Audi’s Nuvolari hybrid hypercar has the internet divided as some dub it a “Flattened Cybertruck”

Audi has unveiled the fastest, most powerful hybrid hypercar in its history, the Audi Nuvolari. This new model fills the void left by the discontinued Audi R8, whose 17-year production run ended when the last R8 left the Bollinger Höfe plant in March 2024. Two years later, Audi returned to the spotlight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex with the Nuvolari, powered by a hybrid twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 paired with a tri-axial-flux electric motor setup delivering 1,001 PS (987 horsepower).

Nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen had the honor of driving the prototype Nuvolari up the 1.16-mile Goodwood Hillclimb. This run marked the hypercar’s first public debut just a few weeks after its surprise factory reveal.

Under the hood, the Audi Nuvolari is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, coded L411, developed in collaboration with Lamborghini. On its own, the combustion engine produces 789 hp and 730 Nm of torque and revs to a 10,000 rpm redline. It is complemented by three axial-flux electric motors, each delivering 148 hp and drawing power from a 7.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Together, this hybrid setup gives the Nuvolari a combined output of 1,001 PS (987 hp) and 728 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to send Audi’s limited-production hypercar from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Despite these impressive numbers, much of the criticism aimed at the Nuvolari has focused on its bodywork.

At the front, the car features four stacks of lights beneath a single lens cover, reminiscent of Audi’s Concept C. A large hood intake exists purely to manage airflow and downforce. An S-duct and a hidden rear spoiler work together to generate 882 pounds of downforce without a visible rear wing.

The side blades pay homage to the old R8, with vertical black accents that frame the doors. At the rear, there is no window; instead, Audi has fitted metallic air intakes and a digital rear-view camera. Four horizontal taillights sit above massive vents, which are divided by a wide oval central exhaust outlet.

Mixed reactions from the enthusiasts

Despite this engineering pedigree, the Nuvolari quickly drew criticism online after Goodwood’s official Instagram account posted footage of its hillclimb run. One commenter summed up the sentiment with the line, “The further it goes away, the better it looks.”

Elsewhere on the internet, the car has been mocked for looking like “a Cybertruck flattened with a mallet,” while others have called it “an obituary to the automobile.” The negative reaction to the design has snowballed, with critics comparing the Nuvolari to a slab-sided kitchen appliance or an R8 built from toy building blocks.

Not all of the feedback has been negative, however. Some reports from attendees at the Goodwood Festival note that the Audi Nuvolari looks significantly better in person, and that the titanium-finished prototype suits the sci-fi aesthetic Audi is aiming for.

Production of the Audi Nuvolari will be limited to just 499 units, with 494 build slots still available. Audi’s fastest and most powerful hybrid hypercar is expected to cost around $686,600, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. According to recent reports, Audi UK has already sold five Nuvolari in under 24 hours during a private preview in Monaco, before the public even had a proper look at the car.