- Audi has introduced the all-new Nuvolari supercar, which is limited to 499 units.
- The model features a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbo V8 and three motors.
- Car has a combined output of 987 hp and a top speed in excess of 217 mph.
Audi’s revival won’t just include a modern-day TT as the automaker has confirmed plans for a new supercar. Known as the Nuvolari, it’s a high-performance hybrid that will serve as a limited edition R8 successor.
Set to become Audi’s fastest and most powerful production vehicle, the car features a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a mid-mounted twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, a 7.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and three axial flux electric motors. Two of the motors are housed on the front axle, while the third is sandwiched between the engine and transmission.
More: Audi’s Concept C Previews A Porsche-Linked Sports Car Coming Sooner Than You Think
This setup enables the Nuvolari to produce a combined output of 987 hp (736 kW / 1,001 PS), which easily surpasses the similar Lamborghini Temerario. In fact, the model only has 15 hp (11 kW / 15 PS) less than the Lamborghini Revuelto.
Needless to say, the Nuvolari is an absolute rocket as it blasts from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.6 seconds. 124 mph (200 km/h) comes 4.2 seconds later, while the top speed is in excess of 217 mph (350 km/h).
Quattro All-Wheel Drive And Five Drive Modes
In typical Audi fashion, the car is outfitted with quattro all-wheel drive. However, the company further developed the system to anticipate your needs.
As the automaker explained, the latest version of quattro collects and analyzes an assortment of driving data including steering angle, acceleration, yaw rate, and grip levels. Thanks to all this information, the Nuvolari can anticipate a potential loss of grip and proactively respond.
Audi didn’t go into many specifics, but noted the model can adjust torque distribution and apply the brakes in “targeted interventions”. The car can even use active aerodynamics to adjust downforce according to the situation at hand.
Owners will find four primary drive modes, which can be selected by a rotary controller on the steering wheel. E‑Hybrid mode prioritizes fully electric use for short trips and urban driving, while Balanced tries to combine comfort with efficiency and performance. Dynamic mode “sharpens system response and enhances agility and precision,” while Dynamic+ cranks things up even further.
They’re joined by a Track mode, which allows for “targeted adjustment of traction control to driving style and available grip.” There are wet, dry, and race settings as well as a full off option.
Concept Looks
The Nuvolari will become the first production vehicle to embrace Audi’s new design philosophy. As a result, it looks like a cross between the R8 and Concept C.
The front end is dominated by a vertical grille, which is flanked by slender headlights and large air intakes. The model also features a front splitter and S-duct, which “improves aerodynamic efficiency at the front axle — delivering additional downforce, reducing lift at high speeds, and improving cooling of the powertrain.”
Moving down the sides, we can see edgy carbon fiber bodywork and a modern interpretation of the R8’s iconic side blades. They’re joined by forged center-locking wheels, which are a first on a production Audi.
The wheels are backed up by a new Audi Ceramic Pro braking system, which has been designed specifically for track use. It has massive 16.5-inch (420 mm) front discs that are grabbed by ten-piston calipers. The rear brakes are also beefy as they come in at 16.1 inches (410 mm) and have four-piston calipers. The brakes also have an energy recuperation system as well as a specially designed internal cooling system, which increases heat dissipation by up to 21%.
Out back, there’s a ventilated fascia as well as slender taillights and a massive diffuser. They’re joined by an active rear wing, which has three positions known as closed, low downforce, and high downforce.
The wing can be operated automatically or manually, and it functions as an air brake. Audi went on to note it can deliver more than 882 lbs (400 kg) of downforce under the right conditions.
A Minimalist Interior
Like the Concept C, the Nuvolari has a minimalist interior with a two-tone design and anodized aluminum accents. Audi didn’t say much about it, but confirmed the supercar has lightweight sport seats with a carbon fiber structure.
Elsewhere, we can see a digital instrument cluster and a chunky infotainment system with a portrait orientation. They’re joined by a plastic ignition switch, a push-button shifter, and minimalist controls.
We can also see a flat-bottom steering wheel that appears to be wrapped in Alcantara upholstery. It sports prominent paddle shifters as well as plenty of knobs and buttons.
Arrives Next Year
The Nuvolari rides on an Audi Space Frame and will be limited to 499 units. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027 and Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said it “brings pure emotion and performance to the road. It also reveals how we are taking ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ into a new era.”
