Car Wearing: Audi's latest concept is part coupe, part...pickup

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Audi's Activesphere Concept Is a VR, Pickup Bed, Quattro Fever Dream

Audi's latest electric concept combines elements of a coupe and a crossover—but it also has a pickup bed. The Ingolstadt-based automaker unveiled the latest in a series of concept cars with "sphere" in the name, with the Activesphere offering a setup that a few different EV buyers could appreciate.
Based on the very real Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, the Activesphere is powered by a 100-kWh battery. And while the exterior design looks like something we could envision on the road, the interior is far more futuristic, complete with Level 4 autonomous tech.
"The innovative operating concept, Audi Dimension, combines the physical and virtual worlds (i.e., mixed reality) by displaying digital content in the occupants' fields of vision in real-time," Audi notes. "High-tech headsets provide a view of the real environment and the route, while simultaneously displaying 3D content and interactive elements—individually configurable for drivers and passengers."
Could we see Audi offer something like this in the next few years?
Read on to find out more about this concept.

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This Race Car Maker Is Launching Its Own EV Hatch

There aren't many hatchback EVs right now, as automakers continue to look to SUVs, sedans, crossovers, and trucks with their latest offerings. But one company has the classic hot hatch formula in mind when it comes to its first EV, and the design already looks like it hails from the heyday of rally-inspired production cars.
Vanwall is the company behind this planned electric performance hatch, and it has a legitimate racing pedigree if not a household name.
The hatch promises up to 580 hp with power sent to all four wheels, along with a cyberpunk exterior and more than 250 miles of range. That's a recipe for quick launches, though the carbon fiber interior and exterior bits won't be cheap.
Read on to find out more about this unique project.

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Are Lamppost EV Chargers Ideal for City Dwellers?

Those who live in large cities face no shortage of barriers to vehicle ownership, let alone electric vehicle ownership.
But what if every lamppost could be turned into an EV charger?
That's exactly what one company in the UK has been doing, turning thousands of lampposts in the country into curbside chargers. The installation procedure takes less than two hours, and the result offers those who may only have street parking in the city overnight a way to recharge. The company is now in the process of adding 300 such charge points to the city of Liverpool.
The upside is that no complicated construction is required, though charging speeds are slow and would favor overnight usage.
The company behind the project is now working to expand its network in the UK, but overall progress on curbside charger installation in cities in North America is moving slowly, despite its potential to convert city dwellers to EV ownership.

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