Audi is touting its latest Grandsphere idea automotive as a “non-public jet for the highway.” Whereas the car cannot fly, the German automaker mentioned it designed the electrical automotive with such luxurious non-public journey in thoughts.

Particularly, the inside of the car is designed to have the ability to rework right into a “first-class lounge” when the automotive is in self-driving mode, together with a steering column that stows away for more room for the motive force and entrance passenger.

The idea automotive represents what the Volkswagen-owned model believes it may obtain, because it pivots to electrical and autonomous autos, in response to firm officers. Audi plans to solely supply EVs by 2033 after the final of its new autos with a gas-powered engine is launched in 2026.

“It’s the way forward for Audi,” Hildegard Wortmann, head of Audi’s gross sales and advertising, mentioned Thursday throughout the automotive’s on-line unveiling. “We’re on the daybreak of a brand new period of mobility.”

To be clear, no car being bought in the present day is self-driving. All present driver-assist methods nonetheless require drivers to concentrate, however the Audi idea is designed to function autonomously with out driver supervision.

The Grandsphere is the second of three such idea autos. The primary, known as Skysphere, was unveiled final month as a efficiency roadster that blended Batmobile-like applied sciences with aggressive design and luxurious facilities.

Whereas the 2 vehicles share some exterior design traits, the Grandsphere is much less sinister-looking and encompasses a far cleaner and extra luxurious inside, which was a foremost focus for Audi with the automotive.

“It is not nearly driving,” Henrik Wenders, head of Audi, mentioned throughout the automotive’s unveiling. “Because of digitalization, it is about experiences — private, immersive and fully human-centric.”

Probably probably the most shocking factor concerning the car is that there aren’t any apparent screens within the cabin whereas in self-driving mode. As an alternative, every part that will usually be communicated through an infotainment system and extra, together with films, are projected onto the car’s picket instrument panel below the windshield.

Whereas a number of the car’s debut included computer-generated pictures, an Audi spokesman mentioned the car is actual. It is going to be on show on the Munich Motor Present subsequent week.

The time period “sphere” within the names of the idea vehicles is supposed to represent the inside area of the autos for drivers and passengers, in response to Audi. The third idea, known as the Urbansphere, is scheduled to be unveiled within the first half of 2022.