Unveiled in June and having had its U.S. debut in August, the dramatic Audi Nuvolari will succeed the R8 as Audi’s halo supercar for a new generation. The Nuvolari was always going to be a high-priced rarity in this market, but Audi had yet to confirm these details—until now. The 987-horsepower hybrid supercar will start at an eye-widening $700,000, and that’s before customers delve into the wide range of options available for this model. That makes it almost double the price of the last and most expensive Audi R8 to be sold here for the 2023 model year.
Exclusivity Will Be Guaranteed
Audi Nuvolari
Audi
The sky-high price tag already eliminates most mere mortals from the opportunity of ever owning a Nuvolari, but so too will the limited allocation. Only 182 units of 499 in total will be reserved for the U.S. market when deliveries start in the first half of 2028. For some perspective, Audi sold 305 examples of the R8 in 2024 alone, the last year that the legendary supercar was available here.
Customization will inevitably push the Nuvolari’s price beyond the $700K starting point. There will be over 60 exterior and 30 interior colors alone, creating a bewildering number of possible configurations. A variety of Audi Exclusive color and material choices will also be on the menu. There’ll be three primary Dinamica and 33 leathers, along with 12 different seat belt colors and two switchgear shades. A total of 13 brake caliper colors, 10 matte paints, and the option of a fully exposed, open carbon fiber exterior will be available. The exposed carbon fiber will likely be one of the most expensive options.
The price tag puts the Nuvolari in the realm of a well-optioned Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ferrari Purosangue. Even the Lamborghini Revuelto looks like a bit of a bargain, with the Italian supercar having a base starting price of around $608,000. In short, this is completely new territory for Audi.
Stupendous Performance
Audi
Audi estimates a maximum combined output of 987 hp from the hybrid powertrain. It combines a high-revving biturbo V8 with three electric axial flux motors. Two of these motors are mounted in front and one is found on the rear axle. The V8 is a masterpiece on its own, producing 789 hp and capable of revving up to 9,750 rpm. The supercar can hit 60 mph in around 2.5 seconds before powering on to a top speed of over 217 mph, making it the fastest production Audi ever.
A new Audi Space Frame architecture provides high rigidity and low weight, and the carbon-fiber body panels help in this regard. Many components are derived from Formula 1, including the Drag Reduction System.Â
Technical specifications aside, the Nuvolari is quite something to behold. It has classic supercar proportions, but the details are sufficiently evolved from the R8’s. The cabin is restrained by modern-car standards, with Audi resisting the temptation to slap a few enormous screens across the dashboard. There appears to be more tactility here than in many lesser Audis, and the Nuvolari clearly borrows design cues from the Concept C.
What It Means
Audi
A $700,000 Audi is a lot to digest, but the Nuvolari simply can’t be viewed through the same lens as the R8. From its Space Frame architecture to the sensational performance made possible by the hybrid powertrain, it’s an Audi supercar for a different era. We only hope it maintains the approachability of the R8, which was a supercar that could be quickly enjoyed by anyone lucky enough to drive it.
We expect Audi to sell every example it produces, but it’s hard not to cast one’s eye at the more prestigious exotics one can buy for the same or less money. Then again, the well-heeled collector is unlikely to care.
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