- Bugatti
- Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition
- Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition
- Chiron Super Sport 300+
- W16 Mistral
Four Bugattis Represent Pure Automotive Innovation
- by Bhushan Mhapralkar
- January 16, 2025

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
- Toyota Kirloskar Motor
- Reimagining Growth
- Karnataka Government
- Karnataka 2025 Global Investors Meet
- Manasi N. Tata
- Swapnesh R. Maru
- Sudeep Dalvi
- Toyota Technical Training Institute
- TTTI
- skilling
- Government Tool Room & Training Centers
Karnataka Government Confers Toyota Kirloskar Motor At Global Investors Meet For Commitment To State
- by MT Bureau
- February 12, 2025

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has received an ‘Investment Certificate’ from the Karnataka government at the Invest Karnataka 2025 Global Investors Meet (GIM) for its contribution to the state’s economic growth, job creation and green mobility. The automaker is participating at the forum under the theme ‘Reimagining Growth’.
The company was recognised for its investment in a third manufacturing plant in November 2023, which is expected to generate 2,000 new jobs and 100,000 unit per annum production capacity for the automaker.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor is showcasing its sustainable mobility solution at the Future of Innovation Pavillion. It has create three experience zones – sustainability pavilion, green technology zone and skill development & CSR initiatives.
Incepted in 2010, GIM has become Karnataka’s premier investment platform, fostering economic growth, industrial innovation and policy dialogue.
Manasi N. Tata, Vice Chairperson, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, our journey has always been about creating lasting value for society through innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Karnataka, a progressive state, has been the foundation of our growth in India, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community through our continued investments in industrial progress and clean mobility solutions.”
Swapnesh. R. Maru, Deputy MD - Corporate Planning, Green Field Project, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we believe that sustainability is about living in harmony with nature, seamlessly weaving together people, progress, and the planet to create a home where no one is left behind. Our journey toward green mobility is driven by a deep sense of responsibility to create a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive future for generations to come. Our participation in Invest Karnataka 2025 is a testament to that vision. Through our multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality, we are driving meaningful change in the Indian automotive landscape and remain steadfast in our vision of contributing to ‘Viksit Bharat’ by fostering an ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and responsible manufacturing. Together, with every step we take, we move closer to a world where growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.”
Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President & Head of State Affairs, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Sustainability is at the core of Toyota’s global philosophy, and at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we are dedicated to pioneering clean and efficient mobility solutions that align with India’s carbon neutrality goals. We are grateful to the Government of Karnataka for its progressive policies and strong support, which have fostered a robust industrial ecosystem, enabling Karnataka to emerge as a key hub for manufacturing and innovation under the ‘Make in India’ vision. The state’s forward-thinking approach has not only accelerated the adoption of green mobility but has also strengthened the foundation for skill development and localisation. Through our participation in Invest Karnataka 2025 GIM, we continue to support the state’s industrial ecosystem by nurturing technological advancements, skill development, and responsible manufacturing practices."
Till date, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has invested over INR 160 billion in Karnataka along with an additional INR 40 billion being executed towards its third plant in the region. Furthermore, the company has also focussed on skilling, localisation and sustainability, with the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) expanding to 1,200 students, including 600 female students, to make Karnataka’s youth future ready. The OEM is also developing 16 Government Tool Room & Training Centers (GTTC), with plans to expand to 36 by 2026, and partnering with 49 ITIs, having trained 2,975 students so far, with a target of 88 institutes.
- Volkswagen
- Volkswagen India
- Volkswagen Ludhiana
- Taigun
- Virtus
- Tiguan
- Ashish Gupta
- Saravdeep Lally
- Tasneem Singh Lally
- Lally Motors
Volkswagen India Opens New Dealership In Ludhiana
- by MT Bureau
- February 11, 2025
German passenger vehicles manufacturer Volkswagen India has inaugurated its newest sales touchpoint in Ludhiana, Punjab called ‘Volkswagen Ludhiana’.
With this, the company now has 11 sales and seven service facilities in Punjab, which the automaker shared further strengthens its presence in the region.
The Volkswagen Ludhiana outlet is managed by Saravdeep Lally and a team of 10 service professionals features a three-car display featuring – Taigun, Virtus and Tiguan.
Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “The launch of Volkswagen Ludhiana is a significant step towards our Punjab growth story. Last year, we were able to establish a growth of 26 % in the state with customers in Punjab looking to own premium mobility solutions that really redefine the thrill of driving. As Ludhiana is a thriving territory for us, we are excited to make the Volkswagen experience even more accessible to our customers here, ensuring a seamless and personalized experience of our powerful, safe and feature loaded cars. This expansion underscores our commitment to creating a premium automotive destination that reflects the aspirations of Ludhiana's discerning customers.”
Tarsem Singh Lally, Managing Director, Lally Motors, added, “We are happy to bring the thrilling experience of driving a Volkswagen to our esteemed customers in Ludhiana (Ferozepur Road) to cater and service the Ferozepur Road and South City customers with a team of highly trained professionals, we are prepared to offer an exceptional car buying experience and look forward to being an integral part of the growing Volkswagen footprint in the region. This is our nineth Volkswagen Showroom in Punjab and the Tri-City Region.”
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- INGLO Electric Origin
- MAIA
- SDVs
- Charge.in
- Me4u
Mahindra Revamping Dealership And Aftersales Network To Support EV Ambition
- by MT Bureau
- February 10, 2025

Mumbai-headquartered SUV manufacturer Mahindra has is revamping its physical touchpoints to reflect its transformation journey. The company recently opened its next-gen dealership, which it said is inspired by its Heartcore design philosophy.
The new facilities boast a modern colour palette, dramatic lighting, intuitive technology and a seamless interaction. The new-age dealerships will offer customers an immersive environment to witness the company’s technologies such as INGLO Electric Origin architecture to MAIA, the Sonic Studio Experience. It is also upgrading its aftersales service network to have dedicated service bays for eSUVs, expert technicians trained for handling EVs and advanced tools, equipment and technology.
Predictive diagnostics tailored for software-driven vehicles (SDVs) including first-of-its-kind Remote Vehicle Diagnostics (RVD), ensuring proactive maintenance and a seamless customer experience.
The automaker is also setting up strategically located Battery Repair Centres for seamless EV battery care.
A 400-strong team of Mahindra Tech Experts, supported by engineers from Mahindra Research Valley (MRV), to ensure precision service.
Charge.in
The company is also introducing CHARGE.IN, a dedicated EV charging vertical with more than 350 experts offering bespoke charging solutions.
Me4U
Through Mahindra’s Me4U App the company will simply entire ownership experience from pre-sales to sales and aftersales for its customers by providing real-time order tracking, test drive bookings and vehicle insights even before delivery. Live vehicle status, remote controls and energy management post-delivery are some of the other features that it will offer.
Furthermore, to ensure a smooth EV ownership experience the company aims to have seamless integration with 50 percent of India’s fastest-charging DC chargers by March 2025.
- Honda Cars India Ltd
- Honda Cars
- E20 Compliance
- Sustainability
- E20 Petrol
Honda Cars India Achieves E20 Compliance For All Its Current Models
- by MT Bureau
- February 06, 2025

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL), India's premier luxury automobile manufacturer, has received E20 (20 percent ethanol blended) petrol compliance certification for all of its current models, including the Honda Elevate, Honda City e:HEV, Honda City and Honda Amaze. It also includes the E20 compliance certification gained for the 2nd Generation Honda Amaze in January 2025.
Since 2009, HCIL has adopted E20 fuel, and as of 1 January 2009, all Honda vehicles built in India are compatible with E20 materials. This shows the company's constant dedication to its consumers by giving them access to the most cutting-edge international goods and services first. Customers may utilise E20 petrol in their current Honda vehicles without worrying about the car's longevity or needing to replace any parts. In order to meet current pollution standards, the Indian government has required that all gasoline-powered mono- and bi-fuel cars with positive ignition engines, including hybrids, built on or after 1 April 2025, be certified using ethanol (E20) fuel.
Kunal Behl, Vice President – Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd, said, "At Honda Cars India, we are committed to driving sustainable mobility solutions, and all our cars have been E20 material compatible since Jan 2009 enabling our customers to seamlessly adopt the greener E20 fuel without any modifications. The latest compliance certification for all our current models ahead of the pan India E20 fuel introduction aligns with the Government of India’s goal to implement greener fuels. As India moves towards a cleaner and more sustainable future, HCIL will continue to remain at the forefront.”
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