A Blend of Real and Virtual

First, I'd like to introduce the "Audi fleet shuttle quattro" Audi fleet shuttle quattro." Many readers may already be familiar with this, as it was featured on OPENERS, but this "future car" designed for the sci-fi film is precisely a creation from the "Concept Design Studio Munich."


Since this "fictional model" exists only in computer graphics, anything could have been realized, no matter how absurd. However, Audi's designers envisioned "AudiA7" 75 years from now, and designed the Audi fleet shuttle quattro with that image in mind.


Therefore, as indicated by the V8 engine mounted in the front and its all-wheel-drive nature suggested by the "quattro" name, the styling incorporates a degree of realism, considering the internal mechanisms during the design process. What's interesting is the wheel design; as you can see, it's crafted with cooling efficiency in mind. This, too, was designed with a thorough consideration of the internal structure.

On the other hand, the body panels are shaped to cover the front wheels to reduce air resistance. However, this presents a fundamental problem: steering would be impossible. The designers were aware of this "flaw" but intentionally left it as is because they found the shape covering the front wheels to be uniquely appealing.


Based on the novel by Orson Scott Card, the film "Ender's Game," starring Harrison Ford, was released in the U.S. on November 1, 2013, and had its Japanese premiere in January 2014.


The Concept Design Studio Munich designs not only futuristic cars for sci-fi films but also real-world products.

A Wide Range of Designs

Consider skis, for example. This "creation," born from a collaboration with HEAD, a renowned sports equipment manufacturer, is a single, carbon-black color. A small silver metal plate is embedded in the tail, creating a striking contrast between black and silver. There are no large brand logos, which are common on skis. Only the four rings subtly gleam on the top.

The travel bags, created in collaboration with the Italian company Schedoni, famous for supplying leather to Ferrari, also feature an extremely simple design. Its form, composed of straight edges, is a prime example of minimalism. Here too, only the texture of the leather is emphasized, with a single camel color and no patterns. The four rings are so small they are hard to find.


Although these are miniatures, Audi has also developed a grand piano for concerts in collaboration with Bösendorfer of Austria. The part corresponding to the piano's "lid" elegantly curves down to the floor, serving the function of legs.


The design is simple yet powerful, and while not flashy, it possesses a unique styling that is unforgettable once seen. Astonishingly, it also meets Bösendorfer's high standards for acoustics.

The table clock designed for Erwin Sattler, a luxury watchmaker in Munich, has a very classic appearance. However, the support pillars, resembling a space frame, are coated with the precious metal ruthenium, exuding an elegant, high-tech image. The visibility of the clock's mechanism through the glass may also reflect Audi's philosophy of valuing technology.



The Audi Design team has also worked on other items such as table hockey games and conference tables. What is common to all these creations is their simple design, which directly conveys the quality of the materials and the precision of their craftsmanship. Although the exterior appearance differs, the concept feels connected to Audi's production cars in some distant way.

The Background Behind Audi Design

Why do they undertake such work?


A staff member at the "Concept Design Studio Munich" explained:

"The biggest reason is to 'learn' from these design activities. By designing products in various fields that we haven't created before, we, as designers, can learn a great deal. The primary goal of this project is to eventually feed that knowledge back into the design of automobiles."


"Furthermore, we aim to deliver products that customers find 'beautiful' and 'wonderful.' And when customers wonder, 'Where is this product from?' and investigate, they discover it was designed by Audi. This, in turn, enhances the image of the Audi brand. Therefore, the Audi logo doesn't need to be prominent. It's just right for it to be found through a bit of searching."

The Concept Design Studio Munich works closely with the design department in Ingolstadt, and the ideas and know-how they gain are progressively incorporated into "Audi cars."


( Part One, "Audi Design Born from Contrasts," can be found here. )