%20(4)_edited.png)
The 2004 Audi RSQ Concept is a futuristic, mid-engined sports coupé created by Audi specifically for the sci-fi film I, Robot, set in the year 2035. The RSQ’s design serves as a visionary showcase for Audi's style while seamlessly fitting into the futuristic, robotic world of the film. Its sleek, aerodynamic look, trapezoidal "Audi single-frame grille," and the four-ring Audi emblem were deliberately chosen to ensure brand recognition while presenting an evolved, advanced form of Audi's design language. This concept car also includes the Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI), blending familiar Audi features with imaginative new elements suited to the film’s futuristic setting.
One of the RSQ’s most notable features is its innovative spherical wheels, which enable smooth, multidirectional movement—an idea contributed by I, Robot’s director Alex Proyas. This unconventional setup allows the car to maneuver seamlessly, a key requirement for dynamic action scenes in the film. Additionally, the car's reverse butterfly doors are hinged at the rear C-pillars, giving it a dramatic, high-tech appearance.
Underneath its unique bodywork, the RSQ shares some engineering roots with the Lamborghini Gallardo, specifically in its powertrain and all-wheel-drive system. In the RSQ, a modified version of the Gallardo’s V10 engine, equipped with twin turbochargers, generates an impressive 610 horsepower. While these specifications are speculative, they indicate the potential performance of the RSQ, drawing from Audi’s earlier Le Mans Quattro concept, which could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 345 km/h.
Inside, the RSQ’s cockpit-like design surrounds the driver in a semi-circular console with a futuristic control setup. The steering wheel resembles an aircraft yoke rather than a traditional wheel, reinforcing the RSQ’s high-tech feel and mimicking a plane's control system. The steering column and instrument panel also elevate as the driver enters, offering easy access and emphasizing the car’s advanced technological nature. While primarily a concept for the film, the RSQ hints at Audi's potential design path, blending high performance with futuristic style and leaving audiences to imagine what an Audi of 2035 might truly look like.
In 2019, Audi revived this design legacy with the RSQ e-tron, an all-electric concept developed for the animated movie Spies in Disguise. This updated concept, co-designed with Blue Sky Studios, features individual-wheel electric motors, a holographic speedometer, and continues Audi’s futuristic design exploration, marking another exciting step in the evolution of the RSQ lineage.
