Audi dropped one heck of a surprise just before the weekend. While there have been reports that the Ingolstadt-based automaker has plans to revive the R8, it looks like they also thought of building an exquisite hybrid supercar.

Say Guten tag to the marvelous Audi Nuvolari, the brand's first-ever supercar that combines a high-performance hybrid powertrain and a tantalizing design. It also serves as Audi's most powerful production car in the brand's history to date, thanks to its electrified powertrain that was derived from a certain House of The Raging Bull.

“With the Audi Nuvolari, we are accelerating technological progress. It shows what is possible when the focus is on technology, performance, and execution through teamwork — and when we achieve progress together,” said Gernot Dollner, Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi AG.

Immediately grabbing your attention on the Nuvolari is its distinct shape. According to Audi, the supercar follows the brand's new design philosophy. With its taut surfaces, wide body stance, mid-engine layout, and aggressive front & rear fascias, the Audi Nuvolari seems to have been carved out of solid granite. Also worth mentioning are its distinct LED headlights, the waterfall-style grille at the front, the wide rear intakes, the aerodynamic bumpers, the quad LED taillights, and the stylish louvers for the engine cover.

To purposefully combine performance and efficiency, Audi used active aerodynamics for the Nuvolari to constantly adjust downforce, drag, and aerodynamic balance. The active aerodynamics were inspired by Formula 1 and consist of the front splitter, rear diffuser, front air intakes that ensure brake cooling & thermal management, and a deployable adaptive rear wing that can deliver more than 400 kg of downforce at high speeds.

At the heart of the Audi Nuvolari is a high-performance 4.0L twin-turbo hybrid V8 engine that generates 800 HP with 730 Nm of torque. It is then assisted by three axial-flux electric motors that each produce 110 kW or 150 HP and are powered by a 7.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

From a standstill, the Nuvolari can sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and achieve a 0 – 200 km/h run in 6.8 seconds. Put your foot all the way down the accelerator, and the vehicle can achieve a top speed of more than 350 km/h.

Complementing these impressive performance figures is the brand's signature quattro AWD system. But instead of using just that, Audi went for something with a bit more cutting-edge: quattro predictive ride. According to Audi, this feature works by processing the current driving state via sensor data, including steering angle, acceleration, yaw rate (rotation of the vehicle around its vertical axis, which determines steering response in corners), and current grip level.

If the system anticipates a potential loss of grip in a corner, it responds proactively as an integrated system. The drive units distribute torque precisely in both longitudinal and lateral directions. The brakes stabilize the vehicle, while the aerodynamics adjust downforce according to the situation.

The electric motors at the front axle are a key element of the predictive dynamics system, enabling variable torque vectoring for agile cornering and stability at high speeds. The intelligent and predictive tuning of vehicle dynamics ensures maximum traction and control, even during severe lateral and tire slip, on wet or snowy roads, and in changing grip conditions.

Some of you may be wondering why Audi's new supercar carries an Italian name. Audi claims that since the vehicle stands for uncompromising performance and absolute focus, they actually named it after Tazio Nuvolari, an Italian racing driver who was known for his fearlessness, ingenuity, dedication, and single-minded will to succeed.

Looking to get one for yourself? You'd better be quick, as only 499 examples of the Audi Nuvolari will be made, with customer deliveries set to begin in the first half of 2027.