Audi is planning something that is equal parts big and mysterious. It will also get a name that means a great deal to the brand. An announcement is coming later today for something it is calling the Nuvolari, and Audi describes it as “the embodiment of fearlessness, ingenuity, dedication and a single-minded will to succeed.”
Teaser Focuses On Legendary Grand Prix Driver
In the last couple of days, Audi has posted teasers on Facebook. The most recent one (embedded below) was shared yesterday.
The teaser campaign starts with extensive footage of 1930s Grand Prix cars. Racing, driving, and a quick look at some mechanical parts. The footage is of the man whose name graces this new Audi announcement.
Tazio Nuvolari started racing cars in 1925, winning races and championships for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati before switching to Auto Union in 1937. Auto Union was one of the predecessors of modern Audi, and he stayed with the team until 1939. The yellow and black colors in the teasers are a nod to the sweater he wore during every race.
Nuvolari was one of the all-time greats. A driver Ferdinand Porsche once called “the greatest driver of the past, the present, and the future.” So it’s no surprise Audi wants to capture that spirit in whatever the company is about to reveal.
And this won’t be the first time. Audi put Nuvolari’s name on a concept car in 2003, that looked like a scaled-up Audi TT with a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V10 under the ultra-long hood. That was a rather interesting concept, but the company also offered a limited-edition TT Nuvolari exclusively for the Italian market back in 2014. It was strictly an appearance package.
2003 Audi Nuvolari Quattro concept finished in silver with tan interiorAudi
What, then, does Audi have planned this time? There are rumors of a new sports car concept. Possibly a replacement for the R8 that once again shares some development with Lamborghini.
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Could This Be The New R8?
The 10,250 rpm twin-turbo V8 from the Lamborghini Temerario would be ideal for a new take on the R8. Lamborghini has said it is proud of that engine, and wants to limit use of the engine outside of its own brand, but limit doesn’t mean restrict completely.
Just a few weeks ago, Audi’s CEO hinted at the new car. Gernot Döllner wouldn’t call the old R8 by name, at a round table event in Germany, but he did mention the impressive V8 engine. He also pointed out that Audi has opportunities to combine engineering from around the Volkswagen Group to create its own vehicle.
“The C Sport is an example of how we can build a car with character based on a Porsche platform, yet the result is clear Audi. And that’s our approach, to have our customers in mind and come up with the right solutions,” Döllner said.
He said that the production version of that car would be based on a Porsche-designed EV platform. This car, then could do something similar. Even in concept form.
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We’re hoping for a new supercar, but this could be something as simple as another special edition or a racing announcement. Audi is back in F1, and the Monaco Grand Prix – possibly the most prestigious event in the series – is this weekend. It’s a perfect time for some corporate synergy, but also for a track-focused reveal.
Stay tuned. We’ll have more on the reveal as soon as Audi announces the details.
