Audi Nuvolari Quattro on show at Le Mans

Audi's Nuvolari quattro concept car was presented to motorsport fans before the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in June 2003 before being driven for the first time on a racing circuit in front of more than hundred thousand spectators. Conceived as "GT of tomorrow", the Nuvolari quattro combines pioneering technology and the driving dynamics of a high performance GT car with the future style and form of Audi cars.

Powered by a five-litre bi-turbo V10 producing 441 kW (600 hp) and constructed with a coated aluminium body, Audi has ensured an outstanding power to weight ratio that's delivered via a sophisticated 6-speed automatic gearbox incorporating shift-by-wire-technology.

The Nuvolari quattro races from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 4.1 seconds.

In its drive on the legendary high-speed track at Le Mans the wheel was taken by Mich'le Mouton, the only woman ever to win a round of the World Rally Championship. Mouton's co-driver on this stage was Walter de'Silva, Director of Design for the Audi Group and one of the fathers of the Nuvolari quattro.

The coated aluminium body is constructed with the Audi Space Frame, which simultaneously offers outstanding power to weight ratio and a high degree of stiffness: the basis for the exceptional handling qualities of the Nuvolari quattro.

In keeping with the standard, the eye-catching large cross-drilled brake discs of the racing brake system are visible behind the 9-spoke wheels.

The aluminium suspension of the Nuvolari quattro, together with the adaptive air suspension, the four link front suspension and trapezoidal-link rear suspension provide excellent handling characteristics and sports car agility while the performance of the air suspension qualifies the Nuvolari quattro as long distance cruiser according to Audi.

The naming of the Audi study Nuvolari quattro pays homage to Tazio Nuvolari, a racing legend who won the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1933, exactly 70 years ago. The graceful Italian who was born 1892 in Mantua and died in 1953. His spectacular driving style became his trademark, as did the yellow pullover that he always wore whilst racing.

In 1938 Nuvolari changed teams, becoming works driver for Auto Union, and in 1939 he succeeded in winning the last Grand Prix for Auto Union.