Audi has caused a stir by pulling the wraps off a surprise new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 hybrid supercar, the Audi Nuvolari.
Revealed ahead of the manufacturer’s appearance at the 2026 F1 Monaco Grand Prix, the Nuvolari is a tribute to Tazio Nuvolari, who raced for Auto Union (the precursor to Audi) at the Principality during the 1930s.
Coming two years after Audi stopped production of its R8 sportscar, the Nuvolari represents an ambitious direction for the German marque to move into high-end supercar territory against the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.
The move is fitting when you consider Audi made its long-awaited modern-day F1 debut this season, where it currently competes against those very brands on track.
The new model, which will have a limited run of just 499 units, will cost around £500,000.
Despite the notable shift towards electric power, as demonstrated by the recently unveiled Ferrari Luce, the Nuvolari bucks the trend by dedicating its mid-engine layout to a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, which produces 788bhp.
However, as part of its hybrid system, the engine is also paired with three electric motors, which increases total power output to 986bhp.
In terms of real-world performance, the Nuvolari is quoted to hit 0-62mph in just 2.6secs, while the top speed is limited to 217mph.
Visually, the Nuvolari bears some resemblance to the Concept C that was unveiled earlier in the year and is tipped to ultimately become the successor to another discontinued Audi coupe, the TT.
The most obvious similarity can be found at the front, where the Nuvolari debuts the upright rectangular front-grille that is expected to make its presence felt on new Audis going forward.
The rest of the design is said to take inspiration from Audi’s F1 programme with regards to the aerodynamic features and air-intakes, though there is a clear relation to Lamborghini in some of the rear-quarter angles.
This is no surprise since the Nuvolari shares a lot of its technical running gear with the Lamborghini Temerario.
For now, however, the Nuvolari is a limited run model that has been created to celebrate Audi’s participation in the highest form of motorsport, much like the R8 was a tribute to the firm’s immense success at the Le Mans 24-Hours.
.
- New Cars
- Audi