Audi unveils wild new concept that hints at electric A8 sedan

Published

3 years ago

September 3, 2021

admin

Audi has unveiled today its Grandsphere concept, an wicked-looking new concept that hints at the upcoming electric A8 sedan.

Ahead of the IAA show in Munich, Audi has unveiled a new concept vehicle.

While we don’t get too excited about concept electric vehicles here at Electrek, Audi has already made its electrification ambitions clear, and it confirmed that some of what we see in this concept will make it to a future production vehicle:

“As the second of three “sphere” concept cars from the brand with the four rings, the Audi grandsphere has a special place. That is because the technologies and design features assembled in it will turn up again within a few years in future Audi series. The Audi grandsphere concept illustrates the brand’s claim that it is becoming the trendsetter at the top of the automotive industry for technological transformation and completely new, holistic mobility offerings.”

The concept is designed around autonomy, and Audi describes it as “private jet or first class for the road.”

Here are a few images of the exterior of the Audi grandsphere concept:

With the dimensions of 5.35 m (17.6 ft.) long, 2 m (6.6 ft.) wide, and 1.39 m (4.6 ft.) high, the vehicle could hint at the early design language of the future A8 electric sedan.

The interior is even wilder and less likely to be something to hit production:

Audi has released some details in terms of powertrain, but it’s not really worth putting too much weight on them since it’s still just a concept.

Nonetheless, it could give us an idea of the specs of Audi’s future top-of-the-line sedan.

The German automaker says that the vehicle is equipped with a 120 kWh battery pack, and its latest 800-volt technology found in the e-tron GT:

“This strategy makes charging times that approach a refueling stop for a car with a conventional engine possible. Just ten minutes are enough to charge the battery to a level sufficient to power the car more than 300 kilometers (186 miles). In less than 25 minutes, you can charge the 120 kWh battery from 5 to 80 percent.”

Audi says that the system is going to be good for 750 kilometers (466 miles) of range on a single charge.

That’s likely on the WLTP standard and on the EPA standard, the vehicle should get closer to 400 miles and charge or a little more.

Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.

<br />

Entertainment

Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died

Published

9 hours ago

November 4, 2024

admin

Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died

Quincy Jones, the music producer and composer, has died at the age of 91.

Jones worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many other artists.

Among his best-known credits was as the producer of Jackson’s historic Thriller album.

Jones oversaw the all-star recording of the 1985 charity record We Are The World.

He also composed the soundtrack to the hit 1969 British film The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine.

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed Jones died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday surrounded by his family.

In a statement, his family said: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’s passing.

“And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

His family added Jones was “truly one of a kind” who they would “miss dearly”.

“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” they added.

“Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”

His career, which spans more than 75 years, saw him achieve 28 Grammy award wins out of 80 nominations.

He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine.

Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are The World and was among the charity single’s featured singers, called Jones “the master orchestrator”.

Jones, a father of seven, was married three times to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson and Peggy Lipton.

His children include music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for Parks And Recreation and the US version of The Office.

Entertainment

Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek shares he has bowel cancer

Published

12 hours ago

November 4, 2024

admin

Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek shares he has bowel cancer

Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has said he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The 47-year-old American actor – famous for his role as Dawson Leery in the drama series – told US outlet People on Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.

Bowel cancer – sometimes also called colorectal cancer – starts in the colon or the rectum, which makes up the large intestine in the digestive system.

It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, with around 42,900 people diagnosed each year.

Speaking to People, Van Der Beek added: “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

He said he has been prioritising time with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

The actor – also known for his roles in Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber, and the FX drama Pose – also posted on Instagram about his diagnosis.

Van Der Beek said he planned on “planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon,” but instead announced the news on Sunday morning “when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news”.

He then added: “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialling in my overall health with greater focus than ever before.

“I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.”

In December, Van Der Beek will appear in the Fox special The Real Full Monty, which will see male celebrities strip naked to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research.

Entertainment

Margot Robbie welcomes first child – reports

Published

1 day ago

November 3, 2024

admin

Margot Robbie welcomes first child - reports

Margot Robbie has reportedly given birth to her first child.

The Australian actress has welcomed a baby boy with her husband, British actor and film producer Tom Ackerley, according to People magazine.

The couple have not publicly announced the arrival or revealed the baby’s name.

The 34-year-old actress went into labour two weeks ago, shortly before her due date, according to the Mail On Sunday.

Robbie’s pregnancy became public in July, when the couple were pictured on holiday in Italy, followed by several red carpet appearances.

Robbie and Ackerley married in Byron Bay in 2016 after meeting three years previously on the set of World War II drama Suite Francaise.

Prior to becoming a couple, Robbie described herself as the “ultimate single gal” in an interview with Vogue.

She said Ackerley changed all that, and after being friends “for so long,” eventually “it happened”.

The Barbie actress went on to say their relationship “makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before”.

Robbie and Ackerley founded production company LuckyChap Entertainment in 2014, along with British assistant director Josey McNamara and Australian film producer Sophie Kerr.

Championing female-focused film and TV, it has been involved with movies including Barbie and Saltburn, and the Netflix series Maid.

Sky News has reached out to representatives for Robbie and Ackerley for comment.