To set it apart from simpler SUV systems, Audi's air suspension is a little more sophisticated than just raising and lowering the ride height, it's really an electronically controlled, continuously adaptive damping system. The driver has control, with the ability to make adjustments to chassis dynamics depending on immediate need. The Nuvolari offers three modes - Automatic, Dynamic and Lift - each optimizing the chassis for specific road surfaces, rates of speed, angle of approach, forward and lateral acceleration, and braking rates, automatically tweaking the car's damping characteristics and ride height.
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| Audi has equipped the Nuvolari with a racing-car braking system that mirrors its Le Mans winning R8 design. (Photo: Audi) |
Those brakes should be quite capable of pulling the Nuvolari down from rapidity to standstill in little time. Audi has equipped a racing-car system that mirrors its Le Mans winning R8 design, with massive cross-drilled vented discs at each wheel. The expected electronic assistants, ABS, EBD and BA, are willing and waiting to add stopping force when needed, aided by a viscid set of run flat 265/720 R 560 performance tires on gorgeous 9-spoke PAX rims - equal to a visible diameter of 20.6 inches.
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| The Nuvolari integrates two hidden cameras to measure the front passenger's seating position, and if not properly in place the system can vary airbag inflation accordingly. (Photo: Audi) |
The Nuvolari makes use of radar-aided adaptive cruise control, which works in tandem with cruise control to automatically maintain a preset safe distance from the vehicle ahead. While this works in theory, and for the most part in fact on the superhighways of Europe, here at home safe distances are more often than not large enough to squeeze in an inane lane swapper or two.
For such moments when a road hog's better judgment overtaxes simple physics, Audi has included the requisite front, side impact and side curtain airbags. Taking safety a step further the Nuvolari integrates two hidden cameras to measure the front passenger's seating position. If not properly in place the system can vary airbag inflation accordingly. Smart.