AUTONEWS

Audi Nuvolari in action on the test track

Audi has released a video of its Nuvolari supercar, which was tested on the Nardo track in Italy and will be produced in 499 units.

To meet high quality standards, prototypes of the Audi Nuvolari are tested worldwide in extreme conditions, on famous race tracks such as the Nürburgring in Germany and the Nardo proving ground in Italy. Their performance is evaluated and continuously optimized in the most demanding conditions.

Curiously, Audi decided to camouflage a prototype during a recent test at the Nardò track in Italy. That’s despite the fact we’ve already seen the Nuvolari from virtually every angle. Testing is underway for the coupe, but a convertible is likely to follow, given a recent hint from the company's CEO, Gernot Döllner.

Owned by Porsche and operated by Porsche Engineering, the Nardò Technical Center (NTC) features 20 test tracks, including the iconic circular high-speed ring spanning 7.8 miles (12.6 kilometers). It’s where former Bugatti test driver Loris Bicocchi famously crashed a Veyron prototype at 247 mph (398 km/h) after a front-left tire exploded.

But I digress. Audi is proud to say the Nuvolari was developed and revealed in a short time, while leaving out an essential detail that made all of this possible. Yes, the Lamborghini connection. The plug-in hybrid machine is heavily related to the Temerario. The engine note you’re hearing comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 carried over from the “baby Lambo,” revving all the way to 10,000 rpm.

Since we mentioned the Veyron earlier, it’s worth noting that the Nuvolari’s combined output of 987 horsepower matches Bugatti’s original rating for the quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16. On its own, the eight-cylinder engine produces 789 hp, mirroring the Temerario. Predictably, the V8 doesn’t sound nearly as good as the V10 used in the R8, but with emissions regulations growing increasingly stringent, there’s sadly no longer any place for the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter unit.

The Audi Nuvolari sets a new technological benchmark and brings cutting-edge innovations inspired by Formula 1 directly to the road. This includes a high-performance hybrid drivetrain, active suspension, active aerodynamics and the innovative Audi Space Frame construction technology with a carbon exterior.

The supercar should soon enter series production and reach customers as soon as possible. Order books for Europe will open in the fourth quarter of 2026, with first deliveries planned for the first half of 2027.