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Audi has unveiled the dramatically-styled Grandsphere concept, which showcases the brand’s future design direction.The Grandsphere concept is an electric sedan that also features a vision for future autonomous driving technology.A lounge-like interior features a retractable steering column and a massive infotainment setup that is projected onto a flat dashboard.The future of Audi’s design and engineering is previewed by this elegant Grandsphere concept sedan. The second in a trio of concepts to debut in short order, the Grandsphere shares styling elements with the sportier Skysphere coupe, but integrates a more spacious, four-door layout and a host of interesting tech. A third concept called Urbansphere will debut next year.
Two electric motors generate 711 horsepower combined and up to 686 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Grandsphere to reach 62 mph in a claimed 4.0 seconds, according to Audi. The company also claims a driving range as long as 466 miles on the WLTP cycle and fast-charging via a 270-kW onboard charger, borrowed from the e-tron GT that’s on sale today.

While the exterior design is certainly dramatic and attractive, the interior is where the concept showcases its most futuristic elements. Facing the driver and front passenger is a large, flat dashboard that’s devoid of buttons and lacks the traditional touchscreen display. Instead, the car’s infotainment is projected onto the dashboard, and a camera tracks the driver’s eyes and flicks through menus and selections based on eye movement. Each of the car’s four doors features physical buttons for the climate-control system, but those can also be adjusted based on hand gestures.
Autonomous driving is the Grandsphere concept’s biggest flex, though, and in autonomous mode, there’s no steering wheel in sight. For instances when autonomous driving is not available—such as when exiting a highway into city traffic—a steering wheel and gauge cluster deploy from behind the flat dashboard so the driver can take control.The luxury quotient is high as well, with several high-end touches painting the Grandsphere concept as an upscale executive cruiser. The center console between the two front seats can be electrically deployed forward toward the dashboard to provide more storage space ,and it also includes a cold water dispenser. Other posh touches include an air filtration and aroma diffuser system, wool upholstery, and hornbeam wood trim. To make it feel even more like a rolling living room, Audi even made room for a little potted plant between the two front seats.
At this point in time, the Grandsphere is merely a concept, but Audi claims to be working on a production version and is targeting a launch sometime in the middle of this decade. That seems like a short time frame to bring Level 4 autonomy to the motoring public but some form of self-driving tech is sure to be included when the production version of the Grandsphere launches.
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Subaru’s new upmarket Forester Wilderness joins the 2022 Forester lineup, with drivetrain and suspension mods to improve off-road capability and bringing the total to six Forester models.The Forester Wilderness doubles the crossover’s tow load limit to 3000 pounds, while the roof rack’s static load limit is upped to better accommodate rooftop tents.The Wilderness is distinctive because of its raised height, exclusive Geyser Blue paint option, anodized copper trim, optional skid plates, raised-white-letter tires, and copious model logos.There’s only one way to go in the car business if things are going well, and that’s up. So enter the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness, which follows the successful Outback variant of the same name. The special edition features useful revisions that make the strong-selling Forester an even more potent tool for dedicated back-to-nature types, with an upgraded drivetrain, a raised suspension, and a higher price, starting at $33,945 versus the base model’s $26,320 sticker. But there are still two models above the Wilderness in price, with the top-end trim, the Touring, priced at $36,420 for the 2022 model year.
Viewed from the outside, the Forester Wilderness stands 1.4 inches taller, with an additional half-inch of ground clearance added to the standard Forester’s already excellent figure, for a total of 9.2 inches. In turn, this increases angle of approach (from 20.0 degrees to 23.5 degrees) and departure (from 24.6 to 25.4 degrees), while improving ramp breakover angle (19.6 to 21.0 degrees), helping to make the Wilderness the most capable Forester off-road. Longer travel and dampening compression strokes for its bespoke shock absorbers improve ride quality on the rugged stuff.

In the engine room, the Wilderness edition forges ahead with revised final-drive (4.11:1 in place of the Forester’s standard 3.70:1) and modified gearbox ratios for the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to effectively increase low-end torque. Its 182-hp 2.5-liter direct injection boxer-four pumps out 176 pound-feet, allowing it to better dispatch hills and muddy trails. The model’s standard Lineartronic CVT, here with eight-speed manual mode function, paddle shifters,and the aforementioned ratio revision, ups the Wilderness model’s game when climbing and descending. Subaru’s driver-selectable X-Mode offers snow/dirt and deep snow/mud modes, trimming torque and adjusting CVT ratios as needed. X-Mode will detect steep inclines and automatically enable the Wilderness’s low-speed/low-ratio gradient control. It will shift the CVT to its lowest ratio, creating a sort of low range for climbing. Standard Hill Descent Control automatically engages braking when the Forester heads down steep hills.
An air-cooled oil cooler for the engine and a rear differential temperature sensor further indicate the new model’s serious off-road intent. And speaking of tents, a revised fixed-ladder-type roof rack increases dynamic load capacity to 220 pounds from 176 pounds, while static load limit rises by 100 pounds to 800 pounds, making the use of larger rooftop tents more viable, while also rolling out the welcome mat for heftier campers. The fourth generaiton of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, an on-road safety boon, comes standard and features pre-collision braking and automatic emergency steering.
Visually, the Forester Wilderness will stand out not just for its high-riding ways but also for its black pillars and copper-colored roof rack posts, matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, and Yokohama Geolandar tires with raised white lettering. Geyser Blue paint is a striking new Wilderness-specific color option, while water-repellent seating is embossed with the Wilderness logo, as are floor mats and even the side of the car, a vaguely garish touch that recalls the increasingly huge badges seen on many Ferraris these days. Aluminum or steel skid plates to protect the engine and differential are separately available as options, the former also making the car stand out along with the overly large badges, so you can truly see this Forester through the trees.
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Subaru has revealed the 2022 Forester, with refreshed looks and several new safety and performance features.There’s a new off-roading-oriented Wilderness model, and the entire six-model lineup gets a new face, upgraded brakes for the Premium trim, and more advanced driver-assist technology.The Forester continues to be powered by a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque.Earlier this summer, we got a peek at the 2022 Subaru Forester when images of the Japan-market Forester facelift were revealed. Now Subaru has shown the updated Forester destined for our shores, revealing all of the design and technological updates that the refreshed crossover will bring.

The most obvious changes are up front, where the Forester gains a redesigned, chunkier front bumper and sharper, squintier LED headlights. The grille also has new graphical elements while the rear bumper receives minor tweaks. Under the hood resides the same 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-four mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission, and the Forester continues to come with all-wheel drive as standard. The Premium trim now has the 12.4-inch front brake rotors which were previously only available on the higher trims, while the base makes do with the 11.6-inch units. The other biggest news for the 2022 Forester is the addition of the off-road-focused Wilderness model, which gains extra ground clearance and a tougher suspension, among other all-terrain add-ons.

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Subaru has also given the 2022 Forester lineup some technological upgrades, with all Forester trim levels receiving the fourth-generation of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, which includes pre-collision braking, as standard. For 2022, EyeSight adds advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering and an improved stereo camera, which should enhance EyeSight’s operation. Inside, the Forester Wilderness offers optional gesture control for the climate control, allowing drivers to raise or lower the temperature with a wave of their hand. There are also minor trim changes throughout. The 2022 Subaru Forester will start at $26,320, an increase of $475 over the 2021 base model. Upgrading to the Premium will cost $29,320, also up $475, while the price of the Sport model increases by $445 to $30,890. The Limited now sells for an even $33,000, a $555 hike, while the top-of-the-line Touring costs $36,420, a $475 increase versus 2021. The new Wilderness model slots in between the Limited and Touring at $33,945.
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