Track Attack: Drive the 2028 Audi Nuvolari to Its Nearly 185-mph Limit
A cabin built for speed
The test began at Circuito de Madrid Jarama, where Victor led a passenger-seat lap with hard braking and sideways corner exits. The experience offered little time to settle into the unfamiliar car.
Inside, microfiber, leather and aluminum trim give the cabin a polished feel. The Nuvolari starts in electric mode; turning the steering-wheel knob brings its 789-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 to life, and holding the knob selects Dynamic+ mode.
Electric power joins the V-8
The V-8 can rev to 10,000 rpm and works with a 147-hp motor connected to the crankshaft. Two more 147-hp motors power the front axle and provide torque vectoring.
A 7-kWh battery can supply up to 254 horsepower. Together, the engine and electric motors produce 987 horsepower, 80 more than the Temerario, which has a 4-kWh battery and a 187-hp electric-power limit.
Braking and steering feel
On Jarama’s nearly half-mile front straight, the car approached an indicated 185 mph. Brembo CCM-R Plus carbon-ceramic brakes, measuring 16.5 inches up front and 16.1 inches at the rear, slowed it with confidence.
The brake pedal felt good, with travel that helped modulate braking. Steering effort increased steadily through Turn 2, and the front tires gave clear signs when they were nearing their limits.
Predictive control, limited production
Audi’s Quattro Predictive Drive uses a 6-D sensor and algorithms to anticipate the car’s needs based on driving habits. The system can add torque vectoring to the front axle during a corner exit or help straighten the car under heavy braking.
The Nuvolari is expected to cost more than $700,000 before customization, and Audi plans to build 499. Buyers can choose a color or an unpainted carbon-fiber body, whose cost was not specified. The car measures 104.7 inches between the axles and weighs an estimated 4,300 pounds.
Key points
- The Audi Nuvolari combines a twin-turbo V-8 with three electric motors for 987 horsepower.
- It approached an indicated 185 mph on Jarama’s front straight.
- Quattro Predictive Drive can adjust torque to help manage the car’s movement.
- Audi plans to build 499 Nuvolaris, priced above $700,000 before customization.