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Is the new Audi Nuvolari starting the shift back to ICE? | The Car Podcast #91

Is the new Audi Nuvolari starting the shift back to ICE? | The Car Podcast #91

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About this episode

The Car Podcast #91 bounces from “good news” to deep dives on details. The hosts tease an Audi “that looks like a cat,” then talk about a possible shift back toward ICE—“including the Audi… but it’s got a V8.” They also share track-day stories from Thruxton in the rain, with Porsche GT3s and a Bentley GT3. Later, it’s hands-on car talk: audio upgrades, fuel-filler quirks, and even a “biscuits and cars” game.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

V8

"including the Audi that looks like a cat with a Lamborghini back, but it's got a V8 and we should all celebrate"

A V8 is a type of engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. People like it because it usually sounds and feels more “classic” than smaller engines or electric-only cars.

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Brand

Vauxhall

"There's a new Vauxhall. And I thought Vauxhall didn't really exist anymore, because we never talked about Vauxhall, but of course Vauxhall, whether it had been the 1930s"

Vauxhall is a British car brand. The host is saying it used to be more of a big deal in the past, and they’re surprised it isn’t talked about as much today.

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Brand

Aston Martin

"Aston Martin is sort of getting it nine-tenths right, aren't they?"

Aston Martin is a British car brand famous for fancy, sporty cars. Here they’re talking about how good the car looks and feels—like it’s almost perfect.

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Brand

Audi

"Vauxhall and Audi, particularly. Very good news this week."

Audi is a German car brand that makes premium cars. Here it’s mentioned as part of the “good news,” suggesting something new or exciting is happening with Audi.

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Concept

rally car

"Oh. Have they gone rallying? I should know this, but I think they've reintroduced a rally car."

A rally car is a race car built for rally events—roads with dirt, gravel, and lots of bumps. It’s made to stay controllable and tough even when traction changes constantly.

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Car

Land Rover Range Rover

"... they're completely putting in parts. There's one Range Rover, rather beautiful thing. It's black,"

The Range Rover is a large, comfortable SUV made for both everyday driving and rougher roads. People talk about it because it’s meant to feel luxurious while still being capable. A black one is especially noticeable and memorable.

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Term

riveted arches

"Did it have riveted arches? [474.6s] It did have riveted arches."

“Riveted arches” means the wheel-arch panels are attached with rivets you can see. It’s a small construction detail that can help tell which version of a car you’re looking at. Here, it’s used as a clue to confirm the Porsche’s generation.

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Car

Porsche 911 (993)

"Oh, 993. [477.7s] 993. [478.5s] Okay."

A Porsche 911 (993) is a specific generation of the classic 911 model. It’s the final air-cooled 911 generation, and collectors often care about it. In this moment, they’re confirming the exact 911 generation of the car they saw.

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Term

Odisson system

"So the good news is apparently they can do a sort of... They can do an update for the Odisson system that I've got. It's a software update, and then they can play with the graphic equalizer, get the base up."

This sounds like the car’s built-in music system. They’re saying they can update the software, and then tweak the sound settings to try to improve the bass.

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graphic equalizer

"It's a software update, and then they can play with the graphic equalizer, get the base up."

A graphic equalizer is a sound-tuning tool. It lets you adjust different parts of the audio (especially bass and treble) so the music sounds better in the car.

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Term

subwoofer

"The bad news is we think the base will never be quite good enough, so I might have to have a subwoofer installed somewhere, and that means probably removing the becker from the boot."

A subwoofer is the speaker that handles the deep “boom” part of music. If the car’s speakers don’t make enough bass, a subwoofer can make it sound fuller—sometimes with extra installation work.

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Term

becker

"so I might have to have a subwoofer installed somewhere, and that means probably removing the becker from the boot. I won't throw it away, but I'll leave that CD player somewhere."

“Becker” sounds like part of the car’s audio equipment. They’re saying they might need to take it out to install a subwoofer properly.

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Term

CD player

"I won't throw it away, but I'll leave that CD player somewhere."

A CD player is the part of the car that plays music from CDs. They’re saying they might remove it temporarily while doing the audio changes.

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Term

GT3

"We had some fantastic cars from Porsche who provided the GT3. Catering provided us a couple of 420 cups, and Bentley, in the inestimable shape of Mike Sayer, came along and drove their Bentley GT3 race car."

GT3 is a race class. Cars from different brands are prepared to the same general racing rules so they can race each other more fairly.

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Place

Thruxton

"Thruxton were brilliant. So to Ben, Ben and Lorne at Thruxton who helped us organise it, I hope that you had as much fun as we did. Ben Taylor, who runs Thruxton the BRC, was at seven o'clock in the morning in the car park in the rain,"

Thruxton is a real race track in the UK. The episode is describing a track event where people helped organize the day and drove cars on circuit.

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Car

Mclaren F1

"...got to say Croix Paris. He gave me a model of the McLaren F1 Longertale that I drove for a full year."

The McLaren F1 is a very rare, high-performance supercar. It’s known for being built with serious engineering and a driver-first design. The “Longtail” is a special version made to be even more track-focused.

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Topic

Monaco Grand Prix

"Of course we had the Monaco Grand Prix, didn't we? Yeah. So, which I sort of endured really."

The Monaco Grand Prix is a famous Formula 1 race run on city streets in Monaco. It’s hard to pass there, so how the race starts (and restarts) can matter a lot.

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Term

second standing start

"and Anthony was down the road. He coped with the second standing start extremely well."

A standing start means the cars are stopped on the grid and then launch from a standstill. If it’s the “second” one, the race had to restart again, which often makes things more unpredictable.

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Term

second restart

"when he backed the whole grid up as they exploded away after the second restart was he was incredibly lucky"

A restart is when the race is paused and then starts again. If it’s the second restart, drivers have to reset their timing and positioning twice, which can lead to more mistakes.

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Term

penalty

"because that caused a few problems."

A penalty is a punishment for breaking the race rules. It can cost you time or position, depending on what the officials decide.

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Car

Peugeot 205

"Yeah. That's the Peugeot 205 GTO 1.9. Oh, is it?"

The Peugeot 205 CTI is a small sporty hatchback. It was made to be more exciting than a normal family car. People often talk about it because it’s a classic “driver’s” version of the 205.

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Car

Ferrari 308

"Fig Roll. Ferrari 308 GTB. Is it?"

The Ferrari 308 GTS is a classic sports car with a V8 engine in the middle of the car. It has a roof setup that lets you drive more open-air than a normal coupe. It’s often mentioned because it’s a well-known Ferrari from that period.

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Car

Ferrari 308 GTB

"Fig Roll. Ferrari 308 GTB. Is it?"

The Ferrari 308 GTB is an older Ferrari sports car with a V8 engine placed in the middle. It’s a coupe, meaning it has a fixed roof. People talk about it a lot because it’s a classic and very recognizable Ferrari.

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Car

Jensen Interceptor

"...e digestive. Dark chocolate digestive is a gentle interceptor. Oh, sophisticated."

The Jensen Interceptor is an older British sports grand tourer—basically a car meant for comfortable fast driving. It’s known for having a strong, powerful feel. The podcast is using it as a fun, memorable classic example.

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Car

Lancia Fulvia

"Oh, my God. Lancia Fulvia 1.6HF. Yeah, that's good."

The Lancia Fulvia is an older Italian car that came in different versions. The “1.6HF” is a more performance-focused version with a bigger engine. People mention it because it’s a well-known classic Lancia with a sporty reputation.

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Car

Ferrari Ff

"So what would the chocolate hobnob be as a car? Mr Pandey. So we asked you what the chocolate hobnob was, a car? Chocolate hobnob of a car. Ferrari FF. I think it's quite magnificent."

The Ferrari FF is a special Ferrari because it has all-wheel drive, so it can grip the road better than many other Ferraris. It’s meant to be a fast, comfortable “grand touring” car you can use more often, not just on perfect days.

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Car

Lamborghini Countach

"...feels bad because one day I will want to read the Countach versus the Boxter versus the Aston V8 test in 199..."

The Lamborghini Countach is a very famous older supercar with an extreme, angular design. It’s known for being fast and for looking unlike most other cars. People compare it to other classic supercars because it’s such a recognizable reference point.

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Topic

Autosport magazines

"Oh God, here we go. [2249.2s] Autosport magazines. [2252.4s] 2001, 2002."

Autosport is a well-known magazine about racing and cars. Here, the host is talking about old issues they keep around.

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Car

Lancia Delta Integrale

"that I bought with my Lancia Delta Integrale [2993.3s] and I've yet to change."

The Lancia Delta Integrale is a famous turbocharged rally-inspired Lancia. Here, the host is describing a frustrating problem with something he keeps having to deal with on his own Integrale.

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Car

GT3 RS

"So you had it on the GT3 RS, the GT3, GT2, they all had this bloody silver... Inside the flap."

The GT3 RS is one of Porsche’s most track-focused 911s. Here it’s mentioned because the same fuel-filler flap design shows up on it too. The host doesn’t like the “fake metal” look/feel even on a serious performance car.

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Car

Porsche 928

"It goes 993 and it goes 928. I loved that high quality German plastic red one."

The Porsche 928 is a Porsche GT coupe with a V8 engine. It’s known for being a more “grand touring” style car than the 911.

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Term

filler flap

"it just springs out. Because the springiness of the thing is not matched to where it's going to go. And the quality and the fit of the filler flap"

The fuel filler flap is the little door on the side of the car that you open to access the gas cap. The host is saying the flap and cap should work together smoothly, not fight each other.

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Term

filler cap

"When you try and put the filler cap into the little bracket thing on the flap of the door, it just springs out. Because the springiness of the thing is not matched to where it's going to go."

The fuel filler cap is the part you open to put gas in. The host is judging how well it lines up and how securely it stays attached when you open and close it.

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Car

Alpine A110

"way of thinking about the filler cap is the LP in A110. I know we find every reason to talk about A110."

The Alpine A110 is a small sports car designed to feel light and quick to drive. People talk about it because it has a clear, recognizable style and handling. Even small parts of the car can stand out, like the fuel filler area.

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Term

jet wash

"and they're trying to do it very carefully and they want to clean on the inside of the filler cap and they press the thing and put the jet wash in there,"

A jet wash is the high-pressure water spray used at car washes. They’re saying some people don’t realize the filler opening is different, so they may spray water where it shouldn’t go.

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Term

data-driven

"And I wonder where the Formula One now is such a data-driven thing. You can sit down, you can evaluate just about everything"

“Data-driven” means using lots of measurements from the car to guide decisions. Teams look at numbers like speed, tire behavior, and engine performance to figure out the best plan.

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Term

restarts

"And to deal with those restarts, he's 19 years old."

In Formula One, “restarts” are the moments when the race resumes after a safety car or red-flag interruption. Drivers must manage clutch/launch timing, tire temperature, and traction while the field is bunched up, which makes restarts high-risk and strategically important.

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Term

engine equivalence rules

"And just my last point, it's not sort of about Monaco, but more about Formula One. The engine equivalence rules have just, they benchmark all the engines and they give people tokens"

These are rule changes that try to make different engine types compete more fairly. The sport measures engines and then applies limits so one design doesn’t automatically dominate.

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Term

engines

"because the rules have just said, [3929.9s] ooh, we only look at the engines. [3931.6s] There is some consolation in that"

They’re talking about racing rules that focus on the engine. The point is to separate what the engine contributes from what the driver and the rest of the car contribute.

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Person

Antonelli

"I mean, Antonelli at one point, [3944.1s] I mean, he lapped George. [3946.2s] That must have smarted."

They’re talking about a racing driver named Antonelli and how he was lapping other cars. The takeaway is that driver skill can make a huge difference in a race.

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Person

Lewis Hamilton

"go, [3969.2s] You have to have balls of steel to turn around and go, [3972.6s] I've got Lewis Hamilton [3974.9s] and he wants a two-year contract"

They’re talking about Lewis Hamilton, the famous Formula 1 driver. The host is discussing contract terms—how long he wants to sign for.

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Term

six hours

"It says very carefully, it's got to be a car that can go for six hours. It can't be some sort of sprinty car or a small car."

That “six hours” is about endurance racing—cars have to keep going for a long time. Instead of racing for a short burst, the goal is to stay fast and reliable for hours.

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Car

Ferrari 430

"...p for endurance racing. So I think we would get a Ferrari 430 GTC, like sort of a GT2 Ferrari 430 from 2008."

The Ferrari 430 Scuderia is a high-performance Ferrari based on the 430 model. It’s built to be more track-like and more focused on driving feel than a regular version. The “Scuderia” name signals a more performance-oriented setup.

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Term

FF rear end

"It's an Aston Rapide with an FF rear end. I have to say, I'd forgotten that existed."

“FF” means the engine is in front and the drive wheels are also at the front. That affects how the car grips and how it feels when you accelerate out of corners.

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Car

Aston Martin Rapide

"The GT2 Bertone, it's sort of... It's an Aston Rapide with an FF rear end. I have to say, I'd forgotten..."

The Aston Martin Rapide is a luxury sports car with four doors. It’s meant for comfortable fast driving, not just short trips. The podcast is talking about how its drivetrain setup can relate to performance and racing-style ideas.

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Term

V10

"So it's the MF5. It's the V10 version. Oh, yeah."

V10 means the engine has 10 cylinders arranged in a V shape. Cars with V10 engines are usually built for strong, exciting performance.

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Car

BMW M5

"so well engineered. And I think with that M5 V10, I thought you'd be a nice and fine..."

The BMW M5 is a fast, sporty BMW sedan. It’s made by BMW’s performance division and is designed to drive quickly while still being practical. The “V10” refers to the engine type used in a famous version of the M5.

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Term

series

"[4529.4s] I think that little series, [4531.8s] I think is just fantastic. [4534.3s] I know it's not quite in keeping with the rules."

Here, “series” doesn’t mean a TV show—it means a specific version or lineup of a car. They’re saying that particular version looks great to them.

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Car

Jaguar Etype

"No one wants them. It's like an E-Type. It's like every other bloody old car."

The Jaguar E-Type is an older sports car known for its distinctive look. People still talk about it because it’s considered a classic. The comment suggests that, despite its fame, some people may not be interested in buying one.

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Term

W12 engine

"I want to put the W12 engine in this car."

A W12 engine is a type of engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a special compact shape. It’s known for being smooth and powerful, and the speaker wants that engine in the car.

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Term

ice-cold air conditioning

"I want it full-on ice-cold air conditioning."

That’s just the car’s climate control—how cold it can make the cabin. The speaker is saying they want modern comfort, not just old-school looks.

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Term

modern brakes

"I want modern brakes."

“Modern brakes” means updating the car’s stopping system with newer parts. The idea is to make an older car feel safer and more predictable to drive.

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Car

Bentley Rtype Bentley

"I want modern brakes. I want it to be a singer R-Type Bentley. And it's going to be super reliable, super gorgeous."

The Bentley R-Type Continental is an older luxury car designed for comfortable long drives. It’s known for being powerful and refined. The podcast is talking about making it more practical by improving things like braking and reliability.

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Car

Morgan Aero

"I think it's the right thing. It's the Morgan Aero 8 race car. I saw that in Le Mans."

The Morgan Aero 8 is an older-style-looking sports car made for fun driving. It also has race versions that have competed in endurance events. The podcast is mentioning it because it’s been seen in racing at Le Mans.

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Place

Le Mans

"It's the Morgan Aero 8 race car. [4653.4s] I saw that in Le Mans."

Le Mans is a legendary long-distance race in France. It’s a big deal in racing, so mentioning it usually means the car is connected to serious endurance racing.

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Term

facelift

"2017 car, sadly, is the facelift, but my Lord, [4714.1s] it's absolutely stunning the spec of that car. [4716.9s] It's a speed."

A facelift is when a car gets updated partway through its life. It can mean changes to the looks and sometimes the features, but it’s not a completely new model.

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