Audi has revealed the Nuvolari, its first supercar built around a high-performance hybrid powertrain. Production will be limited to 499 cars, with first deliveries planned for the first half of 2027. Audi describes it as the most powerful and fastest production car in the marque's history.
The hybrid system produces a maximum 736 kW, or 1,001 PS. A mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 contributes 800 PS, while three axial-flux electric motors are rated at 110 kW each. Two motors drive the front axle and a third sits between the combustion engine and transmission. The lithium-ion battery has a gross capacity of 7.3 kWh.
Audi claims 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 6.8 seconds and a top speed above 350 km/h. Those figures remain manufacturer claims rather than independent test results.
The all-wheel-drive system is called quattro predictive ride. It combines sensor data with control of the electric motors, brakes and aerodynamics so the car can intervene before a larger loss of grip develops. The two front electric motors also provide variable torque vectoring.
Nuvolari uses a carbon-fibre body over a new Audi Space Frame. Its active aerodynamic package includes a retractable rear wing with several positions, including a high-downforce setting. Audi says the car can produce more than 400 kg of downforce in that configuration. A driver-operated DRS function can lower drag on straights.
The significance of Nuvolari goes beyond replacing the space once occupied by the R8. Audi is using the model to demonstrate technology transfer from its Formula 1 programme to a road car, covering axial-flux electric motors, energy management, active aerodynamics and brake-by-wire control. With just 499 examples planned, it will also sit at the opposite end of the volume spectrum from Audi's mainstream range.