Audi reveals mid-engined V8 plug-in hybrid Nuvolari
▼ Summary
– Audi unveiled the Nuvolari concept ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, revealing the likely design of the R8 replacement.
– The Nuvolari departs from Audi’s current design language but shares its platform with Lamborghini’s smaller mid-engined models.
– Unlike the previous R8’s naturally aspirated V10, the Nuvolari uses a plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain, matching the Huracán’s successor.
– The Nuvolari produces 987 hp (736 kW), equaling the output of the Bugatti Veyron.
– The concept leverages the Volkswagen Group’s resources, using the same underpinnings as Porsche’s electric Boxster via the Concept C.
Audi has officially pulled the wraps off its newest vision for a supercar, and it’s not quite what enthusiasts expected. Just weeks after CEO Gernot Döllner hinted at a successor to the iconic R8, the automaker unveiled the Nuvolari concept in Southern France on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix. This mid-engined plug-in hybrid V8 marks a bold new chapter for Audi’s performance lineup.
The Nuvolari’s design language breaks sharply from Audi’s current aesthetic, yet it stays true to the minimalist ethos seen in the Concept C, a smaller coupe that shares its bones with Porsche’s electric Boxster. Underneath the sleek carbon bodywork, the Nuvolari leverages a familiar foundation: Lamborghini’s smaller mid-engined platform. This is the same architecture that underpinned both generations of the R8, but the powertrain has evolved dramatically.
Gone is the naturally aspirated V10 that once roared behind the cockpit. The Huracán that carried that engine is retired, replaced by the Temerario, which impressed our reviewer earlier this year with its accessible performance and refined dynamics. The Nuvolari takes things further, packing a staggering 987 horsepower (736 kW). That figure matches the original Bugatti Veyron’s output, suggesting this Audi will be no slouch in a straight line or on a track.
The interior renderings show a driver-focused cabin that blends digital displays with premium materials, though the exterior styling has drawn mixed reactions. Some observers note the carbon bodywork appears somewhat slab-like, lacking the flowing curves of its predecessor. Still, the Nuvolari represents a clear statement of intent: Audi is not abandoning the supercar segment, but reimagining it for an electrified era.
With the Temerario already raising the bar for supercar performance, the Nuvolari aims to surpass it. Whether it officially replaces the R8 or carves its own niche remains to be seen, but the numbers and engineering pedigree suggest this is a machine built to thrill.
(Source: Ars Technica)
