Today’s Auto Brief: Audi’s Nuvolari roars into focus, Hyundai EVs get cheaper, and Australia’s ute wars rumble on

I love days like this—when the news cycle serves up something for every aisle in the showroom. We’ve got Audi’s long-rumored R8 follow-up finally taking shape, Aussie EV prices sliding the right way, a quietly strategic BMW 7 Series update, a tough new Triton for dirty weekends, and a featherweight British sports car for those who prefer steering feel over screens. Plus two wonderfully weird stories involving a $104k G‑Wagen “kit” and an Audi A4 with an actual airplane turbine. Buckle up.

Audi Nuvolari: Not a big TT, not a muzzled Lambo—something properly special

Audi’s upcoming Nuvolari—penciled in for 2027—looks set to be the spiritual successor to the R8, but with a very different heartbeat. Multiple reports point to a plug-in hybrid setup with hardware aligned to Lamborghini’s hybrid program. Translation: instant electric shove for town, and the sort of multi-dimensional performance that makes mountain passes feel shorter.

As someone who’s logged too many dawn runs in V10 R8s to admit publicly, the idea of silent early-morning exits and then full-cannon fire once the road opens up makes a lot of sense. The big question was always identity: would this be a de-badged Lambo or a stretched TT? The early read is neither. Expect crisp Audi design, a cabin that doesn’t sacrifice ergonomics to drama, and a powertrain with genuine duality—electric composure in traffic, hybrid muscle when you lean on it.

• Plug-in hybrid architecture with Lamborghini-derived components
• Likely 2+2 grand tourer packaging rather than a pure two-seat supercar
• Electric-only running for city hops; hybrid punch for the fun bits
• Cabin expected to skew Audi-clean rather than theatrical

Philosophically, it’s marching in the same parade as other hybrid exotics, but with an Audi bent: measured, usable speed. If it drives like it’s being billed, it won’t just replace the R8—it’ll reframe what “the fast Audi” feels like day-to-day.

EVs in Australia: Hyundai drops prices as Victoria’s strategy stumbles

Hyundai has cut prices on the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 by “thousands,” and that’s the sort of news you feel immediately on the showroom floor. When I ran the Ioniq 5 down to a favorite bakery in Geelong last year, strangers kept asking about charging and price. Now one of those answers just got friendlier.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s broader EV strategy is still tripping over three familiar hurdles: infrastructure gaps, wavering subsidies, and old-fashioned fear (range, resale, battery myths—you know the script). The result is a two-speed market: keen buyers chasing sharp deals while a chunk of the public waits for the map of fast chargers to look less like a sprinkling of confetti.

Hyundai EVs: which one suits you now?

Buying tips for Aussie EV shoppers right now

• Check on-road costs: the “drive-away” number is what matters, not just the headline cut.
• Map your life: if your daily loop is well under 200 km, range anxiety melts fast.
• Home charging first: budget for a wallbox; it’s the difference between “EV is easy” and “EV is homework.”
• Peek at inventory: price drops sometimes coincide with runout stock—good for negotiating.

Policy will catch up. In the meantime, carmakers like Hyundai are doing the heavy lifting for adoption—on price, not politics.

2027 BMW 7 Series update: Australia gets new toys, i7 EV price holds

BMW’s tweaked 7 Series is heading to Australia with fresh kit and, crucially, no price hike for the i7 electric variant. That’s a subtle but telling move. In a market where EVs can swing a few grand either way with incentives, holding the line signals confidence (and maybe a nudge to those cross-shopping high-end Taycans and Merc EQS sedans).

Having spent long highway slogs in the current i7, the magic trick remains the same: it makes ugly roads go away. Cabin hush is proper luxury-car stuff. The only nit I’d pick from experience? The boot opening isn’t as friendly as the old long-wheelbase 7 when you’re wrestling hard cases; pack soft bags and you’re golden.

• Updated features and trim for 2027; EV pricing steady
• i7 stays a cocoon for long hauls; rear-cabin comfort still the party trick
• Expect incremental tech refinements rather than an overhaul

2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider: built for the weekend you actually do

Mitsubishi’s Triton Raider riffs on a sweet spot: a dual-cab ute that doesn’t pretend to be a trophy truck, but can absolutely take a thrashing down a fire trail. On corrugated backroads—think hardpack, baby-head stones, and the occasional muddy rut—the Raider settles quicker than you’d expect for something that’ll still carry tools on Monday. The steering’s honest, the seats are supportive enough for a long day, and the accessories list reads like an REI catalog with a Japanese accent.

• Chunkier styling with practical add-ons (think protection where it counts)
• Suspension tune that keeps the cabin calm on washboard surfaces
• Upfitting made easy: racks, recovery points, and sensible electrics
• Cabin tech that’s usable with work gloves—not just pretty pixels

If your weekends include camping, mountain bikes, and a stubborn hill between you and the view, the Raider earns its badge.

Purist alert: Wells Vertige takes the fight to the Alpine A110

Autocar’s exclusive road test pegs the British-built Wells Vertige at around £75k—and squarely in Alpine A110 crosshairs. The pitch is intoxicatingly simple: light weight, clean responses, and feedback you can taste. I’m a sucker for this recipe. The first time I chased an A110 up a damp B-road, the lack of mass felt like cheating. If the Vertige serves the same delicacy with its own seasoning, we’re in for a treat.

• Lightweight construction, small footprint—made for real roads, not just tracks
• Driver-first ergonomics and visibility; fewer screens, more sensations
• Everyday-friendly ride height and manners (your driveway thanks you)

Is it niche? Absolutely. Also: exactly what keeps the enthusiast ecosystem alive.

From the “you did what?” desk

A $104,000 G‑Wagen makeover… without the G‑Wagen

An aftermarket program is offering a six-figure body and color transformation for the Mercedes G-Class—parts, paint, aero, the lot—just not the vehicle itself. The look screams “grid girls and gridlock,” and if your local valet knows your name already, this will ensure they use the last name too.

An Audi A4 and a 320‑pound airplane turbine walk into a garage…

Someone bolted aviation hardware to an Audi A4 to obliterate turbo lag. It’s ludicrous, brilliant, and best enjoyed with ear protection. You can solve lag with modern engineering—or you can tip a jet engine on the scales and call it a day. Respect.

Quick takes

• Audi Nuvolari’s hybrid promise reads like usable performance, not just paper numbers.
• Hyundai’s price cuts will land; watch for dealers to sharpen pencils on in-stock cars.
• BMW keeping i7 pricing steady is as much signal as strategy.
• Mitsubishi Triton Raider nails the “do-stuff” brief without the cosplay.
• Wells Vertige reminds us lightness is still the ultimate performance package.

FAQ

When will the Audi Nuvolari arrive and what’s the big deal?

It’s targeted for 2027. The headline is a plug-in hybrid layout with Lamborghini-derived tech, aiming to blend daily EV civility with serious performance.

How much have the Hyundai Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 prices dropped?

Hyundai says “by thousands,” which materially improves affordability. Exact drive-away prices will vary by trim and state on-road costs—check with your local dealer.

Is the 2027 BMW i7 cheaper now?

No—BMW is holding the i7’s price steady in Australia even as the broader 7 Series range gets updates. The value play is in added features rather than a price cut.

Is the Mitsubishi Triton Raider worth it over a regular Triton?

If you spend weekends off the tarmac, yes. The Raider’s tougher spec and more settled ride over rough surfaces make it the pick for adventure without giving up weekday usability.

What is the Wells Vertige and why should I care?

It’s a lightweight British sports car priced around £75k that targets the Alpine A110’s ethos: less mass, more feel. If you value steering feedback over lap-time bragging rights, it’s your flavor.

That’s the lot for today. A little hybrid thunder, a few grand off the right EVs, a limo that’s quietly confident, and enough oddball car culture to make your coffee taste better.