Audi releases its new V8 supercar
Filling the shoes of the R8, the Audi Nuvolari is a limited-run, art-deco themed supercar, and the fastest vehicle the brand has ever made.
The Audi Nuvolari has made a surprise debut, arriving in the world amid whispers of an R8 revival, though what’s now been revealed is even more special.
Named after pre-WW2 racer Tazio Nuvolari – who won multiple Grands Prix with Auto Union, the forerunner to Audi – Audi’s first ever hybrid supercar carries on the tradition of the R8 by being based on a Lamborghini, in this case the Temerario, with its twin-turbo plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain carried over from the Italian supercar.
As with the Temerario, the Audi Nuvolari’s V8 engine produces 588kW and 730Nm, well and truly more than the 449kW and 560Nm outputs of the final R8’s 5.2-litre V10. However, with three electric motors helping out, total power rises to 736kW, while torque jumps to 1050Nm.
No weight figure has been released, though the Nuvolari can still accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 2.6 seconds, before hitting 200km/h in 6.8 seconds, while its top speed of over 350km/h is higher than any Audi production car in history.
With the all-wheel drive system from the Temerario carrying over, Audi can continue to use its quattro branding for the Nuvolari, which can tweak where the power is sent and allow drivers to control the system via the four drive modes available on the steering wheel.
Its design has been inspired heavily by the Concept C EV we saw last year, the production version of which is set to become the successor to the Audi TT, though the Nuvolari has some added tricks up its sleeve.
The Nuvolari’s exterior has almost entirely been made from carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and inspired by Audi’s recent entry into Formula 1, where active aerodynamics are having an influence on its road cars.
From its subtle front splitter and rear diffuser to the S-duct front end, everything leads to the active rear wing, which can be set up into three different settings.
The High Downforce mode sees the wing move to its highest setting while braking and cornering, providing added stability. It reverts to its Low Downforce position when driving in straight lines, or closed completely when overridden by the driver.
Under the skin the Nuvolari features a space frame chassis, to which the Temerario-derived suspension system is connected.
Ceramic brakes can be found at each corner, with the front getting 10-piston calipers, while the rear features four-piston calipers. The braking system is aided by the regeneration available from the electric motors.
The Nuvolari is also Audi’s first production car to feature forged centre-locking wheels, moving away from the traditional multi-stud setup.
Inside the cabin the Nuvolari carries the brutalist theme of the exterior, with minimal buttons and design elements, where the cabin is focused around the driver.
Audi is making just 499 examples of the Nuvolari, meaning this isn’t set to become a series production supercar like the R8, though it could be its final crack at a high-performance car with petrol power amid its shift towards EVs.
