Audi Nuvolari Supercar Poised to Get an Even Rarer Convertible Version

The Audi Nuvolari supercar has just made its surprise debut on the French Riviera ahead of this weekend's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, and already there's talk of a convertible version that could be even rarer. For the record, the Nuvolari will be limited to just 499 units and carry a base price in the region of $686,000 before options, and in speaking with Top Gear, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner was asked if the Nuvolari would be followed by another 499 open-top Spyder versions. His response? "Not 499," he said with a chuckle. While not direct confirmation, Döllner's answer strongly suggests that drop-top Nuvolaris will be produced, likely in even lower numbers. It's a strategy that has worked for other brands selling exclusive limited editions (see Lamborghini Aventador SVJ and SVJ Roadster), and for Audi, it makes a lot of sense.

A Rarer Audi Drop-Top Supercar Fits the Bill

The Novulari is not an R8 replacement, sitting in a higher echelon of rare and exceedingly expensive special editions. Because of that, it's allowed to have even more power than the Temerario corporate cousin with which it shares much of its technology (987 horsepower in the Audi versus 907 in the Lambo), and Audi is clearly using the Novulari to move its brand further upmarket. The R8 could perhaps be described as a super sports car rather than a bona fide supercar, and the Novulari is intentionally less attainable, inserting itself into discussions that would normally concern brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. Adding an even more exclusive convertible version would surely get more high-net-worth individuals interested in Audi, and with Lamborghini already testing a Spyder version of the Temerario, a Novulari convertible seems like a lay-up. But ease of development is not the only reason Audi should cut the roof off its Novulari, and soon.

Automakers Are Running Out of Time to Build Exciting Exotics

The Novulari was secretly developed by a small skunkworks team that took the supercar from boardroom idea to Côte d'Azur reveal in just 440 days. The car was built so quickly with the help of F1 engineers, partly to capitalize on the glamor of F1's most famous race, but more so because it had to be homologated before EU7 emissions regulations come into effect on November 29, 2026. With these rules looming over automakers, there's less and less time left to launch products using the existing playbook, and Audi will want to take advantage. This deadline also explains why Lamborghini is launching so many cars this year. Granted, six-figure supercars are out of reach for most of us, but they improve brand image, helping sell greater volumes of regular cars through simple association, and that's what Audi needs if it wants to beat the likes of BMW and Mercedes.

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