The motoring world’s elite gathered in Munich for the IAA Mobility 2021, and all eyes were on the most advance and outstanding designs of luxury EVs. Hadag has chosen the best of the reveals to keep on your radar.
Innovation was at the forefront of the cars that were unveiled at IAA Mobility 2021. Manufacturers came with luxury-packed pioneering rides; some described as private jets, others that turn into a mini cinema, and some with floating infotainment panels. When it comes to the meeting of luxury, design, and technology, these cars of the future really have it all.
AUDI GRANDSPHERE
The Audi Grandsphere was the spotlight of the show for the brand. It stood proud at Audi’s House of Progress stand on Wittelsbacherplatz. The all-electric Audi Grandsphere concept car is a pioneer of e-mobility. Motoring enthusiasts found a valiant and daring design that captures both luxury and mobility.
The Audi Gransphere is truly impressive feat for the legendary brand with the four rings. It offers connectivity, sustainability, a switch to electric, and is completely self-sufficient. Expect Level 4 autonomous driving, opening up a whole new world of freedom for drivers. The steering wheel, pedals, and displays will retract out of sight. As a result, the interior transforms into a spacious lounge with an unhindered view and access to all the features of the holistic digital system.
Aptly called “the private jet for the road” the Audi Grandsphere concept feels like a penthouse suite on wheels. Standing at 5.35m (17.6 ft.) long, you get luxury, comfort and a wholesome onboard experience. Scheduled to launch in 2024.
MERCEDES CONCEPT EQG
If there’s one motoring brand paving the way for future luxury EVs, it’s got to be Mercedes-Benz. Their show-stopping at IAA Mobility 2021 was the Concept EQG, an all-electric model alternative of its off-road icon, the G-Class.
Visually, the Mercedes Concept EQG combines the distinctive look of the G-Class. You’ll see selected design elements added which are typical of all-electric models from Mercedes. The 4×4 qualities of the “G” will take you one step closer into the age of electric mobility. The Concept EQG offers a promising preview of what a Mercedes-Benz G-Class with battery-electric drive will be capable of.
This is G-Class DNA combined with uncompromised off-road capabilities. In fact, the Concept EQG is more at home on difficult terrain than anywhere else. Think deep desert adventures and steep mountainous slopes. This is thanks to the pulling power of its electric all-wheel drive and its low centre of gravity.
The Concept EQG sits on 22-inch polished aluminium alloy wheels. This exclusive design means that instead of the usual spare wheel cover, there is a lockable box with white illuminated accents on the rear door, reminiscent of a wallbox.
An on-road version of the Mercedes Concept EQG is expected in 2025.
VOLKSWAGEN ID. LIFE
Volkswagen came to play and started by speeding up their “Accelerate” strategy to roar ahead with their transformation to electric and sustainable mobility. With the reveal of the ID. Life concept car at the Munich Motor Show, the manufacturer’s foresighted ideas took shape.
The fully electric Volkswagen ID. Life is designed for the urban environment centred around people and communal experiences. The concept car combines sustainability and digitalisation with extremely flexible usage. Turn it into a mini cinema or a gaming centre as visuals are projected onto a screen. You can simply use it for relaxing in the open air too.
The ID. Life brings Volkswagen into a higher realm with the big boys of automotive. In creating the ID. Life, Volkswagen has focused on the needs of younger drivers looking for sustainability with enhanced lifestyle features for elevated personal expression.
This is also the first time a vehicle based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform has front-wheel drive. With its 172 kW (234 PS) electric motor, the ID. Life accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, while its 57 kWh high-voltage battery enables a range of some 400 kilometres (WLTP).
The sustainable character of the ID. LIFE is reflected in its materials and paint finishes. Everything from wood chips to recycled PET bottles, bio-oil, natural rubber, and rice husks are used in the bodywork, the roof, and the interiors.
Set to launch on the market two years ahead of schedule in 2025.
BMW I Vision Circular
With a huge focus on sustainability and luxury, BMW i Vision Circular was one of five concept vehicles unveiled at the Munich Motor Show 2021. The four-seater is fully-electric-powered with economic principles at its core.
It carries a four-metre-long footprint alongside a generous amount of interior space. Digital innovation meets versatility to make urban driving more practical and enjoyable. The BMW i Vision Circular encompasses the manufacturer’s aim to achieve climate neutrality and reduce CO2 emissions whilst keeping design to the highest standard. The car achieves 100 per cent use of recycled materials and 100 per cent recyclability. This involves certified bio-based raw materials.
Plus, the vehicle’s life cycle can also be extended by refurbishing and re-design. Easily detachable connections make it far simpler for users to replace individual materials and component parts, allowing them to keep restyling the vehicle.
At the heart of the next-gen phygital user interface is a 3D-printed, crystal body with nerve-like structures running through it, offering great visual depth and an enthralling lighting effect. This is where the vehicle’s “thinking” is visualised, allowing the user to see its intelligence at work.
The BMW Group plans to become the world’s most sustainable manufacturer in the individual premium mobility space. We’ll be waiting a while for this concept to come alive though as the launch date is set for 2040.