Lamborghini created the Temerario; Audi has already copied it, and Porsche might do the same

Just a few months ago, it would have been hard to imagine a Porsche that directly incorporated the technology of a Lamborghini would have seemed particularly unlikely. Yet within the Volkswagen Group, this possibility now seems much less unlikely. Following Audi, which drew heavily on the Lamborghini Temerario To develop its Nuvolari, Porsche could in turn take advantage of this Italian platform to create a new supercar positioned above the 911.

According to several media outlets citing reports from Automotive News, Porsche is reportedly exploring the possibility of developing its next flagship model based on the Audi Nuvolari. And behind the Audi Nuvolari lies a great deal of Lamborghini influence.

Lamborghini Temerario, Audi Nuvolari… and then Porsche?

When the Audi Nuvolari was unveiled last June, its ties to Lamborghini were already evident. The German supercar uses the Temerario’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine, capable of revving up to 10,000 rpm. Audi achieves a combined output of 1,000 ch, compared to 920 ch for the Lamborghini.

But the connections go beyond the engine. Information released since the Nuvolari’s unveiling confirms that it is also based on an architecture derived from that of the Temerario. The prototypes spotted in recent months had, in fact, provided some interesting clues—even featuring certain components sourced directly from Lamborghini.

A collaboration that, in the end, was very similar to the one we had experienced with the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo then Huracán. With one difference: this time, a third manufacturer might join the family.

Porsche is indeed looking to expand its lineup into the higher-end segments. Its new CEO, Michael Leiters, confirmed this year that the automaker is exploring various concepts in the GT and hypercar segments, with the goal of introducing a model positioned above its current sports cars.

Developing an entirely new successor to the Carrera GT or the 918 Spyder would, however, require a tremendous amount of time and money. Using an architecture that has already been amortized by Lamborghini and then Audi would make the project much easier to justify financially. The Audi Nuvolari is a particularly interesting candidate: mid-engine, hybrid powertrain, Lamborghini V8. Audi has already demonstrated just how far this platform could be taken with a car limited to only 499 units.

A Porsche with a Lamborghini V8 engine?

That’s obviously the question we’re most interested in. If Porsche does indeed adopt the Audi Nuvolari’s technical architecture, could it also adopt the L411 V8 developed in Sant’Agata Bolognese?

For now, there is no evidence to support that claim. Porsche could very well reuse certain platform components while continuing to use the existing engines in the 911. But retaining the Lamborghini hybrid powertrain would make sense from an industrial standpoint, especially since it already delivers more than 1,000 ch at Audi.

This would lead to a rather extraordinary situation: Lamborghini would have developed the Temerario, Audi would have used it to create the Nuvolari, and then Porsche would, in turn, use the Nuvolari to develop its next flagship model. A true set of Russian nesting dolls within the Volkswagen Group.