It’s been an interesting few weeks in automotive design, to say the least. Things started out on a bright note with the elegant and promising BMW Vision Alpina concept, launched on the shores of Lake Como on May 15. Five days later came the massive launch party of the new four-door AMG GT, which set the automotive online community ablaze–but not in a good way. The car was widely panned as too brutal, too ostentatious — and, implicitly, too electric.
But the online discussion surrounding the AMG GT was nothing against the Ferrari Luce, another five days later. Rarely has a car been subjected to such criticism and ridicule; executives and other designers weighed in, the discussion went far beyond automotive circles. Now there’s another European supercar — and this one, I predict, will leave the community a lot happier.
I am talking about the Audi Nuvolari, a mid-engined supercar that has long progressed beyond the prototype stage. In fact, what we are seeing now is set to be built from late 2026 onwards, with exactly 499 deliveries beginning early next year.
A Brutalist, But Still Cool Looking Mid-Engine Supercar
The Nuvolari exudes a clear classic mid-engine look — an almost monolithic presence; brutalist, even. The front is dominated by a vertical grille featuring slats that are nearly horizontal at the bottom and become progressively steeper towards the top. Left and right, there are four horizontally arranged lighting elements under one cover, mirrored by the rear light signature. It looks a lot like on the Concept C, but lower and wider.
The side view is defined by a vertical intake that sucks the air in “venturi-style,” as an engineer tells us (while cautioning it is not exactly the correct term). The blade is finished in a contrasting color in the tradition of the classic R8. Instead of a rear window, there are metallic air intakes. And there’s a large central exhaust between the taillights, and the panel beneath them it is machined from a single piece of metal.
The Nuvolari’s size and proportions connect it both to the Audi R8 and the current Lamborghini lineup, and in fact it is technologically related to the Lamborghini Temerario. However, it is positioned well above the Temerario and far above the former Audi R8 — and Audi says there won’t be any derivatives or variants once the 499 units of the Nuvolari are delivered.
A Lamborghini Heart, Insane Performance Numbers
Indeed, the Nuvolari will come in exactly one specification: It is a plug-in hybrid with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, complemented by three axial-flux E-motors. The power is channeled through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, and the specs eclipse those of the Temerario: System output is a combined 1001 horsepower – not just more than the Lambo’s 920 hp but right on par with the classic Bugatti Veyron. Top speed exceeds 350 km/h (217 mph); acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 2.6 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (125 mph) a mere 6.8 seconds. The bodywork is made entirely from carbon-fiber composite on an aluminum space frame.
The Nuvolari will be partially assembled at Lamborghini; differences include not just a higher power output but also a revised braking system and an Audi-exclusive technology called quattro predictive ride, which rapidly anticipates road conditions and driver input.
The car rides on Bridgestone Potenza Race tires measuring 255/35 ZR 20 at the front and 325/30 ZR 21 at the rear. Only one wheel design is offered, representing a compromise between maximum airflow and futuristic appearance. Color choices are almost limitless, extending to a finely woven, high-gloss carbon-fiber finish.
The interior, like the Concept C, expresses retro-futuristic themes, with a horizontal architecture, geometric forms, and a top-level combination of material quality and functionality. The personalization options are near limitless, including microfiber, suede and leather of every conceivable color.
The Nuvolari Could Have Been An EV
In June 2024, Massimo Fraschella joined Audi at a difficult time for the brand. The product portfolio was dominated by cars designed and developed in the Marc Lichte era under adverse circumstances: Technological problems, mostly connected to electronics, had delayed several cars by years, and they looked dated by the time they reached the market. In fact, it is an ongoing situation; the new Q7 and Q9, in which Fraschella’s input is largely restricted to color and trim choices, look positively dated.
It was necessary to make a statement of optimism and futuristic appeal. The first step was the Concept C, launched last September to extremely positive reviews. However, it will take a while to come to market–and its fully electric powertrain, closely related to the upcoming Porsche 718, frankly leaves many enthusiasts cold.
At the end of 2024, fewer than ten designers and executives came together to discuss a halo-car project, defining “sportiness of the future.” An SUV was out of the question, but three proposals were discussed:
- a more affordable sports car intended for higher production volumes
- a pure battery-electric supercar
- the concept that was ultimately selected, a V8 PHEV supercar
A glance at the BEV supercar market tells us that the executive group has made exactly the right call. Fraschella did not delegate the project; it was designed hands-on and can be seen as an almost prototypical expression of his own design philosophy. The overall theme was established quickly, followed by meticulous refinement of every detail. The team was expanded to around 30 employees who led the Nuvolari to production in absolute secrecy.
In fact, what we are seeing is not an early prototype; the Nuvolari is close to being production ready. The order books are set to open in late 2026, with deliveries beginning in early 2027. This means it will reach the market even before the production version of the Concept C, which is conceived as a purely electric sports car. Priced around 600K euros, Audi very much intends to make a profit with the Nuvolari.
The Nuvolar Is Not The Next R8
The Nuvolari is named after Tazio Nuvolari (1892-1953), one of the greatest race drivers of all time, with a distinct history with Auto Union in the late 1930s, for whom he piloted the Type D Silver Arrow. There is another concept car in Audi’s history named after him: The 2003 Audi Nuvolari, designed by Walter de’Silva as a predecessor of the A5. But there is no confusing that elegant coupe with today’s supercar.
Audi is clear that the Nuvolari is not a successor of the R8 (though they won’t rule out that such a car might come). This is despite the fact that just like the Nuvolari is based on the Temerario, the two generations of the R8 shared their platform with the Lamborghini Gallardo and Huracán.
Remember Audi R8’s many iterations? Spun off the Frank-Lamberty-designed Le Mans quattro concept, it was offered with a 4.2-liter V-8 and a 5.2-liter V-10, with a six-speed manual, a six-speed automated manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; there were rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants, Audi built a few pure electrics, and a V12 TDI prototype was publicly shown. We also know of a V8 TDI that never saw the public light. And of course, there were two bodies: Coupe and Spyder.
Even the corresponding Lambo models, the Gallardo and the Huracán, were offered with several body variations and in different – always V-10-based – power levels, not to mention the recent Sterrato crossover.
The Audi Nuvolari, on the other hand, remains a single-version V8 PHEV with a fixed top, and because it is intended to be a halo car for the entire Audi brand, the “Audi Sport” moniker won’t appear on the car – even though it is very much a baby of Audi’s performance division in Neckarsulm, where it will also partially be assembled.
If This Is Audi’s Future, I’m Excited For It
This project is intended to establish the “Radical Next” design language from the top down, to strengthen enthusiasts’ connection to the brand, and open the gates wide open to Audi’s design future. It has incredible visual appeal where the aesthetics of Audi’s Formula One models are largely dictated by regulation and aerodynamics.
And it declares that a new era has begun, even if current launches such as the Q7 and Q9 still reflect the yesterday’s design language. It shows – in contrast to, perhaps, AMG and Ferrari – that supercars can be exciting and beautiful without being overly aggressive and oversized. And it makes another, most welcome (and, at this point, obvious) point: The future of sports cars is not exclusively electric.
All Images: Audi
Didn’t Lamborghini already build this like 20 years ago? They named it after Batman or something I don’t know!
/s
I don’t want hybrid, battery, DCT, turbo. why can’t you just continue to make high rev na v8??
Not a very pretty car. I just don’t get the super angular look many designers are going for these days. A good balance of curves and angles makes a care more balanced. I feel like these designs lack beauty, and innovation. They’re not laboring over the design of surfaces, they’re just connecting dots. It’s kind of lazy.
Man, so many people are SUCH HATERS lately, and brothers, I get it. Our president is a PDFile workign for a foreign country starting wars to distract from the Epstein files and now we’re all getting bent over at the pump while the elite pedo class organizes a UFC fight on the whitehouse front lawn; Idiocracy was not a documentary it was a prophecy!
All that being said, I LOVE THIS CONCEPT! It looks fresh, it looks tough, and it looks like a precision milled from from a gigantic billet block of aluminum! Everything I can say about this concept also applies to the Jaguar 00 concept, which I am also a huge fan of! The proportions of both cars are great, the brutalist slab-sided surfacing is a huge departure from the overly styled, incohesive angry messes that make up most new vehicles. This looks fresh, it reminds me of the Hyundai N Vision concept a bit as well, we are now full circle where the Blade Runner forms promised in the late 70s/early 80s can now finally be executed properly, and I am here for it.
Now… if I want to be critical, the grill is too square, it would look better wider to make the car appear lower, the Jag concept had the same flaw, I even mocked up a quick PS to show how easily that concept can be fixed here. Despite that, this design is way more successful because it breaks up those big surfaces with more of a mesh rear end, which adds some contrast and lightness to a very heavy looking form. I love it. F the haters. This is great design.
The front shot kind of looks like the jpeg loaded wrong.
I know we all love to hate on the aggressive fake vents, random ducts, and excessive trim on modern cars but I feel like there has to be a middle ground.
I’ll gladly take the new trend of square brutalism over the angry decepticon bug styling cars have been stuck with for the past 15 years.
When is an R8 not an R8?
When it’s a New Volaré!
(cue Dean Martin)
As far as hypercars go I like it, and the styling trickling down should be good for Audi. Still have a hard time caring about cars I’ll never even see in person though. I’m much more concerned with how affordable sports cars will weather the coming decade than if the ultra rich will get to keep buying overpriced big engined toys (spoiler alert, they will). Unrelated, Tazio Nuvolari was a legend and the racing back then was fascinating, look into it if you aren’t familiar!
It looks like a flatter Cybertruck.
I much prefer the original Audi Nuvolari concept that was a precursor to the Audi A5 Coupe. That was a stunning piece of design.
That front end is horrible…why is everything square?! It doesn’t look good. It’s not “hip to be square”
That is one of the most boring fucking interiors I’ve ever seen
Ok ok let’s be cool about it. I see some negativity here and maybe we’re all still upset about the blue blob of last week, but this is a legitimately cool car. Let’s give Audi a break, props for trying it and move on to our earthly pursuits. Now if Adrian wants to write a few words, we’ll all read em seeing how he’s an actual professional, right Matt? You’ll ask him? (He still owes us an Apple car piece BTW)
I’m glad the concept shined through to this car. Audi needs a total design reset and this is a wonderful first step.
Having said that, this design stretched over Lamborghini proportions doesn’t quite work. It’s too heavy over the rear and too stubby in front.
The more classic proportions of the Concept C work way better for me.
Boy am I glad they went with a new car for Jeff Bezos instead of a new TT for the other 99% of the car buying public.
The front bumper looks like it was designed after a quick game of Solitaire on the old Win95 machine in the corner of the design room. Just drag that one edge of pixels right down to fill the gap from the lights to the lip.
They say fashion comes round every 30 years so I guess a crashed Windows screen graphic glitch would only be a year late in 2026?
(damnit, I made myself feel old)
Let’s cut to the chase here. WTF is Audi doing with ‘supercars’. All indications are the company is not doing well, especially in the US. Why are they wasting time and resources on this? Is there no management discipline to reel in their young ‘designers’ who want to get their loins wet and tell them to just work on stuff they can sell.
When Audi entered the market in the 1970’s, they, especially in North America, entered a market where domestic gothic garbage boats and Vega/Pinto garbage ruled the roads. They entered along with BMW 320, Saab 90 etc. Nicely built, easy/fun driving alternatives that didn’t look like brothels. They captured hearts and minds. For more than a decade they never tried to copy the US competition. In fact, the US competition tried to copy them.
Now everybody makes the same damn CUV in different sizes and some win and some lose in sales. So what does Audi do? Make another ‘supercar’ to sell three of against a plethora of same same ‘supercars’ from egotistic fools. Stooopid.
You want to differentiate in the market? (You do, don’t ya?) You know what’s missing in the market? Nicely built, easy/fun driving alternatives that don’t look like karaoke clubs. Stop with the over styling, over powering, over gadgeting and give us some quiet dignity with hidden fun under the suit. Nobody is doing it, low hanging fruit – STOP BEING A FOLLOWER!
Oh, and all you have to do is rummage through the VAG Lego set to come up with something.
While I agree with your premise that Audi should be fielding more competitive mass market options, it’s almost guaranteed that Audi will be pricing this such that it does not lose much money. Given that much of the tech is already sunk cost for the Temerario, it’s probably worth it for some positive halo buzz that will take attention away from Audi’s uncompetitive large SUVs that will need more time before replacement.
Of course, the real risk is that this new PHEV won’t be any good. This end of the market is sensitive and considering Honda couldn’t even make an NSX hybrid all that desirable, Audi will have its work cut out. My main beef is that the design doesn’t really match any of Audi’s other design work and it’s not clear if it’s intended to be a guide for the brand or just a showroom draw.
For the record, Audi’s entered the U.S. market with utter garbage. The 100 LS, while a competitive design, was among the worst brand launches and ranks up there with the Hyundai Excel. Audi was lucky that it was the ’70s and dreadful build quality was the norm.
This is limited to 499 units, they’ll sell them all if they haven’t yet. It’s very clearly a statement of intent for their future design language. Based on an existing car – cheap and quick to put in production. All other current production Audis were designed under Marc Lichte and it will be a couple more years before we see mainstream cars from Frascella.
It’s not a waste of time and resources. Pretty sure they’ll make some money from this, there’s no easier segment to make a buck from than expensive limited run supercars. And it makes sense they’re launching their new design language from the high-end down, instead of starting out with a soccer mom SUV.
The original 2003 Nuvolari concept is still the best, but I celebrate the return of Audi to restrained design both inside and out.
YES. This is the best-looking Audi since the original TT. Bauhaus lives.
Looks like a cordless mouse.
Actually quite nice. The grill could be better integrated, but the rest works very well for me, not that I’m in the market for a supercar.