2027 Audi Nuvolari Has Bold Design, F1 Tech, and 987 HP

The Audi Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand's history. It is Audi's first supercar built around a high-performance plug-in hybrid powertrain, and it serves as the new performance halo for the four rings. Audi debuted it in the United States on August 14, 2026 at Monterey Car Week. Production is limited to 499 units worldwide. Deliveries start in the first half of 2027.

The car wears the Nuvolari name instead of an alphanumeric designation, a first for an Audi production model. It takes its name from Tazio Nuvolari, the Italian driver who won races in the late 1930s for Auto Union, a forerunner of today's Audi. Audi notes that final US performance specs, pricing, and EPA figures may vary from the global numbers below.

Powertrain and Performance

The Nuvolari makes 987 horsepower from four drive units, pairing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with three axial flux electric motors. The V8 produces 789 horsepower and 538 lb-ft. of torque and revs to 10,000 rpm, a range normally reserved for motorsport. Two front-axle motors handle variable torque distribution as part of the quattro system, while a third sits between the V8 and the transmission. A 7.3 kWh lithium-ion battery feeds the setup.

The Audi Nuvolari accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 2.6 seconds, reaches 124 mph in 6.8 seconds, and has a top speed of more than 217 mph.

Quattro Predictive Ride

The Nuvolari introduces the next generation of Audi's all-wheel drive. The system builds a vehicle state model from steering angle, acceleration, yaw rate, and grip data, then responds before grip is lost by coordinating torque, braking, and downforce. The front motors enable variable torque vectoring for cornering agility and high-speed stability.

Four steering-wheel modes tailor the car. E-Hybrid runs on electric power. Balanced blends comfort and performance. Dynamic sharpens response. Dynamic+ focuses on engagement. A separate Track Mode tunes traction control from Wet to Dry and Race to TC Off.

Chassis and Construction

The Nuvolari pairs the Audi Space Frame with a full carbon fiber exterior, a first for the brand. Audi introduced the Space Frame on the 1994 A8 as the world's first aluminum production body, and later ran it on the TT and the R8.

The Nuvolari marks the first time Audi wraps that architecture in an all-carbon skin. Almost every exterior panel uses carbon fiber reinforced polymer, developed with Formula One expertise and built through manual layup. Forged center-lock wheels also make their Audi production debut.

Active Aerodynamics

Every exterior element serves an aerodynamic function. A vented front S-duct adds downforce and cuts high-speed lift. A deployable rear wing runs three configurations, Closed for low drag, plus Low and High Downforce.

In performance modes it operates automatically, and a Formula One style Drag Reduction System lowers it further via a steering-wheel button. Under braking and in corners it generates more than 880 pounds of downforce.

Braking System

A motorsport-inspired brake-by-wire system varies distribution between recuperation and hydraulic braking. The new Audi Ceramic Pro system runs ten-piston front calipers with 420 mm discs and four-piston rear calipers with 410 mm discs. The Formula One derived carbon discs use internal cooling that improves heat dissipation by up to 21 percent over conventional carbon-ceramic systems. Total energy absorption reaches 2.8 megawatts, matching a current Formula One car.

Interior and Design

The interior focuses entirely on driving, with all controls in the driver's field of view. Interface color accents reference the Auto Union Type C race car of the 1930s. The cabin splits into a dark front zone for concentration and a lighter rear finished in Shadow Dune. Lightweight carbon fiber seats provide rigidity and lateral support.

The Nuvolari is the first production car to follow Audi's new design philosophy, shaped by Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella. It wears Audi's new signature color, Titanium, also used on the Concept C and the brand's Formula One car.