How Will Smith’s futuristic car from I, Robot might have inspired the Audi R8
- This Audi was a concept car way ahead of its time
- In the movie, the concept car had spheres instead of wheels
- It paved the way for the Audi R8 which was released two years after the movie
Published on May 15, 2024 at 2:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on May 15, 2024 at 2:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Anyone who has seen With Smith’s sci-fi movie I, Robot remembers the iconic Audi RSQ, a futuristic car from 2035.
The car was placed as a product placement in the 2004 sci-fi movie and might have even inspired the Audi R8.
It was meant to represent a seriously technologically advanced automobile in the year 2035.
READ MORE! The world’s most futuristic car is a wheel-less marvel designed like a bubble
We are only 11 years away from 2035, so I doubt we will see a futuristic car like that anytime soon.
However, there are many amazing flying cars that will be released in 2024, so there’s still hope.
The Audi RSQ featured a 2-door coupé design with reverse butterfly doors.
Designers had to make sure that the mid-engined supercar was recognizable to the audience as an Audi.
Despite its extreme characteristics, the engineers implemented a current Audi front-end design to the futuristic car.
They also added the trapezoidal ‘Audi Single-Frame Grill’ and the company’s trademark overlapping four rings.
In the movie, the futuristic car had spheres instead of wheels, but the real Audi RSQ featured real wheels covered with 3D caps.
From the front, the car looks very similar to an Audi R8.
It kind of makes sense since the R8 was first unveiled back in 2003.
So, the design philosophy for the Audi RSQ might have been similar at that time.
The futuristic car even paved the way for the Audi R8, as it became one of the automaker’s best-selling models.
In reality, the futuristic car was loosely based on the Audi TT, which is quite similar to the concept car.
Even the interior of the futuristic car is very minimalistic, but also quite advanced for its time.
The yoke steering wheel also looks quite futuristic, but it doesn’t retract into the dashboard as seen in the film.
Hopefully, we will get to see a real car like this in the not-too-distant future.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
