As per Nunam C0-Founder Prodip Chatterjee, typical car batteries have enough power even after their lifecycle, and are fully capable of propelling lower range and power requirement vehicles. He added by saying, “in our second-life project, we reuse batteries from electric cars in electric vehicles; you might call it electric mobility lite.” The focus goal of this project is to create a way for the old batteries to function as second-life power storage systems – thereby making use of resources effectively.

Designer: Audi and Nunam

According to Prodip, the rickshaws are a good point to start as they have an ideal eco-efficiency and are way superior to currently used e-rickshaws in the country. These batteries mostly have lead-acid batteries which don’t have a very good life span. Another silver lining of Audi’s venture is the way these vehicles will be charged. Compared to the public grid which is mostly powered by coal-fired energy, the Nunam’s e-rickshaws employ solar energy for the same task.

The main purpose for the vehicles is going to be intra-city and rural transportation for moderate-weight tasks like ferrying people from one location to the other. For now, the unique concept is going to make an appearance at the 2022 Greentech Festival in Berlin, Germany. Once it lands on the streets of India, the venture will have an impact on the grim air pollution situation in a major metropolis like New Delhi.

Sadly, the autorickshaws currently in operation contribute to the carbon emissions and this emission-free option will loosen the clutches a bit. To make this project a more fruitful adventure, Nunam is sharing its knowledge with industry players to motivate other manufacturers as well.

The post Audi bestows old e-tron batteries with purposeful second life as refurbished e-rikshaw batteries first appeared on Yanko Design.