Could Porsche Build A Hypercar Based On The Audi Nuvolari?

While it makes financial sense, nothing is confirmed.

Audi Nuvolari First Drive Review

Photo by: Tobias Sagmeister | Audi

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Aug 31, at 4:35am ET

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Earlier this year, Porsche confirmed it's considering a new hypercar.
Automotive News reports the Nuvolari could provide a ready-made starting point, with its Lamborghini-derived architecture.
Porsche is expected to share more details about its future product roadmap in early October.

Porsche could have an interesting shortcut to a new flagship model sitting above the 911. Rather than developing an entirely new car from scratch, which would require many years of development and a massive budget, Zuffenhausen could potentially borrow hardware from within the Volkswagen Group. According to a new report from Automotive News, the obvious candidate is the recently revealed Audi Nuvolari.

The idea makes sense when you look at what Porsche CEO Michael Leiters has said about expanding the lineup. Earlier this year, he confirmed that the company was evaluating models and derivatives positioned above its current two-door sports cars. Porsche subsequently told Motor1 that it was considering various concepts in the GT and hypercar segments.

A Nuvolari-based Porsche wouldn't be as far-fetched as it might initially sound. Audi's new supercar already shares its architecture with the Lamborghini Temerario, giving the VW Group a proven mid-engined platform that can underpin multiple brands. The Nuvolari takes that foundation considerably further, with a carbon-fiber body, more power, and a production run limited to 499 units.

2027 Audi Nuvolari

2027 Audi Nuvolari

Photo by: Tobias Sagmeister | Audi

Sharing Is Caring

The VW Group has already demonstrated that it is comfortable spreading expensive sports-car technology across its brands. The Temerario and Nuvolari aren't the only examples, as the electric 718 Boxster/Cayman is likely to be twinned with a production version of the Audi Concept C. The latter arrives next year as a two-seater sports car with an electrically retractable targa roof.

Porsche is already using another Audi product as the basis for a new crossover to replace the first-generation Macan. The latter went out of production last month, but its successor won't arrive until 2028 at the earliest, with underpinnings adapted from the latest-generation Q5. Automotive News goes as far as to say the long-promised three-row SUV will be heavily related to the recently launched Q9, suggesting an even stronger relationship between Porsche and Audi.

2023 Porsche Mission X concept

2023 Porsche Mission X concept

Electric Hypecar Looks Increasingly Unlikely

We haven't forgotten that Porsche has already strongly hinted at a follow-up to the 918 Spyder. However, the 2023 Mission X concept was purely electric, and those who can afford these cars would still rather have a combustion engine behind them.

As recently as last week, Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac projected that ICE-powered performance cars in the high-end segment will stick around “for a very long time.” Side note: Porsche sold its share in Bugatti Rimac earlier this year, effectively ending the VW Group era of Bugatti.

Connecting the dots between Porsche and Audi is easy, but it's all speculation at this point. What we do know for sure is that Porsche will outline its product roadmap to investors on October 7 during its Capital Markets Day, when we should learn all about the “Strategy 2035” plan.

2027 Audi Nuvolari

Source: Audi

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Motor1's Take: While there is no confirmation that Porsche is developing a Nuvolari-based supercar, the ingredients are certainly there. Porsche wants something above the 911, and Audi has a Lamborghini-derived hybrid supercar platform it could use.

If Porsche decides it wants a new mid-engined supercar before the end of the decade, it might not have to look very far for a starting point. Going solo would take many years to come to fruition, not to mention a massive investment at a time when Porsche is selling assets and making layoffs as part of a company-wide restructuring plan.

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Source: Automotive News

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