This week, AUDI AG and Vitra Design Museum announced the launch of a new, long term partnership dedicated to collaborations around the themes of innovation, progress, and sustainability in design. To kick things off, on the occasion of Design Miami/ Basel, the world class design museum presents a prototype of Audi’s latest, cutting-edge concept car—the Audi grandsphere*—at its famed Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, situated just a short distance from the Basel fair. From June 15-19, the new partners invite design lovers to explore the latest in automotive design innovation alongside the Museum’s own lauded historic and contemporary design offerings.

“Design is an integral part of our DNA at Audi,” says Linda Kurz, Head of Marketing Germany at AUDI AG. “Our shared sense of design and our pursuit of constant progress lay the foundation for a strong partnership between the Vitra Design Museum and Audi. I am very pleased about the cooperation and invite all design enthusiasts to join us on this inspiring journey.”

Audi’s new grandsphere concept car* will be exhibited in a pavilion positioned beside the iconic VitraHaus, built by Herzog & de Meuron. Designed from the inside out, the Audi grandsphere concept car* offers a glimpse into the future of what car design might look like, introducing a variety of newly implemented innovations. Perhaps most notably, the grandsphere prototype* features automated driving at level 4, which enables the customer to be freed from the regular drivers tasks. Steering wheel and pedals can be retracted, transforming the front seat from a luxury cockpit into a spacious “first class lounge” environment. Equipped with the latest techniques concerning gesture-based control panels, CinemaScope projection screens and VR glasses, the Audi grandsphere* becomes a luxury “Experience Device.” 

The 5.35 meter long grandsphere sedan is the second debut in a series of three new, all-electric “sphere” concept cars that, as Audi sees it, define progressive luxury for the future—uniquely designed, enabled by digitalization and a holistic approach to sustainability, with the goal of carbon neutrality in the near future along the entire value chain.

Mateo Kries, Director of the Vitra Design Museum, tells us: “As a museum, we examine current trends in design from a broader perspective. We are delighted about Audi’s interest in taking a closer look at the topic of design in the automotive sector within the framework of our cooperation. Audi has a distinguished design history, and its slogan ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ – Progress through Technology – has been a familiar catchphrase for decades. Today, however, we know that technology alone is no longer enough to meet the challenges. It is much more about using and complementing these technologies: about sustainability, about digitalization, about social changes and the customer experience during the journey – design has the task of considering all these aspects from a comprehensive perspective.”

Vitra Design Museum is located just a short drive from Design Miami/ Basel fair, and is open to the public throughout Design Miami/ Basel. Thanks to Audi’s exclusive automotive partnership with Design Miami/ Basel, 2022 Design Miami/Basel Member Card holders may also enjoy complimentary VIP Car Service throughout the fair in a fleet of Audi electric cars—including visits to the Vitra Campus. Click here for more information regarding opening hours and location.◆

*The Audi vehicle shown here is a concept car that is not available as a production model.

This content was created in collaboration with Vitra Design Museum, Audi, and Design Miami/. Audi is the exclusive automotive partner for Design Miami/ Basel 2022.