The Audi Nuvolari is being positioned as a modern expression of the German automaker’s willingness to break from its usual engineering approach. Audi development chief Rouven Mohr told The Drive that the limited-production model is the brand’s “North Star,” while technology developed for the car could influence future Quattro systems across the lineup.
The Nuvolari as Audi’s “North Star”
Audi has often maintained a firm grip on its engineering principles, including its continued use of front-wheel drive and its reluctance to send power to the rear wheels in mainstream models. Ladder-frame models are also outside the company’s approach.
Yet some of Audi’s most memorable vehicles have emerged when the automaker went against those conventions. The Audi Quattro transformed rallying, the RS2 helped popularize the hot wagon, and the TT delivered an unexpected design from a company then known primarily for boxy sedans and wagons. The R8 later created another surprise, prompting the reaction: “This is an Audi?”
The Nuvolari follows that same approach. Mohr described it to The Drive as Audi’s “North Star,” although its production will be limited to just 499 vehicles.
The Nuvolari will also sit far outside the price range of Audi’s mainstream models. According to the article, buyers will need about 10 SQ5s to afford a single Nuvolari.
Audi Still Has Business to Handle
While the Nuvolari represents an emotional side of Audi, it is not the vehicle expected to pay the company’s bills. Audi is currently overhauling its entire lineup and needs its redesigned mainstream models to succeed before it can build another passion-oriented project.
Mohr said the Nuvolari will not be the final emotional model from Audi, although the company’s current priorities remain focused on its mainstream vehicles.
“You’ll see other emotional products. This does not mean R8—yes or no. This is not decided. We have different priorities at the moment,” Mohr said.
At the same time, some of the technology and ideas developed for the limited-run halo supercar are expected to eventually make their way into models that more customers can afford.
What the Nuvolari Could Mean for Quattro
Audi currently uses Quattro Ultra on its non-S and RS models. Unlike the brand’s traditional torque-sensing differential setup, Quattro Ultra is an on-demand system designed to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Models such as the A5 and Q5 may continue using that arrangement to help meet efficiency and emission targets.
For Audi’s more exciting models, however, some of the differential technology used in the Nuvolari could influence future vehicles. Mohr has not identified which models could receive the technology, but he said Audi plans to introduce a different interpretation of its intelligent drivetrain in standard cars.
“You will find a different interpretation in the standard cars of the intelligent drivetrain, meaning that the torque distribution in the car is done on a very intelligent and self-learning base. You will see it in the future of Quattro, even on the standard cars, in two kinds of interpretations,” Mohr said.
Audi Wants More Driving Excitement
Mohr’s broader goal is to strengthen Audi’s reputation as a fun-to-drive brand. He has the backing of CEO Gernot Döllner, who is described as a self-professed car guy.
Although driving excitement is not a top priority for most Audi buyers, Mohr believes giving the company’s vehicles more spark behind the wheel could help attract customers.
“We want to strengthen the American market, because Audi in the past unfortunately was losing a little bit of the awareness in the US,” Mohr said.
For Audi, the challenge is to bring more customers into its showrooms and persuade them to choose an Audi over BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Lexus. The Nuvolari represents the company’s latest effort to show what can happen when it moves against the grain, while its technology could shape the future of Quattro in more accessible models.
