Many enthusiasts were saddened when Audi ended R8 production after the 2024 model year. The R8 had been in production since 2006, and watching it go felt like seeing your favorite childhood athlete retire. Well there is good news and bad news. The bad news: the R8 won’t be coming out of retirement. The good news: there is a new 4-ringed halo car on the block.

The Audi Nuvolari Front, Phot Credit:Audi

Audi has been kicking things up a notch in terms of performance cars. Last year, they unveiled the Concept C, a two seat roadster concept, alluding to a future production car. Audi also completed its acquisition of the Kick Sauber Formula 1 team, rebranding it as the Audi Revolut F1 Team, marking the brands first entry into Grand Prix racing since the 1930s, back when the brand was known as Auto Union.

Now Audi has unveiled a supercar that is so special, it breaks away from Audi’s usual aplphanumeric naming pattern: the Nuvolari. The car is named after Tazio Nuvolari, a celebrated Italian racing driver who raced for Auto Union from 1935 to 1939. 

Tazio Nuvolari, photo credit: Hulton Deutsch, Getty Images

Like the R8, the Nuvolari borrows from a Lamborghini, utilizing the Temerario’s 4.0-liter twin turbo V8, making 789 horsepower and boasting a 10,000 rpm redline. However, the Nuvolari adds three axial-flux electric motors, bringing the total power output to 987 horsepower.

Audi Nuvolari, photo credit: Audi

Audi claims this powertrain will launch the Nuvolari from 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds, and push it to a top speed of over 217 mph. 

The Nuvolari features a carbon-fiber bodywork, forged aluminum wheels and “F1-inspired” active aero. Between an S-duct at the front, and an active wing at the rear, the Nuvolari generates up to 882 pounds of downforce. The active aero also works along with the traction control, suspension and engine management system, making for what Audi calls “quattro predictive ride.”

Audi Nuvolari, photo credit: Audi

The car is also thoughtfully designed, three air intakes are hidden on the door panels, and the outside of the car features real metal badges. In fact, pretty much everything that looks metal, is metal. 

That theme carries over to the interior, which ditched haptic controls for real buttons and knobs, which feel thoughtful, and practical. The rest of the interior is anything but practical. Glove box? No. Cupholders? No. Rear windshield? Also no. But it does feature a video camera for a rearview mirror. But the camera is cleverly hidden in the metal grille work below the center exhaust.

Audi Nuvolari interior, photo credit: Audi

However, if you think this is a high-volume sports car, like the R8, you’d be wrong. The Nuvolari will be expensive, and exclusive, so don’t expect to find one at your local dealer. However, if you are lucky and have $686,613 (or a soul to sell) then you may be able to get your hands on one of the 499 units Audi plans on producing.

Audi plans on delivering the first of these supercars in the first half of 2027, but you won’t have to wait that long to see the Nuvolari in action. Audi will be taking it for a lap around the Monaco Grand Prix circuit track this weekend, in front of a crowd that may actually be able to afford one.