Audi tackles Ferrari Luce fever with the hybrid Nuvolari, it’s fastest and beefiest car ever

Audi has just pulled the wraps off the Nuvolari, its first hybrid supercar, and the numbers are genuinely hard to comprehend. Named after Tazio Nuvolari, one of motorsport’s most iconic figures, the car produces 1,001 PS and can reach a top speed of over 350 km/h. Only 499 people will ever get to own one, with deliveries kicking off in the first half of 2027.

The Nuvolari can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and can hit the 200 km/h mark in just 6.8 seconds. Under the hood is a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine producing 800 hp, paired with three electric motors for a combined system output of 1,001 PS. The electric motors at the front axle alone deliver 2,150 Nm of torque, which is a number that feels almost fictional.

Why does this supercar feel like a racecar?

The Audi Nuvolari’s is heavily influenced by Formula 1, particularly in the aerodynamics department. Audi says the Nuvolari is packed with F1-inspired innovations. From the active aerodynamics to the braking system, which can absorb up to 2.8 megawatts of energy, comparable to a current Formula 1 car. 

The deployable rear wing generates over 400 kg of downforce in high-downforce mode, and there’s even a DRS button on the steering wheel, just like in F1. The chassis uses Audi’s Space Frame technology combined with a full carbon-fiber exterior, developed using prepreg autoclave technology borrowed straight from F1 cars.

For Audi, Formula 1 is more than just a racing series. It is a place to test and develop new technology, and the Nuvolari is where all of that hard work finally makes it to the road.

Does it look as good as it sounds?

Audi says the Nuvolari is the first production car to follow its new design philosophy. It comes finished in a new signature color called Titanium, which is the same shade used on the Audi Formula 1 race car. The cabin features minimal distractions, carbon fiber seats, and color accents that pay homage to the legendary Auto Union Type C race car from the 1930s.

To me, the design looks distinctive. It won’t receive the bad rep that Ferrari Luce has received, but it will be devisive. People are either going to love or hate it. Either way, with only 499 units up for grabs, the people who don’t love it won’t have to worry about seeing it on every street corner.