The Audi Neo-Bauhaus Concept Imagines an Awesome Future

Industry analysts and players often talk about the car of the future, and they often like to describe it using terms like “all-electric” and “fully-autonomous.” A future in which cars will be driving themselves and will no longer rely on fossil fuels is not only desirable at this point, but a much-needed change in order to save whatever’s left of our planet.

That said, this still doesn’t address the issue of the overpopulation of our cities and the many disadvantages that come with it. AVs (autonomous vehicles) are theoretically able to reduce congestion, or so everyone seems to think. But what if a last-mile solution were still needed? Here’s where this daring Audi concept would fit right in.

Designed by freelancer Simon Grytten, the Audi Neo-Bauhaus is a car for the Y Generation, the literal car of the future. An ideation of it.

“Nowadays, having a Lamborghini won't get you faster to work than a Fiat 500,” Grytten duly remarks. “Our environment has changed, cars are not welcome in cities anymore. Subways or bikes are the best for short trips. Therefore, we have to reinvent what performance means.”

He does have a point: there is no difference between being stuck in traffic in the latest supercar model or your mom’s crappy old ride, except in terms of the level of comfort in which you’ll be passing all this dead time. As far as efficiency in getting you to work during rush hour, there is hardly any difference between the two. This means that a last-mile solution is still needed.

This isn’t a new idea. Over the years, carmakers have made notable attempts at offering cars with integrated last-mile solutions like scooters of all kinds, precisely for this type of scenario. Think of the MotoCompo offered with the Honda City back in the ‘80s or the more recent Skoda kickscooter offered with the Kamiq and the Scala.

This one is different, though. The Audi Neo-Bauhaus is all-electric and fully autonomous and has space in the back to carry your bicycle and then some extra cargo as well. Being self-driving means you can literally get out of the car when stuck in traffic, get your bike out and make the final stretch of the journey on two wheels, while the car will wait for traffic to clear and then drive itself out of the city to park. While parked, it will also be charging itself. As a result, by the time you’re done and you make your way back to it, it will be ready to go.

The concept is built around the user and their needs. Because the motors are placed in the wheels, the two-passenger cabin feels more spacious than what we get today in ICE (internal combustion engine) cars. You get more storage space under the hood and a minimalist interior made to feel airier by means of panoramic glass, large displays, and a plug-n-play Bang & Olufsen sound system with ambient light. For what one assumes is a purely nostalgic reason, you also get a steering wheel. Supposedly, it’s removable to create an even bigger space inside.

We live in a world in which performance no longer equals fast but rather offering the fastest path to a destination. As such, “we have to create a vehicle that allows us to switch from different mobility systems,” the designer believes. The Audi Neo-Bauhaus is one proposal in this sense and, while only a concept, it does preview an awesome future in which no one would ever have to choose between a car and a two-wheeler. That, and no more wasted time in traffic jams.