There are four Bugatti sports cars that represent automotive innovation like no others cars do.

It would come as a surprise that the four cars that represent innovation in automobiles in its purest form are all Bugatti sports cars. Showcasing the evolution of automobiles in a way that is unique and amounts to flexing the boundaries of what machines can really be or do what they are expected to do to the fullest, the four Bugatti cars are the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, Chiron Super Sport 300+ and the W16 Mistral World Record Car.

Successful in carving out a niche, each of the four cars – ultra super cars – have come to represent Bugatti’s incomparable legacy. The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, on a beautiful day of April 2010, achieved a new land speed world record for production cars on the proving grounds of the Volkswagen Group at Ehra-Lessien (nearby its headquarters at Wolfsburg). In the presence of the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) and a representative of Guinness Book of Records, the Super Sport achieved an average top speed of 431 kmph!

Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Pierre Henri Raphanel put his helmet and gloves on, pulled the safety belts tight whilst the engineers checked the car a very last time for tyre pressure, temperature and all the systems.

The orange-black Super Sport crossed the light barrier within one hour by driving from South to North and then in the opposite direction. The driver being the only one to touch the car during the record run, the description of the Veyron as its headlights appeared at a certain point of the track was of a jumbo jet coming closer and simply jetting by.

The GPS-tachometer recorded a speed of as much as 933 kmph. The average speed generated by the TUV and Guinness representatives was a whopping 431.072 kmph, which surprised even the Bugatti team.

The roadster version of Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, set the world speed record for open-top production sports cars at the Volkswagen Group’s proving grounds in Ehra-Lessien.

TÜV, the renowned independent German organisation for technical inspection and certification, officially confirmed that a top speed of 408.84 kmph was achieved when the super car was driven by the Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu in 2013.

On the market since the spring of 2012, the open-top sports car is fitted with an 8.0 litre W16 engine that pours 1,200 PS and a torque of 1,500 Nm at 3,000 to 5,000 rpm on the road. Its high-performance handling can be attributed to a racing chassis, which together with extremely fast-acting shock absorbers and reinforced anti-roll bars, guarantees exact control of both the four-wheel drive system and the entire vehicle.

The other factors that enable such performance at the upper limits include a standard carbon monocoque with high torsional rigidity and an outer shell made entirely of carbon fibre. With wind noise and air turbulence a particular concern with open-top vehicles, the Vitesse is offered with a specially developed roof spoiler along with an intricately designed windbreak that guarantees calm open-top driving.

The Chiron Super Sport 300+ is the fastest Bugatti ever made, redefining what is possible when it comes to speed and aerodynamics. Piloted by Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Andy Wallace, the hypercar smashed through the 482.803 kmph (300 mph) barrier in 2019. Never had a production car reached such speeds ever!

Occupying a spot in the history and standing as a marker in the quest for greater performance and speed, the hypercar was fitted with a re-engineered version of Bugatti’s legendary 8.0 litre W16 engine that produced 1,600 PS of power. A new thermal management system for the engine and gearbox were developed. Refinements to the software governing the engine, gearbox and turbochargers were also made.

To ensure top notch stability, the car was fitted with a ‘longtail’ that extended the car length by approximately 25 cm. This allowed the laminar flow to pass over the body for a longer period of time, reducing aerodynamic stall by more than 40 percent. Air curtains adorning the hyper sports car’s front corners dispersed excess air pressure towards the car’s sides. Simultaneously, air outlets at the wheel arches and behind the front wheels guided excess pressure away from each wheel arch, reducing drag by also producing a small amount of negative lift. Liberal use of exposed carbon fibre – flowing through into the car’s engine cover and the windscreen wiper, thereby contributing to crucial weight-saving that helps the hyper sports car push the envelope of performance – was resorted to. Extremely light and strong magnesium alloy wheels were deployed.

Andy Wallace – Bugatti Pilote Officiel and winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours – assumed the controls of the one-off W16 Mistral World Record Car, warming up the vehicle’s bespoke high-performance tyres on a first anticipatory lap. Ascending to a specified speed of 200 kmph into the banking of the track (of ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH), he increased the speed before unleashing the full power of the vehicle as the straight opened up coming off the banking, taking it to new heights of record speed in November 2024. Under the meticulous control of SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, the achievement of a new world top-speed record for an open-top car was officially confirmed at the end of the run, with Andy reaching an incredible 453.91 kmph.

The EUR 14 million hypercar is powered by an 8.0-litre, quad-turbo, W16 engine that does an impressive 1,578 bhp. Innovative is the W16 Mistral’s X-taillight arrangement, which channels hot air from the radiators through ducts towards the rear of the vehicle. The air is expelled through the vents in the X-taillight arrangement.

The hypercar’s ramp-design diffuser accelerates the air’s journey from the rear of the vehicle, which increases downforce and helps the model excel at high speeds. Contributing to the vehicle’s excellent stability are bespoke high-performance tyres.

MT

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has launched petrol and twin-cylinder CNG versions of the Xpres sedan to broaden its fleet-specific offerings. The petrol model is priced from INR 559,000, while the CNG variant starts at INR 659,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

This expansion follows the introduction of the Xpres EV and is intended to provide a range of powertrains for commercial operators, including cab aggregators, airport transfers, and tourist services.

The Xpres CNG features a 70-litre water capacity fuel tank using twin-cylinder technology. This configuration is intended to maximise travel range while maintaining boot space, a factor that has previously limited luggage capacity in gas-powered vehicles. The petrol variant provides a boot capacity of 419 litres. Both models are powered by a 1.2-litre Revotron engine paired with a manual transmission, designed for the duty cycles required in professional mobility.

The company has stated that the maintenance cost for these vehicles is INR 0.47 per kilometre. To support fleet owners, Tata Motors has established dealerships in selected cities dedicated to commercial sales and service. These facilities are intended to provide faster vehicle turnaround and support.

The vehicles come with a standard warranty of three years or 100,000 km, which can be extended to five years or 180,000 km. The manufacturer has also introduced finance solutions specifically for fleet purchasers to assist with the acquisition of the petrol and CNG models.

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “Tata Xpres was created to address the real operating challenges faced by fleet customers, including passengers and owners. Responding to the needs of our fleet customers, we are elated to introduce the first-in-segment 70-litre twin-cylinder CNG variant with best-in-segment usable boot space, alongside a petrol variant with the largest boot space. Built on our proven 1.2-litre Revotron powertrain and supported by long-term warranty, tailored finance and dedicated fleet dealerships, Tata Xpres fleet with its complete range of electric and ICE powertrains will offer a complete, future-ready mobility platform to our customers, in turn expanding our market share across India’s commercial mobility landscape.”

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Volkswagen India has started the local assembly of the Tayron R-Line SUV at its manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The commencement of production aligns with the company's schedule to launch the vehicle within the first quarter of 2026. This move follows the global debut of the model less than a year ago and forms part of the brand’s strategy to expand its SUV portfolio in the Indian market.

The facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is now producing the model to ensure readiness for the upcoming commercial release.

The SUV occupies a position as a premium offering within the Volkswagen India line-up. Its introduction aims to address demand for larger vehicles that provide both space and practicality. The local assembly process allows the company to manage its supply chain and operational readiness as it prepares for the official market entry.

Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The start of production for another world-class model - the Tayron R-Line at our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility represents a strategic step forward for Volkswagen India's SUV portfolio. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to putting the customer at the heart of our engineering, ensuring every detail resonates with the lifestyle and aspirations of our patrons. We aim to deliver a distinctive choice for premium SUV customers while reinforcing our operational strength and readiness to meet the evolving expectations of the Indian automotive market.”

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, added, “We believe there is a strong demand for premium German-engineered cars here in India and our plan is to make these cars more accessible to our customers. The Tayron R-Line has rolled-off the production line today at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant, in less than a year since its global launch and that is our level of commitment to driving growth in India.”

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MG Select, the luxury vehicle brand from JSW MG Motor India, has introduced a signature exterior finish for the MG Cyberster named Irises Cyan. The blue-green hue is designed to highlight the aerodynamic profile of the roadster, which serves as the brand's performance flagship.

The MG Cyberster references the design of the MG B Roadster through its proportions and silhouette. Key features of the vehicle include electric scissor doors and a soft-top roof. This model is positioned within the luxury performance segment, focusing on the integration of heritage design with contemporary engineering.

The introduction of Irises Cyan expands the existing colour palette for the Cyberster. At present, the vehicle is available in dual-tone options, including Nuclear Yellow and Flare Red with black roofs. Other combinations include Andes Grey and Modern Beige, which are paired with red roofs to contrast with the vehicle's bodywork.

The colour choices are intended to complement the car's proportions and performance identity. Each finish is selected to offer a degree of individuality for customers within the luxury automotive market.

Milind Shah, Head - MG SELECT, JSW MG Motor India, said, “MG Cyberster's Irises Cyan goes beyond a colour choice. It brings out a sense of confidence and creativity while reflecting the car’s progressive character and staying true to its performance driven DNA. At MG SELECT, design guides every decision we make. Each addition is intentionally developed to offer greater individuality and a heightened sense of luxury, allowing customers to build a stronger personal connection with their Cyberster.”

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has announced that its subcompact SUV – the Kia Sonet, has surpassed 500,000 unit sales milestone in the domestic market.

The Sonet SUV represents approximately 35 percent of the company's total sales volume in India. The made-in-India Sonet is also exported to nearly 70 international markets, with over 100,000 units sent to regions including the Middle East, South America and Asia-Pacific.

The SUV has recorded annual sales exceeding 100,000 units for two consecutive years. Available in various powertrain and transmission configurations, the Sonet has seen a concentration of demand in its higher specification trims. Kia India currently manages a network of 821 touchpoints across 369 cities to support its sales and service operations.

The Sonet is a central component of Kia’s 'Make in India' strategy. The success of the model in both urban and emerging markets is attributed to its range of engine options and integrated technology features. By reaching this milestone, the company has consolidated its position in the subcompact SUV segment, which remains one of the most competitive areas of the Indian automotive industry.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said. “Crossing the 500,000 sales milestone for the Sonet is a moment of pride for all of us at Kia India. Every Sonet sold represents a customer who believed in Kia and this is a powerful endorsement of the trust Indian buyers have shown us. This journey reinforces how our focus on delivering meaningful design, advanced technology, and dependable performance has resonated with buyers across the country. We remain deeply grateful to our customers for being integral to this success.”

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