--- title: "Audi Electric Car Concept Changes Entire Shape at the Touch of a Button" description: "German automaker Audi's latest \"skysphere concept\" can transform itself from a two-seater sports car into a steering wheel-less, self-driving living room on wheels" date: "2021-08-12" modified: "2021-08-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/audi-concept-change-shape" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "audi" - "concept car" - "the digest" --- # Audi Electric Car Concept Changes Entire Shape at the Touch of a Button ![German automaker Audi's latest "skysphere concept" can transform itself from a two-seater sports car into a steering wheel-less, self-driving living room on wheels]() *\Image: Audi\* ## Skysphere German automaker Audi's [latest "skysphere concept]()" can transform itself from a two-seater sports car into a self-driving living room on wheels — a transformation that causes the entire vehicle to shrink by almost ten inches. The roadster — which, to be clear, doesn't exist yet beyond some striking renders — makes no compromises. Audi is attempting to envision a driverless future in which the passenger still has the option of taking control if they feel like it. ## Grand Touring Mode The concept's "Sports" mode is what you'd expect from a contemporary electric sports car — a sleek roadster with plenty of oomph. But once a special button is pressed, the roadster extends by 25 centimeters to enter "Grand Touring" driving mode. Both the steering wheel and pedals swivel "into an invisible position and thereby completely removed from the interior," according to a [press release](). The result: a platform all about "freedom" and relaxation, according to Audi, allowing passengers to "interact with the Internet" (read: watch Netflix). The concept also packs a total of 465 kilowatts of power, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just four seconds. It has a theoretical range of over 311 miles. It's a gorgeous design, worthy of a future where we have the choice between ripping down a country road while gripping the steering wheel — or catching up with the latest TV shows during a particularly boring morning commute. The key challenge? Engineers will need to build self-driving cars that can [actually drive themselves]() first. **READ MORE:** [This electric Audi skysphere roadster concept is a Transformer]() \[*Top Gear*\] **More on Audi:** *[Audi’s New Headlights Can Project Images Like a Movie Theater]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()