Audi is making a serious return to the exotic supercar market, and American buyers are getting a surprisingly generous allocation of its most powerful production vehicle ever. The German automaker has officially confirmed that 182 examples of the new 2028 Audi Nuvolari will be coming to the United States, out of just 499 vehicles planned for worldwide production. That’s more than a third of the entire production run reserved for American customers, which says quite a bit about how important the U.S. market remains for Audi’s high-performance ambitions. Following its American debut during Monterey Car Week in August, the Nuvolari is now available to order through authorized Audi dealerships nationwide, with customer deliveries expected to begin during the first half of 2028. Of course, exclusivity comes at a considerable price, with the new flagship starting at a staggering $700,000 before options.

What makes the Nuvolari especially exciting is the extraordinary powertrain hiding beneath its aggressively sculpted bodywork. A high-revving 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 produces 789 horsepower, with the engine capable of spinning between 9,000 and 9,750 rpm at peak output. Three axial-flux electric motors, including two driving the front wheels and another positioned at the rear, contribute to an estimated combined system output of 987 horsepower. That’s enough to make the Nuvolari the most powerful Audi production car ever, and the performance estimates are appropriately outrageous. Audi claims the supercar will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in approximately 2.5 seconds before reaching a top speed exceeding 217 mph. Those are extraordinary numbers for any road-going vehicle, and they place the Nuvolari firmly in the territory of established exotic manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. It’s also rather refreshing to see Audi embrace a screaming V8 at a time when so much attention has shifted toward fully electric performance cars.

The Nuvolari isn’t simply about generating enormous horsepower, either. Audi has incorporated several technologies inspired by its Formula 1 involvement, including advanced energy management, brake-by-wire technology, active aerodynamics, and a new approach to quattro all-wheel-drive performance. The company’s quattro predictive ride system uses sensors and real-time vehicle calculations to anticipate changes in traction and adjust power delivery, braking, and aerodynamic balance before the driver necessarily notices anything happening. There’s also a sophisticated four-way adjustable suspension designed to manage compression and rebound under different driving conditions. Audi’s ceramic pro braking system reportedly improves heat dissipation by 21% compared with conventional ceramic brake designs, an important consideration when bringing a nearly 1,000-horsepower supercar down from extreme speeds. The idea is to deliver a vehicle that’s exceptionally quick in a straight line while maintaining the precision and confidence needed to perform at the limit on a racetrack.

Naturally, Audi has paid just as much attention to the Nuvolari’s construction and aerodynamic design. The supercar features an all-new Audi Space Frame architecture wrapped in extensive carbon-fiber bodywork, helping achieve the structural rigidity necessary for serious performance while keeping weight under control. Its active aerodynamic package includes a three-stage deployable rear wing, a Formula 1-inspired Drag Reduction System, and adjustable aerodynamic elements capable of generating more than 880 pounds of downforce. Buyers will also have an extraordinary amount of freedom when it comes to customization, with more than 60 exterior color choices, over 30 interior color selections, and additional Audi Exclusive finishes and materials. An exposed carbon-fiber exterior is available for customers who want to showcase the car’s construction, while 13 brake caliper colors, multiple upholstery treatments, and various seat belt colors provide additional opportunities for personalization. At $700,000, we’d certainly expect that level of attention to detail, and Audi appears determined to make each Nuvolari feel like a genuinely special commission rather than simply another expensive performance car.

From our perspective, the Audi Nuvolari represents exactly the kind of ambitious halo vehicle the brand has been missing since production of the beloved R8 came to an end. The R8 was already an exceptional machine, but this new supercar takes Audi into an entirely different performance and exclusivity category. We’re especially intrigued by the combination of a high-revving twin-turbo V8, sophisticated hybrid assistance, and advanced all-wheel-drive technology, because it suggests Audi hasn’t forgotten that a great supercar needs to deliver more than impressive acceleration figures. The $700,000 starting price certainly puts the Nuvolari beyond the reach of most enthusiasts, but with just 182 units allocated to the United States, that’s clearly not the audience Audi is targeting. Orders are currently being accepted for a limited time, and we’d imagine prospective buyers interested in securing one of these rare machines will want to contact their Audi dealer sooner rather than later. For everyone else, the Nuvolari gives us something exciting to look forward to, and we’re eager to see whether Audi’s most powerful production car can deliver the kind of driving experience its extraordinary specifications promise.