Audi Unveils the Nuvolari, a 987 HP Mid-Engine Supercar Limited to Just 499 Units Globally
The starting price sits at $700,000 USD with European deliveries beginning in early 2027.
Summary
Audi debuts the limited-edition Nuvolari supercar with a 987-horsepower plug-in hybrid V-8 powertrain
The mid-engine halo car shares its architecture with the Lamborghini Temerario but adds larger batteries and a tri-motor setup for increased output
Production is restricted to 499 units worldwide with a starting price near $700,000 and European deliveries slated for early 2027
The Audi Nuvolari represents a dramatic return to ultra-high-performance manufacturing for the German automaker. Unveiled during Monterey Car Week, the mid-engine prototype supercar serves as a spiritual successor to the retired R8 and signals a new era for the brand. The vehicle introduces Audi’s Radical Next design language, an aesthetic philosophy masterminded by Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella. The exterior is defined by unadorned carbon-fiber panels and a lack of stretched proportions common in modern supercars. Functional industrial detailing stands out, such as a billet aluminum front grille with variable-pitch louvers and an active rear wing featuring an embedded aluminum logo.
Mechanically, the new halo car shares its architecture and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with the Lamborghini Temerario. Audi engineers enhanced the powertrain significantly, adding a larger 7.3-kWh battery and a tri-motor setup to push output to an estimated 987 combined horsepower. The V-8 alone spins to a staggering 10,000 rpm. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed during the Monterey debut that the hybrid system will produce substantially more power than its Italian cousin. Performance targets include a top speed exceeding 217 mph, kept in check by a sophisticated Quattro Predictive Ride system and massive carbon-ceramic brakes.
The interior of the prototype eschews modern screen-heavy layouts in favor of tactile physical controls. High-quality metal touchpoints dominate the cabin. The climate vents are machined from black-anodized aluminum, while manual levers provide satisfying mechanical resistance for airflow adjustment. Elegantly thin carbon-fiber seats are manually controlled, reflecting a focused, driver-centric environment. A rearview screen replaces the traditional mirror, compensating for the complete lack of rearward visibility caused by the extensive heat-exhausting grate covering the engine bay.
Production of the limited-edition sports car moved from proposal to prototype in just 405 days. Audi plans to build only 499 units globally. The starting price sits near the $700,000 USD mark. European customers will receive the first 200 allocations in the first half of 2027. Another 200 units are slated for the United States starting in 2028, with the remaining examples destined for select markets in the Middle East and Asia. The Radical Next design seen on this flagship will soon filter down to the brand’s volume production vehicles over the coming years.
